Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Maybe I Can Get a Good Deal on a Nuclear-Powered De Lorean

Last week my beautiful VW Beetle got hit by a stupid-ass kid whose eyes were glued to his phone while driving.

Turns out a low-speed impact with no attempt to brake can cause a shitload of damage.

Forever grateful to BekS for this laugh when I needed it.
 The kid and his insurance company are being dicks. It was just this morning - six days after the accident - that I was able to get my car to the body shop, and with any luck I'll finally have a rental car tomorrow morning.

At this moment I have no idea if the Bug will be deemed fixable, or simply cashed out. Does replacing two front fenders, a bumper, a grille, and two headlights cost more than a 12-year-old Beetle is worth? I mean, he's priceless to me, but insurance companies are notoriously heartless.

MY insurance company is awesome.
But everyone else's? This.
Worst case scenario, I'll need a new car very soon. And by "new," I almost certainly don't mean new. That's not really in the ol' budget right now, unless I want to make some major life changes that involve not making the major life changes I've already got in the works.

How's that for a love triangle?
So I'm pondering what kind of car I might want to get if that becomes necessary. There are some obvious used-car choices:




But these may not be the most practical.

What kind of car do you look for when your criteria include the following:

NOT a minivan
NOT an SUV
NOT a Honda
Preferably laser-equipped
Good cargo capacity (2+ adult-size bodies)
Functional glove compartment
Headlights point correct direction
Mechanically sound, clean, cheap

Gull-wing doors totally optional.
I'm not picky.
I mean, what do you think, Drunkards? Suggestions are welcome. Just keep them realistic.

The National Corvette Museum may have a few deals.
I'll let you know what happens with the body shop. You let me know if you have any brainstorms on how to purchase a high-quality, low-mileage car for, say, 800 bucks. Kthx.

5 comments:

  1. How about using, you know, public transport? I mean, people in most of the world don't own personal vehicles, and most of 'em get along fine.

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  2. This guy clearly doesn't live where public transportation sucks and isn't practical for day-to-day use. Hang in there, Chuck!

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  3. Yeah,Bill...this area isn't public transportation friendly. We are getting our rental today too...very slow process!

    I say get a fun Jeep!

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  4. I hope they can fix your bug! I loathe car shopping. Here's hoping you find a car that shoots rainbows out it's ass without breaking the bank!

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  5. Most days I use public transport--known in these parts as "the bus". I'm lucky to live in a neighborhood where the nearest bus stop is only a little more than a mile from my house. When I need to buy food or, well, anything else, or when I have to be somewhere at a specific time or go to one of the many places that ain't anywhere near a bus route I drive, because it's my only option.

    I wish I could offer a car suggestion, but I just hope they fix the Bug. And I hope you've given it a funny nickname.

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