Calling it quits.

[CALL_911]

Whoa, you need to buy that BMW.

[J86]

You guys really love CC...

When I made trips between here and NJ (roughly 10-12 hours, dunno exact mileage), I must've used cruised like 5-10% of the time 

And I'm thinking about calling it quits on my car too but I can't not have a car because of my job right now 

I hear that.  I drove many thousands of miles of highway over the last four years (16 hours+ each weekend) and maybe used cruise 5% of the time, generously.  Maybe it'sbecause my first car enver had it so I never got used to it.

[BimmerM3]

Oh man, cruise control is great for longer drives.

Also, what the hell are you doing driving 16+ hours every weekend? I used to do ~7 every weekend, but damn.

[Rich]

Yeah, I know all that.

I don't know what I was thinking test driving that thing. From the first time I saw it I knew I would love it. Then I talked to the guy, heard the price, and knew it could actually happen. We'll see.

The biggest problem with that Focus (and I am dead serious): no cruise.

www.grassrootsgarage.com

Dan's a great guy, pm me if you want details

[AutobahnSHO]

YOU CAN INSTALL AFTERMARKET CRUISE CONTROL.
http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/?gclid=COqfnabsvp0CFUpK2godElfqTw
I'm sure there are better deals out there, too.

Just sayin'. Don't let that be the only thing to mess up a good deal.

[TBR]

www.grassrootsgarage.com

Dan's a great guy, pm me if you want details

Hmm...really looking for a mechanic closer to W-S, you don't remember if they have a loaner car, do you?

[TBR]

YOU CAN INSTALL AFTERMARKET CRUISE CONTROL.
http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/?gclid=COqfnabsvp0CFUpK2godElfqTw
I'm sure there are better deals out there, too.

Just sayin'. Don't let that be the only thing to mess up a good deal.

Didn't think about that for some reason. Has anyone ever done it themselves before? How difficult is it?

[Raza]

Yeah, I know all that.

I don't know what I was thinking test driving that thing. From the first time I saw it I knew I would love it. Then I talked to the guy, heard the price, and knew it could actually happen. We'll see.

The biggest problem with that Focus (and I am dead serious): no cruise.

No cruise control!?  That sucks.  Cruise is like the hottest shit ever.  For a daily driver that sees a lot of highway use, it's a must.  People can make fun, but it makes a huge difference in comfort and gas mileage, and it keeps your speed from dropping around bends. 

Get the BMW.

[Rich]

Hmm...really looking for a mechanic closer to W-S, you don't remember if they have a loaner car, do you?

He doesn't 

So I guess thats out...

but Thomasville isn't that far away, it might take 45 min or so to get there with traffic

[TBR]

He doesn't 

So I guess thats out...

but Thomasville isn't that far away, it might take 45 min or so to get there with traffic

My Honda mechanic is in Kernersville, so I don't mind driving for a good mechanic, but I am not going to ask someone else to follow me that far in order to bring me back to campus.

And, actually, the Focus was in Thomasville. If I buy a "new" car, this will be the one. There was a slight crunch in the suspension going over speed bumps, so I'll definitely have a PPI done, but it's looking pretty likely.

[2o6]

I wouldn't touch the BMW. Yes it's an excellent driver's car, but I would be weary of the price of General matinence.

[TBR]

I wouldn't touch the BMW. Yes it's an excellent driver's car, but I would be weary of the price of General matinence.

I don't think it'd be as bad as most of you all seem to think. More than a Focus, sure, but probably not more than the Prelude. The E36 is a very reliable car, and this particularly one has been well maintained and is the last year. But, it probably isn't going to happen regardless.

[J86]

Oh man, cruise control is great for longer drives.

Also, what the hell are you doing driving 16+ hours every weekend? I used to do ~7 every weekend, but damn.

Exaggeration, but not by much!  I raced (boats) in college and we were based in upstate New York, competing each weekend from New Hampshire down to Virginia.  I know a fair bit about 12 passenger vans and minivans   NYC was 5 hours one way, Annapolis was 6, Western Shore of MD where we raced alot was 8, ODU down in Virginia 12...down and back = a lot of time in the van!

