Redemption 722 turned me down!

[lolasaurus]

Also keep in mind, this beater temporary car, for me, is going to be intended to help me save up for a new car. I'm a car guy, I love my torque, so I'll replace my GTO with another (or maybe a G8?) when I'm able, and the more money I can save toward that, the sooner I can get rid of the beater. It's incentive.. in the right direction

[lolasaurus]

I have no problems with buying a Prizm. The problem is you can't find any with low mileage. High mileage cars are not for me. The wear and tear is too much for me to put Amsoil in them. I need something with under 40,000 miles so I can have peace of mind. Most people never get the transmission flush done. They want until the transmission has problems first and by then, it's too late. I am one of the pickiest people when it comes to maintenance. I don't use any other fluid or filters other than Amsoil. The car can run forever on that fluid, but you need to put the fluid in the car before it has accumulated a ton of miles.

To each their own of course, but I'm fine with certain high mileage cars. Personally, I'd avoid an automatic because they tend to have those problems. A clutch can be replaced in a few hours (in some cars anyway) whereas the auto transmissions I've rebuilt in the past are a pain in the butt to fix.

I definitely won't be centering my strategy around one brand of lubricant, though. I've owned a lot of beater cars coming from a pretty poor family and I've become kind of ghetto ASE certified, as we joke, because of having to keep them running as a kid and as I got older. I have a good idea what to look for, and I'm kind of a car guy, so I know what cars to avoid as well.

I'd rather have a 150000 mile honda civic than a 2000 mile dodge neon, personally. Another good 'bang for the buck' option is 5 cylinder audis from the late 80s/early 90s (with quattro, and manual, of course. Auto audis from that era are a joke). Of course you have your stereotypical electrical gremlins with them, but if you're prepared to handle some of that for a few months, you've got a fun little car to drive, great in the snow, etc.

I wouldn't really suggest that though for joe schmoe who just wants to get from point A to point B, the audi is too fickle for that.

[debtmonster]

I have no problems with buying a Prizm. The problem is you can't find any with low mileage. High mileage cars are not for me. The wear and tear is too much for me to put Amsoil in them. I need something with under 40,000 miles so I can have peace of mind. Most people never get the transmission flush done. They want until the transmission has problems first and by then, it's too late. I am one of the pickiest people when it comes to maintenance. I don't use any other fluid or filters other than Amsoil. The car can run forever on that fluid, but you need to put the fluid in the car before it has accumulated a ton of miles.

[lolasaurus]

I've been setting my search criteria to:

< 30,000 miles
2000 to 2009
automatic transmission
$200 to $6000

Almost all the cars I see are Ford Escorts, Dodge Neons, Cavaliers, Cobalts and all crappy cars. Anytime I see a Honda or any decent car, you click on the ad and it says, "Salvage title" or "export only" and crap like that. I have to go through dozens and dozens of ads to find something that isn't crashed.

Lots of people screw up the results and put "1" as the mileage when the miles are over 100,000. So I have to skip all those. The people posting the ads are screwing up all of the search results. They shouldn't even allow people to sell wrecked cars on there.

This Ford 500 looks nice, though... even though I am not a Ford person. Looks like a comfortable car.

I've skimmed through over 80 cars so far and can't find one good, Japanese car that wasn't wrecked or didn't have a salvage title. The car dealers are all polluting the ads on Auto Trader. It really sucks.

You get what you pay for brother. But that said, if I end up having to get a beater with a heater after I file, my course of action is clear: It's one of the best kept secrets in the auto world.

I'll buy a chevy prizm. You know, one of those 4 door cars that looks kinda like a toyota corolla? Know why it looks like that? It IS a toyota corolla, same drivetrain, just different branding. And since no one really knows this, you can pick one up for like $1500 that will run through a combined nuclear war and zombie outbreak.

I drive an '06 GTO right now and I love it for obvious reasons, I really hope I can somehow exempt it, but if not, that's my plan.

[debtmonster]

I've been setting my search criteria to:

< 30,000 miles
2000 to 2009
automatic transmission
$200 to $6000

Almost all the cars I see are Ford Escorts, Dodge Neons, Cavaliers, Cobalts and all crappy cars. Anytime I see a Honda or any decent car, you click on the ad and it says, "Salvage title" or "export only" and crap like that. I have to go through dozens and dozens of ads to find something that isn't crashed.

Lots of people screw up the results and put "1" as the mileage when the miles are over 100,000. So I have to skip all those. The people posting the ads are screwing up all of the search results. They shouldn't even allow people to sell wrecked cars on there.

This Ford 500 looks nice, though... even though I am not a Ford person. Looks like a comfortable car.

I've skimmed through over 80 cars so far and can't find one good, Japanese car that wasn't wrecked or didn't have a salvage title. The car dealers are all polluting the ads on Auto Trader. It really sucks.

[relief13035]

Try to keep looking - Neon's are like driving an aluminum can.

[debtmonster]

There's nothing wrong with a Neon. They just have a cheap interior. You take a car like that and the day you buy it, you put Amsoil engine oil and tranny fluid in and that drivedrain will never leave you stranded. All you have to worry about is alternators and water pumps, which go bad on any car. You won't find a better fluid for the money. Anything in the autoparts store or Walmart is crap compared to Amsoil. Plus that tranny fluid will reliably go 100,000 miles. That will save me 3 transmission flushes right there in the next 100,000 miles I would put on a car like that. The only car you can't use that fluid in is the tranny in a Toyota Prius or other CVT. Neon's are cheap and don't have CVT's, so you'd be good to go.

