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My (very trustworthy) friend is selling a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe with 180,000 miles, "runs & feels great". He bought it from a dealer at 40,000 miles and I'm asking now if he's had the timing belt replaced. He thinks it's the 2.4 GL. It's a little bit bigger of a car than we'd ideally like, but he can sell it to me for $1000. @stickguy Would that be a good deal or would I run into all kinds of trouble with a 180,000 mile car? I'd basically have about $3000 to spend on repairs the coming 3 years - counting in the extra money I have to spend on gas.
for that money, with service history, worth a shot. Yeah, a ton of miles, but if you aren't planning to put many on, you might be fine. Or it blows up next week, but at least you have very little invested in it.
in this market, 1K for a clean, good running anything is a screaming bargain. That is junker territory.
as long as you realize that at 180k, you are rolling the dice, it is a good deal.
Agreed, and especially since I'm buying from a friend, I think it will be better for my friendship with him if we both almost exactly know the state of the vehicle before purchase.
yes, the friend aspect adds a potential wrinkle. Doing the inspection covers him. Just be clear that if you buy it, you don't expect him to have any responsibility no matter what happens.
@stickguy Exactly my thoughts. It turns out it is a bit different model than previously thought: Santa Fe 2001, model GLS, V6 (2.7l), 4 wheel drive. Does this change things? (better/worse) Reading the few reviews that are online is not very encouraging.. but then again it's just a few experiences. We have an appointment to test-drive have the car inspected for $75 at a well-rated repair shop nearby.
it will be a lot peppier with the V6. other than that, as with any care this age/miles, it is much more about the condition and maintenance. If it checks out it is a steal for the price.
Just to be complete: I bought the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe from my friend for $900. I put half down, getting the car near the end of June.
During the meeting it drove really well and we went by his go-to repair shop, where they knew him and his kids very well. The main repairman said some things will need be fixed soon, the timing belt included. These repairs would run me about $1000.
Since I had a good feeling about it, and have thought long and hard enough, I took it. If it turns out a lemon, then so be it
good news. thanks for reporting back. Sounds like a fine deal for you needs. do the preventative things now, and cross your fingers. you really don't have much invested in this, and could probably easily bail at any time.
Thanks @stickguy, and thanks again for all your help. That's good advice. As soon as I get it (June 25) I will bring it to a trusted garage nearby, hopefully he won't find too many other things that need repairing and can give me a good deal.
It's unfortunate that I have another update: Bought the car for $850, the day before the car had broke down and the seller had put a $500 repair on it. I brought it to a mechanic (Broadway Gulf in Jersey City) and they said it was very badly maintained. He listed a bunch of repairs with each individual thing costing a lot of money, total repairs: over $5000+. I asked him what would be the most immediate thing to repair, and he said it'd be the breaks, since it was a safety issue, that'll run $750. He said after that after that probably the timing belt would be the most immediate repair, the complete timing belt service would be $1500. I said yes to the brakes repair now for 750 because I'm thinking I'll use it for the 10 miles a day I drive until it finally dies and then figure something else out.
All in all very much a learning experience. Even though he is a good friend and good person, even the kindest people can have a [non-permissible content removed] maintenance garage who doesn't know what it's doing. I was very foolish to blindly thrust his regular garage, it's sad that incompetent people are allowed to do work on cars.
In the morning I'm gonna call again to Broadway Gulf to ask what exactly about the brakes needs to be repaired, because I want to check if their prices are fair. I think $750 is quite expensive? (I remembered him listing the full timing belt service would be $1500)
you might get brakes for less if the rotors are OK, and it just needs pads. Go to a Tires Plus (or whatever local tire/brake chain is near you and has a good reputation) and get an estimate for a basic job.
The T belt? I would actually not bother, if you are putting low miles on it. If it goes, it goes, but it may not go at all (they rarely do), so basically you are just rolling the dice. Of course, it is your call as to comfort level, and how much you want to dump into it. Still, that sounds quite expensive. Call a few places for estimates, but usually it runs 1/2 of that.
Hey, we told you that old, cheap cars were a crap shoot, and time and labor intensive! That is why I suggested a screamer lease (little $ up front, well under $200/month) for cost certainty, and carefree ownership!
That sounds terribly expensive even when including calipers. Looking at Rockauto, calipers with pads included are $120 for the set after the cores are returned. Rotors are $50 for the pair. Even if you totally flush and fill the fluid, that's typically a $79 service. So we're up to $250. $500 for labor seems excessive.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Thanks for all the info & concerns! I really appreciate it. I just called in to ask about the price and to see if they use premium or OEM/service parts. They only use Premium parts, 2 rotors, 2 calipers and 2 pads cost about $450. The labor plus taxes makes it a total of $755. I let him do it. He said the timing belt is at 105k, so it could brake today or in 6 months. And to replace that would be $1500.
I'm just doing the brakes, so I can drive safely. Then I'll take the gamble of how long the car will last me. Get AAA. I'm only going to be putting about 300-350 miles on it a month, local drives.
My friend (the seller) is really surprised by what happened. He said he had the car checked & repaired regularly by two separate mechanics throughout the last 2 years and the brakes passed inspection last January. He suggests I get a second opinion and if they find the same things he will issue me a $500 refund immediately.
