So, I have an illness that’s apparently made me very sensitive to chemicals in cars. I’ve been ill in 12 year old cars. I also need a very low car seat to keep my blood pressure up, so it’s hard to find a car.
When my last car died I bought a 1992 little saturn with 200,000 for $500 that ran, but couldn’t say much more for it. I planned to shop, when after a year of reactions (& no outside life), I gave up & just drove this. Recently I decide to fix up the car & embrace what I have.
Now I discover it needs immediate care of a timing chain for around $800-1000. Plus tires $500. It rocks a little when parking, so struts are coming. Brakes are about 3/4 used. Plus all the maintenance & smaller things, only some of which I can do myself. Probably all to a tune of $3000. Then more will break.
I planned to drive 6 hours tomorrow to be with family for the Jewish holidays. I can delay (attend here) & get the chain fixed during the week then go up for YK. I can probably drive without it blowing according to mechanics & fix it on return. If it blows it will be a new engine for much more. A rental would be a more than $500 given factors. Public transportation is difficult for this trip.
Any suggestions, or simply opinion on what you would do??
Also, any ideas for how to create a newer car I can live with. The whole car chem problem is getting attention, but not soon enough for this. I’m enjoyed reading my contacts answers, & I’m curious what other people think. Especially since I’m stumped.
How Would You Solve This? Car & Illness Problem Combined?
How Would You Solve This? Car & Illness Problem Combined?
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New cars are awful. This is a problem all of us have, and one of the reasons why I haven’t owned one in, oh probably close to a decade now.
I’m sending you a link to a large group of people with plenty of experience.
(((Cher))) L’shanah tovah tikateivu.
P.S. If you’re surviving new carpet, you’re doing pretty well, for folks like us.
answer: it probably wouldn’t be practical for you. My first thought is a scooter to get around town on and slowly invest money into the car – I would definitely invest in a new engine and struts as soon as you can. Check all the fluid levels, stop and don’t strain the motor tomorrow and just get through the holy days?
Have you tried having the car cleaned or detailed, there was one car detailing place that cleaned using reverse osmosis instead of water and that seemed to take the new car smell out of my old car?
Is it the chemicals of the fabrics, or the necessary fluids for your car?
Is it the smells? fabric touching skin?
Its not worth it to sink that kind of money into a car you paid $500 bucks for.
CHECk in Cars for Sale by Private Owners.
I found my first Car that Way. Fantastic and ran it to the ground
I bought it from a Chinese student and I trusted what she said . She showed me all the documentation and I had the car forever. Maintenance Records etc
Pray and Look ask. Post on a Board at a local Synogogue Jewish Y
etc.
You may be surprised how good a car you can get.. I dont trust second hand car lots. I havent been “burned” but heresay evidence was always negative
Good Luck.
I am sure you will find a car that will suit your needs at a great price.
Your car expensive to fix
RE Chemical and car problem.. Check fumes , ignition tests on your car and ask your physician ( allergist) what to look for in car / to protect you from dangers.
HOPE YOU FIND YOUR CAR/ AND YOUR ANSWERS TO YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS RE CAR
AND I WISH YOU WELL/ TO RESOLVE YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS ALL TOGETHTER
GOD BLESS
No matter what your decision is your car will eventually reach a point of diminishing returns. The prices you are quoting for the repairs indicated are very exorbitant. For example you should be able to save about $150 just on tires by going to Walmart. The cost for a timing chain is also very high. Do you trust you mechanic? I would look into getting another identical car with much lower mileage. You can strip your car for parts, if you are up to it and junk what’s left. You should be able to get another one for slightly more than you were considering to investing in what you already have. The best cars to get are ones that were owned by the elderly. They are usually older with low mileage. The exact combination you should be looking for. You can check Ebay and Craig’s List as well as your local paper. Local used car dealers are another choice if you can get a guarantee. I wish I had a suggestion for your illness but I don’t have any.
I would stay home and be with friends for the holidays.
L’shanah tovah
I’m all for older and cheaper cars but I would be hesitant to spend a lot on repairs on a car with that many miles that only cost $500 to start with. I would look around for another older car with less miles. When you find something you think you are interested in check the online forums to see whether or not this particular car was considered to be reliable or if there are certain problems to look for. I recently found a 1991 Volvo 240 with only 138,000 miles for only $1300. These cars had a reputation for being more reliable than the newer ones and are fairly easy to work on.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikitevu
EDIT: I could be wrong but $440 for wheel bearings sounds high.
If money is an issue, do you live in an area where their are trains and buses to get around ?
Many people brought up many issues but I would hesitate to invest in a smaller car with 200k miles on it that is almost twenty years old.
Off the top of my head, find a 2001 Toyota Carolla, the seats are low.
Find one with minor cosmetic damage and use that to negotitate down the price.
Find one with less than 100k miles. Get the seats and carpets steam cleaned and request no chemicals used. Let the car sit on a sunny breezy day with the windows open.
Get new tires, allignment, brakes shocks/struts put in.
Get a new battery and alternator.
Get a new belt and replace all the hoses at once.
Have all fluids and filters replaces and get an engine tune.
Then you have a car that all the little things were taken care of at once and provided the engine and tranny are sound it should be good for many years.
Sorry, I don’t know what you should do but to your allergy …
It could be house dust mite allergy. I have that, too, in older cars, especially when the heating is on and blows. New cars and new carpets are not a problem but how do you react to older carpets? They are very problematic for me as well (which is especially annoying when you’re invited to someone’s house and they ask you why your eyes are swollen and you’re sneezing all the time and you need to find an escape so you don’t have to say “I’m allergic to dust” … ). Best would be if you went to see a doctor to do a test on this. For the holidays … you could probably rent a car? Or … I don’t know which country you live in, is there anything like agencies for arranged lifts? If it is a dust mite allergy, it could also help for this emergency if you put big plastic foils (like tablecloths) on the seats of the car and put on warm clothes and shoes so you can drive without the heating. You could try it out first on a smaller distance … Hope you find a way to spend your holidays in a pleasant way …