Spend all the money on the car or use it to vacate Dodge?
November 24, 2013 7:41 AM Subscribe
A longish just post quarter life crisis question for my 30 year old daughter. Short version: jobless; car died; cost of repairs = every single penny coming from her 401K - her only income. Worth it to repair or should she b) leave town or c) get a cheaper beater car or d) got a Plan D? She could use a d.
My daughter has been working as a one on one caregiver to people with autism for about 8 years - more or less since she got out of college. Due to a combination of ongoing budget cuts and exhaustion the job had gotten steadily worse and so she gave it up a month ago. Her car, a 2007 Kia, was nearly paid off - she owes only another $600 on it - and she planned to get a short term waitressing job, cash out her 401K, which would bring her about 3K and take off on a road trip, possibly making a film, ending up somewhere new. We live in Asheville, NC, which is seriously not livable without a car (please don't tell me that it is; I've been here for 15 years.) That was the plan, anyway.
The car, which she had sunk $1200 into last spring - new clutch, new brakes, new tires, etc - died on Thursday. There was an oil leak; it went bone dry; the valve cracked; she needs a new engine. Her friend the mechanic located an engine for her with 34,000 miles on it (her car has almost 150,000) and the total for parts and labor would be $2,500. Leaving her, after phone / electric / water bills, nothing, and she's stuck right here in Asheville without a penny but she has a roof over her head (mine) contacts and the possibility of finding at least a mcjob right away. This is what we are calling Option A and it is currently the favorite.
Here's Option B: she could sell the car for scrap for $300, spend that plus another $300 to pay it off and walk away. Then, since she'd have enough for security and down payment, she could move somewhere with real public transportation and start her life over. Which is. . . where? Doing what? Is it even possible to find a job of any kind in one month when you have no buffer at all? She has a BS in psychology; her resume is thin - she really has only had two jobs besides the usual Asheville waiting tables & bartending. One was the aforementioned autism job and the other was in a pediatric OT clinic.
Option C: She could sell the car for scrap for $300, spend that plus another $300 to pay it off and buy a beater for $1500 or so, look for a job here and save money as hard as she can with a little money as a buffer and hope against hope that beater car doesn't die any time soon. After some Craigslist research on what's out there for under $1500 (don't forget tax title and tags) option C doesn't look so good.
Option D: ??? I can't think of one. That's where you come in.
OK, hive mind, help?
My daughter has been working as a one on one caregiver to people with autism for about 8 years - more or less since she got out of college. Due to a combination of ongoing budget cuts and exhaustion the job had gotten steadily worse and so she gave it up a month ago. Her car, a 2007 Kia, was nearly paid off - she owes only another $600 on it - and she planned to get a short term waitressing job, cash out her 401K, which would bring her about 3K and take off on a road trip, possibly making a film, ending up somewhere new. We live in Asheville, NC, which is seriously not livable without a car (please don't tell me that it is; I've been here for 15 years.) That was the plan, anyway.
The car, which she had sunk $1200 into last spring - new clutch, new brakes, new tires, etc - died on Thursday. There was an oil leak; it went bone dry; the valve cracked; she needs a new engine. Her friend the mechanic located an engine for her with 34,000 miles on it (her car has almost 150,000) and the total for parts and labor would be $2,500. Leaving her, after phone / electric / water bills, nothing, and she's stuck right here in Asheville without a penny but she has a roof over her head (mine) contacts and the possibility of finding at least a mcjob right away. This is what we are calling Option A and it is currently the favorite.
Here's Option B: she could sell the car for scrap for $300, spend that plus another $300 to pay it off and walk away. Then, since she'd have enough for security and down payment, she could move somewhere with real public transportation and start her life over. Which is. . . where? Doing what? Is it even possible to find a job of any kind in one month when you have no buffer at all? She has a BS in psychology; her resume is thin - she really has only had two jobs besides the usual Asheville waiting tables & bartending. One was the aforementioned autism job and the other was in a pediatric OT clinic.
