On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 11:56 AM, Jason Bleazard <dml@bleazard.net> wrote:
>
> jon@dakota-truck.net wrote:
> >
> > Uh oh, this sounds like it might be serious! :-)
>
> Turns out, not so much. I was considering this:
> http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/mss/car/658580876.html
>
> In the end, I decided (again) that I'm better off sticking with what I know
> than taking risks on an unknown car. Same as last year, and the year before
> that. Seems like every year when the summer price gouging hits I start
> thinking about a smaller car, and every year I end up chickening out. It
> would be different if I didn't have any transportation, or could afford
> something new.
>
> That Escort was in pretty good condition for its age, and it would have been
> hard to beat for the price. I'm just too afraid of all the unknowns to take
> any risks that big.
Looking at that description, it looks like the major trouble spots,
the ones that would cost you big money, have already been done. New
rear brakes, new master cylinder (so one would assume new fluid as
well), new starter, new timing belt, new water pump (and thus coolant
changed). It's in a hell of a lot better shape than my '93 Acclaim
was.
It's got probably 2 years worth of tires there - maybe more. How much
longer till you have to replace tires on your '95? Those Escort tires
are a lot cheaper than the Dak's to boot, I'll bet.
Honestly, I think it's worth a second look. Did you ever get the
Carfax report? If not, I have a connection.
If you're paying $250/month NOW in gas and this thing gets twice the
mileage the Dak gets, you'll recover your purchase price in about 7
months (figuring registration, inspection, etc.). And gas is not going
to get any cheaper!
The insurance would cost next to nothing over & above the Dak, I
imagine. Might even drop, if you tell them you're not driving the Dak
regularly but keep it on the road (I have no idea how insurance works
in Canada).
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Jun 02 2008 - 00:18:52 EDT