Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

isellhondas

Your A/C shouldn't need a recharge unless you have a leak. Hopefully that will be a minor fix.

ateixeira

I had a compressor leak on a '91 Escort and it cost $700 to fix way back in the mid 90s. In today's dollars probably a grand.

If it's a later, post-freon system, it may be a cheaper fix.

If it's indeed freon like mine was, that might have him re-thinking if you can live without A/C.

isellhondas

If an A/C unit "needs a charge", it's because the freon has leaked out. Sometimes it's a very slow leak that can take months or a year to get to the point where it no longer cools.

It can be something as minor as a loose fitting or something much worse.

ateixeira

Hope it's not the compressor.

Funny thing was my repair cost more than the option did from the factory ($700 vs. $496).

Sandman6472

Have this problem with my '06 Civic and was told about $850 to fix. Plan on going to the dealer next week to see what, if anything, they will do to help me. Wish me luck!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

ateixeira

Hope it's a $10 supply line.

akangl

If it's a later, post-freon system, it may be a cheaper fix.

If it's indeed freon like mine was, that might have him re-thinking if you can live without A/C.

Thankfully its a R-134a system so shouldn't be too bad. The shop that has the car now will check it out next summer, they suspect a small leak in the system which they said isn't very expensive unless its the compressor. I do know the compressor comes on when the A/C is turned on, the A/C just doesn't get very cold.

We should find out by mid-week next week if there's an issue with the head being cracked or warped. I've already checked into prices on used heads and its over $500 plus shipping from the lower 48........in other words it would be time to send the little Escort to car graveyard.

I was thinking earlier, wow, I must be not wanting to car shop if I'm willing to spend $1600 to fix a $1500 car rather than have to go shop for a replacement. :P

ateixeira

Well, if you were thinking about a new (or newer) car, this could be the best timing...

isellhondas

"this could be the best timing"

Don't encourage her. She's in recovery and that would be like bringing a case of beer to an AA meeting!

michaellno

Since we're talking about maintenance, I thought I'd add my .02.

The "change oil" message popped up on the ION a few days ago, and I got it into my local Midas shop today.

I asked them to check the brakes, since I'm still on the original pads and liners and the car is approaching 60K miles.

Turns out the brakes are OK - 8/32 available on the front pads (2/32 is minimum) while the rears are around 5/32.

However, it turns out the rear shocks are (both) leaking and need to be replaced. Sigh.

Oil and filter change, along with new shocks, wiper blades and air filter cost about the same as a payment of the ION - just over $300.

I think I'm ready for winter!

kyfdx

That's what we do here... Self-esteem building...

"It's okay to be an addict... here, have another... "

stickguy

mmmmm. Beer.

stever

Maybe that's a poll we should do. Never developed a taste for the stuff. Never bought too many cars either. My lifetime CBA* is way under Kyfdx's three year total. Just rolled over 168k on the van today.

(*car buying average)

kyfdx

Nice, Homer...

akangl

"this could be the best timing"

Don't encourage her. She's in recovery and that would be like bringing a case of beer to an AA meeting!

You guys are too funny! I thought about replacing it with a newer car but the thought was brief. Honestly I really like the little Escort. If it turns out to be not really fixable then the kid is going to wait until next summer after basic to buy a car. He said as long as he can use his dad's car occationally he's fine without one. I don't think I have a typical teenager, lol.

fezo

Ready for winter? You are ready for a new car. Come on! You know you want one.....

corvette

The only beer I've tried that I like is Shock Top Raspberry Wheat. I tried the pumpkin one but it's too "beerlike" for me. I'm more of a wine and vodka guy...

kyfdx

I try not to be a snob about it.... you should always drink what you like..

For a mass-produced beer, Shock Top isn't all that bad, and wheat beers are a good place to start for those who don't really drink beer..

Harpoon IPA is my latest fave....

[Deleted User]

Yes, growing boys, with toys, so good timing in getting rid of the Civic. I was a bit surprised in terms of the broker too. I had checked with Go and Mile High, but then they added D&H of $499 or more and some "stuff" they put on all vehicles when they come off the truck, so they weren't even in the ballpark. It was nice to show up, swap keys, sign some paperwork and drive off 20 minutes later :shades:

isellhondas

Every car brought to Midas "needs" new shocks!

Didn't you know that?

michaellno

Every car brought to Midas "needs" new shocks!

