What to do what to do, new car or move out? Options

[BlackCelicaGT94]

So im 21 and have had my car for about 5 years. Its treated me well but now has rust in the water passageway so it looks like tubgirl is under my hood cuz it sprays all over. So its time for a new engine. The 3sgte is not an option. Basically my only option for a quick fix (quick being having it done by end of summer) is to get another 5sfe with lower miles and drop it in. Well after playing cat and mouse on the freeway with an evo yesterday my car started to steam up on the freeway. I called my dad and he came and double checked everything and it basically just needed some pressure released. I told my dad I was tired of this and wasnt sure if maybe I should just get a new car cuz I dont wanna dump money into a 94 celica that used to be really nice but time is taking its toll on the leather seats and what not. He said I could look at cars but it would have to be a Toyota or Lexus and he wouldnt help me with buying one. He said he would rather have me move out. So I called my mom and she said that they dont mind me living at home and maybe getting a new car was a smarter option.

Rent around my area is 900 dollars a month. I live 2 miles from work so moving out of my town would just cause me to spend more money in gas than I am now. Also, renting doesnt seem like the smartest option. You spend 900 a month and in the end you dont own anything. So id be wasting about 12,000 dollars a year if i moved out and thats not including other bills id have if i moved out. I would like to wait for when I get 25,000 dollars from my grandpas will and put a down payment on a townhome. hes 90 now but who knows he could live to be 100.

So what do you guys think? start looking around at cars or move out in december?

If I get a new car im looking at a 2002 IS300 in black. Im not going to go for the first one I find. Im going to take my time and find the well priced, low mileage, 5 spd, black or charcoal colored one.

You may say why not just dump a couple grand into the celica and fix what needs doing. well i still wanted to get a new car in the next 2-3 years anyways. Dont worry the celica wont go anywhere. It would be staying as the back up car for the family.

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Apr 6, 2007 - 5:44 PM

[BlackCelicaGT94]

eeeh i dont like the sound of that. i dont like girlie type of cars. :-(

what features do you mean a girl would like??

im excited cuz i talked to my parents and its either a new car, a new engine and i move out. so its nice to be outta debt and talk about these things :-) and know now that its not just talk. that one of those 3 things will happen

[Chanh55]

eeeh i dont like the sound of that. i dont like girlie type of cars. :-(

what features do you mean a girl would like??

im excited cuz i talked to my parents and its either a new car, a new engine and i move out. so its nice to be outta debt and talk about these things :-) and know now that its not just talk. that one of those 3 things will happen

Nothing in particular... "luxury" cars just have a whole bunch of features... It's like they thought about everything (for the most part...)

Check out the huge list of standard features for 2002 IS300s... Tell me with a straight face that you wouldn't want all this...

2002 Lexus IS300 Performance & Efficiency Standard Features
-2,997 cc 3 liters 6 in-line front engine with 86 mm bore, 86 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
-Premium unleaded fuel
-Fuel economy EPA highway (l/100km): 9.4
-Multi-point injection fuel system
-Main 66 liter premium unleaded fuel tank
-Power: SAE and 160 kW , 215 HP @ 5,800 rpm; 218 ft lb , 296 Nm @ 3,800 rpm

2002 Lexus IS300 Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features
-ABS
-Brake assist system
-Four disc brakes including two ventilated discs
-Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
-Immobilizer
-Fullsize alloy rim internal spare wheel
-Wishbone front and rear suspension with stabilizer bar independent with coil springs

