Car Situation, your input please! [Archive]

peshields

10-20-2008, 03:29 AM

Hey guys.. Like most of you, I have a GT.. of course you can see it to the left <--

Here's my dilemma.

The GT was my first vehicle that was a "good" vehicle I ever owned. My first car I bought with payments, you know?

ANYWAY. I'm presented with an opportunity, which involves selling my car to an employee of mine, (he really loves it, offered me 3950 for it with the system in it)

His parents are wanting him to get a reliable mode of transportation, for not a ton of money, preferably with payments to help build his credit. Buying my car for that amount presents him with exactly that, and a car he could enjoy.

However, I want to ask you guys.. Will I regret selling it? The GT has been good to me.. oh yes, we've had our troubles... Like 8 rotors in two years, replacing major components of the suspension on both sides of the front, popped radiator hose, and that 1 d*mn tire that never seems to hold air for more than a month.. But I haven't had anything major other than the suspension work and i'm pushing 108k miles.

BTW, i'm thinking about replacing it with a 2006 Charger R/T. thoughts?

Grandamgtblk99

10-20-2008, 04:26 AM

Are you in a good financial situation yourself to buy a new car?

Bryan

10-20-2008, 05:38 AM

Yeah it comes down to you being able to afford it or not. If you comfortably can, I say go for it.

GregFarz78

10-20-2008, 06:55 AM

If its paid off and not giving you any major problems it would be stupid to get rid of it for more car payments, higher gas bills, and higher insurance thats exactly the reason I haven't gotten a new car yet no payment is great.

PhantomLover007

10-20-2008, 07:05 AM

I concur w/ both....

DrFabulous

10-20-2008, 07:48 AM

I agree with what Greg said.... having no car payments and a reliable, still "newish" ride is ftw

peshields

10-20-2008, 01:58 PM

well, it is not paid off. i still pay about 260 a month. the new vehicle will cost me about 315 a month. current car would be paid off in a year. the guy offered me 1400 over what i owe on it so i'm thinking its a good deal.

cardude007617

10-20-2008, 02:12 PM

id keep the grand am, its still running well and it must be a hell of a lot better in snow than a RWD charger. i dont believe the base models even having limited slip diffs do they?

XMBlackGT1

10-20-2008, 08:33 PM

id keep the grand am, its still running well and it must be a hell of a lot better in snow than a RWD charger. i dont believe the base models even having limited slip diffs do they?

No LSD's on a base model Charger- they are horrible in the snow.

GrandAmGT-2008

10-20-2008, 09:38 PM

the r/t is a base model?

crazypontiac03

10-20-2008, 10:10 PM

Its up to you. If you want and can afford a New Car, then go for it. Also you will be able to get a decent deal on a New Car right now as the economy is slow and its getting colder which means less sales anyway.

GregFarz78

10-21-2008, 06:20 AM

eh I'd still keep it, the economy is in the dumper that should be reason enough not to buy a new car and unless you have great credit its going to be hard to be financed 5 years for a used car

peshields

10-21-2008, 09:28 AM

id keep the grand am, its still running well and it must be a hell of a lot better in snow than a RWD charger. i dont believe the base models even having limited slip diffs do they?

After talking to a local dealer, who is a friend of the family, he pointed out some things about the Charger I was looking at. Mainly that for the price, it almost HAS to have been in an accident, or under a salvage/rebuild title. I concur with what he is thinking there. Also, he pointed out the snow situation. And since I live way out in bum f*ck nowhere where we don't even have internet, a charger wouldn't be good for me in the winter. Then we got to talking about other vehicles I like, and he cut me a hell of a deal on a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn Edition. Its the nice silver paint job, which will be a nice change! All of the vehicles I've owned in the past were black or white, lol.

Anyway, the truck bluebooks on kbb.com for $22,345 retail. I'm getting it for about 6k less than that.

Its pretty sweet cause a truck like this is what I've wanted for.. oh.. since I bought the GA.

and the best part - only gets 3-4 mpg worse than my GA does... I know, doesn't make sense, but those are the numbers.