Didn't you know that?

Actually, if you go back a few months, I think I mentioned the fact that I had my ION at a Chevy dealer in Colorado Springs for some warranty work, and they mentioned the fact that the shocks needed to be replaced.

Yesterday, the owner of the Midas shop showed me the rear shocks and the fluid that was leaking out of them. It was plainly obvious, even to my non-mechanical self, that what I saw wasn't right.

I noticed immediately the difference in the ride on my drive home.

I figured $300 isn't too bad a price to pay to keep the ION alive and kicking.

fezo - thanks for the encouragement, buddy. Wife and I were talking today about cars and she'd like me to keep the ION until the CX-7 is paid off. Um, no!

No reason to take on a new car payment at the moment, given how well the ION is running - will probably turn over 60K in the next 7-10 days.

BTW, your shirt is in the mail.

slorenzen

All y'all need to come to the Northwest(Oregon, Washington).

There are LOTS of microbreweries around here, and many of them are WONDERFUL!

Even my wife likes some of them.

Try a Black Butte Porter, on tap. The bottled stuff is not as good.

It's the beer that eats like a meal!

:shades:

michaellno

All y'all need to come to the Northwest(Oregon, Washington).

There are LOTS of microbreweries around here, and many of them are WONDERFUL!

Even my wife likes some of them.

Try a Black Butte Porter, on tap. The bottled stuff is not as good.

It's the beer that eats like a meal!

Haven't been up that way in a while, but I do believe that the Front Range here in Colorado has been deemed "the Napa Valley of microbreweries".

Plus, we hold the Great American Beer Festival in Denver each year.

kyfdx

Dillon Dam Brewery in Dillon is a nice brewpub... good food, but mostly tourists.... (like me)

Stopped somewhere else on I-70 on the way out west from Denver.... another brewpub whose name escapes me.... town sits right between the mountain and the freeway... old mining town..

kyfdx

..is Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, CA..

I've been drinking their products for awhile, so went out to their brewery/restaurant for dinner while we were vacationing in San Diego, this summer...

MMMMmmmmmmm

tifighter

MICROBREW THREAD NOW!!!

isellhondas

I don't doubt you needed those shocks.

I could tell stories but I won't.

akangl

Plans might be changing. Hubby is having second thoughts about fixing the Escort, apparently he doesn't think the car is safe, I tend to agree for the most part. We are going to look at a 2012 Civic tomorrow and if he buys that he'll give the kid his 09 Civic.

I went out with my son and looked at $5k cars, but it seems around here you have to move up to $10K+ to find anything decent. The cars in the $5k range are newer but with close to or over 100k miles.

I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings, but I have a feeling that he'll hate the '12 Civic and the Escort will end up coming back home a fixed car.

kyfdx

I've got Halloween...

akangl

I've got Halloween...

All depends on if hubby likes the 2012 Civics or not I guess. My truck's position is safe, 5 months and 9100 miles, still love it!

tifighter

Shoot, buy him a beer if he can even tell the difference between an 11 and 12 Civic on the lot.

breld

Regarding using HM Brown here in the Denver area, I ended up using them to get my 530xi a few years back and agree - it was a pretty painless and efficient experience. You could probably get the same deal if you took the time to shop around and negotiate with several dealers, but it's not a bad deal just to go to their office and get the deal done.

That being said, I haven't used them since, mostly 'cause I simply enjoy the shopping experience. Like many of us, I don't always have anything specific in mind - the opportunities just seem to develop.

akangl

Shoot, buy him a beer if he can even tell the difference between an 11 and 12 Civic on the lot.

A. We don't drink and B. the local dealer has no 11 left on the lot and the only 12's are all automatics and sedans. Its not looking very hopeful since he will only drive a coupe and a manual transmission.

Sandman6472

Saw one yesterday and not impressed! The b pillar is color coated, no black trim at all and the tire size has gone down to a 15", not a fan. To get the nicer Civic, one must go for the EX model which gets you the 16" alloys among other goodies. Just think Honda did too much decontenting with their model line up, mainly the lower models. Truly think the Elantra and the Focus are the new benchmarks for the compact class with the Cruze trailing slightly behind. Think Honda should be worried...very worried!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

lemmer

I agree with you. My wife is a long time Honda person. She is thinking her next car will be a Hyundai. I don't disagree with her.

michaellno

I agree with you. My wife is a long time Honda person. She is thinking her next car will be a Hyundai. I don't disagree with her.