He also mentions that anyone giving me a $1,500 quote for replacing the timing belt is a huge crook anyway and that it should be $500 max. for my car (2001 Santa Fe V6 GLS)
I know that I've already asked so many questions, but I wonder if you guys agree? The rear brakes were (calipers,rotors and pads) were done last weekend, costed me $755. Did I pay too much for that even?
As for the t-belt, it depends on what is being done. $500 is too little, and I can only assume that is the service without replacing all the other items that should be replaced while in there, such as water pump, thermostat, tensioner, and any necessary seals and auxiliary belt(s).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
As for the t-belt, it depends on what is being done. $500 is too little, and I can only assume that is the service without replacing all the other items that should be replaced while in there, such as water pump, thermostat, tensioner, and any necessary seals and auxiliary belt(s).
I should have listened to you better! Man, all of this is such a hassle, when I finally got that inspection, I was feeling like "please just get it to a safe driving condition", so I had the brakes done by them, but it seems that I could have saved a couple hundred $ by just taking a deep breath and taking it to a different mechanic.
I found this mechanic by searching on the internet and they had lots of great reviews on Intuit. Maybe that site is not to be trusted as much... Could you guys recommend a decent site for me to check for a reliable and reasonably priced mechanic?
Answers
@stickguy Would that be a good deal or would I run into all kinds of trouble with a 180,000 mile car? I'd basically have about $3000 to spend on repairs the coming 3 years - counting in the extra money I have to spend on gas.
in this market, 1K for a clean, good running anything is a screaming bargain. That is junker territory.
as long as you realize that at 180k, you are rolling the dice, it is a good deal.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
You can save a ton on insurance on this. Won't need comp or collision. Just liability.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
We have an appointment to test-drive have the car inspected for $75 at a well-rated repair shop nearby.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
During the meeting it drove really well and we went by his go-to repair shop, where they knew him and his kids very well. The main repairman said some things will need be fixed soon, the timing belt included. These repairs would run me about $1000.
Since I had a good feeling about it, and have thought long and hard enough, I took it. If it turns out a lemon, then so be it
Hope it works out for you.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Bought the car for $850, the day before the car had broke down and the seller had put a $500 repair on it.
I brought it to a mechanic (Broadway Gulf in Jersey City) and they said it was very badly maintained. He listed a bunch of repairs with each individual thing costing a lot of money, total repairs: over $5000+. I asked him what would be the most immediate thing to repair, and he said it'd be the breaks, since it was a safety issue, that'll run $750. He said after that after that probably the timing belt would be the most immediate repair, the complete timing belt service would be $1500. I said yes to the brakes repair now for 750 because I'm thinking I'll use it for the 10 miles a day I drive until it finally dies and then figure something else out.
All in all very much a learning experience. Even though he is a good friend and good person, even the kindest people can have a [non-permissible content removed] maintenance garage who doesn't know what it's doing. I was very foolish to blindly thrust his regular garage, it's sad that incompetent people are allowed to do work on cars.
In the morning I'm gonna call again to Broadway Gulf to ask what exactly about the brakes needs to be repaired, because I want to check if their prices are fair. I think $750 is quite expensive? (I remembered him listing the full timing belt service would be $1500)
Sh** happens, life goes on.
The T belt? I would actually not bother, if you are putting low miles on it. If it goes, it goes, but it may not go at all (they rarely do), so basically you are just rolling the dice. Of course, it is your call as to comfort level, and how much you want to dump into it. Still, that sounds quite expensive. Call a few places for estimates, but usually it runs 1/2 of that.
Hey, we told you that old, cheap cars were a crap shoot, and time and labor intensive! That is why I suggested a screamer lease (little $ up front, well under $200/month) for cost certainty, and carefree ownership!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I called the garage, the front brakes are good but the rear brakes needed the pads, rotors and calipers replaced, so that's what costing $750.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I just called in to ask about the price and to see if they use premium or OEM/service parts. They only use Premium parts, 2 rotors, 2 calipers and 2 pads cost about $450. The labor plus taxes makes it a total of $755. I let him do it.
He said the timing belt is at 105k, so it could brake today or in 6 months. And to replace that would be $1500.
I'm just doing the brakes, so I can drive safely. Then I'll take the gamble of how long the car will last me. Get AAA. I'm only going to be putting about 300-350 miles on it a month, local drives.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
He also mentions that anyone giving me a $1,500 quote for replacing the timing belt is a huge crook anyway and that it should be $500 max. for my car (2001 Santa Fe V6 GLS)
I know that I've already asked so many questions, but I wonder if you guys agree?
The rear brakes were (calipers,rotors and pads) were done last weekend, costed me $755. Did I pay too much for that even?
I had it checked and repaired by ASE Certified Broadway Gulf.
As for the t-belt, it depends on what is being done. $500 is too little, and I can only assume that is the service without replacing all the other items that should be replaced while in there, such as water pump, thermostat, tensioner, and any necessary seals and auxiliary belt(s).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I found this mechanic by searching on the internet and they had lots of great reviews on Intuit. Maybe that site is not to be trusted as much... Could you guys recommend a decent site for me to check for a reliable and reasonably priced mechanic?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.