An old friend leaves soon

[Kira]

Just minutes ago I got the 'go-ahead' to sell my neighbor's 2010 Honda Accord 2.4. auto.

I've been caring for this car for years. It has 127K, silver, cloth, 4 door, no sun roof, alloys, snow drift wrinkled RR door (no paint damage), new battery, starter. Recent brakes, tires, refreshed coolant, PS fluid, transmission fluid. Headlight lenses need a polish. Solid exhaust.
A wheel bearing might be going. I hear something.
KBB private sale GOOD = $6,000 to $7,100. Calling it VERY GOOD adds $800 to the range.
Cars.com prices (all dealers, 200 mi. radius) are all $9,999.

I told my wife's friend (seeking car for grandson) about it. She's ridden 25 miles in it.
Some here might recall her neighbor's 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis which I got running. That car had too many impending problems for a young driver.

I'm just super happy that a good person has a "first shot" at a good car.

 

[Imp4]

I'm just super happy that a good person has a "first shot" at a good car.

This was a huge impediment for me.
I went through 3 or 4 absolute beaters because I couldn't afford anything else. And I certainly wasn't going to get help from anyone in my family.

It's really expensive to own true beaters. They're always costing you disposable income to keep running. And when the darn thing doesn't start it costs you because you miss work.

I'm glad you're helping someone close to you. I'm doing the same for the people around me.

 

[ecotourist]

When my vehicles are due for replacement, they'll still be running quite well. I like to pass them on to family members and friends who need a vehicle, for about half of what they're worth. As part of the purchase they get complete disclosure of everything I know that's wrong with them.

 

[Passport1]

I have a different approach to the car conundrum. I almost never let go of a vehicle; wife gets a new one and I hang on to the old one. This means I have too many older cars. Now I maintain them and they all run well, none of them get driven much. I rotate each driving about three/four a week. At ~ 12K miles/year each sees 2 or 3K/year. Failure rate decreases and even then plenty of backup. Insurance and license fees are the bulk of my expenses.

Not an orthodox solution for sure.

 

[atikovi]

Just minutes ago I got the 'go-ahead' to sell my neighbor's 2010 Honda Accord 2.4. auto.

I've been caring for this car for years. It has 127K, silver, cloth, 4 door, no sun roof, alloys, snow drift wrinkled RR door (no paint damage), new battery, starter. Recent brakes, tires, refreshed coolant, PS fluid, transmission fluid. Headlight lenses need a polish. Solid exhaust.
A wheel bearing might be going. I hear something.
KBB private sale GOOD = $6,000 to $7,100. Calling it VERY GOOD adds $800 to the range.
Cars.com prices (all dealers, 200 mi. radius) are all $9,999.

Man, I should bring cars up your way to sell. That wouldn't bring anywhere that much around here.

A little more miles and some damage too for $2500, https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/755647692532974/

2 years news with a little more miles, $4500. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/781806906356733/

 

[svtrit]

When my vehicles are due for replacement, they'll still be running quite well. I like to pass them on to family members and friends who need a vehicle, for about half of what they're worth. As part of the purchase they get complete disclosure of everything I know that's wrong with them.

Funny, as I am similar. I’ve actually wondered which family member will end up with my recently purchased Rogue someday. Probably my daughter in a couple of years since she got my 230k mile Camry last year.

My middle son got my 16 Rogue and my oldest got our 98 Escort ZX2 when he left. That was a cool little car that was sent to an early grave due to rust.

Oh to be normal and not always think about cars, and what the next one may be….

 

[chrlsful]

Just minutes ago I got the 'go-ahead' to sell my neighbor's 2010 Honda Accord 2.4. auto.

I've been caring for this car for years. It has 127K, silver, cloth, 4 door, no sun roof, alloys, snow drift wrinkled RR door (no paint damage), new battery, starter. Recent brakes, tires, refreshed coolant, PS fluid, transmission fluid. Headlight lenses need a polish. Solid exhaust.
A wheel bearing might be going. I hear something.
KBB private sale GOOD = $6,000 to $7,100. Calling it VERY GOOD adds $800 to the range.
Cars.com prices (all dealers, 200 mi. radius) are all $9,999.

