Poll
Question:
Should I keep the Focus as a winter beater?
Option 1: Yes
votes: 5
Option 2: No
votes: 1
Option 3: Drive poverty car forever to be more financially conservative
votes: 2
I'm probably going to buy a BRZ soon and I'm trying to decide if I should keep the Focus to take on the salt bath punishment of Michigan or buy snow tires for the BRZ.
The Focus still runs OK, but it's getting old. Storage of either car will not be an issue. I think the Focus is worth about $3000 as is.
What's insurance running you on the Focus?
You won't leave your shithole town, at least buy a new car and commit to get out of your shithole town before you have to worry about all of the rust bullshit you always worry about.
Quote from: ifcar on June 27, 2013, 08:33:54 PM
What's insurance running you on the Focus?
$333 for 6 months.
Quote from: Secret Chimp on June 27, 2013, 08:36:50 PM
You won't leave your shithole town, at least buy a new car and commit to get out of your shithole town before you have to worry about all of the rust bullshit you always worry about.
I'm moving to Kalamazoo next February. I will have to commute 30 minutes, but I guess it's worth it.
Wait. There's actually a place called Kalamazoo?
Quote from: SVT666 on June 27, 2013, 08:59:02 PM
Wait. There's actually a place called Kalamazoo?
Of course there is. We're not going to get into this again, are we?
For the record, Timbuktu and Katmandu are real places as well.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 27, 2013, 09:02:00 PM
For the record, Timbuktu and Katmandu are real places as well.
:golfclap:
Get rid of the Focus. It's an unnecessary expense and one more thing to worry about.
You aren't going to do any of those things. Keep the Focus, never sell the Z, talk about doing both until one or the other turns to dust.
Quote from: Raza on June 27, 2013, 09:25:42 PM
:golfclap:
Get rid of the Focus. It's an unnecessary expense and one more thing to worry about.
Eh, I wouldn't insure both cars at the same time. It's a pretty minor cost other than the opportunity to sell it.
Quote from: Rupert on June 27, 2013, 09:28:10 PM
You aren't going to do any of those things. Keep the Focus, never sell the Z, talk about doing both until one or the other turns to dust.
Serial car swappers seem to have a problem with those of us here at carspin who deliberate and like to shop around.
We're all car guys here. Looking for cars should be taken seriously and should be fun!
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on June 27, 2013, 09:30:23 PM
Eh, I wouldn't insure both cars at the same time. It's a pretty minor cost other than the opportunity to sell it.
Switching insurance every season is a pain.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on June 27, 2013, 09:30:23 PM
Eh, I wouldn't insure both cars at the same time. It's a pretty minor cost other than the opportunity to sell it.
You're allowed to own a car and not insure it in Michigan? I don't think you can do that in Pennsylvania.
Quote from: Raza on June 28, 2013, 04:32:22 AM
You're allowed to own a car and not insure it in Michigan? I don't think you can do that in Pennsylvania.
Yes, you can.
everywhere.
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 27, 2013, 11:17:30 PM
Switching insurance every season is a pain.
No it isn't. :huh:
Quote from: giant_mtb on June 28, 2013, 08:11:03 AM
No it isn't. :huh:
I guess it depends on the insurance company. But even without the actual pain of switching, you also have to remember to call and switch it and can't drive the car until you do. What if the Focus has to go to the shop for a day or two? BRZ isn't insured, so he's not supposed to drive that.
Lol. Focus has never been to the shop for general repairs.
Just bringing up a scenario. :huh: It's up to you, guess it just depends on how much money you'd save. I like being able to drive all of my cars any time I want.
Quote from: SVT666 on June 27, 2013, 08:59:02 PM
Wait. There's actually a place called Kalamazoo?
Yep. I hear someone's got a gal there.
I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFv_PoZ2iP0#)
As a BRZ owner in the rust belt who's thrown around the idea of a 2nd car for awhile, my answer is no. Simply put, we don't make enough at our age to justify two cars, and there's quite a bit of added expense with two cars.
