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iluvtofly

Running out of options.....

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Learn how to do more car maintenance on your own. You'd be surprised at how easy it is if you don't mind getting dirty sometimes, and guys think it's kind of sexy. Many, many problems with cars is just changing parts. You can do that.



I second this. My father taught me how to maintain and repair my car growing up (I consider myself lucky) and it's not that difficult. Get your hands on a service manual and lean on your mechanic friend (or on-line forums) for supplemental support, if you need to.

That being said, changing the oil and filter in my Mazda3 is a bitch :P... but I know how to do it, if I need to.

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Well I made it 5 miles from the office and it died. :( My friend is on his way to rescue me.



Sux. I suppose there is a possibility that the mechanic wants to see more of you. Maybe he's engineering these breakdowns.
Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

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I'm sorry, I wish there was something I could do to help. Doing my best to send positive vibes your way. Hope things get better.
Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

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Learn how to do more car maintenance on your own. You'd be surprised at how easy it is if you don't mind getting dirty sometimes, and guys think it's kind of sexy. Many, many problems with cars is just changing parts. You can do that.



I second this. My father taught me how to maintain and repair my car growing up (I consider myself lucky) and it's not that difficult. Get your hands on a service manual and lean on your mechanic friend (or on-line forums) for supplemental support, if you need to.

That being said, changing the oil and filter in my Mazda3 is a bitch :P... but I know how to do it, if I need to.


X3. Man, if I could get my wife interested in working on my Jeep... wow, where's the "all hot and bothered" emoticon?!

But I will guarantee you there are MULTIPLE websites out there about your very car. People who drive and work on your car everyday who hang out on forums just like this one and talk about it.

I got started on JeepForum.com when I bought my new-to-me-Jeep. I have since become a JeepForum addict. Working on your vehicle can be very rewarding, and in my case has definitely gotten a bit out of control, but it doesn't have to. Just take a little time to learn about what you drive.

This makes sense to me: consider how much of the total time of your week is spent in freefall or under canopy, and compare that to how much time you spend on this site learning about skydiving or socializing with other skydivers. Now, think about how much time you spend in your car and how important our vehicles are to us, and compare that to how little time we spend learning about them.

I'm not saying you need to learn how to rebuild the transmission in your vehicle or anything. But, find the resource online and get to know it so that next time something goes wrong you can pose a question there and be armed with intelligence before you get the work done. Note: don't be afraid of being a nOOb in these forums: much like our skydiving-specific forums here, the "technical" (don't let that word scare you) forums on automobile sites are notoriously flame-free.

Elvisio "give it a shot, increased my pride of ownership by 10,000 percent" Rodriguez

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Sell Jello shots at the DZ on the weekends (if they let you). I did that a few times and went home with $100.00+ profit every time. I sold them for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 and sold out way too fast. The are very cheap to make and you get to party with your friends as well.

Skydiving gave me a reason to live
I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live






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It's been a LOOOOOOOONG day since my last post about it dying.

When I posted that I was on my way to the dealership to have my friend check it out. He came and got it started again and my car limped to the dealership. When he looked at it he determined that it needs a new engine (don't feel like going into details as to why right now). A used engine is $1500 and even then with all the other problems it has it may still die in a month or 2. He said it may or may not get me home (about 60 miles). I got about half way home before it finally kicked the bucket. Managed to get it off the road. Had to wait 5 hours for my Dad to get off work and get there to call AAA for me.

While sitting there I made MANY phone calls to find out my options. My bank approved me for a $3000 car loan. Basically in order to not have 2 car payments at the same time I need to find a car for roughly $1200 then I can use the other $1800 to pay off the loan on my other, get the title and try to sell it for whatever I can get. Still looking at other options. I'm just VERY stressed out right now and can hardly think straight. I'm actually stressed enough that I can't eat. :(

So right now my car is sitting outside, completely empty and looking sad. And I'm stranded. A couple people have offered to get me out to the Farm. But I need to get all this crap figured out. Plus, I would feel horrible if someone drove all the way from the Farm to get me (a little over an hour each way). With any luck I'll get things figured out tomorrow and will get a new (to me) car.

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When he looked at it he determined that it needs a new engine (don't feel like going into details as to why right now).



