We’ve been friends with an auto broker for years. He can get lease fleet turnovers at auction, this year’s model with under 25,000 miles on them, already “drive-off” depreciated.
He’s also found us a steady stream of reliable older cars in the $1500 - $5000 range. My wife’s ‘05 Buick LeSabre was $5000, and we got a new-to-us ‘98 Chevy Lumina LTZ for $1500 when we thought Old Blue (’97 Lumina LS) was about to keel over dead. Of course, after we bought its replacement, it has refused to die.
This guy focuses on a few models of GM cars that all share drivetrain components, gets them at salvage, rebuilds the (usually modestly) damaged front ends, and puts them back on the road for cheap. My wife did in the front end of an older Buick we had; because it’s in the line he works on, he bought the salvage title, took it into his shop, and he’s got that car about fully restored and ready to roll, again. He’ll probably sell it for $3000-$4000.
You find “that guy” in your area and you’ll always have reliable wheels, and you won’t crush your piggy bank getting them.
I have no idea how I would find “that guy,” but with $6000 and a steady job, Pat can do okay for himself.
Speaking of jobs, Tom says the Chipotle area manager or whatever, some corporate guy, didn’t want to talk to him about his wages, and suggested that even wanting to discuss it was a bad quality in an employee.
Tom is going to get his resume together and locate a more reasonable employer. It’s stupid for an employer who is already shorthanded to lose their best employee over $1.50/hour, but they’ll do it. Tom says he’ll go out with a bang, too, making sure everyone who works there knows exactly why he’s quitting and how much he’ll be earning at his next job.
Costco will hire him as a stocker. He drives a forklift.