but what DOES $1000 get you in a car?

"MonkeePuzzle" (monkeypuzzle)
06/13/2019 at 11:10 • Filed to: BaXeLFoley

yesterday I pronounced the arrival of my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! but being without my phone I was picture-less, so here are pictures and details.

Imagine you have a white Corolla, what other option for modifications is there aside from tofu drift machine?

mods however, are somewhat counter to the point here. My objectives were to find a daily commuter car that has 4 doors (because my kids tire of climbing into my hatchback civic) and A/C (because it gets hot in the mile high city in summer)

So her true form is... dull. She’s white on the outside, with a mixture of beige and brown on the inside.

so, $1000, that’s me there, feeling briefly rich. Sure it’s my money, but it feels less substantial when it’s in a bank instead of in your hands

for anyone unfortunate enough to be in my work or oppo or social media chats, they’d know I’ve been hunting for a daily since basically last year when I got the Civic. I ranged from ~$2k beaters (civics, hondas, corollas from the 90s), ~$6k used with basic features (Fiestas, newer Corollas and Civics), ~$12k new cars at entry level (Versa, Yaris), or the ~$15k used with features (TSX, Accord, things from 2010+). Having seen that Corollas of this generation happily live on into the 300,000 mile range, finding one with less than half that for only $1000 in good condition I was at the guy’s place ASAP

I met a nice young man who was a teacher on break, he and his wife were moving out of state so she could do her medical fellowship, and he had ambitions to hike the PCT! Two cars unecessary, their newer Forester got to stay, and their reliable 1 owner Corolla got the boot.

Having snagged it late that night, I drove it to work in the morning... without plate :S

yup, if you are fumbling around for the gas door lever (beacuse I didnt know which side to park at the gas station) and generally look suspicious, and have no plates, you’ll get pulled over. He was nice, I showed him my paperwork, which legally permitted me to travel for 36 hours with no plates. He said “you’re doing the right thing... oh hey, lemme close this gas door for you” and sent me on my way.

Then off to get emissions test, passed with flying colours

Then home to join my collection of 90s JDM

So lets talk “features”. It has 4 doors, which means easy access for my human children (and their fur baby)

Even !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! finds this interior super dull *MASSIVE YAWN*

It has an engine. 1.6 liter 4A-FE, which got a bump from 100hp to 105 hp for just the 1997 model (slightly improved side impact protection, and midly changed exterior for that year too)

It has A/C, crucial if you want to arrive at work, or home I suppose, without back sweat. It has REALLY good A/C, like, BRRRRRrrrrrrrRRRRRR

A spacious trunk. It swallowed all 4 of the summer tyres that came with the car with ease

It has a set of summer and winter tyres

It has a pretty badge that sounds classy, but really jsut means it’s the base model with some fancy thrown in. From wikipedia

special CE (Classic Edition) sedan was offered and it incorporated a number of popular features in one value-priced package

Among the standard equipment were the options for power windows and locks, A/C, power steering, a four-speaker stereo, manual remote mirrors and special floor mats and exterior badging

manual remote mirrors

HAH! that SOUNDS fancy, but...

anyway, it has a goat sticker

and a random assortment of surface rust spots I’ll need to address to stop them spreading

but back to features, power locks and windows! very handy for a family car. No remote lock, but turning the key twice in the lock undoes all the doors, and that will suffice

dimmable dash lights. now you might think “why is he showing us that?” and it’s mostly because, as you are about to find out, this is about as high a feature as anything else the car has to offer

it shows speed, heat, and fuel. AND ONLY 138k on it!

It has a radio. and when I say a radio, I mean radio. No CD, not even a tape deck! ONE fm and one am set of 6 presets. THATS IT

It’s a commuter car, so an automatic is good for that stop/go traffic I endure, and gives me more freedom to flip people off as both hands are not needed for steering/gears. I think it’s a 3 speed auto? I don’t know. It’s acceptable, but I test drove the 5 speed manual and stirring your own gives a little more pep when needed than the auto can muster

a cupholder, that while average is better than the origami nonsense in my civic

a coin/ashtray

It was lacking a commuter essential, so despite promising the wife that this car will have no mods or projects... I took a blank space and added a metal knob for the magnet on my phone to attach to

It did have its two remaining hubcaps split front to rear, but in the interests of curb appeal I have moved them both to the one side so my across the street neighbours are tricked into thinking it’s a better car than it is

But most impressively of all, $1000 got me a car that had been well taken care of, had recent work done, and a stack of papers dating back to original purchase showing substantial work done. I’m the 3rd owner!

and that my friends, is what $1000, and a years of constant craigslist hunting can get you.

Lastly, she needs a name. I like to base the names of my cars on the license plate (see RuqSaq and Ruqus as examples). Open to suggestions based on BXL

Alix Perez (as this DJ has a songed titled “BXL”)

Box Lad

Biloxi

Boring and Xtra Lame

BaXeL Foley

Be XceLlent to each other

DISCUSSION (35)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:20

Nice. Some touch up on those paintless spots and a weekend S vending it would probably do wonders. I’d be curious if a shine could still be compounded out of that paint.

