Life…

Stampie and I were just texting, catching up a bit, and I realized I ought to post a bit about why I'm back, after running silent for a bit. 
Short version:

I need a beater car, and F B sucks. (Love you guys!!! All of ya)

TLDR:

My wife's 07 Highlander needed som minor but expensive work. So her full time (just appointments and groceries)  has been our Sunday car, the 94 Buick Roadmaster. 'Course it's overdue for some deferred maint., but dependable, and she love an excuse to drive it. 
So, with me back to trying to travel to work, my 03 F350 needing some attention, as well as my 03 Merc, I fixed the Toyota, and pulled my little camper up to SC for a fall contract. 
Except. N of ga, at 1:00 am, a guy tail ended my camper, totaling it and the Toyota:

The camper:

his car

and... the Toyota (all 4 corners) :

In reply to 03Panther :

As I told you in the text it's great to see you back posting.  Sorry about the camper.  There's a Grand Marquis around the block with no tag.  Want me to ask about it?

It was bad, but - a true blessing - no one got hurt. 
 

And, at least I wasn't driving The Merc:

Wow - somehow impressive that they destroyed literally all 4 corners of both trailer and Toyota.  Sorry to hear it man.  Thank goodness vehicle prices are on the downslope vs the last 2 years.

Stampie said:

In reply to 03Panther :

As I told you in the text it's great to see you back posting.  Sorry about the camper.  There's a Grand Marquis around the block with no tag.  Want me to ask about it?

If he doesn't, I might 

So, back to the short version, I got the Merc dependable again; the truck is driving, but ain't an ideal work beater. (31 miles each way). I need something DIRT CHEAP to drive, and clean up the Merc for my wife to have on hand, if needed. 
We ain't homeless, we ain't car-less, but contract work has not been kind this year, and we could use someone's hand -me -down. 
Paul's mom's  (iirc) ol' grand  - ma - quis comes to mind, but it's current driver prolly LOVES it. 
Winter, so I can live with no ac, short term, so I'll even deal with rust; just gotta make it to work for a bit. I've got the here in GA with me, as a back up, but it's not commuting DD ready. 
Thanks. 

Mr_Asa said:

Stampie said:

In reply to 03Panther :

As I told you in the text it's great to see you back posting.  Sorry about the camper.  There's a Grand Marquis around the block with no tag.  Want me to ask about it?

If he doesn't, I might 

You taking the time to text me that was the jump start for me to start this 

Yea, I'd love another. Take the best parts to fix ours for her, put the rough parts on mine. 
I did get a cheap parts car, so Mr Asa is eventually going to get enough parts for his future build one day ( yes, sir; I always have you in mind as I'm perusing cheap panthers. I've got a frame and most of a body for ya so far - but ya can't have the front suspension... yet... )

In reply to 84FSP :

Sadly, in my bracket (at least in S. East,) they ain't. Anything under 3K, "runs and drives great... except for the hole in the side of the block" or no title. 
 

But yea, it was quite a ride. I was going backwards (up I 85) when I hit the Jersey wall. With both feet on the brakes by then, still slid down wall 55 feet. His car hit me at least twice, prolly more. When police asked me what happened, I told them "I don't really know" I might have only gone 180, or I might have already been around once. He was hung up with the back of the camper for a bit. I did piss my pants, and not to much has ever scared me. 

Ok, scratch him off the GRM milk carton. 

Appleseed said:

Ok, scratch him off the GRM milk carton. 

Thanks 

With my finances still circling the toilet, I'm way to grumpy to associate an social media! 
 

Just read a thread about a guy not being able to buy a car at over $10K with anything but cash ... it be wonderful to have EVER had that particular problem 

I was polite and never posted, but as you imagine, it was tough for me 

In reply to 03Panther :

Good to see you back and thankful you were able to walk away from that wreck 

Indy - Guy said:

In reply to 03Panther :

Good to see you back and thankful you were able to walk away from that wreck 

Thanks, also. 
but , as shows, it was SO hard for me... and I really don't like the guy I become when I get disagreeable 

I can laugh at myself, and I'm mostly joking here. But I am kinda grumpy, and it's not all a joke. 
Thanks a bunch for the welcom back, though. 

84FSP said:

Wow - somehow impressive that they destroyed literally all 4 corners of both trailer and Toyota.  Sorry to hear it man.  Thank goodness vehicle prices are on the downslope vs the last 2 years.

Impressive... unless your name is Clarkson!

Glad you're still alive 03P. Wish you a better 2024 as it sounds like 2023 has sucked. Shame that old highlander is probably a goner...

What ever did happen to the burgundy grand marquis? I had it for a couple weeks but got "gifted" a well loved Nissan Pathfinder and a stack of receipts since new for one of my kids.. then Klayman picked up the MGM right around the time he retired and became a full time track driving instructor (and used car buying and selling enthusiast). 

Glad to see back. Been wondering what happened. I say get a beater 2nd generation Prius, but I know that's not your style.

Indy - Guy said:

In reply to 03Panther :

Good to see you back and thankful you were able to walk away from that wreck 

All of this, glad you are back too

This might fit the bill:

2010 Jetta Sportwagen 2.5, cheap

AAZCD-Jon (Forum Supporter) said:

Glad to see back. Been wondering what happened. I say get a beater 2nd generation Prius, but I know that's not your style.

Actually, I always liked the little Prius. Just not the folks that think they are saving the environment by buying one 

But most are way out of budget, for this short term. 
Starting to look into a early Insight, with a bad battery, but good engine. Gotta see if we can get the title straight. 
Not gonna help for short term, but things are falling in place, thankfully. 

In reply to Aaron_King :

Ooh, that a great one. I think it'll sell before I could get that much together, but I'll be putting my name in the hat for it. Thanks. 

In reply to Antihero :

Appreciate it.  Thanks. 

Shortly after we bought the family Roadmaster, as a Sunday car, we talked about selling it and the highlander and buying a low mile used Honda Oddesy, or Mazda 5. We know the Oddesy will do everything we need (dogs and all). The 5 gets better mileage, and might do all we need. 
Not able to move on a low mileage one yet, but a 5 (hoping for the 2900 one on here!) for a practice run would be ideal. 
Budget in the free to under a grand this week, but I'll start getting paychecks from this job contract soon ('course, bills first. )

Life has a way of really throwing some nasty curveballs at you sometimes. I've been going through the grinder too brother, glad to see you back, and you know you have a whole community here for support. Also glad to see you came out unscathed in that accident.