What is wrong with this $800 2002 Civic with 250,000 miles? Is it a melted crank position sensor?

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Xist

I need to fix up some odds and ends on my Accord and at least look into replacing the rear main seal.

I also want to repaint the bumpers.

I can't sell a $250 car with ugly bumpers!

I am focusing on the 2002 Civic now, though......

Originally Posted by Xist

I still need to fix 4 cars, a greenhouse, a shed, and plenty of other things--although one of those cars has been replaced.

These statements go hand in hand. You will never finish one of the cars if you keep getting distracted by new cars and projects. Get a car running - not perfect, running - then sell it. Repeat 4 times.

You are already missing the biggest boom in used car prices in your lifetime. New car inventories are increasing and wholesale used car prices are plummeting. (Down 15.6% YoY in December - the 6th month in a row they dropped) Before you know it your $500 cars will be $500 cars again instead of $3,000 - $4,000 cars.

[freebeard]

You scared me, so I looked at www.jdpower.com/cars/1971/volkswagen/beetle/2-door-sedan. Mid book value is still going up. It's at $10K, was 8 or 9K last I checked. I bought it at $5.5K.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by JSH

These statements go hand in hand. You will never finish one of the cars if you keep getting distracted by new cars and projects. Get a car running - not perfect, running - then sell it. Repeat 4 times.

Which five cars do you want me to sell?!

Check! When my Camry blew the valve cover gasket I needed to ignore it until the Accord was fixed!

Got it!

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Xist

Which five cars do you want me to sell?!

Check! When my Camry blew the valve cover gasket I needed to ignore it until the Accord was fixed!

All of them. I believe at last count you had 2 Civics, 1 Accord, and 2 Camry. Sell the 5 old beaters - buy one fairly new car that you don't have to worry about breaking down.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

You scared me, so I looked at www.jdpower.com/cars/1971/volkswagen/beetle/2-door-sedan. Mid book value is still going up. It's at $10K, was 8 or 9K last I checked. I bought it at $5.5K.

So, whatcha waiting for? Mad Max when the value of a vehicle is infinite?

[Xist]

The Camry that was totaled twice and hauled off by insurance? The Camry I replaced with the second Camry?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

The Camry that was totaled twice and hauled off by insurance? The Camry I replaced with the second Camry?

Are you arguing against the particulars of what was said, or the general idea? It seems you're avoiding the idea. If you disagree with the advice, let's hear what you disagree with. We don't have all the information you have, only what you've shared.

[Xist]

I have previously given all of that information.

There is no logic in telling someone to replace a car after one minor repair.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

I have previously given all of that information.

There is no logic in telling someone to replace a car after one minor repair.

Every week we hear a story about how it's 20 degrees outside, the car fall off the jack, and after a minor repair is completed, you're just 8 more repairs away from having a pristine 20 year old car.

The question is, what was the value of all the cars in the condition they're in 6 months ago, combined?

Physics and design has constrained you to operating only 1 vehicle at a time, making extra vehicles unnecessary.

What if the value of all your vehicles were contained in a single car? What would that reality look like? Would it be a reliable vehicle needing no head gasket, no main seal, no heater core, no headlight restoration, no dent pulling...

[freebeard]

A local maxima is when you can see a better place, but you have to go through a valley to get there.

At one point I had seven vehicles (three Type III went as a lot) now I'm down to two. The values didn't add up they folded into one another.

OTOH, the Superbeetle mid-book is now $10K.



This angle shows one of the two fenders I need to replace. Can you see how it's [torn and] the wrong color? The hood and both front fenders as well.