Toyota advice... wwmd?

[hop]

OK people, here's the story: My car ('89 Toyota Camry LE V6 AT 226k) is showing signs of ill health. She needs a new head gasket and some other minor stuff ($500+-) but doesn't leak oil enough to notice in between gas fillups or oil changes. However, there is a new development that is starting to worry me. There is a vibration coming from deep within that shows up when I accelerate (more pronounced on an uphill) from a stop or very slow speeds and stops when I get going... makes me think this is transmission-related. The Ramry goes in for a checkup on monday and I fear the outcome. Even if it is a simple fix, I don't necessarily want to dump much more $$$ into her because she's got so many miles and will undoubtedly continue to nickel-and-dime me.

Depending on the outcome, I have options.
1. Sell her for probably less than $1000 and buy a new car (I can't really afford anything much more than $5000 at this point).
2. Do the bare minimum and only wear 13 pieces of flair and hope that she lasts until she miraculously fixes herself or completely dies, at which time I might not have a job or $$$ like I do now)
3. Try to resurrect her by fixing everything.

option 1 is nice, but I don't want to spend that much money unless I really have to.
option 2 is nice, but I don't want to get stuck up shit creek w/o a ride.
option 3 is nice but I don't want to spend what will probably be more than she is worth to get her fixed up, only to have to do it again in a year.

Advice?

[The Dude]

If you have to sell it, trade it in to a dealership that has a push, drag, or pull promotion. The dealership here offers $3500 towards the purchase of a used car.

[EPSkis]

From a Dealers perspective:

The car itself isn't worth anything to a Dealership, as far as trade value - You might get $500-$1000 because it's a 6cyl., on the other hand, if it's in rough shape, they might not want it at all.
One advantage COULD be a "customer loyalty" refund which could take shape in a number of ways - A higher trade value, extra # off for a new one, or "preferred financing" for being a loyal Toyota consumer. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to get that info OUT of a Dealership until you tell them you WANT one of their cars. It is worth a shot, though.

Sell it through your local paper - as is. You shouldn't have any problem getting $1000 or more for it. Use that $$$ for a down payment on a new one.

The car's been good to you ~ Which is obvious if you have a quarter million miles on it. She's 15yrs old, and she doesn't have much left in her. It's time. No point in putting more money into it, you've reached the point of negative return.

FWIW, If anyone needs Dealer Invoice #'s on Toyotas, PM me. If you live in the D.C. are & need a car, PM me. I just give you the numbers & that's that. I don't make a dime on referrals, but I'll exploit my contacts to save y'all some gear money.

[EPSkis]

Originally posted by The Dude
If you have to sell it, trade it in to a dealership that has a push, drag, or pull promotion. The dealership here offers $3500 towards the purchase of a used car.

[radio voice] And we'll pay off your trade.....NO MATTER HOOOWWWW MUCH YOU OWE! [/radio voice]
Of course you will. The $20k I owe on the car will be rolled into the NEW loan. Thanks, you're special.


Uh-huh.

Because they're holding so much BACK in a used car. Yikes, don't be fooled by that stuff. Read (listen) to the fine print.

[CantDog]

If you put the car in neutral and give it gas, does it make the same sound? From your description, sounds like a bad halfshaft/axle assembly. Easy job, part isnt too much, should be done for about 300 bucks.

edit:Hmm, does it make the noise more when the wheel is turned? Like if you give it gas during a left hand turn starting from a stop.

Have you driven over any curbs or anything similar lately?

[White Chocolate]

I would suggest that you start by washing it. Maybe then you will be able to find the cause of the problem.

[BakerBoy]

^^Bwaahahahahahah. But then he'd have to get his pretty little hands all dirty!

[Vets]

Do you listen to Car Talk on NPR?
It sounds like you have a question for Tom and Ray.
Car Talk

[hop]

Wash? Wash what? I already took a shower this month...

The rumble doesn't happen in neutral, or in turns unless I'm turning while accelerating quickly or on an uphill like previously stated. Haven't run over anything either, except for WC's ski gear bag and that was months ago and with the rear wheels.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the mechs have to say. I certainly don't want/need car payments, hence the cheapo budget. If I'm buying, I'm buying the whole thing in one pop. That being said, I have been looking at Suby wagons and have found a few out there that could be the next deer skull holder.

[mr_gyptian]

Originally posted by EPSkis
From a Dealers perspective:

The car itself isn't worth anything to a Dealership, as far as trade value - You might get $500-$1000 because it's a 6cyl., on the other hand, if it's in rough shape, they might not want it at all.
One advantage COULD be a "customer loyalty" refund which could take shape in a number of ways - A higher trade value, extra # off for a new one, or "preferred financing" for being a loyal Toyota consumer. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to get that info OUT of a Dealership until you tell them you WANT one of their cars. It is worth a shot, though.

Sell it through your local paper - as is. You shouldn't have any problem getting $1000 or more for it. Use that $$$ for a down payment on a new one.

The car's been good to you ~ Which is obvious if you have a quarter million miles on it. She's 15yrs old, and she doesn't have much left in her. It's time. No point in putting more money into it, you've reached the point of negative return.

