2o6 Flip Car thread!

[2o6]

OK, cost anaysis on the Yaris. It was kind of an impulse buy, but for $1200 and a 2007 Yaris sedan, with an automatic, it's an easy sell. The engine is also cheaper than the Vibe.


Stats -


2007 Toyota Yaris Sedan, it's a base model but it still has power locks and windows. I think it has ABS, but I'm not sure. It's an automatic. It doesn't even have a tachometer!

$1200 - Purchase Price

$100 (ish) - tax/title/registration

$600 (plus tax) - engine

$500 - engine install

$120 - Detail. It needs it. The car is on a farm, and spent it's life as a "throwaway car" for farmland, OH. The interior is in good shape, but it's got dirt, pebbles, etc. all over the car.

Total budget - $2520


KBB Value - $4166 to $3850

Projected profit - $1646 - $1330.

[12,000 RPM]

Who do you get to do your engine installs

[2o6]

Who do you get to do your engine installs

Little Vietnamese guy that used to be a Master tech for Toyota, but now works at a Honda dealer. I pay him anywhere from $450-650 for an engine put in, and he can usually have it back on the road in about a day.



I met him through one of my gay car friends, and he told me to hit him up if I ever needed work. He's super reliable, stands by his work and he can usually get me the "hookup" on any Honda or Toyota fluids or accessories the car would need.

[Madman]

Little Vietnamese guy that used to be a Master tech for Toyota, but now works at a Honda dealer. I pay him anywhere from $450-650 for an engine put in, and he can usually have it back on the road in about a day.



I met him through one of my gay car friends, and he told me to hit him up if I ever needed work. He's super reliable, stands by his work and he can usually get me the "hookup" on any Honda or Toyota fluids or accessories the car would need.

B-bu-but....How can this be?

Shippy told us "Foreign" mechanics aren't as good as real red-blooded "Murrican ones?!?!?

I don't understand this world anymore!   

[2o6]

Better pics of the Yaris

[giant_mtb]

Have fun stain-chasin' on the seats.

[shp4man]

Where do these $600 engines come from? Junkyard? Maybe I should try this. 

And Jesus, Madman, give it up...

[CaminoRacer]

Have fun stain-chasin' on the seats.

Just throw some Mexican blankets on them and call it good.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Where do these $600 engines come from? Junkyard? Maybe I should try this. 

And Jesus, Madman, give it up...

There are some online places that specialize in Used Engines and Transmissions! Small 4 Pots are usually in that price range.

[2o6]

There are some online places that specialize in Used Engines and Transmissions! Small 4 Pots are usually in that price range.

Yea. Depends on the demand of the motor. If something isn't really known for breaking, it's cheaper. I almost bought a V6 Accord that needed an engine - a used Honda J30 is only $300.

[2o6]

OK, updates on these two cars

- The Vibe's front tires are super dry rotted, flat spotted

- The Vibe may need front brakes

- the Yaris def needs an engine

- The yaris driver's door lock cylinder is broken

- the yaris may have been in a driver's side (not front, but side) accident of some sort at some point in time. However, it looks to be repaired well, so the only ones who can tell would be me.

- it looks like the Yaris engine has been replaced before

- The yaris had a fram oil filter. Arent these notirous for failing and ruining everything?

[2o6]

Oh, and the cat on the vibe is empty. If the car throws a code, I'll replace it.

[shp4man]

Your lucky you aren't in California. Fram filters are generally low quality, but there are some people that won't change the oil until the little red "genie light" comes on. 

[2o6]

Your lucky you aren't in California.

Yeah, we don't have smog in this county.


Even if it does fail, that's another roughly $160 for a direct fit ebay cat.

[CaminoRacer]

I've used Fram filters for years with no issues. But I also seem to change the oil every 3000 miles or less.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I've used Fram filters for years with no issues. But I also seem to change the oil every 3000 miles or less.

Same here! I like the grippy bottom!

[2o6]

I seem to have a common theme here

I bought another Vibe. I had it towed about 100 miles to my house.


2003 and 130K. Motor threw a rod.


The car is similar to the white one I sold in March, but this car was more expensive. However, it is not white. White Toyotas have the shittiest paint known to man, and after 6-7 years the clearcoat falls off and it's really chalky.