Quote from: Raza on June 28, 2013, 07:43:46 AM
Really? I had no idea.
You can own a car without it being insured anywhere in the US. You may not be able to register a car without insurance everywhere (in NY, if you drop insurance you have to turn in your registration and plates or be fined for every day you're registered and not insured).
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 12:31:27 PM
As a BRZ owner in the rust belt who's thrown around the idea of a 2nd car for awhile, my answer is no. Simply put, we don't make enough at our age to justify two cars, and there's quite a bit of added expense with two cars.
If you don't have to pay for storage and the second car is paid off, there's really not that much more expense (unless you live in one of those states where registration fees are outrageous). If I got rid of my Mazda, I'd save maybe $350 a year in car expenses (~$300 for insurance, ~$20 for registration and ~$25 for annual inspection). I'm willing to pay that to have a summer car that is rust free. Even my battery terminals and brake hardware are essentially spotless on the Mustang.
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 12:31:27 PM
As a BRZ owner in the rust belt who's thrown around the idea of a 2nd car for awhile, my answer is no. Simply put, we don't make enough at our age to justify two cars, and there's quite a bit of added expense with two cars.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
But the added expense of additional cars is actually pretty minimal if they're older cars and only the best one or two is fully insured. You're only one person and you probably aren't going to drive more if you have more cars, so gas doesn't increase, and maintenance only slightly increases (as maintenance is based on mileage, but also time-- so you change your oil yearly even if only drive the car 2000 miles).
Quote from: MX793 on June 28, 2013, 01:10:03 PM
If you don't have to pay for storage and the second car is paid off, there's really not that much more expense (unless you live in one of those states where registration fees are outrageous). If I got rid of my Mazda, I'd save maybe $350 a year in car expenses (~$300 for insurance, ~$20 for registration and ~$25 for annual inspection). I'm willing to pay that to have a summer car that is rust free. Even my battery terminals and brake hardware are essentially spotless on the Mustang.
Quote from: Rupert on June 28, 2013, 01:13:04 PM
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
But the added expense of additional cars is actually pretty minimal if they're older cars and only the best one or two is fully insured. You're only one person and you probably aren't going to drive more if you have more cars, so gas doesn't increase, and maintenance only slightly increases (as maintenance is based on mileage, but also time-- so you change your oil yearly even if only drive the car 2000 miles).
Well, depends on how much space you have. The way I viewed it, it's another car to have to store. I've got a garage with space for one car. It'd require a lot of cleaning out and would be a tight fit to get another one in there.
Perhaps more importantly, he doesn't have the money from the Focus to put towards the BRZ too. I considered doing a second car with my Miata, which was paid off at the time. But I was almost just as happy getting the BRZ alone, which I paid for largely with the miata. I guess the costs involved with having two cars isn't significant when you've got a car that's not worth much to begin with. To me, it was Miata + WRX or similar, which was drastically more expensive than just getting the BRZ.
Any idea what the Focus is still worth?
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 01:27:01 PM
Well, depends on how much space you have. The way I viewed it, it's another car to have to store. I've got a garage with space for one car. It'd require a lot of cleaning out and would be a tight fit to get another one in there.
Perhaps more importantly, he doesn't have the money from the Focus to put towards the BRZ too. I considered doing a second car with my Miata, which was paid off at the time. But I was almost just as happy getting the BRZ alone, which I paid for largely with the miata. I guess the costs involved with having two cars isn't significant when you've got a car that's not worth much to begin with. To me, it was Miata + WRX or similar, which was drastically more expensive than just getting the BRZ.
Any idea what the Focus is still worth?
Oh, I only have a one-car garage. Whatever car I'm driving gets parked in the driveway and the car being stored for that time of year gets parked in the garage. Kind of a hassle having to clear snow and ice off of the car in the winter, but since my garage doesn't have a floor drain I'm not sure I'd want to be tracking a lot of snow and briny slush in there during the winter months even if the space was available.