For those reading, it sounds like he has diagnosed it as the timing gear from the crank shaft has snapped a few teeth, and we all know, those aren't much fun to replace. (Though, I do seem to recall it being possible on my older Chevy, so it COULD be possible on this 4 banger)

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I'm actually stressed enough that I can't eat. :(



Didn't you break down next to a krispy kreme? (and yes people, the hot sign was on)
"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

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When he looked at it he determined that it needs a new engine (don't feel like going into details as to why right now).



For those reading, it sounds like he has diagnosed it as the timing gear from the crank shaft has snapped a few teeth, and we all know, those aren't much fun to replace. (Though, I do seem to recall it being possible on my older Chevy, so it COULD be possible on this 4 banger)

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I'm actually stressed enough that I can't eat. :(



Didn't you break down next to a krispy kreme? (and yes people, the hot sign was on)


Yes I did break down next to a Krispy Kream. Tried to eat one, had 2 bites and felt like I was going to throw up. THAT stressed out right now.

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Yes I did break down next to a Krispy Kream. Tried to eat one, had 2 bites and felt like I was going to throw up. THAT stressed out right now.



Maybe not the stress. Eating any kind of donut makes me want to throw up.:P
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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Yikes girl. (((HUGS)))

Is the car loan from the bank tied to your existing car or the next car you get? If completely independent, you have some options such as buying a $500 (or less) car off Craigslist and just driving it til it dies and using the rest to either pay back more of the loan or towards other bills. Prolly can sell your existing car on there too.

If you wanna stick with a Nissan:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2471261322.html

or bigger and cheaper:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/search/cto?query=&srchType=T&minAsk=100&maxAsk=1000



Just make sure you take the Steelers sticker down as that will lower the value more. ;)

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

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But the chances of a bank giving her a loan with a default/repo on her record are pretty slim, wouldn't you think?



I wonder what would happen if it got...ummm...stolen? >:(


My wifes uncle had a bunch of cars repoed. But never had a problem get a loan for another car:S.

The banks are more intersted in takeing care of your transpotation problems than how many times your car has been repoed.

Money lenders really want your business. They have no other option to charge you a interest rate high enough (I've heard of 24%) that relfects your credit history and repo rate due to your added risk of another repo.

Don't worry be happy:)
One Jump Wonder

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For those reading, it sounds like he has diagnosed it as the timing gear from the crank shaft has snapped a few teeth, and we all know, those aren't much fun to replace. (Though, I do seem to recall it being possible on my older Chevy, so it COULD be possible on this 4 banger)



Now that you're to the point where you figured out how to pay off the old car, and get your hands on something else, you should figure out what to do with the old one.

My thoughts would be to talk to your mechanic buddy, and see if he's interested in trying to fix the motor. Not replace it, just fix it. Then you sell the car, use the proceeds to pay for the repairs, and split the profits with the mechanic.

As it sits right now, the car is DOA and will get you nothing but a couple bucks from a junkyard who will come pick it up. If your buddy can fix it, the car will be running right again, with two new cooling fans and new plugs, etc, and should be worth something.

Blue Book value on a 2000 Altima GXE with 190000 miles in 'fair' condition is $1980. You might not be able to get that much out of it, but it you clean it up and write a good Craigslist ad, you might come close.

It has some value, and even if you can only pocket $300 or $400 after repairs and splitting the profits with your buddy, that's well worth the trouble for both of you.

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Biking comes to mind as does settiong up to go car free. I've been biking to my day job for three weeks now and I'm already seeing benefits. If I can work out the logistics, I'll be car free in two years.

Edited because I can't spell "day".
Edited again becaus ei can't spell "for" or "can".
Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

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Biking comes to mind as does settiong up to go car free. I've been biking to my day job for three weeks now and I'm already seeing benefits. If I can work out the logistics, I'll be car free in two years.

Edited because I can't spell "day".
Edited again becaus ei can't spell "for" or "can".



That's really cool ... well apart from the spelling.

Working from home has much reduced my reliance on mine too. - I walk into town - cycle a lot and even take the bus - jeeze I've gone all green:)

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

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Maybe not the stress. Eating any kind of donut makes me want to throw up.:P



Flunked out of the Police Academy, didn't you.


Closest I ever came was applying for a job with the IN State PD as a radio specialist. Unfortunately, the new commander had just decreed that the radio specialist would be required to start adhering to the same dress code and wear the same uniform as the officers, even though they were just civilians with no authority. Riiigghhtt, I want to walk around looking like a cop but unarmed and with no authority.:S

Funny thing: Two of my wildest hell-raising buddies in my youth actually became cops; One a city reserve officer, and the other a regular county deputy.:D
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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Biking comes to mind as does settiong up to go car free. I've been biking to my day job for three weeks now and I'm already seeing benefits. If I can work out the logistics, I'll be car free in two years.

