My world

I’m going to get this all going by talking about some changes you may have noticed to hoohaaDOTcom.

First, what I’m posting in. The blogging system. A while back, I talked to several members of the message board about doing a blogging system. A bunch offered to get in, do different days and topics, and to do it on a regular basis. However, I set it up and then got a little busy and never got to fill everyone in on how the things work and all. One person posted, but, again, I never got going on my end.

So when I had the chance to add this to the message board, I opted to. This way, the people who were originally going to blog for the site still can. And now, others can get involved and have their own as well. Some people might choose to do something weekly, maybe daily, maybe different time frames. Maybe one topic, maybe more, etc. Who knows. But, it gives members a chance to have one if wanted.

For me, I’m going to basically go with a inside my world sort of thing. I might talk about baseball. I might talk about personal shit. I might just talk in a random sort of way, kind of like I’m doing now.

One thing. If you create a blog, please use it. If it goes for too long and nothing is done to it, I’ll delete it as it’s taking up space for nothing.

Now then, you’ll also hopefully note the gallery. This is where you’ll be able to post your own photos. Please nothing crazy, sick, perverted, etc. Just make it a normal photo album. Big thing is this _ keep the photos where they belong. Your random photos, people, stuff like that go under the second “member’s gallery.” The first one is an overall one which shows everything that is posted. The other category is travel photos. Please keep them to travel shots and shots of where you’ve visited etc. If there are shots with you/others with something in the background, feel free to put them there. If they are party shots while traveling, please put them in the normal one.

Anyway, hope all the members really enjoy the new add-ons and will take advantage of them. Any questions, feel free to PM me on here.

OK, so I’ve opted to at least look at a couple other cars.

I’ve found a place in Albany with a bunch of VWs. The lowest mileage one is a VW Jetta (99) with 57,500 or somewhere around there. I don’t know if I’ll go up there, or somewhere else. Either way, I’d like to try and be in this new car by Friday AM and head off to softball states.

They also have a Cabrio, and a couple newer jettas. The one is a Jetta (2000) with a v-6, 5-speed, loaded. With like 84K miles on it for right around $8,000. Can’t decide if I’d want to plop down 8 grand on a car with that many miles, VW or not.

Anyway, the kid selling the Integra has now come down to 8,000. As I’ve told him I can basically spend around 7,500 (which is true). I told him I’d be in touch in a couple of days. I think I might be able to pull him down to 7,800 and then maybe I’ll go with it. Who knows.

What really sucks about this whole thing is that I wasn’t planning on a new car. And now, all of a sudden, whamo… screw you and buy a car, beyatch! Grrrrr.

I went and looked at the car today and it’s a nice set of wheels. Anyway, here’s the report.

It’s in extremly good shape, I thought. A couple of cosmetic spots on the front and rear bumpers. However, that’s the plastic spots and it won’t rust, so bonus.

The antenna might be broken. I couldn’t tell. If so, I’ll have to mention that. However, I have XM, so I could hold off getting it fixed.

Back tires would likely need to replaced by the end of summer, so I have to take that into account.

The engine was amazingly clean. I mean it looked like friggin new. The person who owns the car has kept in incredible condition, that’s for sure. Good job by him without a doubt.

Driving it…

The clutch is nice, gears catch quickly. It also shifts smooth and doesn’t have a shimmy or pull to it. The brakes seemed to be in sync well with the rotors. The front pads are new, the back pads are about halfway through.

Now, I’m not the smallest or biggest guy in the world, but it’s a tight fit. I’ve now realized the Integra is basically the sports car Civic. I’ve had smaller cars before and adjusted, so I think I can easily do it again. I also think it would be a lot of fun to drive this car, which is nice.

I won’t like that the salvage certificate scares me a little and he didn’t know much about it. He got it from a dealer. However, he’s owned the car for over a year and had no problems, which is a good sign. I’m highly interested.

I’ve got him down to $8500. I wouldn’t mind going a little lower, if not just because of the numbers I’ve run on taxes, my current loan, etc. Just to make it more managable. I’ll likely try and call him tomorrow and discuss things. If we can work things out a little more, I wouldn’t mind having him bring it to a mechanic in his town to get it checked out and get a clean bill of health.

Maybe this looking for a car will end a little quicker than I had hoped. Or so I can hope anyway! As always, thoughts are appreciated!

I’m going to look at the Integra on Saturday. Hoping all works out well.

However, I did a Carfax report on it and it has been salvaged at one point and time. So an insurance company has totalled it at some point. However, the one note it shows is “recovered theft,” which likely means it was stolen, totalled, and then recovered. I’d just like to know if this car was wrecked at all and not sure if I will find out. Dammit.

Thoughts on it all? Looking for opinions!

Seriously folks, this is hard work having to find a car. Especially with:

– people not calling back
– Having to find something a little quicker than planned
– Doing research one each car you see listed
– Not having a lot of days off/time to travel to see cars

All I know is I want to be in a new car by the end of next week. I’m not asking for much. Five-speed is about my main thing.

Found a couple I am going to look into.

– 1999 Acura Integra
– 2000 VW Jetta
– 1998 VW Cabrio (soft top!)

There are a couple others I have circled in the Want Ad Digest I have to call on. Hopefully I’ll at least be able to call tonight and all. That would be bonus to be able to get a couple of calls in and have the chance to maybe make a round trip and see several cars on Saturday. And if I like one, want to buy it and all, get my ass up early Monday and go get it done.

I figure this is a car I’m going to have for the next 4 or 5 years. So I want to make sure it’s something I like.

For those that might read this today. Give me some feedback through the comments link here.

– 1999 Integra (38K miles)
Is it too old? In five years, it will be 11 years old. Is it worth getting now? Any word on these cars? Mileage etc?

– 2000 Jetta (65K miles on it).
Too many miles? Will it be worth it in five years? Look elsewhere? Thoughts?

– 1998 Cabrio (40,500 miles)
Once again, too old? Is it too much of a wuss car? Is convertable worth it, or too much of a killer on the insurance? Any other thoughts?

Anyhoo, that’s where I’m at. Still looking. The loaner needs to go back in the next day or two. I’m going to rent a car for a week. So my goal is to find a new car by the end of next week. With no days off besides Friday, which is when we leave for the state softball tournament. So my goal is to find something and then be up early on one of the days and get it done.

Argh. This process sucks.