FWIW, If anyone needs Dealer Invoice #'s on Toyotas, PM me. If you live in the D.C. are & need a car, PM me. I just give you the numbers & that's that. I don't make a dime on referrals, but I'll exploit my contacts to save y'all some gear money.

hey EP, what the Fuck. when we start marking up product like ski manufacturers maybe we can start pulling our pants down. I don't think I've ever disagreed with you on anything. Why would you give out invoice. dikked up.

[EPSkis]

Originally posted by mr_gyptian
hey EP, what the Fuck. when we start marking up product like ski manufacturers maybe we can start pulling our pants down. I don't think I've ever disagreed with you on anything. Why would you give out invoice. dikked up.

Well ~ because it's like this: I can sell you a Corolla for about $50 over Invoice. Let's say there's $500 cash back. Ok, you can have that too. My cost? $15000. Your cost? $14450 + tax & tags. You think we're not making it back in the Financing? How about you have "average" credit. I'll get a bank to buy my loan at 4.75%. I'll sell it to you at 7.4% and you'll walk away thinking we're kings. Guess what - I just made my profit. How about an extended warranty? More profit. How about a maintenance package? Profit. How about every time you roll your car up to my service bays, we're in your pocket. (That's where the REAL profit is.) You can be as shrewd as you want to be. The bottom line is, we're still going to make money.

Here's a typical example. I drive a demo. I pay $144 a month for the privilige. I usually drive my demos for 2-3 months (or 7000 miles - they become "used cars" at 7500 mi.) So , they're making about $425 for the time I'm in it. They can AFFORD to sell it for $2000 under invoice, because the Ad we're running that features my new demo just brought in 500 people. Of the 500 that came, 400 looked at it out of curiosity (they weren't buying anyways) 50 were interested, but really wanted less mileage. (We put them in a used car for $7500 less - and they're happier n' pigs in shit.) One guy bought the demo and out of the other 49? 25 we put in brand-new cars. 20 of them at sticker price, and with incentives coming back to us from the Manufacturers. We made bank & everyone loves us. By God, they're gonna go tell everyone they know what an awesome Dealership we are. We'll get referrals for the next 5 years for every sale we make today. Oh - and don't forget your first scheduled maintenance. The 1000mi is complimentary. We'll start charging you at 5000mi.

Dude - I LOVE it when I can hook people up with an awesome deal ~ Let's face it: I don't make a damn DIME off it.. My Boss is a multi-multi(etc.) millionaire at 24 years old. He doesn't care because it's another unit off the lot. He'll make it up somewhere else. I don't mind giving out invoice at all.

If you know the car business, you already know this stuff. And the blather I posted above only scratches the surface. Trust me, there's more.

So - need a Toyota?

[CantDog]

Originally posted by EPSkis

So - need a Toyota?

If you can get me a MKIV TT Supra with a hardtop, or a Celica GT4/Alltrac Carlos Sainz edition, then yes.

An old rust free 73ish corolla shell would also do.

[mr_gyptian]

Originally posted by EPSkis
Well ~ because it's like this: I can sell you a Corolla for about $50 over Invoice. Let's say there's $500 cash back. Ok, you can have that too. My cost? $15000. Your cost? $14450 + tax & tags. You think we're not making it back in the Financing? How about you have "average" credit. I'll get a bank to buy my loan at 4.75%. I'll sell it to you at 7.4% and you'll walk away thinking we're kings. Guess what - I just made my profit. How about an extended warranty? More profit. How about a maintenance package? Profit. How about every time you roll your car up to my service bays, we're in your pocket. (That's where the REAL profit is.) You can be as shrewd as you want to be. The bottom line is, we're still going to make money.

Here's a typical example. I drive a demo. I pay $144 a month for the privilige. I usually drive my demos for 2-3 months (or 7000 miles - they become "used cars" at 7500 mi.) So , they're making about $425 for the time I'm in it. They can AFFORD to sell it for $2000 under invoice, because the Ad we're running that features my new demo just brought in 500 people. Of the 500 that came, 400 looked at it out of curiosity (they weren't buying anyways) 50 were interested, but really wanted less mileage. (We put them in a used car for $7500 less - and they're happier n' pigs in shit.) One guy bought the demo and out of the other 49? 25 we put in brand-new cars. 20 of them at sticker price, and with incentives coming back to us from the Manufacturers. We made bank & everyone loves us. By God, they're gonna go tell everyone they know what an awesome Dealership we are. We'll get referrals for the next 5 years for every sale we make today. Oh - and don't forget your first scheduled maintenance. The 1000mi is complimentary. We'll start charging you at 5000mi.

Dude - I LOVE it when I can hook people up with an awesome deal ~ Let's face it: I don't make a damn DIME off it.. My Boss is a multi-multi(etc.) millionaire at 24 years old. He doesn't care because it's another unit off the lot. He'll make it up somewhere else. I don't mind giving out invoice at all.

If you know the car business, you already know this stuff. And the blather I posted above only scratches the surface. Trust me, there's more.

