soccerbrace
08-17-2011, 08:50 AM
Yes, I know Karma is spelled with a K.
Well I had a budget of about 5000-6500 and I was looking for a Subaru. All of the Subarus that I saw seemed like they were overpriced by about 1500 more than I felt they were worth. Everyone in CO wants or already owns a Subaru. I saw this TT for sale for 6k, so I called the owner and asked her if I test drove it and I liked it, would she come down to 5500 and she said yes. Then I text her and asked her if it had been in an accident ever, and if the timing belt had been done. She said that she didn't know what a timing belt is, and that it had been in an accident, but she would come down to 5k. I said ok, and we arranged for a test drive.
I got there and the girl selling it must've been 17 years old, and the sister must've been 19. They were both blonde and had absolutely no clue about the car, and could not answer a thing about it. I checked out the front bumper where the accident had taken place and it just seemed like she didn't know about how close she was to a concrete parking lot stop. When I asked why she is selling the car, the 17 year old said "because I can't drive a stick" So I said ok, and we went for a test drive. The 19 year old got in the car.
As I was backing out, reverse felt a little weird. So did first, and when I put it into second, and stepped on the gas, the RPM went up but the speedometer did not. I got on the interstate and I could not get past 60MPH. I looked over at her and said "the clutch is going out" and she shook her head yes. I get off at the next exit so we could head back on the interstate. When I am waiting for the on ramp light, the car was reeking of burnt clutch. I asked her "why didn't you tell me it needed a clutch?" She said that she lives in Vegas, and it is her sister's car.
We get back into the neighborhood, and it won't go into second. I tell the 19year old to call the 17 year old to pick us up. She calls, and tells the 17 year old to come and the 17 year old tells her mom what happened. While she was on her way, I was finally able to get it into gear. I started it in first and drove back to their house in first.
When I got there, the mother comes out and asks, "is that all that's wrong with it?" referring to the clutch. I reply, "well, the clutch will be about 2000, the bumper will be about 11-1200 after paint, and the timing belt will be about 1300, and there are tons of little knick knacks that are wrong inside". She asked "how much is it worth to you?" and I simply just gave her an i'm not interested shrug. She said, "tell you what, if you want it, you can have it" And that was it!
I couldn't believe it! The glove box (amongst a few other things) was messed up. I finally was able to get inside the glove box and recover a few maintenance records. There was a phone number on there, and I called it. It was the previous owner. He happened to be a mechanic too. The car has 152K on it, and he told me that the timing belt was done at 115K so I still have a while before that needs to be done. It turns out that the car had been sold to the girl 130 miles and 3 weeks ago. I asked how the clutch was working before she got it. He told me that it was working fine. I told him that it is totally burned out now and we both had a good laugh.
I have since ordered nearly every knick knack that was wrong with it including: slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, clutch, and flywheel. Awaiting parts, then I can install it. :)
Well I had a budget of about 5000-6500 and I was looking for a Subaru. All of the Subarus that I saw seemed like they were overpriced by about 1500 more than I felt they were worth. Everyone in CO wants or already owns a Subaru. I saw this TT for sale for 6k, so I called the owner and asked her if I test drove it and I liked it, would she come down to 5500 and she said yes. Then I text her and asked her if it had been in an accident ever, and if the timing belt had been done. She said that she didn't know what a timing belt is, and that it had been in an accident, but she would come down to 5k. I said ok, and we arranged for a test drive.
I got there and the girl selling it must've been 17 years old, and the sister must've been 19. They were both blonde and had absolutely no clue about the car, and could not answer a thing about it. I checked out the front bumper where the accident had taken place and it just seemed like she didn't know about how close she was to a concrete parking lot stop. When I asked why she is selling the car, the 17 year old said "because I can't drive a stick" So I said ok, and we went for a test drive. The 19 year old got in the car.
As I was backing out, reverse felt a little weird. So did first, and when I put it into second, and stepped on the gas, the RPM went up but the speedometer did not. I got on the interstate and I could not get past 60MPH. I looked over at her and said "the clutch is going out" and she shook her head yes. I get off at the next exit so we could head back on the interstate. When I am waiting for the on ramp light, the car was reeking of burnt clutch. I asked her "why didn't you tell me it needed a clutch?" She said that she lives in Vegas, and it is her sister's car.
We get back into the neighborhood, and it won't go into second. I tell the 19year old to call the 17 year old to pick us up. She calls, and tells the 17 year old to come and the 17 year old tells her mom what happened. While she was on her way, I was finally able to get it into gear. I started it in first and drove back to their house in first.
When I got there, the mother comes out and asks, "is that all that's wrong with it?" referring to the clutch. I reply, "well, the clutch will be about 2000, the bumper will be about 11-1200 after paint, and the timing belt will be about 1300, and there are tons of little knick knacks that are wrong inside". She asked "how much is it worth to you?" and I simply just gave her an i'm not interested shrug. She said, "tell you what, if you want it, you can have it" And that was it!
I couldn't believe it! The glove box (amongst a few other things) was messed up. I finally was able to get inside the glove box and recover a few maintenance records. There was a phone number on there, and I called it. It was the previous owner. He happened to be a mechanic too. The car has 152K on it, and he told me that the timing belt was done at 115K so I still have a while before that needs to be done. It turns out that the car had been sold to the girl 130 miles and 3 weeks ago. I asked how the clutch was working before she got it. He told me that it was working fine. I told him that it is totally burned out now and we both had a good laugh.
I have since ordered nearly every knick knack that was wrong with it including: slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, clutch, and flywheel. Awaiting parts, then I can install it. :)