Option C: She could sell the car for scrap for $300, spend that plus another $300 to pay it off and buy a beater for $1500 or so, look for a job here and save money as hard as she can with a little money as a buffer and hope against hope that beater car doesn't die any time soon. After some Craigslist research on what's out there for under $1500 (don't forget tax title and tags) option C doesn't look so good.
Option D: ??? I can't think of one. That's where you come in.
OK, hive mind, help?
What hours do you work? Would you be open to the idea of your daughter working an opposing schedule so that she can use your car to get to work?
posted by lovelygirl at 7:57 AM on November 24, 2013
posted by lovelygirl at 7:57 AM on November 24, 2013
Stop right there. What is the KBB price for her car in Fair condition?
Have the car towed to a dealer, and let's see what we can do to trade in for a new car. A lease will be the cheapest monthly payment. I'm thinking Scion iQ. With $2900 down, the note is $99 per month. That's about the same price as a Metro card. Also, she's not limited to places with good public transportation (and VERY HIGH rents). They'll pay her old car off, and she can finance 100%. Even with a $200 per month note, she'll have a car under warranty that gets good mileage. They're offering $1000 cash back, so all in all, it's eminently do-able.
She can still head to Asheville and get herself set up there. Once she gets on her feet, she can start looking for work in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Atlanta, etc. That car will come in handy in all of those places, and they're all livable. Hell, she may find a gig she likes in Asheville and she can live there in her own place.
This works if she has good credit. Also, did you notice that there's 90 days before the first payment is due? That is pretty freaking sweet and she should be well on her way to getting her shit together enough.
If that's not going to work, you'll still get the car to a dealer. They can fix it up and sell it, so they're incented to give her a good price for it, MUCH better than $300.
Then get the Megabus home to Asheville and get a job. She can buy a beater there for back and forth transportation. Once back on her feet, she can plan better from there.
If you tell me exactly what year and model Kia, I can get a better idea of what you can expect in exchange.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:00 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Have the car towed to a dealer, and let's see what we can do to trade in for a new car. A lease will be the cheapest monthly payment. I'm thinking Scion iQ. With $2900 down, the note is $99 per month. That's about the same price as a Metro card. Also, she's not limited to places with good public transportation (and VERY HIGH rents). They'll pay her old car off, and she can finance 100%. Even with a $200 per month note, she'll have a car under warranty that gets good mileage. They're offering $1000 cash back, so all in all, it's eminently do-able.
She can still head to Asheville and get herself set up there. Once she gets on her feet, she can start looking for work in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Atlanta, etc. That car will come in handy in all of those places, and they're all livable. Hell, she may find a gig she likes in Asheville and she can live there in her own place.
This works if she has good credit. Also, did you notice that there's 90 days before the first payment is due? That is pretty freaking sweet and she should be well on her way to getting her shit together enough.
If that's not going to work, you'll still get the car to a dealer. They can fix it up and sell it, so they're incented to give her a good price for it, MUCH better than $300.
Then get the Megabus home to Asheville and get a job. She can buy a beater there for back and forth transportation. Once back on her feet, she can plan better from there.
If you tell me exactly what year and model Kia, I can get a better idea of what you can expect in exchange.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:00 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
A 2007 Rio with 150,000 gets $1000 on Trade in Fair condition.
Just as a data point.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:05 AM on November 24, 2013
Just as a data point.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:05 AM on November 24, 2013
What about a cheaper option B? Her $3k will stretch a lot further if she starts out in the new place staying in a cheap room-in-a-shared-house situation, rather than renting an apartment by herself. It also gets you away from the commitment of a long lease, all the utilities, etc. (Even better is if there is a relative or family friend she can stay with for the first few weeks, but if that was an easy possibility I assume you would have mentioned it.)
Of the listed options, I think C is the worst -- $2500 will probably go a lot further in repairs than it will in a new car. But I like B (done cheaply) better than A, since it gets her out of the car situation totally for now. Even with the new engine, you can plan on more repairs in the next few years -- cars get old, parts fail, tires wear out...
