When a Deal isn't Really a Deal...
In my previous post Wise Planning on the Homestead part Tres I introduced you to a Permaculturist named Nick Ferguson.
I hired him to come to my land and give me his expert opinions on where to begin moulding and shaping my 12 acres into a sustainable food producing machine.
The main reason I asked him to come is because knew enough to know what I didn't know.
This little tidbit of unsolicited advice was never more true than a few weeks ago when I attempted to buy a used vehicle without the help of my more mechanically inclined friends.
I figured:
- I'm a big boy.
- I've looked at vehicles before.
- What could go wrong?
To quote the best Country Music singer of all time, George Strait, those were the:
Go ahead and follow the link and enjoy George's song. The post can wait. Go on!
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Welcome back!
Where was I? Oh, yeah, foolishly buying a used vehicle without more knowledgeable assistance from friends like @mobile-joat, who happens to be pretty handy when it comes to all things automotive.
I purchased the following vehicle off of Craigslist.
I inspected the vehicle as best as I could, honestly, I did.
I drove it up and down the highway. I tested out the 4 wheel drive. I checked all the fluid levels.
Everything seemed to check out just fine. So I went ahead and bought the 96 Suburban for $1200.00 cash.
My family and I rejoiced in finding a really good steal of a deal.
Our rejoicing didn't last more than 20 miles. The transmission, which was supposedly rebuilt by a professional shop no less than 30,000 miles before, decided to stop working.
At highway speed.
With 3 of my children in tow.
Needless to say, but I was very, very not pleased.
Fortunately for us, the moment the tranny went out I was right next to an exit ramp. I was able to coast it off the highway, hit the green light at the end of the ramp with no traffic coming and pulled into a commuter parking area, leaving a plume of acridly sweet smoke in my wake.
After a few minutes to calm myself down I called the guy I bought it from.
No Answer. Surprise, surprise.
I went back to Craigslist to reread the post and to see if he'd deleted the posting yet. He hadn't so I took a screen shot, for evidence sake.
I waited a few minutes and sent him a carefully worded text.
No Reply.
I went back to Craigslist to check on the posting, it was deleted by author. Surprise, surprise.
Obviously, the guy knew something was wrong with the transmission, yet was able to jerry-rig it long enough for the test drive.
Otherwise he would have had some human response to my message that the vehicle I just purchased from him had left me and my children stranded on the side of the highway.
No response, coupled with the deletion of the post, clearly indicated that I had been scammed.
I made a foolish purchase because there was something I didn't know to look for and I didn't seek wise counsel before wasting valuable time and money.
The only thing left to do was to accept the consequences of not seeking wise counsel and tow the lemon back home. Which I did the next day.
The next thing I did was call @mobile-joat and explained my predicament. He good-naturedly laughed at me for not getting his help in the first place and then set up a time for him to come take a look at my new project.
He determined what kind of transmission it was and found me a used one on Craigslist. I went and bought it from a friendly guy, but not before I had Mobile-joat on the phone walking me through what to look for.
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This is @mobile-joat! Hard at work fixing my stupidity.
$350 for used tranny and transfercase.
$400 for parts, including new plugs, rotor, distributor cap, wires, seals, filter, oil, tranny fluid, coolant, universal joints, and torque converter.
$$$$ ridiculously cheap labor rates
BOOM!
I have a working family suburban with a fresh tune up. Not bad.
Thanks to @mobile-joat for helping me out. Lesson learned, for now....
Seek advice before you make costly decisions.
Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22
Thanks for Reading!
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As Always,
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@bluerthangreen, I don't think I'd necessarily say stupidity if you didn't know... I still think you have a pretty good deal considering the circumstances and the suburban should last a long time. Granted there may be a few things to fix along the way it's what I'd expect with most older vehicles. BTW... Your overall cost is still cheeper than a guy I know that bought a suburban older than yours... An guess what... I fix it too. Lol
Thank you for bragging about the work I did. I'm sincerely grateful I was able to help and glad you now have a spare rig.
Awesome story and pics. I fear the same. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but no mechanic, and I'm going to need to buy a vehicle here in South FL soon. Looking at stuff on craigslist...everything looks like a scam. Even legit vehicles. I'm afraid to even go look at something, much less buy something.