Quote from: MX793 on June 28, 2013, 01:43:34 PM
Oh, I only have a one-car garage. Whatever car I'm driving gets parked in the driveway and the car being stored for that time of year gets parked in the garage. Kind of a hassle having to clear snow and ice off of the car in the winter, but since my garage doesn't have a floor drain I'm not sure I'd want to be tracking a lot of snow and briny slush in there during the winter months even if the space was available.
So your mustang sits outside all summer? I like putting the BRZ in the garage. It keeps it so much cleaner.
I have a two car garage, but it's a really tight fit, and it's also my shop. Just move cars around a bunch. :huh:
It's a different story when you have payments on more than one car, or the one car you have is worth a lot and could go into the next car you want that costs a lot, but if you have a cheap old car and want an expensive new car, there's not much reason not to have both, IMO.
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 01:52:27 PM
So your mustang sits outside all summer? I like putting the BRZ in the garage. It keeps it so much cleaner.
It sits outside in the parking lot at work for near half of every weekday anyway. I'm not a fanatic about having a spotlessly clean car. It's rained here more days than not this month and 6 of the past 7 days. Driving on wet roads or in the rain roughly every other day, the car isn't going to stay clean long and I'm not going to wash it more than once a week so I just accept that it's going to be a little dirty more often than not. And in the spring there's so much pollen in the air that you could wash your car twice a day and it won't stay clean, even if you park it in the garage when you're at home.
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 01:27:01 PM
Well, depends on how much space you have. The way I viewed it, it's another car to have to store. I've got a garage with space for one car. It'd require a lot of cleaning out and would be a tight fit to get another one in there.
Perhaps more importantly, he doesn't have the money from the Focus to put towards the BRZ too. I considered doing a second car with my Miata, which was paid off at the time. But I was almost just as happy getting the BRZ alone, which I paid for largely with the miata. I guess the costs involved with having two cars isn't significant when you've got a car that's not worth much to begin with. To me, it was Miata + WRX or similar, which was drastically more expensive than just getting the BRZ.
Any idea what the Focus is still worth?
Maybe $3000? The rust is advancing pretty fast.
I wouldn't insure both cars at the same time and storage is free. The only issue is keeping the Focus from rusting in half. :lol:
Eh, just weld some angle iron across the middle.
Sacrificial anode?
Sure.
I meant to hold the thing together, but that sounds better. :lol:
No, no. I want to use zinc blocks for sacrificial anodes.
An angle iron x brace should hold the car together a bit longer though.
Might as well go all the way and use square tubing. Then it'll outlast the BRZ! You'll pretty much have a Flintstone car, but it won't break in two.
Quote from: MrH on June 28, 2013, 01:52:27 PM
So your mustang sits outside all summer? I like putting the BRZ in the garage. It keeps it so much cleaner.
It would stay even cleaner if you just had a carport.
:lol:
Quote from: SVT666 on June 29, 2013, 09:44:44 AM
It would stay even cleaner if you just had a carport.
:lol:
:lol: :clap:
I've done the multi-car thing - it's not worth it, and not only because of double the insurance - it's double the maintenance, double the space, just double the hassle.
As to keeping your car in tip-top form respect your car get covered parking/carport but not a garage. Heat + delayed drying + stagnant air speeds up the corrosion process - bad for salt but even worse if your area uses chemical deicers.
Is it that crazy that I'm afraid of rust? I've owned a first gen Ford Ranger, '76 Datsun, and first gen Focus. These are all fairly rust prone cars.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 01:03:19 PM
I've done the multi-car thing - it's not worth it, and not only because of double the insurance - it's double the maintenance, double the space, just double the hassle.
As to keeping your car in tip-top form respect your car get covered parking/carport but not a garage. Heat + delayed drying + stagnant air speeds up the corrosion process - bad for salt but even worse if your area uses chemical deicers.
It's not double the insurance. And space is not an issue.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 01:03:19 PM
I've done the multi-car thing - it's not worth it, and not only because of double the insurance - it's double the maintenance, double the space, just double the hassle.