And until she has the job situation at least partly solved, I wouldn't go financing/leasing a new car. Adding expenses with no income rarely ends well.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:10 AM on November 24, 2013
Of the listed options, I think C is the worst -- $2500 will probably go a lot further in repairs than it will in a new car. But I like B (done cheaply) better than A, since it gets her out of the car situation totally for now. Even with the new engine, you can plan on more repairs in the next few years -- cars get old, parts fail, tires wear out...
And until she has the job situation at least partly solved, I wouldn't go financing/leasing a new car. Adding expenses with no income rarely ends well.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:10 AM on November 24, 2013
As far as the car choices go, it's 2500 for a car with a new-ish motor, new brakes, clutch, and tires, or 1500 for a thousand-dollar car. Thousand-dollar cars, as the song goes, ain't worth shit.
posted by notsnot at 8:21 AM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 8:21 AM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
If the car is in otherwise good shape I would do A. Not having a car payment is a good thing. Get that mcJob, work and save like crazy and then go back to her original plan after she has some cash saved up, and if that plan really is to wind up somewhere now, make it somewhere she won't need a car.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:30 AM on November 24, 2013
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:30 AM on November 24, 2013
One other option-has she thought about going back to school, perhaps for a one or two year program, to give her more employment options in the long run? I don't know what y'all have there as far as a community college but it would be worth looking at maybe.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:32 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:32 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
B sounds very risky to me because most areas with real public transportation also have relatively high cost of living, especially in terms of rent. And that she would arrive in a completely new location with no financial buffer is very worrisome.
Does she have any college friends she can crash with at cities with better job markets than Asheville, so she can scope out what the job and housing situations looks like? That is, prior to moving, make some scouting trips ahead of time. This will require her to have some cash on hand, so A does look like the best option from her choices.
(Possible Option D, often mentioned on AskMe: teaching English overseas.)
posted by needled at 8:37 AM on November 24, 2013
Does she have any college friends she can crash with at cities with better job markets than Asheville, so she can scope out what the job and housing situations looks like? That is, prior to moving, make some scouting trips ahead of time. This will require her to have some cash on hand, so A does look like the best option from her choices.
(Possible Option D, often mentioned on AskMe: teaching English overseas.)
posted by needled at 8:37 AM on November 24, 2013
I continue to find the military, reserves or active; a hilarious mix of professionalism and hilarity. And a lifelong vestment in the OCA sans monthly premiums; which I am extremely fond of.
Vacates Dodge for a bit too.
posted by buzzman at 8:42 AM on November 24, 2013
Vacates Dodge for a bit too.
posted by buzzman at 8:42 AM on November 24, 2013
Option A. Do NOT go lease a car. She can be debt free (at least as far as cars go) by fixing the Kia. With a new engine, and proper maintenance (and I wondering if this may have been lacking before), it should last a good while. Having a car is critical in most of today's metro sprawl US. Urban areas are the exception, but they are expensive too.
She stays with you until viable employment is found. Set a goal time... 6 months? She saves as much as possible, and when the time is right, she can strike out to parts unknown. Getting another car and having a monthly payment (lease or loan) will only add to her burden.
Her resume is probably not as "thin" as you think. Sounds like she has a unique skill set as a caregiver, and much of that may transfer to related positions. Find an interim job to start some cash flow, and make a wider search in all the fields you can think of where her skills apply. I'd check at hospitals too. They employ a lot of people in a wide variety of positions.
Important thing to consider:
1. Do not increase debt
2. Mobility is important
3. Work skills apply across numerous fields
4. Set time goals for the next move
5. Build longer lasting stability - i.e. some savings, a plan
Hope that helps!
posted by ecorrocio at 8:49 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
She stays with you until viable employment is found. Set a goal time... 6 months? She saves as much as possible, and when the time is right, she can strike out to parts unknown. Getting another car and having a monthly payment (lease or loan) will only add to her burden.