I told my wife's friend (seeking car for grandson) about it. She's ridden 25 miles in it.
Some here might recall her neighbor's 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis which I got running. That car had too many impending problems for a young driver.

I'm just super happy that a good person has a "first shot" at a good car.

250K mi is our average (Toy, Honda, Ford truck).
IDo Not agree it's expensive to own an (well, beater, yes) older car. As soon as something needs maintenence I do it (that's nota 'beater'). All gets checked every 3K mi (OCI) while on the lift. CC oil level ck, tire air -every other gas fill (all ways on empty). They get the fluid
film spray underneath 2X yr, salt washed off at the car wash after a storm in winter... I'm not as futsy as the europeans (play w/car each wk end) pretty much do as listed herein.
A beater may B expensive (car one drives into the ground w/o attention to needs). Preventitive maintenence is the way. A car is justa nother systen. Componenets last a given time. Maintaining helps each last longer. Asa system there's always some prts newer than others. Even ina 5 y/o car. Replace when needed as a system each prt effects all the others ...

 

[Kira]

I'm completely with you on your maintenance / use schemes for cars.

The thing is, for many people, surprises are a killer. It all gets filed under "reliability". In the case of my wife's friend's grandson, the boy's father isn't at all mechanically inclined. He's so bad, he wasn't aware that basketballs could be pumped up. The grandma is mechanically clueless-very smart (educated in and retired from business management and economics) and a competent communicator, but a zero in the stuff that goes clank-clank.

One of the real disappointments regarding her neighbor's 2000 Mercury was the owner's depth of understanding regarding condition and figuring what to charge. She wanted some kind of payday and all she could say was,"I'll call my son".
I was hoping that she'd give the crate to the kid. Remember, this 90 year old owner kept referring to the failing 75 month old battery as, "The new battery I put in it". I never did learn if an asking price was reached, the vehicle donated or if she ever spoke to her son.

Had the car been real cheap, grandma could've lived with progressive maintenance. It was the direction I promoted. I never did learn the exact amount she wanted.

 

[chrlsful]

yes, not every 1 hasa friend w/a lift, is poor but handy, listens for new noises (all the senses inc the cents in side the head), knows what a new smell is from. BUT
others can develop a relationship w/a mechanic they trust, can go in every 3, 4 mo, play total ignorance & "have it all done" for them. My ex never checks the oil, does anything besides fills the gas tank. She is in constant anxiety abt the car & uses the dealer for everything. I dont think she has owned a car over 3 or 4 yr old (drivin 50 yrs?). Dumps it for a new as she thinks it'll B too expensive to keep runnin and one that old is falling apart precipitously. I'm the 1st to admit my way is not the only way...

Sure wrks good over at my house, tho~

 

[Kira]

I tabulated the car's maintenance / repair receipt history.
2010 Honda Accord 4 Door LX-P
VIN: 1HGCP2F41AA012427
Original invoice: Vehicle $19,700, + remote start $399, - trade in $1,600 = $18,499,
+ sales tax $1,294.93, + motor vehicle tire fee $7.50, + document fee $199 = $20,000.43 TOTAL.