As to keeping your car in tip-top form respect your car get covered parking/carport but not a garage. Heat + delayed drying + stagnant air speeds up the corrosion process - bad for salt but even worse if your area uses chemical deicers.
You didn't get a discount on the second car? When I've done that, the second car cost about 60% of the first.
You're not driving twice as many miles, so I fail to see how its twice the maintenance.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2013, 02:07:02 PM
You didn't get a discount on the second car? When I've done that, the second car cost about 60% of the first.
Wouldn't matter to me, because I would never insure both cars concurrently.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 29, 2013, 02:07:02 PM
You didn't get a discount on the second car? When I've done that, the second car cost about 60% of the first.
You're not driving twice as many miles, so I fail to see how its twice the maintenance.
Insurance depends on the vehicle - the G37x is ~47% higher than the Accord and the Tacoma was somewhere in between. The Demon was a "classic" to be driven under 5,000/year and it was dirt cheap (like $20/mo for full coverage).
Maintenance is time based too, plus if you're a deterministic owner it's also going to mean twice as much cleaning and attention in general.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on June 29, 2013, 02:49:15 PM
Wouldn't matter to me, because I would never insure both cars concurrently.
Want about comprehensive for theft, vandalism, etc.?
If you store your car in a garage, it doesn't need to be cleaned... ;)
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 08:41:07 PM
Want about comprehensive for theft, vandalism, etc.?
That's not a concern at my parents house, but I suppose I would put storage insurance on it.
Home owners's/renter's should cover that stuff when it's parked at home.
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 29, 2013, 08:42:38 PM
If you store your car in a garage, it doesn't need to be cleaned... ;)
But then it will suffocate and corrode.
Quote from: Rupert on June 29, 2013, 09:18:35 PM
Home owners's/renter's should cover that stuff when it's parked at home.
"Should" is the word of the devil, especially on the InnerTruths ;).
A standard homeowner's policy will not cover a car (damaged on the property or otherwise).
Quote from: hotrodalex on June 29, 2013, 08:42:38 PM
If you store your car in a garage, it doesn't need to be cleaned... ;)
How do cars get dirty?
Quote from: Rupert on June 29, 2013, 09:18:35 PM
Home owners's/renter's should cover that stuff when it's parked at home.
Nope.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 08:41:07 PM
Want about comprehensive for theft, vandalism, etc.?
That's like $10 a month.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 09:48:45 PM
How do cars get dirty?
Driving and parking outside. If stored for 6 months, they'll only get dusty. A simple car cover can solve that, or you just wash it when you take it out.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 08:40:29 PM
Insurance depends on the vehicle - the G37x is ~47% higher than the Accord and the Tacoma was somewhere in between. The Demon was a "classic" to be driven under 5,000/year and it was dirt cheap (like $20/mo for full coverage).
Maintenance is time based too, plus if you're a deterministic owner it's also going to mean twice as much cleaning and attention in general.
Gee, no shit- next you're going to tell me its based on your driving record and age too.
Insuring a car as a second car almost always incurs a discount compared to that exact same car being your only car. Is that clearly enough spelled out for you?
And doing your maintenance based on the time schedule? Maybe for the one you want to keep nice.
Quote from: SVT666 on June 29, 2013, 10:13:41 PM
Nope.
I sure hope that you don't test your theory.
Quote from: MX793 on June 28, 2013, 12:59:29 PM
You can own a car without it being insured anywhere in the US. You may not be able to register a car without insurance everywhere (in NY, if you drop insurance you have to turn in your registration and plates or be fined for every day you're registered and not insured).
Ah, that's probably what I was thinking of then.
I say nay to keeping the Focus. A second car is expensive to keep around, and I'm not sure why a car like the BRZ shouldn't see the winter. It isn't exactly a Ferrari we're talking about here.
Quote from: SVT666 on June 29, 2013, 10:13:41 PM
Nope.
