Bought an old Toyota

[Idaho Linda]

I bought a 91 Corolla for $1600. It immediately went into the shop and got all brand-new gaskets and seals to stop the leaks, all new belts, and a new water pump, matching spark plugs, and anything else it needed. That was another $800. It runs great, is fun to drive, and is getting well-over 40 miles a gallon! It came with brand-new tires and a new battery. The glass is all perfect and the body is pretty darned good. As much as I love my Tundra, this little car is going to do a great job of taking care of all the short runs for about 1/3 the gas. Save the truck---drive an old car!

[Marci]

I have been thinking of doing just that. Sell my gas hog Caddy and buy something cheap and have it fixed up like that. At least then you know you will get some unproblematic miles out of it.
Course I have been using my bike lately to get around and not only am I getting more fit but I save a bundle on gas, and wear and tear.

[snelson]

Wish it was that cheap around here for all that work. I got new shocks and struts put on this summer and my bill was almost $1000 and that was with a rebate. Anytime we take our vehicles in for work it is always about that much. My transmission has started slipping going into first gear (intermittently and the mechanic couldn't get it to do it so he suggested I take it to a shop with a machine to read it) and the estimate on that is almost $2000. If it's going to cost that much I am going to keep driving it until it slips more than just every once in a while. The stupid van isn't worth much more than that anymore

Love Toyota Corolla's. My grandmother had one for as long as I can remember. That was back in the late 70's but she had that thing for over 25 years and it ran great.

[Idaho Linda]

The guy I bought it from had started the re-build. He did a lot of work, and a lot of the expensive stuff. The mechanic here also works on show cars--so has had lots of experience with leaks in old vehicles. He evidently has decided it is just best to replace everything at one--and do the water pump while you have it apart. You are right, I am very, very lucky.

[ride4fun]

I don't have many short trips but I consider having a car for commuting almost essential so I can save the big p/u for horse stuff. My little 2001 Saturn has been great for me for that. And I'm also blessed with a mechanic just down the road. Probably not as cheap as Linda's but good and honest. One of my peeves in life is going to a oil change outfit or dealer garage and having them try convince me to do a bunch of extra stuff.

Linda I thought you had an old Echo that was the run around car? DH keeping that one busy or did I miss or forget something?

[Newfygirl]

We have a 98 Camry that we saved for our son (rather than trade it in for our new Camry). We have a friend that did the work on it . It has 164,000 on it and runs perfectly. Our friend just replaced the sway bar links and the timing belt. That car will get another 100,000 I bet. Love those Toyotas. Anyone who says they only buy American - I tell them that both of our Camrys were made in Kentucky. Doesn't get mire a m American than that. We have a crappy 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. It has 40,000 less miles t an our old Camry and it constantly needs work. We are ho p ing to replace it with a Toyota Sienna in the spring.

[Idaho Linda]

Yeah, I needed one just for me. I need to save my Tundra--not to mention, taking the Tundra to the gas pump isn't much fun.

I have put 200 miles on it since the last fill-up. The gas gauge still says "half"---and it sure doesn't cost $80 to fill it up. I am thinking more like $80 a month LOL.

[DorothyB]

Sounds neat - do we get to see a picture?