Car stuff

[K-G]

I would've given you a better car for a lot less than that.

I'm not gonna lie that doesn't seem like a great deal. But congrats.

How did lugz not take care of this kid?

[vtexposfan]

It's not as if I bought from the first dealer I visited. Kelley is only one of many factors to consider when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle.

-The dealer (O'Connell Motors) has been in business for several decades in a small town (and yes, Framingham is a small town.) I don't know anybody over there, but car sales is a cutthroat business, and this family has apparently done it for some time. You can't undervalue that. The free market has spoken well about these guys.

-I've owned Toyotas since 2002, and my father has driven them since 1987. I know what they do well (run) and what they don't do well (handle like shopping carts in the rain and have weak undercarriages.) The two Toyotas I've owned previously I only got rid of because the mileage was too high for the cost of repairs, not because they didn't go.

-Not that I was desperate to buy one today (the old Corolla still runs), but I didn't feel like spending another week driving a car that crunches when I brake. There's a premium for that, and according to some of you, I paid that premium today by spending more than the listed KBB value.

I combed Craigslist, Autotrader and Cars.com in search of a Toyota for under $4,000. I have to pay 15% self-employment tax, and I still owe the feds a bunch of money for 2010. There's a limit to what I'll spend on something that doesn't make money. Maybe I could have had a Corolla with 20,000 fewer miles for $5,000. But that's not what I wish to spend on a car with my current net income. I need to be in stocks, not nice cars.

I could have fixed up the one I have now to keep for myself, but why? It's just not a good play at 178K. And forget trying to sell it myself. I only asked about a trade to see what the owner/dealer would say...$150 is well below the value I would have taken for the trade. He even said to me "best I can do is sell it wholesale." Yeah? Well, the best I can do is claim it on my taxes after I give it to an auto repair school in the area.

I'm happy with my purchase. Not many frills, but it gets around. I look forward to many years of dates and trips to Saratoga and Burlington with her. And I'm happy to be giving the old one to the next generation of mechanics for study instead of dumping it with a dealer for $150.

[MCA]

Guys lets just let this one be.

[rearadmiral]

No way...

That's the first time I've heard a car referred to as having "only" 118,000 miles on it.

Best of luck vtex. Looking forward to the date stories.

[tballa55]

Wait isn't a new Carolla only $3,740?

[lugnutz]

I had no idea he was looking. My dealership takes 4-10 older Toyota in a month I could have helped. But in the end its not the deal you got its the one you think you got and if he is happy win win.

[TeeDub]

Best of luck vtex. Looking forward to the date stories.

they will appear in the dreams thread.

[mcm]

-The dealer (O'Connell Motors) has been in business for several decades in a small town (and yes, Framingham is a small town.)

Framingham is actually one of the largest towns in America. Its claim to fame other than Lou Merloni is that it was THE largest town in America about 30 yrs ago. If you count all the illegal Brazilians its probably got 150,000 people.

[vtexposfan]

Boston is a small town. Therefore, Framingham is also a small town.

[B Luc]

Boston is an incorporated city. No idea about framingham. Nor do I care.

Edit: Framingham defines itself as a Town.

[mcm]

Boston is a city, Framingham is a town.

[TeeDub]

I swear to god some of the 'discussions' we get into here are the most inane in all of the internets.

[vtexposfan]

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST I'M AWARE OF THE LEGAL INCORPORATION OF BOSTON

It's an expression. Good God.

[B Luc]

Boston is a small town. Therefore, Framingham is also a small town.

[Section 40]

Boston is a COW town.
A backwards cow town at that.