Edited because I can't spell "day".
Edited again becaus ei can't spell "for" or "can".



Unfortunately, she lives in one of those areas where it's a much bigger challenge to go car-free. I live somewhere where it's relatively easy, and I've planned my life so I need to do a minimum of driving and I've even thought about going car-free. My car is paid off but still has low mileage (just over 80,000) even though it's over 10 years old. So from a maintenance perspective, it's still in that sweet spot where I don't have to put a huge amount of money into it to keep it running well.

But, I figure it still costs me about $2,000/year before I even drive a mile, between garage space, registration, and insurance. I could give up the garage space, but my neighborhood has very limited parking and a lot of the property crime is car theft/break-ins. There's not a lot of personal crime, but there's some and I feel safer being able to come into my building through a secure garage at night than I do walking from a parking spot a few blocks away.

I live within close walking distance (<2 blocks) of a local bus line; within 4 blocks of a commuter bus line, and just over a mile from a BART (subway) station. I used to be able to walk to my office till it got moved, though now I can take BART there (though I don't need to go in that often, so I mostly telecommute). I can take BART to both airports that I use. I can walk to do most of my regular errands within a 1/2 mile (multiple grocery stores, drugstores, restaurants, library, etc.). All that walking is good for my health (extra exercise!) and well-being (no stress of traffic and crowded parking lots!), and it's good for the environment.

I hang onto my car for a few reasons. 1) The dropzone. 2) The places where I workout are about 3 miles away and not a great biking route, especially early in the morning (I have to pass through some semi-sketchy neighborhoods on some bike-unfriendly roadways). 3) Even though I don't use it that often, I just like to have it for when I do need/want it - some trips that I can make taking public transit are just much more efficient/faster driving. I can easily afford what I have to spend to keep it, so until /unless it becomes burdensome, I'll hang onto it. But I've no intention of buying anything new or new-to-me for a long time, and if something were to happen that the car were totaled, I might think long and hard about getting a replacement. There's a car-share service that has pickup spots right near my apartment - so for me that might be a viable option for when I need one.

For now, I'll just keep on using it only when absolutely necessary and hope that I can keep it happily running for another 10 years.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

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Yeah, I get that not everyone is in a positiion to go car free, but I feel it's high time to start putting the message out there that it's not only possible to go car free, but it's an economic advantage to do so. I certainly didn't think it was possible until I started seriously looking at just how much of a liability cars in general are and my car in particular is. I can do a lot of damage in a sushi bar with an extra $600/month for example. That and the very idea of paying an insurance company for a product that amounts ot free money for them and a rise in price if I ever have to use the product, just chaps my ass thoroughly.

Right now I'm just at the point of figurning out how to get to my photography clubs and the drop zone. Once I come up with a solution to those destinations, there will be no reason to keep the car.:)
I put in for a new job last week and If I get it, I can move to the new twon and totaly go car free. They are much more bike friendly than Baltimore is.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

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I put in for a new job last week and If I get it, I can move to the new twon and totaly go car free. They are much more bike friendly than Baltimore is.



That's awesome. I agree with you that there are a lot of people who can look at opportunities to go car-free, and the math will pencil out if they really look at it. For example you might hear "well, it's too expensive for me to live in the center of town where I can walk everywhere" but if you really do the math, the extra money you pay for housing may be more than offset by what you'll save in car ownership/operational expenses. The rise of car share services can also take away a lot of the objections people have to going car-free.

I've stopped following it as much but when I lived in Seattle I really enjoyed reading this blog - she and her husband have lived car-free lives for quite a while, even now that they have two kids. She does a great job of extolling the virtues of that lifestyle.

http://www.buschick.com/
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

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A temporary car for $1200 is hard but doable. I got myself a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee for $1200 though I had to put some work on it.

Right now I've got a brand new Elantra, which I mainly need for roadtrips / skydiving because I walk to work (only 10 minutes away) I use the subway and also have a bikeshare / autoshare (zipcar style) membership, but I eventually ended up needing my own car for roadtrips.

Please try to make it through July 4 without being too down. Happy Independence Day. There are a lot of Americans worse off than you are.

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