No spot is getting to be my sweet spot. I’m pretty much done with DIY unless absolutely necessary... in the words of BB King, “The Thrill Is Gone.”
What's your "sweet spot" if you are good at DIY?
- Thread starter brages
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Spend a few bucks and get a carfax for the car you are considering to buy.
Getting my now clean and soft hands dirty bothers me now. I wear gloves more and more. I use Dawn dish soap. I wear my old work uniforms when I do any car crawlin. Since we bought the Camrys that is just oil and filters. I spent some time prepping the snow blower for?
My starting point was money. When I started looking I had 10K saved up but by time I found what I wanted a year and a half later I had close to 14k set a side but found my 08 Lucerne for $7500 with 78k.
I also wanted something that wouldn't break the bank when it needed repairs since I don't DIY. So far it's been a great purchase.
I also wanted something that wouldn't break the bank when it needed repairs since I don't DIY. So far it's been a great purchase.
Pretty much 10-12 years old but I try find something someone bought when they retired but didn’t drive much. Then their kids put it up for sale and just want it sold ASAP. I want less than 80,000 miles on it. For sure cars are much cheaper than SUV’s for the same age. I don’t get too worried if I have to change bolt-on components such as batteries, water pumps, alternators, power steering pumps, brake pads etc since they are within my capacity and patience level. No body rust tolerated.
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It is great to be in that position. For some people, needs come before likes.
Are they necessarily mutually exclusive?
For most people, wants come before needs, which explains things like being upside down, seven year car loans, failure to save or invest.
Finding a car I like, in budget, has been a consistent theme for me.
Needs before wants. Budget met. And yes, a car I like.
Not by default, but they often are.
My Prius (or similar economy car) gets me to work and my errands in the most cost-effective manner. I can afford other cars that would be much nicer for the job, but it isn't a necessary purchase.
Same here. I ordered my most recent tool box from Mellisa and Doug.
Wife gets a new vehicle every 10 years while myself runs older trucks such as the 95 in my sig. If there is a time consuming repair during cold weather we send it to a shop.
I always buy vehicles I like - there is such a variety out there that I can skip stuff that doesn't appeal to me. But I'm not picky; I like a lot of different types of vehicles.
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My sweet spot is 5-10 years old, one owner, no fleet or rental use and regular maintenance by the dealer with proof. It has to come from a place that has no winters and doesn’t salt the roads: Arizona is perfect. Granny driven if possible, maybe the lights were never even turned on! And it has to qualify for an aftermarket bumper to bumper warranty from the manufacturer.
I just bought a Ford 2014 with about 70k miles and was able to get a Ford backed premium care warranty on it for the next 5 years. That’s sweet to me. YMMV.
I just bought a Ford 2014 with about 70k miles and was able to get a Ford backed premium care warranty on it for the next 5 years. That’s sweet to me. YMMV.
Well the first Mercedes I got had under 50k and was in the 6 year range, under 20k in price. Haven't really heard of any major repairs besides the balance shaft that requires engine removal but that doesn't really apply to the year I bought. Mercedes does have a decenter number of dealers and there are several that discount 25-30%. Basically all the scan tools out there also work on Mercedes. I think if you need something specialized, then the dealer system is about $600-$800 which I don't think is too bad. But unless you're doing mods to the car, I haven't seen where having the MB Xentry system itself is required over something like Autel or iCarsoft.
I’m finding it is changing. When I was younger I was more ambitious and would tackle projects. Older now, and I don’t know what changed: much more risk adverse, worried about bricking something in my driveway. Even with spare vehicles I’m starting to get to where I’m too worried to try. Some of the threads here showing the work required to do jobs and to do diagnosis… makes me want to hang it up altogether and not do DIY.
Simple vehicle that sold lots. Has to have good parts availability and most shops should be able to tackle the job. If they screw it up then there is a good chance some other shop can make it right.
Simple vehicle that sold lots. Has to have good parts availability and most shops should be able to tackle the job. If they screw it up then there is a good chance some other shop can make it right.
What gives to make Honda easier/better? I haven’t been too impressed with our CRV for basic things (PCV replacement, intake pulling, checking trans oil). The V6 models seemed to be plagued with glass transmissions, timing belts, valve adjustments, and VCM.
When I was shopping for a car a year ago, my goal was:
125k-150k miles
$3000-$5000 miles
Goal was from a rust free area, but it didn't take long to give that up.
I do look at the cars for sale in my old hometown in Hanford, CA, as well as in SW KS or TX in areas I know people. Since I bought this car, the influx of people from CA to IA has made rust free cars much easier to locate locally.
I ended up buying my Camry locally from a dealer with 224,000 miles, as the CARFAX showed it was a one owner, all Highway miles car. The engine had the piston replacement done, so it was like a car with 100,000 miles on it. Having taken it home an noticing all the newer parts on it, I knew someone was getting a good car, so I made sure it was me.....
125k-150k miles
$3000-$5000 miles
Goal was from a rust free area, but it didn't take long to give that up.
I do look at the cars for sale in my old hometown in Hanford, CA, as well as in SW KS or TX in areas I know people. Since I bought this car, the influx of people from CA to IA has made rust free cars much easier to locate locally.
I ended up buying my Camry locally from a dealer with 224,000 miles, as the CARFAX showed it was a one owner, all Highway miles car. The engine had the piston replacement done, so it was like a car with 100,000 miles on it. Having taken it home an noticing all the newer parts on it, I knew someone was getting a good car, so I made sure it was me.....
Depends. 3rd car for fun? Doesn’t really matter.
Something I need to get me to and from work? Less than 4 years old and less than 40,000 miles. I don’t care about cost per mile (to an extent), I just want something with 4x4 or RWD biased AWD and that’s comfortable are my only real requirements.
Something I need to get me to and from work? Less than 4 years old and less than 40,000 miles. I don’t care about cost per mile (to an extent), I just want something with 4x4 or RWD biased AWD and that’s comfortable are my only real requirements.
My sweet spot is a Honda Civic with 35,000 or less miles and 3 years old. I purchased my daily driver 2012 Civic for $11,000 with 34,000 miles and it still had factory warranty. It had light hail which I had my brother fix it who owns a body shop for $1000.00. I currently have almost 114,000 miles on the vehicle without any problems. I am looking for a newer Civic however good deals are impossible to find on a 3 year old car. I would be better off buying a brand new one. My Civic runs great and I will have to wait patiently to find a great deal again. I am retired and have 3 other vehicles to drive therefore there is no big hurry. The Civic is a great all around vehicle and has served me very well. I did put the mag wheels on it with Michelin tires several years ago.
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Mid 2000s gm truck with an LS engine. Reliable and easy to work on most stuff. Just enough tech to make it convenient and easier to diagnose but without useless stuff.
I changed an EVAP part in 10 minutes the other day (including finding the right size socket) and I'm slow.
New or under 35k miles. The lower the mileage the less chance a ''mechanic'' had their hands on it previously is my current old age philosophy.
Currently have a high-end GM scan tool for my GM fleet. Used to run older Sables with 3.0 DOHC motors. I liked those old Mercs back then as Merc's have lock washers, Fords don't LOL.
Currently have a high-end GM scan tool for my GM fleet. Used to run older Sables with 3.0 DOHC motors. I liked those old Mercs back then as Merc's have lock washers, Fords don't LOL.
