Damn Cars!

[RadioGaGa 162]

I drive a '98 Neon (nothing flashy...it's all I could afford at the time). I needed my front brakes done. I know a guy who likes working on cars and hates seeing people get gauged by shops...so if you buy he parts he'll do the work for free...

...in the past I've bought him a bottle of rye, or some tools for his time...but overall...nice deal...

So, I buy the brake parts, and I go over there tonight. He notices a small leak under my car...

Long story short...we did the brakes and tomorrow I'm helping to replace my first Radiator

"d'oh!"

[Fedorov91 0]

You learn a lot more about your car when you work on it yourself vs. taking it to the dealership, plus you save $$$ on labor ;) good luck

[RadioGaGa 162]

I've done brakes (front and back) with this friend's help...now I'm doing the Rad.

Since I've had the car I've done...

2 water pumps

2 timing belts

the pulley on the timing belt

a third timing belt

Rear main seal

Head Gasket

I wish I could do more of it myself...but I don't have the proper tools, and I live in an apartment, so I really don't have a garage to work in.

[LegoDoom 0]

Buy a Honda if you don't have time or money to spend working on the car.

[prenny207 1]

Since I've had the car I've done...

2 water pumps

2 timing belts

the pulley on the timing belt

a third timing belt

Rear main seal

Head Gasket

they forget to tell you that the cheap part of those cars is only the purchase price... get ready to get screwed with repairs and parts costs!!!

[RadioGaGa 162]

I didn't know at the time...but the head gaskets on Neon's from 95-98 were crap. I bet there isn't one out there that hasn't had to be re-done.

I found the Lemonaidw Guide on mine, and when I got the quote of $1200, I had all the paper work about the "hidden warranty" and I got it done for $100.00.

Not too bad. WHen my second water pump went it was the day after I won teh 50/50 at an AHL game, so $350 of my $1300 win went into my car...and not long after that the seal went, so I still had some money left. I've been damn lucky with the timing of things going wrong...but its still a pain-in-the-you-know-what!

[Vapor 0]

Buy a Honda if you don't have time or money to spend working on the car.

any old car is going to give you crap. I see more Hondas in the shop down the street BY FAR than any American cars. More Civics and Accords, ALWAYS in there.

[LegoDoom 0]

You see a lot of '98 Honda's in the shop? Maybe it's because there are more honda's around you or just that people have had trouble after "modifying" them.

[ponty 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy? B)

[dietzie27 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy? B)

i have a 91 caddy, is that a bad thing

[ponty 0]

The 78 is alot bigger and more "stylin"

[all-star 0]

yeah no way there are more 98 hondas in the shop, rather than american cars.

[RadioGaGa 162]

For those who care...it took 2 hours to get the old one out...and 30 minutes to get the new one in...running like a top again.

It is kinda fullfilling to do it yourself and save the money versus a shop doing it.

[Chadd 916]

For those who care...it took 2 hours to get the old one out...and 30 minutes to get the new one in...running like a top again.

It is kinda fullfilling to do it yourself and save the money versus a shop doing it.

I'm eyeing up a nice inexpensive beater so I can fix some electrical problems with my rodeo in my spare time.

[asdfa 0]

For those who care...it took 2 hours to get the old one out...and 30 minutes to get the new one in...running like a top again.

It is kinda fullfilling to do it yourself and save the money versus a shop doing it.

are you thinking about modifying your car? i.e. "ricing it up"

[D3nZ 0]

On the car topic, I just got my first car. 2000 Honda Civic Hatchback Special Edition (Last year the Hatchback were made). I am just starting to learn how to drive with a stick shifts, after a couple of days I am already good at it. Got a pretty nice deal. Payed 7500$ canadian for it, it only has 57 000 km's on it, cd player, a/c, power stearing and power brakes, non smoker, spoiler, honda special mags, the whole package, not bad for a first car.

[Kirsch 1]

Hah, I kind of have 3 cars and not one of them is very reliable.

My 74 Challenger hasn't been out of the drive way since February, and hasn't made it around the block since October. Gas and electrical problems.