Mendoza

10-21-2008, 09:44 AM

I would keep the GA and save some money the economy sucks donkey nutz and personally the ga is a pretty reliable vehicle. Just think in another year your ga will be paid off and you can mod the car or just drive it until the wheels fall off. It's a win win situation keeping it.

crazypontiac03

10-21-2008, 09:51 AM

After talking to a local dealer, who is a friend of the family, he pointed out some things about the Charger I was looking at. Mainly that for the price, it almost HAS to have been in an accident, or under a salvage/rebuild title. I concur with what he is thinking there. Also, he pointed out the snow situation. And since I live way out in bum f*ck nowhere where we don't even have internet, a charger wouldn't be good for me in the winter. Then we got to talking about other vehicles I like, and he cut me a hell of a deal on a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn Edition. Its the nice silver paint job, which will be a nice change! All of the vehicles I've owned in the past were black or white, lol.

Anyway, the truck bluebooks on kbb.com for $22,345 retail. I'm getting it for about 6k less than that.

Its pretty sweet cause a truck like this is what I've wanted for.. oh.. since I bought the GA.

and the best part - only gets 3-4 mpg worse than my GA does... I know, doesn't make sense, but those are the numbers.

Nice Choice, I had a 06 QC. Loved that truck! Still wish i had it. Also the front end is heavy enough to support a plow if you have the time and wish to make extra Money.

Reason i sold mine was, Trying to save $$ to move out,Wedding to pay for.. U get the idea the Payment and Fuel were killing me.

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 10:41 AM

After talking to a local dealer, who is a friend of the family, he pointed out some things about the Charger I was looking at. Mainly that for the price, it almost HAS to have been in an accident, or under a salvage/rebuild title. I concur with what he is thinking there. Also, he pointed out the snow situation. And since I live way out in bum f*ck nowhere where we don't even have internet, a charger wouldn't be good for me in the winter. Then we got to talking about other vehicles I like, and he cut me a hell of a deal on a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn Edition. Its the nice silver paint job, which will be a nice change! All of the vehicles I've owned in the past were black or white, lol.

Anyway, the truck bluebooks on kbb.com for $22,345 retail. I'm getting it for about 6k less than that.

Its pretty sweet cause a truck like this is what I've wanted for.. oh.. since I bought the GA.

and the best part - only gets 3-4 mpg worse than my GA does... I know, doesn't make sense, but those are the numbers.

omg you have to be the dumbest person i know right now. he sees you walking away from the charger and tries to get you to go for a vehicle that (actually sort of fits your needs) is even HARDER for him to sell right now; the economy sucks and who wants a gas sucking pick up truck? wow you got played. of course he wants to cut you a deal, it's sitting on the lot anyways. id love to know when this truck was checked over by one of their mechanics to make sure its okay to sell.
does anyone agree with me?

peshields

10-21-2008, 11:01 AM

omg you have to be the dumbest person i know right now. he sees you walking away from the charger and tries to get you to go for a vehicle that (actually sort of fits your needs) is even HARDER for him to sell right now; the economy sucks and who wants a gas sucking pick up truck? wow you got played. of course he wants to cut you a deal, it's sitting on the lot anyways. id love to know when this truck was checked over by one of their mechanics to make sure its okay to sell.
does anyone agree with me?

wow. someone is an idiot ^

First off, I've wanted a truck like this for YEARS. They just weren't in my price range at the time.

Second, my DAD is a mechanic, and a pretty good one at that. In 05 or 06 he won Tech Net/Carquests Mechanic of the Year. I took it over to his shop to have it checked out. Dad wouldn't tell me to buy it if it was a POS.

Third, this guy has sold me the GA, sold my sister two vehicles, and i believe my parents have bought two from him as well. He's a solid guy I've known since I was a kid, and he wouldn't give me the run around.

By the way, the prices of trucks have been climbing with the recent decline in fuel cost, and I figured $4 per gallon in gas into my monthly expenses before deciding I wanted to buy it for when fuel does go back up.

edit: would like to say thank you to all those that offered their advice without trying to insult me.

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 11:13 AM

i want a lot of things, but does buying a large truck make sense right now? do you tow? work in a trade that needs a truck?
i didnt say that the truck was a POS, im sure its quite nice. its just that it doesnt make sense to buy a truck like that, your going backwards.
the poster before me even said that he sold a truck similiar to the one your looking at partly due to the price of a fill up.
all i can say is that you will be saying goodbye to 30 or 40 dollar fill ups, and hello to 60, or 70 dollar ones.
ie. currently gas is going for 2.96 in my area, 22 gallon tank $65.16 verses $35.52 for our grand ams....