Her resume is probably not as "thin" as you think. Sounds like she has a unique skill set as a caregiver, and much of that may transfer to related positions. Find an interim job to start some cash flow, and make a wider search in all the fields you can think of where her skills apply. I'd check at hospitals too. They employ a lot of people in a wide variety of positions.
Important thing to consider:
1. Do not increase debt
2. Mobility is important
3. Work skills apply across numerous fields
4. Set time goals for the next move
5. Build longer lasting stability - i.e. some savings, a plan
Hope that helps!
posted by ecorrocio at 8:49 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Step one: she has no job to go to, and she lives in your house, and she doesn't need to go make a film or road trip right now. Therefore, she doesn't need a car right now...she just has to figure out whether to scrap it or fix it. We will come back to that.
Step two: since she will be home a lot without a car, she can immediately start applying for jobs within walking distance of where you work or otherwise go on a regular basis, any jobs, so that she can get rides from you. The goal is to get enough money ASAP to pay off the car so that she has the option of choosing scrap or fix later, and of course to have money to live. This is the most immediate concern she has, so she should take the first job that fits the criteria, even if it sucks.
Step three: once the car loan and basic paycheck are settled, she should start applying for the jobs she actually wants/could put up with, whether local or in any large city with good public transit. She should also look for better work locally, even if it sucks. This is her life goal now: find the job she wants, or at least pays well enough to be sustainable and get the car fixed/buy a replacement car. Until this is done, no road trip or filmmaking talk
Final step: in a week or a year or whenever, when that job is located, take it and start putting her life back together. Fix the car or get a replacement. Learn how to take care of it properly. Save what little she can to have a cushion against the next thing. If she took a money job, keep looking for the job she wants.
Alternative final step: she runs out of patience for finding a job, but saves up enough money for a bicycle and (with all her free time ) becomes an avid bicyclist (I know people in Los Angeles who commute 10+ miles each way five days a week by bike.) She junks the car, and can now expand her job search to include areas bike - able from your home. She also is in better shape and feels better about herself.
Anyway, that's what I'd do.
posted by davejay at 8:54 AM on November 24, 2013
Step two: since she will be home a lot without a car, she can immediately start applying for jobs within walking distance of where you work or otherwise go on a regular basis, any jobs, so that she can get rides from you. The goal is to get enough money ASAP to pay off the car so that she has the option of choosing scrap or fix later, and of course to have money to live. This is the most immediate concern she has, so she should take the first job that fits the criteria, even if it sucks.
Step three: once the car loan and basic paycheck are settled, she should start applying for the jobs she actually wants/could put up with, whether local or in any large city with good public transit. She should also look for better work locally, even if it sucks. This is her life goal now: find the job she wants, or at least pays well enough to be sustainable and get the car fixed/buy a replacement car. Until this is done, no road trip or filmmaking talk
Final step: in a week or a year or whenever, when that job is located, take it and start putting her life back together. Fix the car or get a replacement. Learn how to take care of it properly. Save what little she can to have a cushion against the next thing. If she took a money job, keep looking for the job she wants.
Alternative final step: she runs out of patience for finding a job, but saves up enough money for a bicycle and (with all her free time ) becomes an avid bicyclist (I know people in Los Angeles who commute 10+ miles each way five days a week by bike.) She junks the car, and can now expand her job search to include areas bike - able from your home. She also is in better shape and feels better about herself.
Anyway, that's what I'd do.
posted by davejay at 8:54 AM on November 24, 2013
I concur that getting a car loan is a terrible idea. Not only is it debt and a monthly payment, it also comes with all the usual upkeep costs of running a car (gas, oil changes, tires, etc.), so that $99 figure is deceptively low.
In terms of employment, which in my view is the pivot point around which this problem revolves, I recommend that your daughter reach out to every organization in the area that does anything whatsoever with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, special education, etc.--including residential care facilities. I think it might also be wise to expand her focus beyond just children.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:08 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
In terms of employment, which in my view is the pivot point around which this problem revolves, I recommend that your daughter reach out to every organization in the area that does anything whatsoever with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, special education, etc.--including residential care facilities. I think it might also be wise to expand her focus beyond just children.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:08 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Lots of thoughts about this.