My folks have owned several vehicles from Toyota over the years. When they were ready to buy their last new car, they were ready to buy another Camry when my dad found the Sonata to be a better value (V6 for same price as 4-cyl Camry).

They have been the proud owners of a 2003 Sonata GLS V6 - the car probably has less than 30K on it after 8 years.

Seems like Hyundai is on a roll, if they are successfully capturing former Honda and Toyota owners.

ateixeira

Buddy of mine used to own a Civic now drives a Sportage. His wife just got a new Optima.

I think it's good - when cost-cutting is evident, people will defect, simple as that. The new Civic's interior leaves much to be desired.

Hyundai has also been opportunistic as they have better supply than the tsunami-affected Japanese makes.

isellhondas

"Plans might be changing"

Is anyone surprised?

isellhondas

That might be a hard car to find.

Coupes sell so poorly compared to sedans that a lot of stores don't order very many. Add a stick to that and you have a car that appeals to very few buyers.

mark156

Akangl,

I'm just wondering how the new Ford F-150 got 9,100 miles on it in 5 months? I thought you turned it into a garage queen. :confuse: :confuse: You are averaging 455 miles a week on that truck!

Mark156

roadburner

Plans might be changing. Hubby is having second thoughts about fixing the Escort, apparently he doesn't think the car is safe, I tend to agree for the most part.

My wife and I must be really bad parents; our son's 2002 lacks airbags, ABS, and the usual potpourri of electronic nannies... :P

ateixeira

So...they actually have to learn to drive?

May not be a bad thing.

stickguy

Well, not really, since it is a slushbox! So consider it 1/2 learning.

Let's see, I learned to drive (and used for a while) the family car without power anything. Manual steering, manual brakes, and of course manual shifting. And RWD.

It did of course have seat belts and was a safe tank, being as it was a volvo 144.

But yes, you actually had to know how to drive to pilot the baby beast!

ateixeira

My first car (Datsun 210) was a real beater but it too had manual, RWD, no power steering. The driver controlled traction.

Power brakes, though. So I was a little spoiled.

mark156

My first brand new car was a 1979 Datsun 210 hatchback (white with blue plaid cloth). The MSRP was about $4,500. I'm not really sure if it had power steering or not but it did have power brakes. I bought the 4 speed manual as the 5 speed required unleaded gas. Neat little car but it was a tin box! LOL

Mark156

ateixeira

I had a 1980 coupe, though I got it (very) used. I think it was 1989 or so.

Shoulda held out for a 510! :shades:

andres3

I disagree with you. Compact cars should have smaller wheels, like 15". They can be lighter which improves handling, ride comfort, and fuel economy among other things.

If you want huge nice wheels, don't buy a compact economy car, or if you do, spring for at least the highline which is the EX with 16" alloys.

The Civic LX isn't about slalom times or performance. The EX is a bit more, but really, you have to go Si to talk about performance.

What you call decontenting I call smart engineering. Now, if they take out the air conditioner, I'll agree with you.

akangl

I'm just wondering how the new Ford F-150 got 9,100 miles on it in 5 months? I thought you turned it into a garage queen. You are averaging 455 miles a week on that truck!


By the time I had my first seizure on July 20 the truck already had 5k miles on it. So the mileage has certainly slowed since then, its still our family vehicle and gets out of the garage a few days a week.

akangl

My wife and I must be really bad parents; our son's 2002 lacks airbags, ABS, and the usual potpourri of electronic nannies...

The Escort lacks ABS, but does have dual airbags. The biggest concern is the seatbelts, it has those stupid automatic seatbelts and one track is broken so they don't function. Thankfully both are in a useable position so can be manually buckled.

I guess when you live in an area that is known for horrible roads in the winter and live on one of the most dangerous roads in the state, safety takes on a whole new meaning.

akangl

Coupes sell so poorly compared to sedans that a lot of stores don't order very many. Add a stick to that and you have a car that appeals to very few buyers.

I think I can get him to be a little flexible on the coupe vs sedan, BUT I do know the manual transmission is manditory as is a sunroof.

On the list to look at today, Civic, Corolla, and Focus.

His Civic decided to show him what it thought of this whole discussion and the windshield sprouted a 30" crack this morning out of the blue. Kinda funny.