Bought a new car, traded in the old one

[Fru-Gal]

Old one was a manual transmission from 1998 with 275k miles. Her predecessor (also a ‘98) went to 307k miles.

New one is only 20 years old and only 90k miles and super clean! But sadly an automatic.

This might be the first time I ever traded in a car. It was worth it because frankly there were a bunch of problems even though she was a classic including a mysterious electrical issue that left me stranded on highways after driving through tiny puddles TWICE last month.

I bought the new one partially out of spite because my mechanic had just charged me $300 to basically not fix my clutch. As well as not fix the thing that blew a fuse on the highway (but tell me he did).

Also need a new mechanic.

I thought about disputing the $300 but OTOH he’s always been willing to read codes for me for free. I realized we were in a dysfunctional relationship. I liked paying him next to nothing, and he liked fixing things just enough so I could drive back home.

[calimom]

Well, what kind of car did you get, and what did you trade in? Congrats on your new ride!

[Fru-Gal]

Thank you!

I guess I can divulge that it’s the only car for me, Toyota RAV4 (but only the old 2.0 liter ones). This is the third one we’ve owned!

In my youth I worked on and rebuilt countless cars. This is the most indestructible and longest lasting, in my experience. Plus this model was built in Japan, based on the VIN number.

My husband drives new commercial vehicles for a living and he and I agree that new cars are terrible. The vehicles he drives are constantly in the shop for stupid (but major) things.

BTW pro tip the dealer I bought from said he sells tons of Mini Coopers because people love them but they’re an awful British (bad engineering) + German (crazy expensive parts) mess.

[oneday]

That is quite an upgrade: 6 years and 185,000 miles newer! Congrats.

[GilesMM]

I once traded in a terrible VW that the dealer was unable to get running after agreeing the trade-in value. I was happy with that. The Jeep they sold us was amazing and trouble-free for a decade.

[JAYSLOL]

Thank you!

I guess I can divulge that it’s the only car for me, Toyota RAV4 (but only the old 2.0 liter ones). This is the third one we’ve owned!

In my youth I worked on and rebuilt countless cars. This is the most indestructible and longest lasting, in my experience. Plus this model was built in Japan, based on the VIN number.

My husband drives new commercial vehicles for a living and he and I agree that new cars are terrible. The vehicles he drives are constantly in the shop for stupid (but major) things.

BTW pro tip the dealer I bought from said he sells tons of Mini Coopers because people love them but they’re an awful British (bad engineering) + German (crazy expensive parts) mess.

Nice, I love old Toyotas, and first gen RAV4s are a fantastic vehicle.  And yeah, Mini Coopers are the absolute worst for reliability.  Brand new they are every bit as unreliable and needy and expensive to maintain as BMW’s, but because generally the people that bought them new chose them, not over a BMW or Mercedes or Audi or other comparably expensive to maintain German car, but rather over a Corolla or Civic, because that’s what they compare to price-wise, very few used ones have been maintained like the needy pos they are, so most used ones you find these days are absolutely falling apart, sorely neglected and on borrowed time.

[Fru-Gal]

It’s funny how it all worked out. Last night I explained to my husband that he could use the car instead of his bike to commute to work, since I’d just gotten it “fixed”. However, I carefully explained that he needed to pump the clutch to shift into first or reverse since the clutch master cylinder was still failing (despite supposedly just being replaced).

When I woke up in the morning (on FIRE time) the car was still there. I called and asked him what had happened and he said he couldn’t get it into first or reverse, so he biked.

I found the new car for sale this morning. Texted it to spouse and kids and everyone thought it looked good. In my head I had already named her!

I checked to see if I could get my car into first, and I could. I drove to a spot where I could turn around in the road without using reverse (just in case I got stuck) and was able to push the car backwards myself enough to make a 3-point turn.

Then I spoke to my car as I alway do, thanking her for her service and asking her to please drive me 30 miles to the dealer. And she did it!

[RWD]

Then I spoke to my car as I alway do, thanking her for her service and asking her to please drive me 30 miles to the dealer. And she did it!

Awesome, haha.

[SunnyDays]

I like the way you say “only 20 years old.”  My Toyota Matrix is “only 21 years old,” and I still consider it pretty new because of its low mileage (157 kilometres) and great condition.  It’s only my second car, the previous being a Corolla, and I’m 63 years old.  Gotta love Toyota!

[dandarc]

I like the way you say “only 20 years old.”  My Toyota Matrix is “only 21 years old,” and I still consider it pretty new because of its low mileage (157 kilometres) and great condition.  It’s only my second car, the previous being a Corolla, and I’m 63 years old.  Gotta love Toyota!

Hoping that is 157 megameters . . . less than 100 miles in 21 years is some impressive "save money by not driving it".

[SunnyDays]

I like the way you say “only 20 years old.”  My Toyota Matrix is “only 21 years old,” and I still consider it pretty new because of its low mileage (157 kilometres) and great condition.  It’s only my second car, the previous being a Corolla, and I’m 63 years old.  Gotta love Toyota!

Hoping that is 157 megameters . . . less than 100 miles in 21 years is some impressive "save money by not driving it".

Lol.  My typing error - it’s 157,000 kilometres.  Still pretty good though, right?

[spartana]

Congrats!! This is one of the best "Original Receipe MMM" posts I've seen in a long time. Hope it lasts many eons and megametres!