2002 Lexus IS300 Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features
-Body side molding
-Front and rear body color bumpers
-Coefficient of drag: 0.29
-Day time running lights
-Driver power heated partial-painted door mirrors with automatic operation , passenger power heated partial-painted door mirrors
-External dimensions: overall length (mm): 4,486, overall width (mm): 1,725, overall height (mm): 1,410, wheelbase (mm): 2,670, front track (mm): 1,496, rear track (mm): 1,486 and curb to curb turning circle (mm): 10,394
-Front fog lights
-Complex surface lens Xenon bulb headlights
-Heat reflective glass
-Luxury trim alloy on gearknob
-Metallic paint , black paint , gloss paint , mica paint , pearl paint
-Rear window
-Tinted glass on cabin
-Weights: curb weight (kg) 1,476
-Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe
2002 Lexus IS300 Interior Standard Features
-Air conditioning with climate control
-Roof antenna
-Peripheral anti-theft protection
-Front and rear ashtray
-Audio anti-theft protection: integrated in dash
-Manufacturer's own audio system with AM/FM
-Cargo capacity: all seats in place (liters): 286
-Front seats cigar lighter
-Clock
-Compass
-Computer with average fuel consumption
-Dashboard full console with open storage box , floor full console with covered storage box
-Delayed/fade courtesy lights
-Cruise control
-Front seats cup holders , rear seats cup holders
-Door ajar warning
-Door pockets/bins for driver seat, passenger seat and rear seats
-External temperature
-Floor covering: carpet in load area
-Floor mats
-Driver and passenger front airbag
-Sports seat
-3-point reel height adjustable front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
-Front seat center armrest
-Lockable glove compartment
-Height adjustable two head restraints on front seats , height adjustable three head restraints on rear seats
-Headlight control with time delay switch-off and dusk sensor
-Illuminated entry system
-Internal dimensions: front headroom (mm): 993, rear headroom (mm): 958, front hip room (mm): 1,341, rear hip room (mm): 1,369, front leg room (mm): 1,085, rear leg room (mm): 767, front shoulder room (mm): 1,336, rear shoulder room (mm): 1,359 and interior volume (liters): 2,526
-Low fuel level warning
-Remote power locks includes trunk/hatch
-Power steering
-Front power windows with one one-touch , rear power windows
-Front reading lights
-3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side
-Rear seat center armrest with trunk access
-Bench fixed three rear seats
-Automatic operation rear view mirror
-Remote fuel filler door release
-Remote control remote trunk/hatch release
-Front roof airbag
-Front seat back storage
-Upgraded cloth/velour seat upholstery with additional upgraded cloth/velour
-Seating: five seats
-Front side airbag
-Eight speakers
-Leather covered steering wheel
-Tachometer
-Driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirror
-Ventilation system with recirculation setting and micro filter

[tomazws]

I also love reading these features... I remember one time I was reading the standard features of a 2002 Tacoma S-Runner, and it says "Halogen headlights", "Passenger side mirror".... oh gosh..

2002 Lexus IS300 Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features
-Body side molding
-Front and rear body color bumpers[/b]
-Coefficient of drag: 0.29
-Day time running lights
-Driver power heated partial-painted door mirrors with automatic operation , passenger power heated partial-painted door mirrors
-External dimensions: overall length (mm): 4,486, overall width (mm): 1,725, overall height (mm): 1,410, wheelbase (mm): 2,670, front track (mm): 1,496, rear track (mm): 1,486 and curb to curb turning circle (mm): 10,394
-Front fog lights
-Complex surface lens Xenon bulb headlights
-Heat reflective glass
-Luxury trim alloy on gearknob
-Metallic paint , black paint , gloss paint , mica paint , pearl paint
-Rear window (I didn't know cars don't come with rear window!??!?)
-Tinted glass on cabin
-Weights: curb weight (kg) 1,476
-Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe
2002 Lexus IS300 Interior Standard Features
-Air conditioning with climate control
-Roof antenna
-Peripheral anti-theft protection
-Front and rear ashtray
-Audio anti-theft protection: integrated in dash
-Manufacturer's own audio system with AM/FM
-Cargo capacity: all seats in place (liters): 286
-Front seats cigar lighter
-Clock (This supreme feature sure makes me wanna get this car ASAP...)
-Compass
-Computer with average fuel consumption
-Dashboard full console with open storage box , floor full console with covered storage box
-Delayed/fade courtesy lights
-Cruise control
-Front seats cup holders , rear seats cup holders
-Door ajar warning
-Door pockets/bins for driver seat, passenger seat and rear seats
-External temperature
-Floor covering: carpet in load area
-Floor mats (I wonder which cars don't come with floor mats!?!?!?)
-Driver and passenger front airbag
-Sports seat
-3-point reel height adjustable front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
-Front seat center armrest
-Lockable glove compartment
-Height adjustable two head restraints on front seats , height adjustable three head restraints on rear seats
-Headlight control with time delay switch-off and dusk sensor
-Illuminated entry system
-Internal dimensions: front headroom (mm): 993, rear headroom (mm): 958, front hip room (mm): 1,341, rear hip room (mm): 1,369, front leg room (mm): 1,085, rear leg room (mm): 767, front shoulder room (mm): 1,336, rear shoulder room (mm): 1,359 and interior volume (liters): 2,526
-Low fuel level warning
-Remote power locks includes trunk/hatch
-Power steering (Sorry, I would like to buy a car without power steering, I like labor steering.)
-Front power windows with one one-touch , rear power windows
-Front reading lights
-3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side
-Rear seat center armrest with trunk access
-Bench fixed three rear seats
-Automatic operation rear view mirror
-Remote fuel filler door release
-Remote control remote trunk/hatch release
-Front roof airbag
-Front seat back storage
-Upgraded cloth/velour seat upholstery with additional upgraded cloth/velour
-Seating: five seats
-Front side airbag
-Eight speakers
-Leather covered steering wheel
-Tachometer
-Driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirror
-Ventilation system with recirculation setting and micro filter