So I testdrove a...

[Raza]

Oh, I'm not arguing the practicality at all.  I'm in full agreement there.  In fact, I myself could really use a larger car right now.

Oh I missed my point.  Or I didn't.  It's been many drinks.

In any case, the Protege5 is a wagon.  Wouldn't he get a bit of a break on that, insurance-wise?

[2o6]

Oh I missed my point.  Or I didn't.  It's been many drinks.

In any case, the Protege5 is a wagon.  Wouldn't he get a bit of a break on that, insurance-wise?

Not always. The Passat would be cheaper to insure than the Protege.

[CALL_911]

Not always. The Passat would be cheaper to insure than the Protege.

What does that have to do with anything?

[The Pirate]

Not always. The Passat would be cheaper to insure than the Protege.

With my provider (in NYS), they were about the same.  But yes, a Passat was a bit cheaper.

[Raza]

Not always. The Passat would be cheaper to insure than the Protege.

I believe that.  But can he find a reasonable Passat at this price?

[The Pirate]

Oh I missed my point.  Or I didn't.  It's been many drinks.

In any case, the Protege5 is a wagon.  Wouldn't he get a bit of a break on that, insurance-wise?

I don't know how insurance works in his locale.  Of all the quotes I received, there was little difference between an ES and a P5.

[2o6]

I believe that.  But can he find a reasonable Passat at this price?

1998 and Up.


He could find numerous jettas for this much, golfs too.

[2o6]

What does that have to do with anything?

Why are you always in a pissy mood?

[CALL_911]

Why are you always in a pissy mood?

I'm not, but seriously, what does it have to do with anything?

[Raza]

1998 and Up.


He could find numerous jettas for this much, golfs too.

Before the MkVs, Jettas and Golfs were hit or miss.  The likelihood of a miss is too much for someone with a limited budget, generally

[2o6]

Before the MkVs, Jettas and Golfs were hit or miss.  The likelihood of a miss is too much for someone with a limited budget, generally

$10,000 is limited?


It seems like a civic or corolla is what he's looking for.

[2o6]

I'm not, but seriously, what does it have to do with anything?

read the posts.

[Raza]

$10,000 is limited?


It seems like a civic or corolla is what he's looking for.

Who says 10 grand is the budget?  He says he has 10 grand.  I wouldn't blow m life savings on a car right before college.

[CALL_911]

read the posts.

I can't find the part where the Passat and the Protege are being compared. Hmm.

Whatever.

[The Pirate]

$10,000 is limited?


It seems like a civic or corolla is what he's looking for.

$10K is not his car budget.  That's what he has in liquid assets.  He wants to spend as little as possible, while still getting a decent vehicle.

[2o6]

I can't find the part where the Passat and the Protege are being compared. Hmm.

Whatever.

I did. So there. Stop being difficult.

[2o6]

$10K is not his car budget.  That's what he has in liquid assets.  He wants to spend as little as possible, while still getting a decent vehicle.

.....Ok, Maybe I would sell the Prelude then.

[CALL_911]

I did. So there. Stop being difficult.

I'm not even going to argue. That argument says it all.

But anyway, I think this P5 sounds like a great deal, and it will be a lot more useful in college than the Prelude. For $3K, it probably doesn't get much better.

[TBR]

Tim, before you start shopping around for cars like you have been in the last little while, maybe you should sit down and make a list of pros and cons (maybe with your parents) and decide whether or not it's a logical thing to do. Decide whether or not a new car is a good idea before you start looking for them, because believe it or not, you will find the perfect car and then it will piss you off when you can't buy it.

I wasn't really shopping, I just saw a for sale sign on it and stopped.

[TBR]

He essentially spends $3000 to get a newer car with fewer miles that is more practical (and perhaps cheaper to insure) than his current car, without an appreciable loss of performance (or possibly even a gain).  He has $10,000 in the bank. 

Seems like a no-brainer.

No, at that point I have roughly $6500 in the bank (after taxes, registration, and a ppi) and an insurance bill that would be, at a minimum, twice what it is now. In practicality the Protege has all of 2,000 miles less than the Prelude.

If I was going to buy a new car, this Protege5 would have been the one. I agree that it would be nice to have a more practical car, but, ultimately, I just don't have much crap.

It's a done deal, I scheduled a MT fluid change Tuesday; I am buying spark plugs, wires, and probably a cheap intake tomorrow; and I will be taking it to an independent mechanic sometime next week to get the vacuum leak and short in the ignition system found and fixed.

[TheIntrepid]

I wasn't really shopping, I just saw a for sale sign on it and stopped.

You do that every now and then. You're shopping, dude.

[TBR]

You do that every now and then. You're shopping, dude.

No, I am a car enthusiast and that is what car enthusiasts do.

[TheIntrepid]

No, I am a car enthusiast and that is what car enthusiasts do.

... no. Just no. We fantasize about what we want next but we don't actually sit down and think finances every time a new used car pops up.

[TBR]

I don't think finances even close to every time a new car comes up. Half the time when I stop it isn't a car that I would seriously consider buying, even without money being an issue. If I see something interesting, or that could be interesting, then I stop. Most of the time when I see something that I would buy and could afford I just pass on it. This particular time it just happened to be a very good deal on a car that I have wanted for quite sometime. I couldn't resist pursuing it further.

[TBR]

Since I bought the Prelude this is only the second car I test drove (first was a Miata in bad condition) and, besides those two, I have only attempted to set-up test drives on two others (an older Integra in excellent condition and a Neon).

[Raza]

No, I am a car enthusiast and that is what car enthusiasts do.

You're barking up the wrong tree, dude.

[Middle_Path]

... no. Just no. We fantasize about what we want next but we don't actually sit down and think finances every time a new used car pops up.

That's a bummer. I'm actually at looking to get a commuter car for around $7k. The only thing that seems to pop up that are worthwhile are Protege's. I'm looking at a PR5(protege wagon) right now with low miles. Civics and Corollas seem so overpriced comparatively. I am going to look at a Civic tomorrow with a rebuilt tranny for super cheap, but really I'm holding out for a Miata. I know, that makes me a fag.

[The Pirate]

... no. Just no. We fantasize about what we want next but we don't actually sit down and think finances every time a new used car pops up.

Yeah, we do.  I crunch numbers on a new car at least once a month.

[TBR]

The Prelude really dodged a bullet, that prospective buyer (a co-worker) mentioned that he found a lambo door kit for it.

[TBR]

Another person just offered to buy the thing (the thing being the Prelude). This is really pissing me off.