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My car is a 2001 Toyota Celica GT, 290,000 miles, automatic.
The car I am trying to get is: BMW Z4, 140,000 miles, automatic, convertible (softtop), silver color, transmission is said to be about 10,000 miles only. So it had some work done.
I’m buying this from an auto repair shop owner that I know and trust. He is selling it for $8,500. Is this a good deal? Also, he said he could give me a better deal if I trade in my 2001 Toyota Celica GT for the BMW. My Celica still runs well since I had some work done on it, but it’s about 290,000 miles already. What kind of deal could I expect? Is trading in my car along with maybe $4-$5 grand in cash payment a good offer? I have no knowledge of BMWs so not sure about it yet. It looks smaller than the Celica. I don’t even know how well it does with gas. I know the Celica is really good with gas.
Should I go for this offer?
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He’s talking about common failure points, not the term Vintage meaning a really old car. Cooling systems on modern (say early 90s on) cars are critical, because that’s when car manufacturers started putting a lot of plastic into cooling system components to reduce weight and cost. Radiators, expansion tanks, thermostat housings, etc. During the same time engine operating temperatures are rising for a host of reasons such as emissions controls, fuel economy, body design, etc. The result is that today’s engines run really hot, so cooling system upkeep is a must if you want to keep your car running and avoid huge repair bills. For BMW that means coolant changes every two years and prospective replacement of the common failure items.
Every 60K: water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing.
Every 90K: radiator, expansion tank, fan and fan clutch (if so equipped).
Every 120-150K: all coolant and fuel hoses.All the above can be DIY jobs, but you have to know what you’re doing. Buying a Bentley repair manual for your BMW model is a must, along with decent tools and the correct parts and fluids.
^^ Exactly.
I have a ’99 with 100k on it when I got it, and the waterpump had been replaced at 50k and when I replaced it just afthe bearings were shot. The plastic thermostat housing was dripping too. My cousin had a 2008 X3, and at 60k the radiator neck cracked, dumped all the coolant on the street, and she ended up needing a new engine.
It’s really easy to cook a BMW engine, what with all the plastic parts under the hood. That radiator tube is notorious for breaking. There is an aftermarket metal thermostat housing available for an E46 like yours. Install that and it’s the last time you’ll need to worry about that piece. There are also all-aluminum radiators out there.
regarding the 2006 Pontiac Solstice convertible; it has 46,000 miles and it’s going for $12K. Not sure how low I can haggle that price down and if I should trade in my 2001 Toyota Celica GT, automatic, with 290,000. In good condition. Not sure if the price for the Solstice could drop to $10,000 or lower then. It’s a 9 year old car, I wish I could get it for $9K. LOL. It’s from a dealership so I know there’s less headache the way the BMW and 350z sellers may have.
I think I’ll pass on the 2003 BMW z4 (160,000 miles) and the 2005 Nissan 350Z (90,000 miles).
There’s nothing wrong with your saying “I’ll give you my car and $9K.” Dealership has a car for sale that you’re interested in. Write out a check for $9K (I’m assuming you can) and put it on the table. If dealership says no, then you say “Fine.” Tear the check in half, write your cell number on the back of the right half and hand it to the salesman. Walk out the door. They will call. Caveat: Only do this if you’re sure you want the Solstice. If you’re not sure do not do this.
I test drove the Solstice, I’m not used to manual driving so it was awkward and stalled. I just realized how the car looks like a clown’s shoe. Feels and looks like a chick car as well. I think I’ll pass. Also the mileage was lower than what was previously mentioned so the price got jacked up. The milage is 42,000 and the price is close to $13K (12,900). I guess the car salesman realized the mileage was lower he had to jack up the price he originally mentioned 11,990 (12,000). So out the door it will be around $14K. I got my Celica with 290,000 miles appraised and they will only give me $500 for it. LOL. It runs great but I know they couldn’t possibly sell it with high mileage. The car salesman told me anything over 200,000 miles is a hard sell. I think I’ll hold on to my Celica. The price for the Solstice I never haggled it down, though I could have if I was going to buy it. The windows are manual and so is the convertible rooftop. They could not figure out how to bring the top down but they said it is manual operated by hand of course and it goes inside the tiny “trunk”.
Now I’m thinking about the Z again. I don’t know why it takes about a week for him to transfer the lien to me because he said he owes money on the car. This couldn’t be done on the spot? He said he will sign the registration to me or whatever but I think the lien takes time because of what? His tags are from another state so would that mean his bank who loaned him the car money is in that state? His bank must not have a branch in this state then? Weird.
If he transfers registration to me, that means I am responsible for insuring the car and what is owed on the car so if I give the person the funds and he doesn’t pay the bank what he owes that means he got my money and I owe what the person owes on the car, right?
Also what if the person selling the Z owes more than his asking price of $11K, will the difference be transferred to me, if this is even possible? Let’s say I paid him what he’s asking for and I drove off with the car and later found out there’s more money owed to it, let’s say $2,000. Is this even possible?
Not sure if registration can be transferred to me without the title stating I own the car. Not sure how insurance would go on about this as well.
I really need to practice manual driving. Does my foot always stay on the clutch and one hand on steering wheel the other on the stick shift?
I think you need a refresher on the mechanics of car titling and registration. I have never heard of registration being “transferred.” If you bought this car you have to go to your state’s DMV with the clear title and register this car in your name; a new title from your state will be issued. In this case the title is not clear because there’s a lien recorded on it; the seller doesn’t even physically have it, the bank does. Only when seller pays off his loan does the bank sign off the lien and send him the title. By the way, if you don’t have the money to buy this (or another) car then a lien is going to be recorded on the title for the one you do end up with. I recommend you go to local branch of your bank and talk to a loan officer about the mechanics.
And no, you don’t ride the clutch pedal with your left foot. Doing that results in excessive clutch wear.
I see. I probably meant to say that my foot stays right on the clutch or near it but not step on it unless changing gear. LOL. Much like right hand stays on stick shift and left hand stays on steering wheel, right?
I have the funds for the Z, but it seems complicated, he said he’s been in this state for over a year yet the cars he has still has an out of state tag, I hope he isn’t trying to bail out once he receives the funds, you know?
OK the guy is saying he will make a written purchase agreement. Not sure if the MVA would have the car registered to me with just that note. I doubt it.
The car needs to be insured under my name too. so the insurance company need the whole thing under my name.
If the guy could pay off the car with his own money and write me a purchase agreement stating I will pay him the amount and will be the car owner would that be a good option? once he gets the title to me then I pay.anyone here know what source it is that sells old military jeeps that had been used? I can’t recall what it was called but I think it was something like Military Surplus. I’m trying to see if I can get my hands on those old military vehicles, preferably a jeep wrangler.
I would recommend that you not get too excited over any old military Jeep stories. Those are 99%+ old wives tales just like the stories about crates of military surplus Harley Davidsons.
Those stories were true to some extent about 50 or 60 years ago but that stuff has all been snatched up.The last time I remember seeing any military Jeeps was about 50 years ago. The owner of a large gas station had about 15 or 20 of them parked out back; all still in OD green.
He was asking 50 bucks each for them (not that cheap at the time) and one would have had to buy half a dozen of them just to make a complete Jeep.Most had been cannibalized for parts at some point and a number of them were peppered with bullet holes. I don’t think there was a straight piece of glass in any of them.
I was looking at a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT at a car shop. It has 127,000 mileage and being sold for $2500 or best offer. I do not know much about the story of the Eclipse but I did like the Spyder. This is an automatic. It looks good and I would have to test drive it firts. I was told it runs great. Is their asking price about right? I hope to get it for half. LOL.
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