Bad idea?

[Cookie Monster]

I don't have too much money... only about $850 right now... I also don't need a car. But JWC's thread about his $500 bus got me thinking:

Should I buy an old clunker for $500  or less (could be anything really, as long as it has a manual transmission), get it home somehow, and spend the rest of my money buying parts, selling what I don't need and registering it? I have my parents' driveway to store it and I could work on it over the summer. I could also get a year or two's worth out of it before selling it back for what I bought it for.

This probably won't even happen but I want to know if it's even feasible to do it?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Judging by the way you take care of your bicycle, this is a bad idea. 

[Onslaught]

No. You can't "restore" something in a driveway. And if you don't have extra money right now then it's not the time to be buying something you don't need.
That's just what I think.

[Cookie Monster]

Judging by the way you take care of your bicycle, this is a bad idea. 

And considering the way you go through cars like people go through food, I'd say you shouldn't be talking.

And my bicycle works fine now. There's nothing wrong with it really.

[Cookie Monster]

No. You can't "restore" something in a driveway. And if you don't have extra money right now then it's not the time to be buying something you don't need.
That's just what I think.

I wasn't thinking of restoring an old Porsche or something. There's an old Saturn 5 speed something for $300. Get it to a point where it will run and drive it.

I guess it is a bad idea though.

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/cto/881866689.html

[the Teuton]

CA is a lot stricter than OH when it comes to registering cars.  My $800 car might not pass inspection over there.

Save your money.

[Cookie Monster]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/cto/881866689.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/886390706.html

[Eye of the Tiger]

Fixing an broken car is usually more expensive than buying one that is already fixed, except in the case of retaredly-priced classic collectible cars.

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/886390706.html

Aries is ready to go as is.
Saturn for $300 plus a clutch is probably more than $600. Also, a 1996 might need to have a title, or "PINK SLIP" as they call it, or you might not be able to register (depends on the state)

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/877987771.html

[Cookie Monster]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/883317130.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/880337486.html

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/883317130.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/880337486.html

Get the NOVAROLLA!!! 

[Cookie Monster]

Get the NOVAROLLA!!! 

Not the Civic?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Not the Civic?

Civic are cool

JUST GET ONE ALREADY!!!!! 

[Cookie Monster]

Civic are cool

JUST GET ONE ALREADY!!!!! 

I THOUGHT YOU JUST TOLD ME IT'S A BAD IDEA.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I THOUGHT YOU JUST TOLD ME IT'S A BAD IDEA.

IT'S NOT A $300 SATURN THAT NEEDS A CLUTCH. IT RUNS. GET IT.
I'm just sayin, the Nova looks like a better deal, with half the mileage, and it isn't in a junkyard.

[Cookie Monster]

IT'S NOT A $300 SATURN THAT NEEDS A CLUTCH. IT RUNS. GET IT.

I WANT TO. I SHOULD ASK MY PARENTS.

[Eye of the Tiger]

NOVA

[Rupert]

I paid $650 for my Novarolla, and it was fine. I paid $300 for the Volvo, and it just needed a power brake booster and a driveshaft U-joint (which brought the total to, like $900 or so). Both of those cars were shitty (well, the Novarolla was pretty decent, actually...), but both were reliable and cheap to keep (well, mostly the Novarolla...).

My advice is to not buy a car that needs real work, and not to go over the top. Don't by a "1984 Porsche 944! Totally runz and is good 2 go! $400". The Corolla and Novarolla both look OK, but the Civic is really high mileage (like the Volvo and that Jeep ).

[Eye of the Tiger]

TELL THE RENTS "I'm buying this cheap, safe, reliable, effecient, Corolla (Nova) with MY money, because I NEED a car, so STFU and go make me a sammich"

[Rupert]

I WANT TO. I SHOULD ASK MY PARENTS.

Don't do it. NOVA!

Also, yer 18? Don't ask your parents.

[Cookie Monster]

TELL THE RENTS "I'm buying this cheap, safe, reliable, effecient, Corolla (Nova) with MY money, because I NEED a car, so STFU and go make me a sammich"

Well, they'd have to pay for insurance.

I'm beginning to think this is a dumb idea. I'll have the car but no insurance or gas... I think I should wait till I get a job.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Well, they'd have to pay for insurance.

I'm beginning to think this is a dumb idea. I'll have the car but no insurance or gas... I think I should wait till I get a job.

Buy the damn car. How fucking hard is it to go to your parents and say, "I'm buying a car, can you help me with insurance?"

[Cookie Monster]

Buy the damn car. How fucking hard is it to go to your parents and say, "I'm buying a car, can you help me with insurance?"

If they say yes then of course I will buy the car...

They could cancel the insurance on their cars for me and pay way less as I'll be an uber ocassional driver. Plus I'll tell them that I won't go on the highway that much so I'll be safe.

[Eye of the Tiger]

If they say yes then of course I will buy the car...

They could cancel the insurance on their cars for me and pay way less as I'll be an uber ocassional driver. Plus I'll tell them that I won't go on the highway that much so I'll be safe.

Limited access highways are like the safest places to drive. Accidents happen at intersections.

So anyway, you PROPOSE THIS PLAN TO THEM NOW> DO IT> OR ELSE> ok?

[Cookie Monster]

Limited access highways are like the safest places to drive. Accidents happen at intersections.

So anyway, you PROPOSE THIS PLAN TO THEM NOW> DO IT> OR ELSE> ok?

I'll still go on the highway if needed... which isn't very much.

If they say no I'll tell them I'll save up for a bike instead. So it's either a rattley deathtrap or a crotch rocket.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'll still go on the highway if needed... which isn't very much.

If they say no I'll tell them I'll save up for a bike instead. So it's either a rattley deathtrap or a crotch rocket.

You won't save up for a bike, you'll buy an $800 bike right NOW if you DON"T GET UR NOVAROLLA!!!!!!!

[Cookie Monster]

You won't save up for a bike, you'll buy an $800 bike right NOW if you DON"T GET UR NOVAROLLA!!!!!!!

Righit now I can buy the bike, or get the license and the gear, just not both.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Righit now I can buy the bike, or get the license and the gear, just not both.

You're missing the point. Don't give your parents the choice of a car now, or a bike later. Give them the choice of a car now, or a bike now.
You have to play hardball.