1. Why are you the one asking this question? She's 30 years old. She needs to decide for herself what the right course of action is. I'm 32. I've spent a lot of the last year facing questions like this. I've been out of work, I was driving a shitty beater car that died on me, this all happened right in the middle of a film project that I'd hoped to devote most of my energy to. It was a crappy situation. I really valued my parents' advice about it, but they were in no way the deciders on this. So unless she put you up to asking Metafilter because she can't afford the $5, my answer is to butt out and let her live her own life.
2. She's been out of work for a month, after quitting her job that she disliked without lining something else up. I don't really see how "getting out of dodge" is the answer here. She needs to look for a new job. These things often take more than a month. There's no guarantee that it will take under a month to find a new job somewhere else, and it might be harder. She should press on with the job hunt where she is.
3. OK, so the car. I recently had a very similar problem in my (much older, but with fewer miles on it) car. I opted to replace the engine. And then a month later the transmission died. So on an emotional level I'm leaning toward calling it a day on the car. That said, that leaves her without a vehicle. Is there an extra vehicle in the family she could use to have the "reliable transportation" any job (especially a "mcjob") will require? Once she's settled in a job, she can come up with a down payment somewhere and get another car. Or maybe borrow money from you to buy a beater with cash outright.
4. A road trip to make a movie is absolutely out of the question now. Those are things you do when you have resources to fall back on.
5. Moving to somewhere with good public transit, purely for the reason of not needing to buy a new car, is stupid. The money she would save up to do that should be saved for a downpayment on a car. If she was already planning a move to a specific place where a car wouldn't be necessary, sure? But if she was pretty happy living in Asheville before, I don't see why a dead engine means it's time to move to Brooklyn. It is infinitely easier to get a job in a town where you already live and have connections than it is to get a job in a new place where you have nothing and no one.
posted by Sara C. at 9:40 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
1. Why are you the one asking this question? She's 30 years old. She needs to decide for herself what the right course of action is. I'm 32. I've spent a lot of the last year facing questions like this. I've been out of work, I was driving a shitty beater car that died on me, this all happened right in the middle of a film project that I'd hoped to devote most of my energy to. It was a crappy situation. I really valued my parents' advice about it, but they were in no way the deciders on this. So unless she put you up to asking Metafilter because she can't afford the $5, my answer is to butt out and let her live her own life.
2. She's been out of work for a month, after quitting her job that she disliked without lining something else up. I don't really see how "getting out of dodge" is the answer here. She needs to look for a new job. These things often take more than a month. There's no guarantee that it will take under a month to find a new job somewhere else, and it might be harder. She should press on with the job hunt where she is.
3. OK, so the car. I recently had a very similar problem in my (much older, but with fewer miles on it) car. I opted to replace the engine. And then a month later the transmission died. So on an emotional level I'm leaning toward calling it a day on the car. That said, that leaves her without a vehicle. Is there an extra vehicle in the family she could use to have the "reliable transportation" any job (especially a "mcjob") will require? Once she's settled in a job, she can come up with a down payment somewhere and get another car. Or maybe borrow money from you to buy a beater with cash outright.
4. A road trip to make a movie is absolutely out of the question now. Those are things you do when you have resources to fall back on.
5. Moving to somewhere with good public transit, purely for the reason of not needing to buy a new car, is stupid. The money she would save up to do that should be saved for a downpayment on a car. If she was already planning a move to a specific place where a car wouldn't be necessary, sure? But if she was pretty happy living in Asheville before, I don't see why a dead engine means it's time to move to Brooklyn. It is infinitely easier to get a job in a town where you already live and have connections than it is to get a job in a new place where you have nothing and no one.
posted by Sara C. at 9:40 AM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
She's down 600, no matter what. If she spends 2,500 on the Kia, she'll have a car that is worth about 2,000 on a trade-in, maybe 3000 as a private sale. Go to cars.com and edmunds.com, and check the value of a 2007 Kia in okay condition, and don't spend much more for repairs than the car is worth. If she feels the car will be reliable, spend the money on it, otherwise, see if you can get a better scrap price. Don't try to take a Road Trip with a beater - getting stuck with a dead car is a drag in your hometown. Out in the boonies, it's far worse.
