I'm Just Wondering

"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
06/30/2016 at 20:07 • Filed to: beaters, cheap

I’ve seen 3 posts in the past couple months about people acquiring running, although rough, cars for less than $200. How the hell are y’all doing it? I don’t have time to search because I have work and school and a wife. I also don’t have a whole lot of friends who have beater cars lying around.

Gotta admit I’m a little jelly. But I’m not hating. I just know we need a second vehicle and I want something I can load up with trash without worrying. Meepster’s too pretty for the dump.

DISCUSSION (17)

S65 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 20:12

Buy this:

Kinja'd!!!

this is a 1993 Ford Ranger Splash Flareside 4x2 truck.

175,900 miles. Even in fair condition kbb is 1489.00 so given repairs it needs...this is a good price and its firm.

Ugly lil truck but great beater/landscaper/garbage collector truck. Its supposed to be red but more like an orangy red but these rangers are tough and get decent gas mileage.

In running condition but needs work.

The good:

Has a new battery

radiator

Fuel pump

Water pump

Suspension mounts on rear axel

The bad:

Cracked winhdshield

2nd gear is picky

Has a hose leak somewhere not sure where, so I’m selling it cheap.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/561893…

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 20:16

Im with you there. I cant find anything in my area for under $1000 that isn’t falling apart entirely.

Berang > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 20:25

Join a car club. Eventually you’ll find somebody who would rather sell for next to nothing to a fellow enthusiast, than bother dealing with flakes and scammers on craigslist.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Berang
06/30/2016 at 20:38

That’s not a bad idea. Hm...

I don’t have the “car” for any clubs, though. My wife and I share one Jeep Renegade. I live in one of my mother-in-law’s rental properties, next door to her and my sister-in-law.

There are literally a dozen running cars on the homestead, aside from ours.

My sister in law has her truck and TL. My mother in law has her CRV, her husband has 2 outbuildings with non-runners in them, and has:
60-something Ford dump truck
an 80-something Ford Ranger with cap
94 Mazda B2300
3 Chrysler minivans of various vintages
an old Ford 12-passenger Club Wagon
A Lincoln Town Car Limousine - used once a week to go out with the guys
a 70-something Chevy truck that he only takes out on nice days and in parades.

Despite the fact that he picks them up at auctions because he keeps renewing his dealer license, he won’t sell any of those vehicles to me - even after I asked, and offered double what he had in one of them. (Granted he picked up the 80-something Ranger for $300 and I offered $600. He said Hell No.) One of the Chrysler minivans has been parked behind the barn, and the Club Wagon keeps moving to different spots on the property.

The fact that my mother in law is retired and cleans the house daily is the only reason he hasn’t got it hoarded up with crap he buys at auctions. His barn and two of three outbuildings are almost stuffed full.

Berang > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 20:48

Oh. Hoarders are the worst. And then they die and it all gets thrown out. Or worse happens. There used to be an old guy who “collected” bicycles. Filled an old detached garage to the rafters with bicycles, the garage door wouldn’t close because they wouldn’t fit. Didn’t want to part with any of them, didn’t even ride any of them. One day the garage burned down and all that was left was worth for scrap.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Berang
06/30/2016 at 21:01

And what’s more, asking to use a vehicle for anything is like asking them for a kidney. My wife and I have to be in different places to,or row and I can’t get off work. She has to borrow her other sister’s 07 Fit - parked at her dad’s while baby sister is in training at Pensacola naval air station - because nobody here would let us borrow a vehicle.

Birddog > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 21:18

It’s about how many people you get to know. And how outgoing you can be.

I had a Commanche given to me because Illinois was going to suspend his license for Air Team fails. Bought an 89 Astro for $50 because the dealer offered $25 and an MG Midget for $700 because the guy was moving to Florida.

Don’t be afraid to knock on doors either. Stash $1000 in cash somewhere and look for deals.

Don’t rely on Craigslist. That’s all junk.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Birddog
06/30/2016 at 21:21

I've always been painfully awkward. that doesn't really help

Birddog > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 21:49

Crawl out of that shell. It’s not easy but it pays off.

MysticStick > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 22:21

What about asking to go to an auction with that dude? Maybe he would help you buy a car there for a small profit? Anyone with a towncar limo just for kicks probably knows how to find a deal on a pos that runs.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > MysticStick
06/30/2016 at 22:54

Despite the fact that we cook for them, watch their dog, and help all the time, any request we make of him is met with a rant about responsibility and taking advantage of him. He's just a crazy old man and honestly it's not worth the trouble.

Die-Trying > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
06/30/2016 at 23:20

if you can do some of your own stunts when it comes to car repairs, then you have a big advantage when it comes to picking up good deals.

just keep asking around, the guys at work, the guys at the gas station, everywhere....... just tell them “hey, i’m looking to get another set of wheels, CHEAP. if you know someone that has got something setting let me know, i’m just looking for something that runs, close to runs . not to worried about what the body looks like, rougher the better ......... and i got $xxx to spend”........ and you are IN. check in periodically, and something WILL turn up.

JUST MAKE SURE, that you have whatever money you claimed to be willing to spend....... and if you do things RIGHT more will KEEP showing up, long after you first put the word out.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Die-Trying
07/01/2016 at 05:24

This is a brilliant idea, and if my place wasn't already full of junkers I'd do it right now :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/01/2016 at 05:29

Most of mine have been eBay, but that seems to be the go-to place to get rid of crap in the UK where there’s no Craigslist.

Being known as someone who picks up dirt cheap cars and fixes them up is good though. Our £150 MG F was sold to us because the lady wanted someone to take care of it, but was only offered £100 for trade-in (lowball price).

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Die-Trying
07/01/2016 at 06:59

I used to be able to do that. And I really don’t have the know-how to do much more than basic maintenance stuff - I think the biggest job I have undertaken was a complete brake overhaul, including fluid flush, pads, calipers, and new master cylinder, on an old Volvo 240 I had.

As far as putting word out, the guys at work know. My manager bought a new truck and has his old one parked at the shop for now:

Kinja'd!!!

I’d really like him to sell it to me but he has emotional attachment to it.

Die-Trying > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
07/01/2016 at 15:40

and you can even get picky, pick a brand to stick with, or specific car..... for example “looking for a diesel benz, dont care about condition, know anybody that might have one”.......... thats how i FINALLY found my 4x4 stepside shortbed manual v8....... took me the better part of 5 years looking searching on my own before i could find a BUDGET truck...... and when i did, i just asked the guy “what do you want for it?” “i dunno, he said, its rough(doesnt have 1 straight panel on it)......you give $500 for it?”(and if they give you a stupid answer, you ask them again real cold and serious “how much do you need to get for it?” and if they STILL monkey with you, tell em “best i can do is$xxx”and be ready to walk away.and before you go tell them “let me know if you change your mind” )........I couldnt pay the guy quick enough, he even helped deliver it.......

FINDING is the hardest part............

Die-Trying > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/01/2016 at 15:59

you just have to keep pushing on them without being pushy.......stuff like asking your manager. things like “hey im still interested in that old truck if you want to sell it”, and eventually progress to “if you did sell it to me....... how much would you take for it?”(but start lining up your nickels and dimes NOW, before you ever ask,it helps to have something) and start him thinking about a number for it. remind him nicely that hes not doing anything with it.

its a SLOW progression, dont rush it. dont be a nag.

tell him he can visit the truck whenever he wants........