And I mean really used. This is a tighwad tip for the experts. Wanna be tightwads need not apply.
It's been a while but you might remember the story of our van. Here it is in case you forgot: http://forums.klipsch.com/blogs/andyw/archive/2007/09/21/used-cars.aspx Now it has close to 160,000 miles. From the sound of it she needs a new set of coil-on-plug wires and a couple new suspension bushings, but I'm still in love with the cargo room.
But this time my wife's patience has truly been tried. She is the ultimate trooper. It takes a special woman to marry an engineer. But to endure this new level of tightwadedness required an undeniably unique woman indeed...
My youngest turned 4 this year, and my wife after an intolerable hiatus has returned to college. The "van" was deemed an inappopriate college commuter by my wife. Now I trust her opinion 100%, but I ran the numbers anyway -- it's what I do. Calculating the potential savings in gas over the remaining semesters at college, a budget of $2000 was an approximate "break even" point.
Well, I blew that out of the water! How about $250?
My wife probably had to take a few deep breaths. And maybe she screamed into her pillow while I wasn't looking, but there it was -- a 1999 Chevy Cavalier, teal green, 4 doors, automatic, good AC, 155,000 miles, and I know the previous owners. So what that the gas gauge doesn't work, the fan only works on high, and the engine is blown. Yes, blown.
So $400 later for a junkyard recycled engine, some tune up parts and an oil change, and $150 for a complete interior detail, ozone treatment included, and my wife has a great running $800 commuter... about what you might pay for a set of tires for a BMW. Speaking of tires it'll need two new ones before the snow flies. And my wife will tell you that I have to include the price of baby sitting she swapped for my brother in law to install the engine... he went on a Caribbean cruise with my sister.
I've been on vacation with my sister, so I know I got the better end of that deal.