I recommend she stay with you for a year, get a job, and borrow to get a decent used car for @ 5,000; used car dealers take dead cars for trade-in. Something with several years left on it. I've had better luck at smaller used car dealers or individuals. All used cars must be inspected by an independent mechanic, no exceptions. No, do not cash in the retirement money. You lose a 10% penalty off the top, and have to pay income tax. Maybe even 2 jobs, which is what a lot of people do when they're strapped. Babysitting (get a Red Cross cert.), lawn care, whatever. She's well-qualified to be a teaching assistant - it's not easy to find staff who can and will work with children who have disabilities. Maybe even a substitute teacher. She should be finding a holiday job right this very minute.
She's young, has debt of 600, a degree, and sounds like a great work ethic. I know her situation sounds awful to her, but it's definitely manageable.
posted by theora55 at 9:47 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I recommend she stay with you for a year, get a job, and borrow to get a decent used car for @ 5,000; used car dealers take dead cars for trade-in. Something with several years left on it. I've had better luck at smaller used car dealers or individuals. All used cars must be inspected by an independent mechanic, no exceptions. No, do not cash in the retirement money. You lose a 10% penalty off the top, and have to pay income tax. Maybe even 2 jobs, which is what a lot of people do when they're strapped. Babysitting (get a Red Cross cert.), lawn care, whatever. She's well-qualified to be a teaching assistant - it's not easy to find staff who can and will work with children who have disabilities. Maybe even a substitute teacher. She should be finding a holiday job right this very minute.
She's young, has debt of 600, a degree, and sounds like a great work ethic. I know her situation sounds awful to her, but it's definitely manageable.
posted by theora55 at 9:47 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
As someone who recently bought a car for $2500, I think that buying a car for less than that would be a mistake. (see my question history for my question on this matter.)
Is it a goal of hers to move to a more urban area in the near future? If so, I'd lean toward option #2. If I'm reading the question right, she was going to cash out her 401k anyway, right? If she does that, she'd have that $3000 as a buffer, which is enough for two months if she has roommates and is careful about it.
She has serving experience and it's also the holidays. I'm not an expert on this by any means, but i wouldn't think it would be impossible to find something quickly if she wasn't picky.
posted by geegollygosh at 11:32 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is it a goal of hers to move to a more urban area in the near future? If so, I'd lean toward option #2. If I'm reading the question right, she was going to cash out her 401k anyway, right? If she does that, she'd have that $3000 as a buffer, which is enough for two months if she has roommates and is careful about it.
She has serving experience and it's also the holidays. I'm not an expert on this by any means, but i wouldn't think it would be impossible to find something quickly if she wasn't picky.
posted by geegollygosh at 11:32 AM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for your ideas and input. I asked my mother to place this on here, because I really just wondered if anyone had been in this situation. It's more about do I save the car or let it go.
As for jobs, yes I am applying everywhere. I am averaging applying somewhere around seven to ten jobs a week. It is a lot harder out there than I thought it was going to be. I also knew that I was going to cash out my 401K to help me out while I got back on my feet. My engine blowing up on me was not part of this plan.
What happened with the engine, was that oil was getting to the top of the engine, but not to the bottom. So it broke a valve in the bottom part of the engine.
I really was just wondering if anyone out there thought that it was worth saving or should I walk away? I am asking everyone this question right now, because I am between a rock and a hard place. If anyone has any experience with this type of car situation, their input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all so much.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:30 PM on November 24, 2013
As for jobs, yes I am applying everywhere. I am averaging applying somewhere around seven to ten jobs a week. It is a lot harder out there than I thought it was going to be. I also knew that I was going to cash out my 401K to help me out while I got back on my feet. My engine blowing up on me was not part of this plan.
What happened with the engine, was that oil was getting to the top of the engine, but not to the bottom. So it broke a valve in the bottom part of the engine.