What I wanted to do was maybe make 3 to 6 months payments on my car after the discharge until I have $6,000 cash saved up. Remember, we're living here rent-free, so instead of paying the $1100/mo. for our house, we could be saving that cash towards a car. I want to be close to 100% debt-free as possible by the time the sheriff throws us out. When I have to go renting a new place, I don't want car payments again. We just need to self-insure by putting away $2,000 some place in lieu of buying an extended warranty. If the car doesn't break in the next few years, the $2,000 is ours. If you pay for an extended warranty and the car doesn't break, you lose all the money.

Anyway, that car is just an example. There's many people here that would only buy Mopar, so that would be the way to go. I would rather try to buy a Nissan or Honda, but those cars are very hard to find for late model cars for under $6,000.

[lolasaurus]

There's no buses or any public transportation out here whatsoever. Everything you go to is 35-60 minutes drive one-way. Without a car, you'd die out here. Literally.

I can't understand it either. If all goes as planned, I am hoping to file in July... let the 60 day thing pass. Wait for the discharge and stock pile as much cash as I can until I have $6,000 in the bank. Then I will start contacting as many car owners as possible.

Here's the deals I am looking for... check this out!!

2004 Dodge Neon with only 2,900 miles

That's not a misprint with 29,000. That's two-thousand nine-hundred miles!

That's the good thing about old people buying a car in Florida.

If you seek, YOU WILL FIND!!! Buying a car like that with only 2,900 miles would be like buying a BRAND SPANKING NEW CAR for SIX GRAND!!!

Why are people not searching out these deals and getting into debt again after bankruptcy? And paying 24% for the priviledge of making a bank rich!??!

Buying a dodge neon with 0 miles is like buying a reliable car with 200,000 miles, though lol

I do agree with the spirit of what you're saying though!

[debtmonster]

I don't understand why folks go straight back out to finance another car right after BK...

Just use the bus for a month while you save enough for a beater. Drive the beater that you OWN FREE AND CLEAR for a few months while you save for something nicer. I guess everyone's situation is different but I know I have no intention of ever financing anything but a house again when I'm done.

There's no buses or any public transportation out here whatsoever. Everything you go to is 35-60 minutes drive one-way. Without a car, you'd die out here. Literally.

I can't understand it either. If all goes as planned, I am hoping to file in July... let the 60 day thing pass. Wait for the discharge and stock pile as much cash as I can until I have $6,000 in the bank. Then I will start contacting as many car owners as possible.

Here's the deals I am looking for... check this out!!

2004 Dodge Neon with only 2,900 miles

That's not a misprint with 29,000. That's two-thousand nine-hundred miles!

That's the good thing about old people buying a car in Florida.

If you seek, YOU WILL FIND!!! Buying a car like that with only 2,900 miles would be like buying a BRAND SPANKING NEW CAR for SIX GRAND!!!

Why are people not searching out these deals and getting into debt again after bankruptcy? And paying 24% for the priviledge of making a bank rich!??!

[lolasaurus]

I don't understand why folks go straight back out to finance another car right after BK...

Just use the bus for a month while you save enough for a beater. Drive the beater that you OWN FREE AND CLEAR for a few months while you save for something nicer. I guess everyone's situation is different but I know I have no intention of ever financing anything but a house again when I'm done.

[usmccop]

K.. Just dump it then. Keep the other if you want it. I highly suggest you get the one you want to keep current before you file so you don't have to reaffirm it.

I did the same exact thing when I filed my 7 in the late 90's as directed by my attorney--- same as my house back then. My attorney was adamant about this to protect me down the road in case something happened.

[debtmonster]

I'd rather not keep a car that I owe $12k and is only worth $4k. The value of that thing has fallen like a STONE with the miles I put on it. I have found so many nice cars on Auto Trader for $6,000 or less.

Just saw a 2005 Neon with 41,000 miles for $3800. There's lots of late model cars on there with low miles that are cheap. I'd rather dump this car and get one of those with NO PAYMENTS. These payments are killing me big time. Plus if the car is paid for, I can dump comp. and collission and just pay P.I.P./P.D.

[usmccop]

Keep in mind I am not an attorney and each state may be different, but as long as you are current on the loan when you file, and stay current on it, there is no need to reaffirm. They will try and get you to do so, but you do not have to.

Once you are discharged, your liability to the actual loan is gone.. This means if down the road you default on that car loan you can dump it at any time and they can't come after you for any deficiency unless you had reaffirmed it. That's why they want you to reaffirm the debt. However, if you want to keep the car and down the road you get behind they have every right to repo it.

[debtmonster]

If you are doing a 7, and you are current before you file, you will not have to reaffirm the loan PERIOD. So, do not sign one.

So I won't have to re-affirm my crappy Saturn that I am current on neither? I can just keep paying GMAC?

[usmccop]

I called my credit union today and spoke with the bankruptcy dept and they said that they will let me keep my car no problem. It seems too easy. I asked them about the other loans and they said they would not do cross collateralization since i am current on my car and was never behind on the car.

They said I could reaffirm the car or just keep paying. it seems too easy since they are a credit union.

DO you think they are telling the truth?

I hope so!!

If you are doing a 7, and you are current before you file, you will not have to reaffirm the loan PERIOD. So, do not sign one.