So - need a Toyota?

that is part of the formula to really fuck people. but is it against the law to make $$$ on the front and back? trust me, Toyota will not have the balance sheet it does forever. but you also have the advantage of working under a manufacturer that actually tries to advertise value in its vehicles rather than the newest 0% term coupled with rebates. enjoy it while it lasts.

[Beaver]

I read something about the point of negative returns or some shit in an above post. Cars are money pits that will suck you dry. A new one is scheduled payments an old one is unsheduled payments. Sure your yota is worth squat and if you put $1000 into it you will have a car worth $900. If you put that $1000 into a used car with a loan attached you will have someone elses problems that may cost you $500 bucks here $300 there..... and payments on top of that. IF you buy new you are locked into payments that keep comming regardless of weather or not you are in argentina and the car is not being used. So ultimately it is a choice of weather you want a scheduled hassle of non stop payments or surprise hassle of repairs. If you keep it make sure you have AAA.

That rumbling/shake in the front end under acceleration sounds like front axels or cv joints or something of the sort. Pretty cheap fix but not necessary. My 95 corolla with 380000km (~235kmiles) has been doing that for 3 years and It hasn't gotten worse.

Take minimum fix, wear the flare and keep on driving.

[Trackhead]

End of life car decisions are hard to make.

About a month ago I brought my '92 Toyota truck V6 in for a tune up. They suggested a valve job as well ($800). I had that done and then they told me my engine needed a total rebuild to the tune of $3,000!!!. The truck had 179,000 miles on it and I didn't want to put the dough into it.

So I got my truck back with half the engine taken off and laying in the truck bed. And to top it off I got billed $800 for the valve job. Thanks Mr. Mechanic, for tearing my engine apart and sticking me with the bill to boot.

I just sold the truck for $1200 and took the loss.

Something to think about before you dive into the money pit.

[EPSkis]

Originally posted by mr_gyptian
that is part of the formula to really fuck people. but is it against the law to make $$$ on the front and back? trust me, Toyota will not have the balance sheet it does forever. but you also have the advantage of working under a manufacturer that actually tries to advertise value in its vehicles rather than the newest 0% term coupled with rebates. enjoy it while it lasts.

It's not "fucking people", it's business.

Do you walk into a grocery store and ask for Invoice on a loaf of bread? No - you pay your $1.79 without question, drive home & enjoy your PB & J.

In this business, everyone that walks through our doors wants - no - EXPECTS a discount. Why?

This business is funny. In the short time I actually SOLD cars, I learned a lot about people in general. (At least as far as their spending habits.) I've dealt with customers of every Nationality, that spoke dozens of languages, every shape size and color. The one thing they have in common is that they need to drive a car. Cars represent freedom. Without one, your freedom is hindered. In this country, that won't do. Oh, I'm sure Toyota will be around for a long, long time & they will remain HIGHLY profitable.

I've sold 28 cars in one month & only made about $2500.

I sold 17 cars the next month & made about $15k.

No, there aren't laws about how much money we're allowed to make or where we make it. You suspect Toyota's balance sheet will be changing? What info do you have that I don't? Toyota's been building cars since 1937. They're now the world's third largest manufacturer of automobiles in unit sales and in net sales.

Yes, Toyotas focus is on it's value. Which is WHY any rebate or incentive from Toyota is that much more attractive to consumers. They're willing to pay a reasonable price for the product because they already KNOW what they're getting in return.

Again - which is the reason I don't mind selling one, ten, a hundred at or below our Invoice. There are & will always be - other customers. We'll make our nickels & dimes where we can.


Beaver - I believe you're referencing one of my posts.
No, a car is not an investment. It's the price of necessity.
I'll word this another way ~ not being derogatory or demeaning, just putting it in simple terms:

One way or another, you are going to have to pay for a car. You require transportation. You require freedom. It's also a machine. Machines break down. If certain components of that machine aren't in perfect harmony with each other, it can affect a dozen OTHER parts or systems of that machine. Which cost money and time to fix.

Sure, you can put $1000 into it & get another 3000mi-5000mi back out of it. At which point, you may have to put another $1000 into it and get another 5000 miles out of it. And so on and so on.

OR

Spend the same (or less) money up front, get a warranty that COVERS those major items, for TWICE the amount of mileage, and do it in a car you actually ENJOY driving, with all the niceities that make you happy.

There's only one reality, it's the perceptions that are confusing.

FWIW: Used cars don't always mean you're "Buying someone else's headaches." Half of the used cars we have on our lot are less than 5 years old, are fully warranted, and undergo an intensive inspection. Reality again - you get what you pay for.

A friend bought a '98 Town & Country 2 years ago. Paid $4k for it. It had 106k miles on it. She's still driving it, and the only thing she's had to replace was a door handle. It now has over 160k miles, and is still going strong. Not bad. But she keeps up with the maintenance on it. Religiously.

[rtp]

if you've can afford to spend 5K i recomend getting something different. at 225,000 miles sounds like its getting pretty worn out and will probably nickle and dime you to death. If you look around you can find some solid cars for 5 grand or under. Up until i graduated from college i never paid much more than 2500 for a car and always had decent luck.