I really was just wondering if anyone out there thought that it was worth saving or should I walk away? I am asking everyone this question right now, because I am between a rock and a hard place. If anyone has any experience with this type of car situation, their input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all so much.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:30 PM on November 24, 2013
As someone who literally just went through this and who regrets borrowing $2000 to put a new engine in my car, just to have it need another $2000+ repair the following month, I am inclined to tell you to walk away from the car.
I just think you need to walk into some other reliable transportation that will work for you in your current situation, rather than walking away from the car and moving to a new city, or going on a long trip, or whatever the alternative is.
Can you get access to some wheels that will get you to a job in your area? Or, if Asheville is workable with a car-free lifestyle, can you walk away from the car and reliably get to work some other way until you're in a better position to buy new wheels?
What about a motorbike or scooter? (Again, I know nothing about Asheville, so YMMV of course.)
posted by Sara C. at 1:00 PM on November 24, 2013
I just think you need to walk into some other reliable transportation that will work for you in your current situation, rather than walking away from the car and moving to a new city, or going on a long trip, or whatever the alternative is.
Can you get access to some wheels that will get you to a job in your area? Or, if Asheville is workable with a car-free lifestyle, can you walk away from the car and reliably get to work some other way until you're in a better position to buy new wheels?
What about a motorbike or scooter? (Again, I know nothing about Asheville, so YMMV of course.)
posted by Sara C. at 1:00 PM on November 24, 2013
Put the car up on craigslist and see what offers you get... You don't have to take them. You might get someone to buy it as a fixer upper for more than you think. worth a shot. When i decided my car wasn't worth fixing I got more than I'd hoped.
posted by geegollygosh at 1:34 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by geegollygosh at 1:34 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
(not saying definitely don't fix it, just that this is another option. No idea if it's worth fixing.)
posted by geegollygosh at 1:36 PM on November 24, 2013
posted by geegollygosh at 1:36 PM on November 24, 2013
I like Ruthless Bunny's suggestion, and I'd get in the habit of riding a bike or walking everywhere possible.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 3:56 PM on November 24, 2013
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 3:56 PM on November 24, 2013
Nursing a car with 150k miles on it back and forth to a waitress job while living at home -- all the while praying nothing else goes wrong -- doesn't sound too appealing. Time to shake things up? I'd say consider joining the military. Maybe the Coast Guard?
posted by 99percentfake at 6:22 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by 99percentfake at 6:22 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would not fix that car. Spending $2500 to have a car worth between $1000 and $3000 that has already shown itself to be unreliable is not a good idea. Essentially you'd be buying the car all over again. Do not fall prey to the sunk costs fallacy.
Everyone saying it's impossible to find a good cheap car: I've done it twice now. Once for $600 ('91 Nissan Stanza about six years ago), once for $1000 ('02 Chevy Prism, which is a rebadged Corolla, a year ago). You just have to know what's worthwhile and be ready to pull the trigger instantly. Older small Japanese cars (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and nothing else) can be found on craigslist with around 120k on the odometer. You can expect they'll be good for another 100k with standard maintenance.
Being smart about who you're doing the deal with is how you make it work. Deal with private sellers only, dealers are scum at this price range. Anything shady at all, walk away from the deal. Long explanations for anything, walk away. Title not in their name or not in their possession for any reason, walk away. Check engine light on, walk away. Engine, transmission, or frame problems, walk away. Won't let you test drive, walk away. If the seller tries to be in any way controlling, walk away. Don't buy from a friend of a friend who just happens to have a car for sale that's "almost" what you're looking for. Who you want to buy from: people who need to sell because they are moving or because a medical condition means they can't drive it anymore.
Granted, you do need to know a fair amount about the specific model and generation of car you're looking at. You do need to do research and know what problems are common with the model. For instance, the 8th generation (1998-2002) Corolla/Prizm burns oil, so you have to check it frequently, but as long as you do that, it's not a major problem. If you have a family member or friend who knows these cars, or just has a tendency of obsessively researching things, you may want to ask for their help.