It helps to take advantage of folks that know better, since one can't know it all. Glad it all worked out!
Now go put some flaming poop bags on the seller's doorstep.
@negativer if you haven't already made a purchase and your looking for a decent used vehicle I could give you a few pointers depending on the vehicle. Do to the fact that every vehicle has its +/- I'd rather know the vehicle your after and what to look for rather than tell xxx # of problems with various vehicles and still miss the most important ones.
My thanks for the offer to assist! We're in the early stages, but are looking in the 2012-14 vicinity of Ford Edge, Mazda CX5/CX7, maybe Honda Element. Just need a small/midsize SUV, something bigger and safer with good visibility for the wife to drive.
I'd steer clear of the Mazda. I've been under a Mazda hood way too many times. The Ford's not a bad choice nor the Honda, I'd verify if they are near a 100,000mi mark that if the engine has a timing belt or chain. If it's a belt and it hasn't been replaced it needs it done VERY SOON! If it's a chain there is no worries unless it's making noise. I'd also say make sure the check engine light is working. To do that turn the key to the run position but do not start and a check engine/service engine soon light should come on if it doesn't it's disarmed and something could be VERY wrong.
Have you considered a Toyota Highlander or RAV4 and Nissan Pathfinder there also a good choice.
Love the Highlander, actually, but they're kind of spendy. RAV4 had caught my eye though; seems like you get a lot of car for the money.
Get the element and I can live vicariously through you...some more...
Get the element and I can live vicariously through you...some more...
Are you a fan of the Element? I think they stopped making them in 2011, so they're starting to get pretty cheap now.
My personal preference would be the Toyota or Nissan. My have a price tag , but Toyota especially holds it's value well. Plus either one look in every shop you go by and see what they have inside... Most generally if Toyota or Nissan is in there when I worked full time in a shop at least it was for routine maintenance. Rarely because it died.
Wise words. Thanks! Sure you don't want to come to Florida? :)
I believe I'd say want and afford are two different things... Lol
Not knowing your prices obviously, while more than you expected, it should be a good buy, and a fixable lesson.
Mind you I have seen mechanics buy some lemons as well.
@len.george you are right. Mechanics have and do buy lemons. However, a mechanic that has had some experience with lemons in the past still stands a better chance of sorting bad lemons or disguised lemons from a buyer who is of less experience. Overall, I don't think @bluerthangreen made such a horrible choice. But, I would have at least informed him of what exactly I seen as potential problem(s). In his case for the most part... I did my absolute best to keep him from feeling the severity of the consequences of maybe I'll just say a not so wise decision. In the end his vehicle is now up and running and considering what has been done for the price... I think he has a fare priced vehicle. It just took a couple weeks to drive it.
I was thinking of some of the dirty tricks that I have seen many years ago,
Bananas in the diff or gearbox to deaden the noise, sawdust as well, eggs in the radiator to hide a leak, a couple of gallons of 100/130 octane fuel to boost performance and many more.
At least bluerthangreen is up and running with something that should suit him for years.
Well done on helping him out, next time I bet you get invited for the inspection.
Sounds like you have seen a few... My all time newest seems to be a favorite is disarming the check engine light... Now I just wonder what in tarnation gave a feller that idea...
in NZ my first car, in 1958, was a 1928 Chev, 4 cylinders, I was lucky, it was sound, only it was a female, only went when it wanted to go,
Being closely associated with 2 - 300 young early car buyers we saw some horrible tricks played on the customer,
Normally he had gone when a group of us would go to visit and ask after his health.
We did catch up a couple and they decided to change their way after our consultation.
Funny how a group[ of 20 to 30 uniformed youths can get someones attention and enforce the message that they trying to get across.
But we had fun, bringing one car about 50 miles through a windy road about midnight with no headlights and no center line marking. But we all god home and could tell the story.
What is the engine check light?
Most of them will say check engine soon or service engine soon but the is a few pics of check engine lights
Maybe that will help.
NZ has mainly Japanese cars, being in the older range of these i haven't come across them much before.
Thanks for taking the time to explain mobile- joat, it is appreciated.
You are welcome.
He must have had the tranny held together with twine or duct tape. Sorry you had to go through that, but at least you were able to get it up and running!
Great post. You have a good friend in mobile-joat. 🐓🐓