MAINTENANCE RECORD:
DATE ODO TASK SHOP $
7/16/10 4,916 OC + fluids Ideal 40.45
12/16/10 9,787 OC Midas 24.60
6/24/11 14.847 OC, Rotate Tires Midas 24.60
10/27/11 20.099 OC Midas 24.60
4/4/12 25,420 OC, Rotate Tires, CAF Midas 80.75
8/29/12 30,309 OC, Rotate Tires Midas 24.60
3/1/13 35,019 OC, Rotate Tires, Battery test Midas 24.60
7/26/13 40,582 OC, Rotate Tires, AF Midas 46.20
8/9/13 41,146 Brake Inspection Ideal 24.40
10/11/13 43,272 4 Tires (Firestones) OE was Michelin Hudson 498.20
1/6/14 45,462 Battery E & A’s Friendly Serv. 144.45
1/6/14 45,475 OC + fluids Ideal 40.45
5/30/14 45,584 OC Midas 24.60
7/29/14 49,222 Rear Pads “Chuck’s” 210.00
10/24/14 54,452 OC, Wiper Blades Midas 56.59
6/1/15 60,200 OC, RT, Trans. + PS D&F AF, CAF, Techron, Inspect ME 325.00
6/30/15 60,450 Rear Pads ME 125.00
10/31/15 66,5xx OC + fluids, RT, PS D&F, Inspect ME 60.00
5/15/16 72,350 OC, RT, Bhttps://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/members/kira.37624/attery Serv., Radiator D&F, GMD 80.00
10/4/16 77,501 OC, RT, Remove Screw from tire, ME 50.00
5/16/17 82,140 OC, RT, Inspect Suspension ME 62.00
8/2/17 84,646 Wiper Blades ME 38.62
10/13/17 87,415 OC, RT, Brake fluid D&F, “Battery @ 50%” ME 60.00
11/1/17 88,000 Battery, AF, CAF, Remove + Clean AF Housing ME 175.00
4/18/18 93,780 OC + fluids, Install Fumoto Valve F-106 ME 85.00
10/17/18 99,640 OC, Plugs (NGK 5787) Trans.+ Rad. D&F, CAF, Techron ME 200.00
11/1/18 100,940 4 Tires (Fuzion) ~57K on previous Firestone tires Hudson 385.59
4/10/19 105,591 OC, Techron ME 42.00
4/19/19 105,900 Wiper Blades Ideal 31.99
6/6/19 106,973 R.R. Walmart Hit ‘n Run (body work) Brookside 423.26
8/20/19 109,650 Front End Inspection Hackensack Spring ?
9/20/19 110,841 OC ME 40.00
4/22/20 114,869 OC, AF, 2 Valve Caps ME 50.00
7/14/20 115,369 Tensioner + Belt, First report of pedal mishaps Honda dealership 658.24
8/3/20 115,379 Starter Replacement Ideal 613.43
4/10/21 116,938 OC + fluids, Hood Strut Clip ME 49.40
5/20/21 117,508 4 Wheel Balance Hackensack Spring 85.30
6/15/21 117,806 Body Paint Touch Up Venice Auto Body 133.28
1/23/22 120,056 Battery -24 mo. Free Replacement G24F (Advance AP) ME 170.59
4/29/22 120,355 OC, Techron ME 56.45
9/19/22 120,803 clean out ME


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I've thought out several "lessons" for the kid as this will be his first car.
One will be the importance of regular fluid changes.
Another will be to drive home the inevitability of maintenance. "See this list? Keep it going at roughly the same pace."
Another will be to point out the 7/14 'pad slap' didn't last a year.

That the original owner never kept gas records is more proof of how cheap our fuel is.
I'll see if I can induce the kid into doing that.
If he doesn't, I'll post the next "kids are garbage now-a-days" thread.

There were periods when the OO drove >60 miles/day but 30-33 was the most commonly encountered average.
With his aging and the pandemic the number went down to day. This is when his battery failed due to disuse and I began to drive it once a week to do errands.
That one day/week positively impacted my car's numbers. The numbers really do jump out at you.

THIS JUST IN: The lad lives blocks away from his grandma. Her neighbor is the trusted mechanic everybody in that nabe goes to.
Alas, the old guy (I never met him) sold the business. I guess I'll continue seeing my old friend.

edit: This website ignores spaces. I had the table all lined up and pretty.

 

[chrlsful]

Your "6/6/19" hit'n run is usually the other way around ( + not - ) as I make money from the insurance company.
8^ )