My renter's policy does, but it might be only if it's in the garage. That's the question I asked, and they replied in the affirmative.
Quote from: CALL_911 on June 29, 2013, 11:35:44 PM
I say nay to keeping the Focus. A second car is expensive to keep around, and I'm not sure why a car like the BRZ shouldn't see the winter. It isn't exactly a Ferrari we're talking about here.
Why is it expensive?
Keep the Focus.....you'll only be driving it in the winter, and you can let it go to shit and no one will give a fuck.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on June 30, 2013, 12:15:07 AM
Why is it expensive?
maintenance+insurance+what have you
Quote from: CALL_911 on June 30, 2013, 12:17:25 AM
maintenance+insurance+what have you
Maintenance won't cost shit, insurance won't cost shit.
Just keep the damn car.
Quote from: CALL_911 on June 30, 2013, 12:17:25 AM
maintenance+insurance+what have you
Not really, no.
Generally, items above a certain value have to be explicitly listed on a homeowner's policy to be covered for fire and theft. However, I know for a fact that when my in-law's house caught fire, the damage to her car was covered under their policy, not ours.
Seriously, how much maintenance are you guys expecting to spend on an old Focus?
Quote from: GoCougs on June 29, 2013, 10:46:33 PM
I sure hope that you don't test your theory.
What theory? You gave the same answer I gave but with 20 more words.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 30, 2013, 12:43:51 AM
Generally, items above a certain value have to be explicitly listed on a homeowner's policy to be covered for fire and theft. However, I know for a fact that when my in-law's house caught fire, the damage to her car was covered under their policy, not ours.
Really expensive items; jewelry, art, collectibles, instruments, etc.; will need a rider as standard policies will have relatively low limits on these things. $10k Rolex, $20k vintage Les Paul or $100k Lionel train collection? You're not covered unless you pay for the rider.
The pronouns in your example don't quite add up so I'm not sure what you're trying to state. Either way, cars are not covered under homeowners or renters policies three main reasons. First, the cost of an average new car is ~$30k. Second, many/most cars have insurance already. Third, the moral hazard for fraud is way too high.
I'm sure many of you have Googled the issue by now so it's kind of a mute point I think.
Moot.
The point is moot, not unable to speak, which is what mute means.
Yep, meant "mute" - moot doesn't really fit.
I can see why pronouns cause you difficulty too, and why you argue with people agreeing with you. Trust me, moot is the word you wanted to use.
Quote from: CALL_911 on June 30, 2013, 12:17:25 AM
maintenance+insurance+what have you
Assuming each car costs the same to maintain and keeping in mind that most maintenance items are mileage based, owning a single car and driving 12,000 miles a year isn't going to cost much less than owning 2 cars and driving one of them 4,000 miles a year (winter months) and the other 8,000 miles a year (the rest of the year).
If the old car is relegated to winter duty, it's not going to be driven nearly as frequently, meaning fewer oil changes are necessary, tires will last longer (in terms of time), etc... Meanwhile, since the new car isn't driven year round, it too will cost less to maintain than if it was.
If you sell the Focus, you'll have more money for ricing it out. Clear lamps, big wheels, a shift knob that doesn't have the shift pattern on it, a shift pattern sticker that you can put on your center console, plastidipping each of your wheels a different color, et al.
Guys, this Focus is like a 2002 Focus. It's only worth like 2K at best.
Dude you should make the reverse lamps red.
Quote from: 2o6 on June 30, 2013, 08:04:32 AM
Guys, this Focus is like a 2002 Focus. It's only worth like 2K at best.
Used car prices seem fairly high these days. I don't think $3k or more is out of the question at all.
Quote from: ifcar on June 30, 2013, 08:55:36 AM
Used car prices seem fairly high these days. I don't think $3k or more is out of the question at all.
Its rusty, and with a bad synchro.
Quote from: 2o6 on June 30, 2013, 11:29:44 AM
Its rusty, and with a bad synchro.
They're all that way, mang. :lol: