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OK guys, I need some insights and wisdom.
My daughter is going to be in the Four Corners area of New Mexico for the next 5-7 months on a paid internship. While it wasn't initially obvious that she'd have to have her car there, it looks as if she'll need wheels. And her car (a '95 9K CS with 167K on the clock) needs some help.
The good: The car is kinda beat up, but actually runs pretty well. The auto tranny shifts fine, has recent brakes. Engine is good, turbo boosts fine. Radiator is two years old. Pretty much everything works. Due for a serp belt and tensioner, and I have those in the garage.
The bad: A minor accident a couple summers ago took out her A/C condenser and fan. Didn't matter because she doesn't use A/C here in New England. But NM is a different story. I know the compressor at least needs a recharge, but it hasn't been used in 5 years, so it may well be toast. AFAIK, the evaporator is OK.
So I'm thinking put in a used condenser and fan, probably a used compressor, and probably the hoses. Charge up the system and we take it out to NM. I don't have much time available to put into this, but I think I can get the work done by a tech near where she lives in Maine for a reasonable price. But I'm guessing it still comes to about $1300 or so with used parts and the labor. This kinda makes me wince, since the car isn't worth much more than that. It also needs a heater core and I think it could use a water pump. I can do those before she goes.
The other option is to find something like a '99 or '00 9-3 for maybe $3500. Get that, then sell the 9K. It's more money out of pocket, but she'd have something that is newer and (presumably) in good working order. But then she'd be in a car that I don't know much about. Even though I only see her 9K about 4 times a year, I at least know its issues. And I really don't want to have to track down and buy a decent car in the next 30 days.
OR…. I just get her something that can be fixed anywhere (a good thing in NM) and send her off in that. (a pickup truck comes to mind). Then I can either sell the 9K or fix it and put her back in that when she returns.
And yes, money is definitely an issue. But so is having my kid in something that I don't have to worry a lot about.
Ideas, thoughts, suggestions, etc., are really welcome.
, Thu, 6 May 2010 10:21:14, Thu, 6 May 2010 18:51:31
, Thu, 6 May 2010 08:34:46
, Thu, 6 May 2010 15:43:27, Thu, 6 May 2010 12:28:35, Thu, 6 May 2010 15:02:37, Wed, 5 May 2010 11:18:18
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