GregFarz78

10-21-2008, 11:23 AM

Dodge trucks are sitting on the lot collecting dust unless he cuts that price 40% off blue book I wouldn't buy it, there's brand new 40k dodge trucks going for low 20s b/c no one wants them. Grand am gets what 20-22mpg? no way a full size truck gets 3-4mpg less than that probably 14mpg on a good day.

peshields

10-21-2008, 11:44 AM

18-20 highway, 14 city. I should average somewhere around 15/17. most of my driving is done highway to & from work. I tend to average 20 in the GA.

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 11:49 AM

Ok so seriously speaking now: why do you want this truck?
To me, unless you tow or haul a lot or need a truck for a business i dont see as reason to have one, but thats just my personal opinion. I'd rather have a subaru impreza or outback that will be good in snow and still gets decent mileage; this is coming from an 18 year old even......

GtGoddess

10-21-2008, 11:55 AM

Watch it Paul. I've got my eye on you in this thread.....

GregFarz78

10-21-2008, 02:47 PM

v6 or v8?

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 06:19 PM

90% sure big horns are V8s prbly the 5.7 hemi, which no matter how you put it, is a thirsty engine

rocketfast123

10-21-2008, 07:52 PM

this is coming from an 18 year old even......

Bingo

peshields

10-21-2008, 10:06 PM

5.7 hemi. I want it because they are sweet trucks. I do need to borrow my brothers truck to haul stuff every once in a while, I can afford it, and it will get me where i need to go in the snow, while lookin good in the summer too.

come summer i'll pick up something cheap and economical through my dad, he gets people all the time dont wanna pay to fix their 90's 4 banger, and since i do all my labor and get parts at cost it wont be bad for me to pick up.

Just talked to my insurance guy, insurance on the truck will end up 10 bucks less per month than the GA.

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 10:13 PM

well post up some pics of the thing bro

Crazy83519

10-21-2008, 10:14 PM

That 10 bucks less on insurance, won't cover the loss in MPG/gas money. But thats cool, those are nice trucks.

Jake

10-21-2008, 10:20 PM

Watch it Paul. I've got my eye on you in this thread.....

90% of males on gagt.com now envy you Paul ;) :angel lol

peshields

10-21-2008, 10:35 PM

better pics will come when it is mine. lookin like i'll get it thursday. but heres a quick one i snapped with my cam phone when i took it by my house during the test drive.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/peshields/DodgeRam1500QCBH.jpg

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 10:38 PM

90% of males on gagt.com now envy you Paul ;) :angel lol

meh i already got a beautiful gf, i dont need some creepy forum chick watching me.

nice looking truck. whats the window writing say?

peshields

10-21-2008, 10:38 PM

That 10 bucks less on insurance, won't cover the loss in MPG/gas money. But thats cool, those are nice trucks.

When I figured the cost of this truck, I took that I average 240 miles/week, (which will go down since i wont be delivering), @ 15 mpg, then the cost of the gallons/week x4 for gallons/month, then i used $4 per gallon for the eventuality of gas going back up. It comes out to something like 80 bucks more per month if I maintain the same miles per week and happen to get the worst mpg the truck is rated for, at $4 a gallon.

2006 Dodge Ram 1500
21,000 Miles

Jake

10-21-2008, 10:39 PM

meh i already got a beautiful gf, i dont need some creepy forum chick watching me.

lol ;crap

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 10:46 PM

looks like those tires are getting a little worn :/ 20s suck when it comes to replacing tires. but good luck on the purchase and the truck itself.

peshields

10-21-2008, 11:16 PM

hmm. didn't notice them being worn when i had it. will have to take a look and see if its just the photo. Thnx! If i do have to replace them i'll probably go with an all terrain tire with a semi aggressive tread... hmm

cardude007617

10-21-2008, 11:53 PM

well OE tires are $159 a piece off of tire rack... just commenting

rocketfast123

10-22-2008, 01:25 AM

dude chill out. It's his money

PhantomLover007

10-22-2008, 06:52 AM

meh i already got a beautiful gf, i dont need some creepy forum chick watching me.

http://maochan.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/oh-snap.jpg

Spigmo

10-22-2008, 07:45 AM

all i can say is that you will be saying goodbye to 30 or 40 dollar fill ups, and hello to 60, or 70 dollar ones.
ie. currently gas is going for 2.96 in my area, 22 gallon tank $65.16 verses $35.52 for our grand ams....

Must be nice. Last time I filled up my GA it was ~$60 here in Canuckia.

