The Saturn

[Crazed Vampyress]

My car is a 1993 Saturn. It's white with grey interior. I bought it in the summer of 2002 with 90-something thousand miles on it. It now has ~140 thousand on it and last week it took a shit on me. I had a couple of mechanically-inclined friends try to fix it for me, but there were unsuccessful other than a temp patch job that has the car driving, but doing so very loudly and very badly, not safe at all. Having spoken to a few mechanics and several garages I am told it is going to cost $700 (give or take) to fix the one main problem with the car, and another $200 or more for the minor things going wrong with it. I was then told by more than one mechanic that if it were their car, they would definately NOT put the money into the car because there is a good chance that the things wrong with it are early warning signs that the transmission will be next. Once that goes.... you basically don't have a car.

Its hard to explain the problems cuz i dont know shit about cars, but what the guys working on it said was something about the head gasket, power steering and... some other thing i cant remember with a weird sounding name....

So now i am left with a choice of sorts.

Should I put the money into the car and hope for the best? This will cost EVERY PENNY i have at my disposal, all my savings and i still may end up having to see if a friend can loan me a couple hundred. I am poor people, i make just enough to get by on and not much more. (Plus ive been helping a couple friends out lately who have been staying at my place and thats put even more STRAIN on my finances). If i put ALL my money into the car and it craps out in 6 months, i have no other options. I will be royally screwed.

However if i dont fix the car what choice am i left with? many have said 'get a new car' but if i cant afford to fix this one, where on earth am i going to get the money for a new one? the most i could come up with in the next few weeks is a grand.

Does anyone have any suggestions? been in this situation and come up with some genius plan? Maybe you know a place where i could get good money for my beater as a trade in? a place that sells decent cars cheap? someone you know maybe? Ill take any suggestions of any kind at this point. i have to make this decision soon and am at a total loss. all 4 of the cars ive owned in my life kinda fell into my lap at just the right time for exactly what i had to spend and so ive never been stuck like this before... i dont know where to turn or who to ask.

and i really am the stereotypical girl when it comes to cars, if its more complicated than an oil change I HAVE NO FRIGGIN IDEA and im so afraid that ill end up getting ripped off somewhere.... and my CREDIT could not be worse. i believe my credit rating is "if they find out where im at they'll show up with a shotgun"

PLEASE HELP if you can! also feel free to laugh at my pain, really. go ahead, laugh. i know youre thinking 'silly girl, knows nothing! muwahaha!' its okay, youre not totally wrong.

*sigh*

[Draco1958]

Not knowing what exactly is wrong with your car, I can't fully comment on what to do. I have a friend who is a mechanic and if I knew what was what, I could run it past him. Other option is a new car/used car. Now I understand about not having money, believe me I know. However Meade Dodge has been running a special that they advertise on TV. $1 down and payments starting at $39 a month. You may want to see if they have something you can afford. Otherwise look in the paper for a decent used car that you can come up with the money for and have a mechanic look at it for you. I found a few cars I am hoping to get, that are running in the $1500 and under range with under 80,000 miles. I know this isn't much help but I hope it can help some. Wish you the best in getting things worked out.

[Msterbeau]

Stay away from dealers unless you *really* know how to negotiate with them and understand all the intricasies of the used car business. You're very likely to pay more in the long run for a POS.

You're in a tough place. Almost any car you can buy for the amount you have will likely have things to fix.

What's wrong with the car now that makes the guys think the tranny will go soon?

[pharoh]

Marc's right, you have to be real careful dealing with these guys, they mask problems well

[Crazed Vampyress]

That is totally what im friggin afraid of... ! ! ! ! but HOW do you- uhm... Not Get Screwed?

[soothsayer]

Its hard to explain the problems cuz i dont know shit about cars, but what the guys working on it said was something about the head gasket, power steering and... some other thing i cant remember with a weird sounding name....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's prolly best that you get another car. =(

[Hellion]

:devil Shit my car is an american P.O.S. and it's about to die,(stupid overpaid engineers)LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[honeymustard02]

We bought our first car from a used dealership and it's only had one problem and that's just because it's old.

If you're unsure of putting the money into it then junk it and take that money for a down payment on something else.

We talked to a dealer a while back and he basically said that on your first new car with the loan and little credit, you're gonna get screwed. If you've got some established credit you're a little better off. But still gonna get some sort of screw over.

So either way depending how bad you want your wallets ass to hurt you're gonna get screwed :erm

[Msterbeau]

Marc's right, you have to be real careful dealing with these guys, they mask problems well

And they have the upper hand because they know what they've spent on the car.. and they have all manner of dirty practices to make you think it's worth what they're asking... or to make you think you'll "get a good deal" because the payments are what you can afford. Always be prepared to walk.

[Msterbeau]

It's prolly best that you get another car.  =(

I could(and would) do the head gasket ... and the power steering is probably not a big deal. The transmission thing is what worries me.

[Msterbeau]

That is totally what im friggin afraid of... ! ! ! !  but HOW do you- uhm... Not Get Screwed?

Do some research on buying a used car. There are a number of articles and guides on how to negotiate with salesman and the common practices they use. (The ones that aren't too kosher.) Also, if you find a car.. note the price and condition, then go home and use a site like Edmunds.com to research it and what it's worth. What you pay at the dealer should be closer to a private transaction (or less) then the dealer price. Also... the salesman will try to get you to buy NOW. Don't !! Go home, do the research, and think about it for a day. If he says an offer is only good that day. Leave.

[Crazed Vampyress]

Thank you bunches everyone, this is really helping me prepare to just accept it- Im gonna have to get a new car and I am most likely gonna have to put up with a little bit of screwing.

assuming that i find a used car NOT from a dealer... what is the best way to get rid of my old car? sell it as a cheap POS to someone else? are there places that buy dying cars, like... i dunno a junkyard or something? I suppose if i end up going thru a dealer i might get credit for it as a trade-in... but if i manage to buy from a private seller what do i do with this car?

[Rayne]

Depends on what exactly is wrong with it. When you take it to a dealership or shop ... parts are usually cheap, but they charge you up the ass for labour.

Head gasket for example. Had it replaced in my 88 Beretta. Dealership wanted $1400, shop wanted $750. Parts were $40. I did it myself, spent $45.

Even engines themselves. Same car. Engine blew (prior to the above head gasket). $5500 quotes ... $850 I did it myself.

Now, not to get screwed in buying a new car. BE INFORMED. If you can't do that, take someone with you who is. Car sales people assume women know nothing ... I should know.

Should you decide to fix the car you have ... I could possibly do it for you. Depending on what's wrong with it and how much time it would take. PM me if needed.

Old car ... if you should decide to rid yourself of it ... put it up in auction, sell it outright to some teenager for their first car, hell, I know someone who buys cars like that, fixs them and sells them again. I might could hook you up with that.

[Msterbeau]

Good Points... Maybe fix what absolutely has to be dealt with and then sell. You might get some reasonable money to spend on the next car.

Heheh... Rayne and I will fix it... Hehhe..

Please find out what they said about the transmission. I'm interested to know what that's about.

[Rayne]

Heheh... Rayne and I will fix it...  Hehhe..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, that should be fun!

[Crazed Vampyress]

a couple friends of mine who are mechanically (one of them works in a garage and they both do all their own car mainenance) inclined tried to fix the head gasket for me last week, they had the car for 3 days and were unable to take care of the head gasket because of the way the engine is. from what they said you basically have to take the half the engine out cuz of how saturns are built....

[Rayne]

they had the car for 3 days and were unable to take care of the head gasket because of the way the engine is. from what they said you basically have to take the half the engine out cuz of how saturns are built....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No offense, but are you sure they know what they are talking about?

That's normal. You usually have to take half the engine off ... no big deal with the proper tools ... and an engine hoist (which I have).

[Msterbeau]

No offense, but are you sure they know what they are talking about?

That's normal. You usually have to take half the engine off ... no big deal with the proper tools ... and an engine hoist (which I have).

You don't need a hoist to pull the head... Two people is nice.

Yeah... I think your friends are nor so much the geniuses with cars if they can't figure out how to pull the head.

[Rayne]

You don't need a hoist to pull the head...  Two people is nice. 

Yeah... I think your friends are nor so much the geniuses with cars if they can't figure out how to pull the head.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You forget ... I'm used to doing it alone. I, alone, need a hoist.

... and I agree, of course.

[Msterbeau]

You forget ... I'm used to doing it alone. I, alone, need a hoist.

... and I agree, of course.

So you need to go to the gym... :whistling

[Rayne]

So you need to go to the gym...  :whistling

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well ... hmm ... when I replaced the engine, I was 7 months pregnant with my oldest daughter. Head gasket, I was 6 months with my oldest son ... I might could do it now without ...

[Msterbeau]

Well ... hmm ... when I replaced the engine, I was 7 months pregnant with my oldest daughter. Head gasket, I was 6 months with my oldest son ... I might could do it now without ...

Excuses excuses...

*Runs*

[Rayne]

Excuses excuses...

*Runs*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... You better run! ... I know where you live. :whistling :fear :devil :grin

[Head Wreck]

i am a numptie with cars but having a habit of buying part exe'd cars from the dealership and fixing niggles for a cheap motor i can tell you that head gasgate jobs depend very much on the engine that in them and how long the gasgate has been sown for.

do not rely on these silly "instant gasgate" pastes they flog. you might as well go without.

power steering racks... BIG job, and often not worth the effort (wanted to put a ps rack in my first 306 as the damn cars are heavy without the 2 litre diesels i prefer, not worth effort atr all in those cars)

i'd have a look around in any freeadds etc. for a reasonable car tbh. and ask a friendly mechanic or a mechanicly minded froend advice on the models and to come with you to inspect the car so you dont get any nasty suprises 3 miles down the road.

[soothsayer]

I could(and would) do the head gasket ... and the power steering is probably not a big deal.  The transmission thing is what worries me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

While it's true that those can be taken care of, and yes the trans problem worries me *$$$$$* it's mostly everything combined that made me suggest a new car. It is one thing to fix car problems one at a time over a long period but to have many things break all at once - I'd just get another one but that's of course my opinion.