MonkeePuzzle > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/13/2019 at 11:23

agreed. the paint is very dull, but not rough. Current plans are thoroughly Svend the interior, then sand back and touch up the rust spots, then see if I can get some shine back, then lay on some decent wax protection. I think the only thing that has saved it from having the usual fading paint of 90s econo cars is that it was white, and white doesn’t retain the heat many other colours do.

dogisbadob > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:24

cool car

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:24

“for anyone unfortunate enough to be in my work or oppo or social media chats”

does that make me fortunate then :(

Darkbrador > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:25

This car rule.

Now, what about the green truck on the other side of the street ?

functionoverfashion > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:26

Looks like a very good buy for $1,000.

Goat sticker = backcountry.com

That’s all I got

InFierority Complex > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:28

But does it still have those fancy Classic Edition special floor mats?

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:29

Not bad, we got a 97 one a couple years ago with pretty bad exterior but only ~ 45,000 so that became my dad’s commuter

MonkeePuzzle > Darkbrador
06/13/2019 at 11:30

ahh, my neighbours camper. They run a car repair and customizing shop, and have several classics. As I understand it, this truck came in with crazy low miles, from the original owner, who was now very old, and they bought it from him.

MonkeePuzzle > InFierority Complex
06/13/2019 at 11:31

it does! I think... they appear to be not very fancy.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:35

My first car was a 1990 Geo Prizm, 5-speed stick with power locks & cruise, but manual windows and locks. I bought it with about 165K on it and drove it into the ground after putting on almost 100K more. Solid little cars. If I could find one like yours in that condition, hard to do in NW Ohio, for $1,000 I’d buy it for my son, who needs basic transport to school, soccer practice and his girlfriends house.

Alfalfa > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:35

I nearly got one of these instead of the 3, but beige and manual.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:41

I’m confident that this is at least $2000 worth of car. You got a killer deal.

Enjoy!

MonkeePuzzle > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
06/13/2019 at 11:42

indeed. it felt too good a deal to pass up.

MonkeePuzzle > functionoverfashion
06/13/2019 at 11:42

makes sense, they were a very hikey backco unt ry sort of couple.

MonkeePuzzle > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
06/13/2019 at 11:43

I think you just apply in whatever thread there was for it a while ago.

MonkeePuzzle > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
06/13/2019 at 11:44

based on my local craigslist, I agree, if not ~$2500. I see similar generation Corollas going for ~ $2000 with more body damage and mileage in the 200k range.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 11:46

Ah. Could you link me to that?

smobgirl > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:00

My mom has a 1997 base model Camry with <90k miles on it and they’re so similar I’m laughing over here. Both of her hubcaps are on the curb side though.

(It was technically my brothers car before he moved out of the country, but it’s a good backup for when her higher mileage daily driver V6 Camry is having issues)

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:16

I think it needs to be wrapped in Castrol Toyota g raphics. Other than that good buy.

MonkeePuzzle > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
06/13/2019 at 12:22

I think this is the place https://oppositelock.kinja.com/join-oppositewonk-on-slack-we-are-10-and-counting-1785026584

RallyWrench > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:27

Obligatory:

Awesome find though, these things cannot be killed. Solidly a better car than what you paid would suggest.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:33

Ah. But didn’t Jason lose access to that account? If anything I’ll catch his new account and say you sent me

Lexus Official > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:35

Toyota makes an excellent quality vehicle that should last you for many more years . Welcome to the Toyota family.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 12:51

I'll call that NP. Any Corolla that old and still looking 100% stock, and still has original-looking wheel covers, has definitely lived a good life. Enjoy!

MonkeePuzzle > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/13/2019 at 12:58

I dont know how the owners could bear that stock radio. I might have to wander over to local car audio place for a quote on something with bluetooth

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 13:05

I suppose it was a decent price.......... Leaves in $225, 75k mile, almost rust free 1992 Caravan ........SUCKER!

Joking aside, looks like a pretty clean little car, and having all the receipts is always a BIG plus. I think you got a good deal on it, hopefully it treats you well!

BTW, you know you have to paint it like that right?

MonkeePuzzle > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
06/13/2019 at 13:13

yes, but then I’d be driving a Caravan.... no thanks

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 13:17

Definitely not worse than driving an auto Corolla.....;)

SpeedSix > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 14:05

Castrol ,

Kinja'd!!!

or TRD

Kinja'd!!!

Future Heap Owner > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 15:01

Wow, super NP! All your huntin’ sure paid off

MonkeePuzzle > Future Heap Owner
06/13/2019 at 15:45

thanks. lets just not consider how much of my time I spent hunting :D

but I do enjoy the hunt, and even the numerous test drives of complete garabge (I’m looking your way brand new Versa!)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > MonkeePuzzle
06/13/2019 at 20:40

You could also do what I did, buy a unit on Amazon, take out the old unit by yourself, realise that the car’s harness doesn’t match the new radio, curse, THEN give up and head down to the audio shop to fork over more hard-earned money.

Your idea sounds less painful.

MonkeePuzzle > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/13/2019 at 21:29

i wandered to the local cartoys, said thanks for thr $505 quote for the most basic head unit and speakers , then went to crutchfield and bought the same there with all the adapters to install it myself for $128

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > MonkeePuzzle
06/14/2019 at 02:03

Not bad. With my failed Amazon install, a local shop charged me $75 to wire up the new unit to fit the harness to my older car. Oh well.