Stache 911: Friend's car wreck, immediate car replacement options

[MacGyverIt]

My life-long friend was in a fender-bender recently (totally minor, he's fine) but the truck is totaled. He's talking about the expense of purchasing one of two trucks at a "BBB" endorsed dealership, both at just under 12k. (NOTE: I see zero reason why he needs a truck other than he's almost 6'4".)

Insurance will provide him a vehicle until 17 October. He's made a series of poor emotionally-based financial decisions which have caused him a lot of stress in the last few years (house he can't afford, upgrades he can't afford) and today I gave him the face punch that his poor decision making are his CHOICES and he can buy an old car or truck for less and deal with a few affordable repairs or explain to me how feeling "cramped" in a vehicle is far more stressful than buying something thousands of dollars out of his scope (no response on that note, go figure).

I'm the only one in the family who'll call him on his victimization bullshit. Today I suggested to everyone including him that 1) he can't afford 12k on a vehicle, so don't 2) rent a room or two in the house he can't afford

He is in the military so he can't take mass transit onto his installation, I've checked and there is NO mass transit to the installation where he works.

My question to you all is, what are the best places to look for an affordable vehicle in a short amount of time OR are their affordable options once the insurance rental is no longer available? Thousands of dollars for a vehicle is a big decision in a short period of time. After my face punch he looked on Craigslist and found one potential vehicle, are there other rental or internet resources you can recommend that he can use as a resource?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions. EDIT: tall person (at or over 6'4") vehicle suggestions are especially welcome.

Mac

[JLee]

Craigslist is usually a fairly decent resource.

[MacGyverIt]

Agreed. Apparently he's only found the one *truck* that fits his standards. I'm half motivated to look in his Clist area myself to see what is truly out there but I realize his dysfunction shouldn't waste any of my personal time. *sigh*

[Stachetastic]

My husband is 6'4". When we met, he drove a Honda Civic. We now own a Toyota Matrix and a Corolla. I call bullshit on his height excuse. I would recommend he visit a dealership or two for research and drive a few smaller, fuel efficient cars before he writes them all off. They are not all made the same.

[lithotomist]

6'5" here and I'm in love with my Prius V.  You may pay a bit more but I've had very good experiences with CarMax

[Exflyboy]

I suspect this is a lifestyle change bigger than he is willing to make.

Give it a go but you may be wasting your time.

[FrugalWad]

I don't think I've ever been on a base that didn't have a bus going into it. It's not one civilians can use, and the route may not exactly go to his house, but it'll be something he might want to look into.

There's probably some listing for vehicles being sold on base by people leaving for deployment, or getting out and can't afford $$$/month. He could look there; he might have to ask someone at the MWR office where those listings may be. He could cruise through the barracks and see if there are any for sale signs on cars in the lot.

Is there anyone he could carpool with? Splitting gas beats a payment.

If he has any people around his rank that he trusts (as in, they pay upfront and aren't known troublemakers), he could rent out rooms in his house. It's typical that 2-3+ guys who don't get housing allowance will still find a place together off base and just split the rent. He might find a couple guys looking to do that.

Trucks and sports cars are posturing in the military. He might not want to give up whatever perceived status that gives him. If not, it's his decision. Hopefully he won't fall into bad enough debt that it gets him in trouble with his command (or bad enough where he loses any clearance he needs for his job).

[Matt in Akron]

On the other end of the equation - I would emphasize that the $$$ being offered by his insurance company for his now totaled vehicle is just that...an OFFER.  It has been my experience that this "offer" is based on the average list price of 3 comparable vehicles in the area.

The first thing I would to would be to go to autotrader or cars.com and identify a pool of 3-5 comparable vehicles based on age/mileage/equipment.  If that average price isn't near what the insurance company is offering, call the "adjuster" and ask him/her to do just that...adjust the offer!

I did this years ago on a 18 year old BMW with 205k mi on it.  Initial offer was $1,250.  After 45min on the phone with the adjuster and making a case for why his comps weren't reflective of the value of the vehicle and why my comps were the comps that should count, I get a check for $3,200.

[Jack]

1998-2011 Volkswagen New Beetles have gigantic amounts of front-seat headroom because of their domed shape. An average-sized male could literally wear a top hat while driving one. (He'd get ridiculed for looking silly, but he could do it!)

[KarefulKactus15]

I agree with craigslist.   And maybe rent the book "Lemon Aid" MMM did a post on it I think. Ranks all the best values for used cars.


However, unfortunately I doubt your friend will change his ways.  Your way of thinking to him is just as strange as his way of financial thinking it to you. 

Lead a horse to water thing but can't make it drink.   Ive been asked to help lots of people, family/friends find good value cars, cause they always see me driving very affordable and extremely reliable cars.   But in the end its always a waste. 

Some real answers I've gotten after finding EXCELLENT values.  "I can't drive that, its red".     "I can't drive that, its not 4x4" . "I can't drive that, my friend has that same car"  .  "I can't drive that, its too small".        Insert anything you want for an excuse.     These people don't want help.....
I don't help anyone any more, its a waste of my time unfortunately.

[belgiandude]

The mini cooper is apparently fine too: https://www.quora.com/What-cars-are-suitable-for-tall-people