The situation has changed quickly and dramatically.

tuna55 wrote:

Nick_Comstock wrote: In reply to Mike: Perfect.

Yes, because what you need in this situation is a $2000 car which will immediately require $1000 of deferred maintenance which you also can't afford and be more expensive to feed than what you currently own.

In my experience with sub $2000 cars, and I've had quite a few, they all need at least 1K in deferred maintenance to become a reliable daily driver. I don't see how what country they come from making any difference on that.

mtn wrote:

Nick_Comstock wrote:

mtn wrote: Here is a legitmate question: Lets say that you have a car (any car) and a cheap 250 bike. Which one are you on more, including kid duties?

The bike.

So why not get an appliance, appease the wife, and use it only for kiddo hauling purposes?

That's the plan. But until she starts her new job and money gets a little closer to what it used to be it'll have to wait.

mtn wrote: This situation just confuses me--how is it even a situation?

Six months ago my services were no longer required at my previous job due to downsizing. I found a job and our left over money at the end of the month dropped from 1K plus to $500. Four months ago my wife's 40 hour job turned into a 35 hour job, then 30, then 25 then 20. Our left over money at the end of the month turned to 0.

Her new job is very promising, but it will take a while to recover from the last six months which has left us low on funds at the moment.

I say take a $1000 hit on selling the bike and move on. Get a small loan on a cheap Honda. I pay $214 a month on my '13 Mazda 2 so finding a cheap payment on a new car is possible but I'd avoid a loan of that size if at all possible.

People keep providing links to things I have no interest in. Here are links to various cheap cars that I would own.

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5143881958.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5128374283.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5142080290.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5141570139.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5140492915.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5137966069.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5137819025.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5135444664.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5133267900.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/5122246397.html

There is no reason for me to have to drive something that doesn't interest me.

Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to Nick_Comstock: You mean other than lack of money. You don't have the money to buy any of those, or repair them. Might as well shop Ferraris. If you're going to look at cars you can't afford, dream big.

I was replying to other people who posted other cars I don't have the money to buy or repair but have no interest in owning either.

Of that list. Either the 2001 jeep or the 97 Chevy truck would be solid choices. The old crap is just that. The newer stuff is where your daily reliability will be.

It's like something that gets over 20mpg in the city is somehow offensive to you. Skip the commuter ready car from the folks that were building the LS400 at the same time and buy that Buick B-Body that's sitting in the grass. For more money. Do that.

In reply to pres589:

Yes, it is.

I've owned a couple old B-body's and they are very reliable and easy to maintain. I don't drive enough for mileage to be a concern.

That's a big list of uninspiring turds without manual transmissions. I'd rather drive any relatively modern FWD econobox with a manual than anything on that list.

In reply to ProDarwin:

That's just one of the differences between you and me

Nick_Comstock wrote: I've owned a couple old B-body's and they are very reliable and easy to maintain. I don't drive enough for mileage to be a concern.

But it sounds like part of the point is that you WILL be driving more if you're hauling the kid around instead of the wife doing it. So, I'd think that efficiency should be a consideration given your financial situation where it sounds like every dollar counts.

Doing some quick calcs, for what the Googles say the current gas prices are down there (~$2.50/gal), driving a car that gets 15mpg vs. one that gets 25mpg costs you almost an extra $7 per 100 miles driven. So if you drive around the average of a 12,000 miles/ year, the lower-mileage car is costing you an extra $800- enough of a savings to have countered most of the loss of selling the motorcycle. Even if you drive less than that, say only 8000 miles/year or about 150 miles/week (just over 20 miles per day), you're still saving $500 on gas per year.

In reply to StainlessWings:

Since the new job I'd say somewhere around 5000 per year. I don't think I would need to get the kid more than once or twice a month.

I understand all of your points. I realize it's not a good situation to be in. But it will work itself out, it always does.

Nick_Comstock wrote: I don't think I would need to get the kid more than once or twice a month.

At just once or twice per month, I’d fab up a sidecar or use Uber.

A lot of people spend big bucks to save little bucks...churning is a wicked, wicked nemesis.

RX Reven' wrote:

Nick_Comstock wrote: I don't think I would need to get the kid more than once or twice a month.

Yeah, once or twice a month is perfect for uber! At just once or twice per month, I’d fab up a sidecar or use Uber. A lot of people spend big bucks to save little bucks...churning is a wicked, wicked nemesis.

Hmm it ate my reply.. I agreed that twice a month is a perfect use for uber.

Nick is looking for an excuse to dig himself in deeper, though, so this probably won't fly anyway..

RX Reven' wrote:

Nick_Comstock wrote: I don't think I would need to get the kid more than once or twice a month.

At just once or twice per month, I’d fab up a sidecar or use Uber. A lot of people spend big bucks to save little bucks...churning is a wicked, wicked nemesis.

Have the wife get her motorcycle license.

Then you can use the car on the days you pick up the kiddo, and the bike on the other days.

WonkoTheSane wrote: Nick is looking for an excuse to dig himself in deeper, though, so this probably won't fly anyway..

I'm really not sure why you think that. If the bike sells I will be getting a cheap car and a cheap bike. Or a V-strom if it turns out that she will not need me to move him around. I haven't said anything at all about going farther in debt.

No life advice from me, but from the list you made I'd go with the GMT400s. Even cheaper than the pickups are the SUVs, Suburbans, Tahoes, etc. Good trucks, parts are cheap and easy to get, every junkyard on the continent is full of potential donors to keep yours cheaply on the road. They are the perfect beater for the mechanically-inclined person that doesn't drive a zillion miles a year.

Nick_Comstock wrote: But it will work itself out, it always does.

This thread makes a lot more sense, more of a "jesus take the wheel" kinda guy eh?

In reply to HiTempguy:

I'm just saying that there is no need to panic. Money comes and goes, I'm not going to get worked up about a couple tight months. I still have an open offer to work for my previous employer if I decide that I like money more than being at home. We've been through much, much worse and we're still here.