Franklin

I actually don't own a car (still need to pay off some debt before I can afford one), but intend to get one.

I will probably buy an old car to cut down on insurance bills, which brings me to the subject of this thread.

What do you do when you need to fix something on your car?

Do you go to a car dealership even if you have a less-than-new car?

What are the "do's and don'ts"? :scared:

HELP!

Englishmum

I can't help you in regards to where do we take our car when it's sick (we bought a new one last year so it goes to the dealer for servicing) but this link here is a fantastic resource if you are buying new, secondhand or considering leasing:

http://www.carbuyingtips.com

In our district there is a very heavily used messageboard on a local website and people often recommend garages or inform of garages to avoid. I would imagine that there would be a forum/messageboard for the district where you are living, perhaps a google search might find something.

Good Luck!

Englishmum

Oops - forgot to add....here is a Top Tip.

Before you agree to buy a secondhand car, *do* get a Carfax vehicle history report. All you need is the VIN for the car (Vehicle Identification Number - which is a unique number for any manufactured car and found often in the door frame or on the engine block).

You will instantly find whether or not the car has outstanding loans on it (liens), who actually owns the car, if it has been in an accident at any time and whether or not it has been written off/totalled by an insurance company (and rebuilt for sale - but these cars are never truly safe to drive.)

When we were selling our previous car we followed the advice on carbuyingtips and people who came to view were *very* impressed as I gave a copy of a Carfax report for our car to each person to take away and keep if they wished. It turned out that a woman further up our street bought it. If you are looking to buy and the owner doesn't provide one - and I personally think that all secondhand car dealers should provide them - you can pay approx $20 for unlimited access for one month on the Carfax site. You can then put in any VIN # you wish on cars you are looking at. You could perhaps go to a car auction if there's one in your area.....but also look up current used car prices on websites such as Edmunds.com or the links on the carbuyingtips site.

Bob

Depends on the car don't it...
Got a Saab, and get quite a lot fixed at a local garage, well local to in-laws, father knows the guy that owns one, so gets a good deal, and the guy worked at the saab dealership for years....but sometimes, have to take to dealer because special tools are needed, like the starter valve, which we still haven't gotten around to fixing, but probably should with winter setting in...

Don't want to get something too old either, cost of repairs and milage v insurance...something to think about...

Bob

Oh yeah, good point...don't get a cut and shut either, I think there legal here, but best avoid

sibsie

What's one of them?

Bob

If two cars that are the same involved in accidents, one a front end, the other rear ended, cut them down the middle, weld them together, respray, got a new car....cut and shut
problem is, they can fall apart, also, weld joints change impact qualities and strengths of a car, so are really unsafe....but usually very cheap...
can spot them because they often have weld tack marks between the doors, and maybe a seam on the roof...

sibsie

Cheers Bob.

superpat

I take my 1996 Porsche to an independent specialist - CT Automotive in Campbell, CA.

The dealerships increasingly don't have the skills to work on older cars, and set their rates to deter you from taking them there.

Anyone with a 'cherished' car should search out a bulletin board and see where enthusiasts take their cars. You can save $$$ and get better service than the dealership.

Cheers,

Pat

Jan Alaska

Fix ? people fix their cars ? WOW !!!
up here folks just seem to drive them till they rot, theres not specific laws in Michigan (that I'm aware of) governing the state of cars/trucks so theres lots of wrecks on the road especially over winter time when everyone gets their 'beaters' out.
Ohh and slicks seem to be common too .. now I may drive a bit of a wreck but at least me tyres are good.

Bob

Sounds a bit like maine, and then they try and sell the rust bucket from their front lawns, even though they would get more for scrap metal...

rincewind

Well, with the piece of crap my wife drives, I would simply remove the tag and file down all the seriel numbers and then dump it in the street and give something back to the community.

Bob

Now that's what should happen, yet people over here still sell 'em on the lawn, even though they have two or three beaters....there's a car for sale up the road, completely mashed up, front end is knocked right in, and also massive fire damage....still for sale... *l*

Jan Alaska

They do that selling out on the front lawn thing here too ... I dont think they do the scrap yard thing here i've still to see a scrappy in this area.

Bob

There's a couple scrapyards i've seen in maine...probably the cost of towing...but even so, would probably be more for scrap than just leaving the car to decay on the front lawn, bit of an blimp on the lawn though aint it...