pam and i have pretty much always viewed cars as merely transportation. we take care of our autos and try drive them until they can’t reasonably be fixed any longer. we’ve done this to all but one of our cars – a 1998 ford explorer that was a lemon. my 1998 mazda 626’s transmission died recently and it was sent to salvage. the 626 was my car, which is basically the family beater. it was my “throw the canoe on top and go fishing” car. since the 626 died i needed to replace it because i have to continue fishing.
eric & natalie were nice enough to sell me their 1992 sentra which i hope to fix up. of course, eric said that i would probably be better off buying a different car considering the money he thinks i will need to put into the car to fix it up to the level i am considering. he thinks i will have to put $1,000 to $2,000 in the car. i on the other hand think i can fix it up to very respectable for less than a $1,000.
here’s the work that needs to be done to the vehicle
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replace front exhaust tube (rusted out)
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new tires for front and rear (basically bald)
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replace power steering pump
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general maintenance
and the work that i want to do to it is
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body work (there are a couple of sections that have rusted out)
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paint – both for protection and looks
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add roof rack for my canoe – difficult because the car is a coupe
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replace broken radio
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add fog lights – i’m not sure why but i really like fog lights
now i wonder if any of you would like to help me prove eric wrong by helping out on the improvements. i.e. i have a thule 400xtr roof rack that doesn’t presently fit the sentra – do you know someone with a thule 400xt roof rack that would like to swap? or do you know someone who has ever painted a car (i’m considering painting my own car – its a beater after all but it still needs to be approved by pamela). or do you have a car stereo wasting away in your basement?
i’m viewing this as a challenge and i will definitely taunt eric when i succeed.