And you need to be fast. You need to be watching craigslist pretty consistently. Bookmark your searches and check them multiple times per day. Have the cash on hand. Set up the meet asap. If you jump on the listing, you can be the first person who looks at the car. I always like talking to people on the phone, because you can get an idea of the kind of person they are by the way they talk, and you can ask sharp questions to show that you know about the model, which tends to dissuade people from thinking they can get one over on you. Check the title, vin and the person's id, and only hand money to the person whose name is on the title. So yes, all of this can be kind of a pain in the ass, but it's doable. And believe it or not, there are honest people out there. You just have to be sharp to find them. Both of my cars were base models, a little dented or rusty, bought from college students moving after graduation, who I had contacted within a day of them listing it on craigslist, and both reliable as hell.
Whether that's the best course of action for your daughter I can't say. It does take some time and patience, say a couple of weeks. If there are no decent listings at all in a couple of weeks, you may need to adjust your approach. The car market does vary somewhat by region. Best of luck to you both.
posted by the big lizard at 1:16 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Everyone saying it's impossible to find a good cheap car: I've done it twice now. Once for $600 ('91 Nissan Stanza about six years ago), once for $1000 ('02 Chevy Prism, which is a rebadged Corolla, a year ago). You just have to know what's worthwhile and be ready to pull the trigger instantly. Older small Japanese cars (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and nothing else) can be found on craigslist with around 120k on the odometer. You can expect they'll be good for another 100k with standard maintenance.
Being smart about who you're doing the deal with is how you make it work. Deal with private sellers only, dealers are scum at this price range. Anything shady at all, walk away from the deal. Long explanations for anything, walk away. Title not in their name or not in their possession for any reason, walk away. Check engine light on, walk away. Engine, transmission, or frame problems, walk away. Won't let you test drive, walk away. If the seller tries to be in any way controlling, walk away. Don't buy from a friend of a friend who just happens to have a car for sale that's "almost" what you're looking for. Who you want to buy from: people who need to sell because they are moving or because a medical condition means they can't drive it anymore.
Granted, you do need to know a fair amount about the specific model and generation of car you're looking at. You do need to do research and know what problems are common with the model. For instance, the 8th generation (1998-2002) Corolla/Prizm burns oil, so you have to check it frequently, but as long as you do that, it's not a major problem. If you have a family member or friend who knows these cars, or just has a tendency of obsessively researching things, you may want to ask for their help.
And you need to be fast. You need to be watching craigslist pretty consistently. Bookmark your searches and check them multiple times per day. Have the cash on hand. Set up the meet asap. If you jump on the listing, you can be the first person who looks at the car. I always like talking to people on the phone, because you can get an idea of the kind of person they are by the way they talk, and you can ask sharp questions to show that you know about the model, which tends to dissuade people from thinking they can get one over on you. Check the title, vin and the person's id, and only hand money to the person whose name is on the title. So yes, all of this can be kind of a pain in the ass, but it's doable. And believe it or not, there are honest people out there. You just have to be sharp to find them. Both of my cars were base models, a little dented or rusty, bought from college students moving after graduation, who I had contacted within a day of them listing it on craigslist, and both reliable as hell.
Whether that's the best course of action for your daughter I can't say. It does take some time and patience, say a couple of weeks. If there are no decent listings at all in a couple of weeks, you may need to adjust your approach. The car market does vary somewhat by region. Best of luck to you both.
posted by the big lizard at 1:16 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it were me, I'd probably go for A--it sounds like things are pretty tense and stressful already, and I'd be reluctant to add to that. I'd also be reluctant to go for Option B unless I already had a job in the new place, because, otherwise, I feel like there's a realistic chance it would end in moving back to Asheville in a month or two, worse off than before.
Hmm, Option D... How does she feel about two-wheeled transportation? What about, like, WWOOFing, Peace Corps, stuff like that (I don't know how realistic that is, it just popped into my head)?
posted by box at 7:52 AM on November 24, 2013