My dad/my 85 Shelby Charger just got up and running for the first time yesterday, but the turbo isn't working right. Probably have to pull the entire engine out for that one.

and my 86 Fiero is just a piece of junk. Fast but the brakes are crap, the transmission is about to fall out, it overheats a lot (which is a problem with every Fiero), and a bunch of other things.

[Chadd 916]

and my 86 Fiero is just a piece of junk. Fast but the brakes are crap, the transmission is about to fall out, it overheats a lot (which is a problem with every Fiero), and a bunch of other things.

They fixed the problem with overheating after the 84 model year. My 86 never had a problem with overheating. The brakes may need to be replaced on yours, it's not a design problem with the model.

[RadioGaGa 162]

For those who care...it took 2 hours to get the old one out...and 30 minutes to get the new one in...running like a top again.

It is kinda fullfilling to do it yourself and save the money versus a shop doing it.

are you thinking about modifying your car? i.e. "ricing it up"

No not at all...it was a (kinda) emergency Rad replacement. I wouldn't bother "ricing up" a Neon. I've seen guys with the ground effacts and body kit...I just wanna smack 'em and go "dude, still a Neon"

I only drive one, because it was fairly well priced when i bought it...adn up until recently it hasn't given me any problems.

Not big on the whole "modding" thing.

[Vapor 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy? B)

2006 Cadillac CTS-V to be exact. LS2 Corvette C6 powerplant. 400/400. 0-60 in 4.5 and a 13 flat 1/4 mile. Ok good. In July when my lease is up on my G35 I am buying a CTS V. I will put full corsa exaust, BB Heads, and blow the engine (magnacharger). Kill any car out there babe.

[MNdgame 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy?  B)

2006 Cadillac CTS-V to be exact. LS2 Corvette C6 powerplant. 400/400. 0-60 in 4.5 and a 13 flat 1/4 mile. Ok good. In July when my lease is up on my G35 I am buying a CTS V. I will put full corsa exaust, BB Heads, and blow the engine (magnacharger). Kill any car out there babe.

How much is that gonna cost?

[Kirsch 1]

and my 86 Fiero is just a piece of junk.  Fast but the brakes are crap, the transmission is about to fall out, it overheats a lot (which is a problem with every Fiero), and a bunch of other things.

They fixed the problem with overheating after the 84 model year. My 86 never had a problem with overheating. The brakes may need to be replaced on yours, it's not a design problem with the model.

Gotcha.

Mine has a problem with losing coolant. I have to fill it up periodically otherwise I'd run it dry.

And yeah the brakes do need to be replaced, but the car isn't worth putting money into.

[Chadd 916]

and my 86 Fiero is just a piece of junk.  Fast but the brakes are crap, the transmission is about to fall out, it overheats a lot (which is a problem with every Fiero), and a bunch of other things.

They fixed the problem with overheating after the 84 model year. My 86 never had a problem with overheating. The brakes may need to be replaced on yours, it's not a design problem with the model.

Gotcha.

Mine has a problem with losing coolant. I have to fill it up periodically otherwise I'd run it dry.

And yeah the brakes do need to be replaced, but the car isn't worth putting money into.

Assuming I don't get killed in the last couple of minutes of bidding, I may be getting another one tomorrow. If brakes and a coolant leak are your only problems, let me know when you get rid of yours. You got a V6 SE right?

[Vapor 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy?  B)

2006 Cadillac CTS-V to be exact. LS2 Corvette C6 powerplant. 400/400. 0-60 in 4.5 and a 13 flat 1/4 mile. Ok good. In July when my lease is up on my G35 I am buying a CTS V. I will put full corsa exaust, BB Heads, and blow the engine (magnacharger). Kill any car out there babe.

How much is that gonna cost?

They are around 50k.

[ponty 0]

So why am I seeing Vapor now in a pink suit, great big white hat, driving in a 78 Caddy?  B)

2006 Cadillac CTS-V to be exact. LS2 Corvette C6 powerplant. 400/400. 0-60 in 4.5 and a 13 flat 1/4 mile. Ok good. In July when my lease is up on my G35 I am buying a CTS V. I will put full corsa exaust, BB Heads, and blow the engine (magnacharger). Kill any car out there babe.

"Babe???" I dont think I like a male calling me that

Sounds like a nice car. What about the suit? ;)