The body is pretty good, and it's got identical options to the one I had in March. Sunroof, AC, PL, PW, Cruise.







OK so cost analysis

$1000 - Purchase Price

$650 + tax = $689 - Engine

$500 - Engine Labor

$36 - registration/tax fees

$120 - detail


$2345 invested

Sell for $3500.

Projected profit - $1155.

Ok, so I might cut the detail out of the pricing, because the Vibe needs front brakes badly. It also has an exhaust leak that's kind of loud. Also, I'm selling it to a friend who smokes anyways, so it's probably a waste of time to detail it.

[AutobahnSHO]

Ok, so I might cut the detail out of the pricing, because the Vibe needs front brakes badly. It also has an exhaust leak that's kind of loud. Also, I'm selling it to a friend who smokes anyways, so it's probably a waste of time to detail it.

Wife's car developed a loud noise, $25/30min at a welding shop and done.

[2o6]

Ok, so the mechanic accidently broke (or it possibly broke off when th engine seized) a guide for the Torque Converter. (on the Yaris)



$90 down the drain.... 

[AutobahnSHO]

 

[2o6]

Dammit, the Vibe is eating up capital. Took it to an exhaust shop and they won't work on it because it has a gas leak (fuel filler neck)


Ugh

[2o6]

Vibe is done













Yaris broke the Torque converter and I can't find a replacement. The reman one is wrong. I can't find a locally sourced used one, so I'm about to take a chance on a used one from Philadelphia PA.

[AutobahnSHO]

Yaris broke the Torque converter and I can't find a replacement. The reman one is wrong. I can't find a locally sourced used one, so I'm about to take a chance on a used one from Philadelphia PA.

Because it's the housing too?

[2o6]

What? no.


There's a "nipple" that sticks out into the crank (inbetween the flexplate bolts). When the motor seized, it was fairly violent and broke that nipple.

[AutobahnSHO]

What? no.


There's a "nipple" that sticks out into the crank (inbetween the flexplate bolts). When the motor seized, it was fairly violent and broke that nipple.

Oh. I'm really surprised there aren't any available near you then.

[2o6]

Oh. I'm really surprised there aren't any available near you then.

Most places won't sell the converter by itself. They want you to buy the transmission

[AutobahnSHO]

Most places won't sell the converter by itself. They want you to buy the transmission

Weird. I'm assuming you talk to transmission shops? But you're also looking to get the cheapest working used junk possible?

[2o6]

Done.

[2o6]

Holy mary, I am getting a lot of time wasters.


For starters, the Vibe had shitty, dry rotted tires. I shoulda known better trying to sell a car like that. However, my friend is flipping a Lexus ES, and he gave me his old tires for that car. The ES tires are slightly wider and taller (215/60/16 vs 205/55/16) but they fit OK and the car is more sellable.


Vibe time wasters


- One guy who drove out from a country suburb (Lancaster, OH) and offered me $1800 (car is listing at $3650, and now $3350). Dude said that the car had a "Head gasket leak". The guy said it had a head gasket problem, and was "leaking oil furiously" but didn't even start the car, check the coolant, or even check the fucking oil. I almost punched the guy straight in the head. His daughter (the girl who was actually buying the car) looked embarrassed; she kept trying to hint to her dad that she wanted the car, since they had looked at eighteen different cars and hadn't found a single one good enough for her.

- One foreign guy who had a shitty same year rebuilt title Corolla. I drove across town (like a 30 min drive) for him to look at it. He offered me $2500. I told him no and kept it moving. Eventually, I agreed to $2800, but dude wanted me to do all this crazy shit (drive to him at 11PM??) and I passed. He decided to go to a dealer and buy a shitbox.

- More lowball offers and numerous people asking to trade me guns.

- people begging and pleading with them


Yaris Time Wasters.


- One foreign couple, the seemed like they loved the car. We agreed on the price and agreed to meet at the bank the next morning. I text them the next morning letting them know I'm on my way to the bank, and no reply. They texted me today saying she's "changed her mind"

- A 7th Day Adventist family, looking yet again, dad looking for daughter. Drove from another country Suburb (Newark). They opened all the doors. Didn't pop the hood. Didn't start the car. They said the car was "too rough" and drove off. (I honestly think it was because I was black, but IDGAF)

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

The downside of dealing with tire kickers! Do you list exclusively on Craigslist?