Filling up a 90-100 litre (22 gallon) tank on one of those trucks is still $100+ per tank right now, and gas is cheaper here than anywhere else in the country. In the Summer my friend was paying $125 to fill his Sport Trac.

GtGoddess

10-22-2008, 08:30 AM

meh i already got a beautiful gf, i dont need some creepy forum chick watching me.

trust me.......this creepy forum chick would choose to watch Aj, before I would even think about watching your bitch ass.

peshields

10-22-2008, 09:43 AM

well OE tires are $159 a piece off of tire rack... just commenting
'
I wont end up paying that much/tire, my dad gets a deal on tires since he does all his tire orders through one company, he then gives em to me at cost. I call it fringe benefits for being a member of the family!

Ajaxus

10-22-2008, 09:48 AM

dude chill out. It's his money

I'm jumping on this train..

He has apparently calculated it into his budget (cardude probably doesn't even know how to make a budget..), found he can afford it, has hookups to save money on parts and repairs, I say go for it.

IF it wasn't fitting his budget, IF he couldn't afford it, IF he didn't have the hookups, IF he hasn't done the research..THEN and only then do I think any of cardude's posts are justified.

Get a life.

trust me.......this creepy forum chick would choose to watch Aj, before I would even think about watching your bitch ass.

oh bby.. :leg

GregFarz78

10-22-2008, 07:28 PM

I never understood the point of getting a full size truck unless you are a contractor, you haul lots of crap, or you plow snow I mean its nice and all just would be pointless for most people....hopefully you got a pretty good deal on it and enjoy

peshields

10-23-2008, 03:34 PM

thnx AJ.

Btw, I don't begrudge cardude for his posts. The title of the thread does say "your input please!" I just didn't take kindly to him saying in one post i was "the dumbest guy he knows".

btw, good news! i was approved for my loan today, and I literally just got the message that my buyer for my car got approved while I was writing this line!

cardude007617

10-23-2008, 06:12 PM

rocketfast123

10-23-2008, 09:57 PM

The grand am is economic? I don't know what you are smoking, I'm tired of getting 20mpg. Just becasue you don't like trucks does not mean you have to jam your thought on others.

XMBlackGT1

10-24-2008, 06:03 AM

The grand am is economic? I don't know what you are smoking, I'm tired of getting 20mpg. Just becasue you don't like trucks does not mean you have to jam your thought on others.

You are lucky to hit 20mpg. My 03 is lucky to get 15-16. My 08 Infiniti G Coupe gets about 21- hard to believe a sports coupe can do better than a gagt.

To the O.P- Nice truck. I've driven the big horns in snow and they handle very well. You should have no problem with it. Enjoy it!

zukiracer19

10-24-2008, 07:29 AM

20 city or highway? city idk what i get but i can flaunt my ga gets 30 MPG highway from lancaster to scranton pa... 70 mph conistantly... but not anymore with turbo lol.

crazypontiac03

10-24-2008, 10:05 AM

Sweet looking Truck. Brings back Memories of mine.. You will be able to get between 15-18mpg Highway. Atleast i did however it is hard to stay off of it.

Trust me if you have the time and extra Cash, buy a plow. you will make **** loads of money. You can find them on Ebay or on Craigslist for under 2500 Used.

Enjoy.

Ajaxus

10-24-2008, 12:36 PM

it was one of those figure of speeches. i still dont get why your trading in a fairly economic car thats good running for a truck you dont totally "need" but hey, if you can do it financially then what the hell i guess.
im amazed were not having the chevy/ford/dodge debate right now. or power stroke/cummins/duramax debate. lol

Seriously, stop ****ing posting, at this point you're just posting to see yourself post, you're contributing quite possibly less than I do, which is pretty goddamn difficult.

Spigmo

10-24-2008, 05:01 PM

20 city or highway? city idk what i get but i can flaunt my ga gets 30 MPG highway from lancaster to scranton pa... 70 mph conistantly... but not anymore with turbo lol.

x2.

You guys must drive around like real hot rods to only get 20 MPG in your GA's. I average 26 combined city/hwy, usually in the range of 30 hwy.

Ajaxus

10-24-2008, 08:50 PM

x2.

You guys must drive around like real hot rods to only get 20 MPG in your GA's. I average 26 combined city/hwy, usually in the range of 30 hwy.

I usually hit 20mpg city..18 if I'm a lead foot..so I'm on this train, you have to be a flippin moron slamming the gas out of every light and stop sign to get anything under 18..christ almighty..