Transmission is about to die...what to do?

[dcb]

well you could also get a stick shift 98 accent from Anderson Indiana for $1200 buy it now

Hyundai : Accent - eBay (item 160517861794 end time Dec-17-10 17:22:59 PST)


or a 96 passat tdi stick for $3000 from Columbus indiana buy it now
Volkswagen : Passat - eBay (item 350422834828 end time Dec-21-10 08:31:42 PST)

There is a cute little stick miata in kokamo with a $3250 bid
Mazda : MX-5 Miata - eBay (item 250743520900 end time Dec-22-10 18:05:16 PST) , but that will probably go up significantly.

[dcb]

and here might be a decent donor car for a tranny swap, asking $500 in Marion:
Ford : Escort - eBay (item 170579702613 end time Dec-21-10 19:07:01 PST)

[mhmitszach]

Well, if I'm going to have to buy a new car, I'm definitely looking for something year 2000+

Seriously considering a Focus, really looking at a ZX5 with 75k asking 3600.

It'd have about twice the space as my Zx2, and only take about a 5mpg hit on the highway, city is about the same.

[IsaacCarlson]

The tranny swap would be half that price!!!!!

I'd get the donor car and hire a mechanic. If your tranny started going at 115k, what is the point of getting one with 75k? I don't mean to sound hard on you, but it makes more sense to put a reliable tranny in the car the first time. Manual transmissions are very reliable and let you squeeze every last drop out of a car.

[IsaacCarlson]

EDIT:

ALSO if you got the donor car you would have TONS of spare parts.
headlights, wheel bearings, brake parts, body panels,glass, seats, wheels, tires, doors, etc...

[mhmitszach]

My zx2 is already a rebuilt title with an exhaust going out. Plus the engine already has 142k and the cams are burned. It's just not worth putting money into the car at this point. I only paid 1600 exactly 3 years ago. It's more than paid for itself at this point and it's just going to be a money pit.

My dad is really trying to convince me to get another Zx2 just because at this point (he also owns one) we know pretty much everything about these cars. And my car can be a parts car and then sold since it still runs.

I'm fine with that except that if I'm going to spend a decent amount of money on a new car, shouldn't I get something that I think is going to be a little bit nicer...Plus would be more useful and practical to own if I could actually have some room to move stuff in.

[dcb]

ok, have fun. I don't know what your priorities are, let alone your dads. You know what I would do. You gotta start somewhere with learning how to do major repairs.

[IsaacCarlson]

We did not know that until now....start looking!

[Varn]

I put on a transmission cooler on my ford mini van with 100 thousand miles on it. At 161k it is still going. I would recommend one if you have an automatic.

I learned a long time ago that considering a car an investment is a big waste of money. I try and get the best car for the least money.

[mhmitszach]

Originally Posted by Varn

I put on a transmission cooler on my ford mini van with 100 thousand miles on it. At 161k it is still going. I would recommend one if you have an automatic.

I learned a long time ago that considering a car an investment is a big waste of money. I try and get the best car for the least money.

Yeah, had I known now what I know about my car

If I ever got another ZX2, I would switch to synthetic and install a transmission cooler.

Actually, I'm going to do that to my ZX5 as well. (or whatever car I get)