Finding good, used cars more difficult these days

Bangor Daily News ^ | 9/10/10 | 9/10/10

[Inappropriate Laughter]

One of my sons had a car accident recently. The car was totaled but fortunately no one was injured. There was only basic insurance coverage, so we started the new (used) car search.

Being male and somewhat into cars, this was a challenge that I savored. The eternal hunt for a good car deal is something that is fun in some ways. It is an opportunity to cast lots against the system, trying to find proper transportation by being a hunter-gatherer of the 21st century.

Now, I am first to admit to being a bottom feeder when it comes to cars. I am always looking for a deal. I get really nervous if I spend more than $5,000 on a car. I have done this on a few occasions and eventually wind up selling the car since having that much money on wheels that can crash makes me nervous.

SNIP

I usually look for wholesale deals. Wholesale cars are those that cannot be driven off the lot because the dealer will not sell them with a warranty. This can be tricky, but if you know something about cars and have a mechanic for backup, you can find decent transportation.

The car world that I have existed in has been shaken up in the past year by cash for clunkers. I suppose it was good for the economy to persuade consumers to go out and buy new cars, but there was a downside to it. Any “clunker” that was traded in had to be demolished. The destruction included running abrasives in the engine to render it useless.

Now, there are certainly cars out there that should be rendered useless, but it sure seems like a waste to just destroy thousands of engines that might be reusable.

CONTINUED....

[Ancient Drive]

I just want an old car that will survive an EMP. Today’s cars would be dead on the spot if something like that went off.

[dirtboy]

Imagine having been out of work for a year. Your credit is dinged, and you are down to three grand in your savings account.

You finally get a job and you need a car to get to it.

But lo and behold, Cash for Clunkers has driven the price and availability of a decent used car out of your reach.

Thank you, Democrats.

[macquire]

You aren’t the only one. We have been looking for a cheap third car and absolutely won’t buy one with the prices out there now.

Cash For Clunkers resulted in good used cars destroyed to prop up Unions and now we pay for it.

[Grunthor]

There is a truck in town that I am considering making an offer on next month if it is still available. “Slightly used” 1947 Ford pickup, 3 speed manual, lifted. Needs some body work and a paint job but it could be worth it.

[whitedog57]

Watch Obama slap a used car tax, a HUGE one, on used cars.

You are supposed to be supporting labor unions, damn it!

[macquire]

The poor have no choice but to pay these high prices for something driveable when their old clunker gives out.

So the POOR are now paying for Obama’s Cash For Clunkers bailout for the union.

How FUBAR.

[macquire]

The poor have no choice but to pay these high prices for something driveable when their old clunker gives out.

So the POOR are now paying for Obama’s Cash For Clunkers bailout for the union.

How FUBAR.

[macquire]

The poor have no choice but to pay these high prices for something driveable when their old clunker gives out.

So the POOR are now paying for Obama’s Cash For Clunkers bailout for the union.

How FUBAR.

[yesca]

Strange as it may seem, the late 80’s & early 90’s produced some very high quality cars that could go 500,000 + miles if cared for properly.

For instance, Toyota had the quality meter dialed up to 10 because their image was suffering from the previous decade when rust was a problem they had.

I bet you could find a gem in that range for less than a grand, a new record price point for you.

[mountn man]

With the economy in the tank, less people are buying new cars, meaning they are holding on to there good used cars.

Also, the cash for clunkers program took a lot of GOOD USED cars and crushed them. Perfectly usable cars for someone, who could afford them, were destroyed.

I would also think that the law of supply and demand would have some effect here, The demand for good used cars is high, but the supply was purposefully lowered.

Great economic plan. Eliminate affordable cars, and force people to buy less affordable ones, and go further in debt doing it.

[yesca]

I wonder how the poor are making out with this situation?/sarc

[tacticalogic]

Imagine having been out of work for a year. Your credit is dinged, and you are down to three grand in your savings account.

You finally get a job and you need a car to get to it.

But lo and behold, Cash for Clunkers has driven the price and availability of a decent used car out of your reach.

Yep. You and 10 more like you got screwed so one union hack could keep his high-wage job and fat pension benefits. To the Democrats, that's a job well done.

[null and void]

The poor have no choice but to pay these high prices for something driveable when their old clunker gives out.

So the POOR are now paying for Obama’s Cash For Clunkers bailout for the union.

How FUBAR.

Wrongo, bucko.

The poor have no choice but to stay on public transit.

They can only go where their betters allow, and only when they allow.

Not FUBAR at all.

Deliberate.

[mountn man]

You'd need something, AT LEAST, pre 1980.

No computer. No EFI. Points and condesor ignition. Radio would probably be toasted...like there'd be anything to listen to anyway...in other words your 8 tracks wouldn't work either.

[She hits a grand slam tonight]

of my 3 cars, my favorite is the 79 chevy pick-up 5.7 I bought at auction for $700. the easiest thing to fix. actually their’s not much in it to break down. frst pick-up I ever owned & love it
plus I don’t have to deal with the emisions crapp

[thackney]

I just want an old car that will survive an EMP. Today’s cars would be dead on the spot if something like that went off.

You better get a diesel if that is your concern.

You might get a car to survive but good luck with a modern refinery.

It is easier to grow and create your own biodiesel than gasoline/ethanol in a post electronic world.

[Cheetahcat]

That program was the most Brain dead bit of destruction I have seen, a lot of perfectly usable cars and or parts just trashed for NO good reason.

[rickmichaels]

You'd need something, AT LEAST, pre 1980.

My favorite all-time ride, pre-1980 or not...

[Minn]

Thank you, Democrats.

Or how about if you need to find your own health insurance and a policy that was fairly affordable a year ago is now priced out of sight.

Or how about if you pulled one over on a credit card company by taking them up on their 3% interest transfer offers for the life of the balance, and never used the card again, like they hoped you would. But in response to credit card "reform" the bank jacked up the minimum payment in a desperate attempt to make up for all the other losses they were about to take from deadbeats that don't make their payments.

Or how about if you have always paid your mortgage, but your neighbor...

The list goes on and on. People with no use for government handouts being raped by intended and unintended consequences of legislation passed and signed by idiots and knaves.