A 'lil HooHaa

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.

Finding a car is a bunch of shit. Shit I tell ya!

See, here’s the thing. My engine went, well, is almost gone anyway. For those that have read my one post on the regular message board.

The local dealer says he can’t find what I want. Which basically starts at a 5-speed, and then I’m open from there. He pretty much dropped it back in my lap.

I found a car I like, 5-speed, private party for like 6,300 bucks. I’m now waiting for a call back to tell me if it’s available or not still. I’m really hoping so and then maybe I’ll have a chance to get up and look at it like Saturday. That’s the problem. I have to work the rest of the week and it’s an hour away.

Finding cars sucks.

Now then, I saw a couple. One was a decent price. A 2001 Kia Sportage. (It’s not the one I’m waiting to hear back on.) I’ve read too many crappy things about it, although it looks like a decent vehicle. And it’s 4WD.

Ahhh well, the life of finding a car. I’m sure I’ll be posting more here as my search picks up. And if I find a new car. Argh!