[BimmerM3]

Exaggeration, but not by much!  I raced (boats) in college and we were based in upstate New York, competing each weekend from New Hampshire down to Virginia.  I know a fair bit about 12 passenger vans and minivans   NYC was 5 hours one way, Annapolis was 6, Western Shore of MD where we raced alot was 8, ODU down in Virginia 12...down and back = a lot of time in the van!

Well damn, fair enough. I was just driving back to Atlanta every weekend when I lived in Huntsville. That's 3.5hrs each way, so 7 hours a weekend plus whatever I drove when I was at home.

[sportyaccordy]

6-7K?

Maxima, E36, 240SX, newer Prelude. Why would u get a damn GM sedan from the 90s???

[2o6]

6-7K?

Maxima, E36, 240SX, newer Prelude. Why would u get a damn GM sedan from the 90s???

What? He's looked at two cars: A Focus and a 3-series.

[S204STi]

What? He's looked at two cars: A Focus and a 3-series.

RE-read the OP.

[CALL_911]

I still say E36 FTW.

[TBR]

Well my dad thinks I should just keep the Prelude and avoid driving it (which seems to defeat the point to me, but whatever). I'll probably just wait a couple of months, get some more money saved, and then buy something.

[ifcar]

Well my dad thinks I should just keep the Prelude and avoid driving it (which seems to defeat the point to me, but whatever). I'll probably just wait a couple of months, get some more money saved, and then buy something.

Yeah, I'd sell it while it's still worth something and go car-free for any period of time you wouldn't be driving.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yeah, I'd sell it while it's still worth something and go car-free for any period of time you wouldn't be driving.

A Prelude in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[sportyaccordy]

I would get a second opinion. It's not that hard for a competent shop to change bushings.

[the Teuton]

Yeah, I'd sell it while it's still worth something and go car-free for any period of time you wouldn't be driving.

It has 320k on it. Other than the fact that it's a Honda, it has no value left to it. Call me cheap, but I wouldn't pay over a grand for a Prelude with that many miles on it.

I'm sure he could get more for it, but that's a hell of a lot of miles for any car, much less a Honda.

[TBR]

I would get a second opinion. It's not that hard for a competent shop to change bushings.

He's only charging $150 for labor, the other $650 is for parts.

[S204STi]

Ouchy.

[TBR]

It has 320k on it. Other than the fact that it's a Honda, it has no value left to it. Call me cheap, but I wouldn't pay over a grand for a Prelude with that many miles on it.

I'm sure he could get more for it, but that's a hell of a lot of miles for any car, much less a Honda.

358k actually. And it's worth more than $1000.

The engine only has 120k on it and it looks very clean. When I go to sell it I'll probably ask $2500-3000 depending on how much worse it gets. Honestly, the noise isn't really noticeable, I'm just really anal about maintenance.

I am not going to drive it until it dies or anything; I'll keep it long enough to appease my dad and then move on. Figure February.

[TBR]

Ouchy.

Rather, that's what it would have been. Assuming the struts wouldn't have to be replaced.

The guy is a really good, honest mechanic. I have been through many and he's only the second one I have found that I feel is both competent and trustworthy (but he's cheaper than the other one, plus the other one is in TX).

[Rupert]

358k actually. And it's worth more than $1000.

The engine only has 120k on it and it looks very clean. When I go to sell it I'll probably ask $2500-3000 depending on how much worse it gets. Honestly, the noise isn't really noticeable, I'm just really anal about maintenance.

I am not going to drive it until it dies or anything; I'll keep it long enough to appease my dad and then move on. Figure February.

I will be curious to know how much you get for it in the end. 358 kmiles is a butt-ton for any car.

[Submariner]

358k actually. And it's worth more than $1000.

The engine only has 120k on it and it looks very clean. When I go to sell it I'll probably ask $2500-3000 depending on how much worse it gets. Honestly, the noise isn't really noticeable, I'm just really anal about maintenance.

I am not going to drive it until it dies or anything; I'll keep it long enough to appease my dad and then move on. Figure February.

Even with the engine being 120k miles old, you have to remember that the suspension is 350k miles old, the frame is 350k miles old, the interior is 350k miles old, the body is 350k miles old...and the transmission, did that come with the new engine or was the new engine bolted onto the old transmission?

I'd say 1500 MAX, and only on a good day. 

[Tave]

No way in hell I would pay 3 grand for it if I was in the market for a Prelude.