General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,269 posts)

14. I had a cute little red 1960 Corvair that I bought for $100.

Sat Jan 2, 2021, 04:24 PM

Jan 2021

I drove it for about six months and sold it for $200. It looked a lot better when I sold it than when I bought it.

I liked that little 2-door Corvair. Cool little car, really.

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So, what kinds of cars do people with low incomes buy? [View all] MineralMan Jan 2021 OP

Bought a few hundred dollar cars and kept them rolling. Arne Jan 2021 #1

Yuck! MineralMan Jan 2021 #2

I'm going to get him before he chews something under there. Arne Jan 2021 #11

Yeah, that's the real risk. MineralMan Jan 2021 #13

Rats destroyed a housemate's car from the inside out once Withywindle Jan 2021 #43

Wire coating Bear Creek Jan 2021 #72

I hear FL folks say spraying predator urine around your engine and chassis prevents critter probs. ancianita Jan 2021 #92

In this case, I'm the predator, soo here goes. Arne Jan 2021 #94

... orangecrush Jan 2021 #127

Years ago we lived in the frozen tundra. rzemanfl Jan 2021 #34

Something similar has happened a few times to my Dad, decades ago. Archae Jan 2021 #55

That happened to our cat! LeftInTX Jan 2021 #59

one of my sister's yard cats got up in the front end of a big ole farm pickup yellowdogintexas Jan 2021 #60

I had 7 offers to buy my 1991 Subaru wagon when I left Arkansas. It ran great and only had 157,000 sinkingfeeling Jan 2021 #3

They go to the "buy here, pay here" used car lots that don't do credit checks. Arkansas Granny Jan 2021 #4

and pay credit card interest rates on vastly over priced cars quaker bill Jan 2021 #138

If I remember correctly DFW Jan 2021 #5

I had a cute little red 1960 Corvair that I bought for $100. MineralMan Jan 2021 #14

My first car I paid $800 in 1971 for a 1966 Chevy Impala SS. fwvinson Jan 2021 #46

Website link essme Jan 2021 #47

I'll have a look. MineralMan Jan 2021 #57

You are welcome! BTW essme Jan 2021 #69

Thanks for your kind words. MineralMan Jan 2021 #77

Yup - as long as you didn't go over 40-50MPH. The front end (steering wheels) would lift off erronis Jan 2021 #73

My very first driving experience was Hydroplaning down the NY state Thruway. Arne Jan 2021 #99

No they did not flotsam Jan 2021 #146

Driven in a normal manner, Corvairs were nice, responsive cars. MineralMan Jan 2021 #147

I never bought the Corvair I wanted flotsam Jan 2021 #148

Better choice, overall. MineralMan Jan 2021 #149

I loved my Corvair. I rebuilt it and figured out a way to stop a leak on the oil filter LiberalArkie Jan 2021 #74

Used cars ismnotwasm Jan 2021 #6

High-mileage cars..... lastlib Jan 2021 #36

Not that much has changed about used cars jcgoldie Jan 2021 #7

I tend to agree... Locrian Jan 2021 #66

Thank you for pointing this out, MineralMan. Ohiogal Jan 2021 #8

I know it sounds wrong, but it's more expensive to be poor Rorey Jan 2021 #9

Well, it's certainly more stressful than having enough money. MineralMan Jan 2021 #10

I look back and think about what little money I had Rorey Jan 2021 #16

My first few years of being a freelance writer MineralMan Jan 2021 #20

My safety valve was my good health Rorey Jan 2021 #28

Thank you for sharing your story! MineralMan Jan 2021 #61

You are so right. It is more expensive to be poor. MerryBlooms Jan 2021 #58

90,000 miles on a 20 year old car is excellent! Rorey Jan 2021 #93

oh yeah, and go karts, tractors, whatever could get our hands on. MerryBlooms Jan 2021 #113

I know what you're saying Rorey Jan 2021 #118

It does make sense and your post reminds me of Terry Pratchett's "Boots Theory". Flaleftist Jan 2021 #85

It is. GreenEyedLefty Jan 2021 #86

Terry Pratchett brilliantly summed it up, as usual. sir pball Jan 2021 #132

Oh yes PatSeg Jan 2021 #144

Bought an 8K Chevy Volt. Paid $195 per month JCMach1 Jan 2021 #12

I was looking for a car a few months ago Rorey Jan 2021 #18

I would never buy a Leaf due to battery degradation JCMach1 Jan 2021 #39

Good to know Rorey Jan 2021 #41

I also bought a used Volt caraher Jan 2021 #44

Two broke down in the yard and nothing to drive. bluedigger Jan 2021 #15

There is a dealer just up the road from me. In doc03 Jan 2021 #17

I've never been able to get on board with leasing Rorey Jan 2021 #21

Well if you have a couple thousand to put down and doc03 Jan 2021 #23

It's that credit rating thing that's a problem for many Rorey Jan 2021 #32

It's really just renting a car. MineralMan Jan 2021 #24

For the first time in my life I'm making a car payment Rorey Jan 2021 #30

Reliable transportation is often times a barrier to steady employment Victor_c3 Jan 2021 #19

Yes. That's a real issue, for sure. MineralMan Jan 2021 #22

When you live in a Rural area like me there isn't any doc03 Jan 2021 #25

Yup... MineralMan Jan 2021 #62

Yes. Transportation, child care and being able to afford a work wardrobe. GreenEyedLefty Jan 2021 #88

That's why there are so many folks on bikes, lower-end scooters obamanut2012 Jan 2021 #26

Oh boy did you Wellstone ruled Jan 2021 #27

... greenjar_01 Jan 2021 #29

Your point? MineralMan Jan 2021 #64

John Oliver did a piece on sub prime auto loans a couple years back. Initech Jan 2021 #31

This same concept applies to rent-to-own appliances and furniture Rorey Jan 2021 #38

And are in every military town drooling after the young kids obamanut2012 Jan 2021 #82

I replaced my 2002 and 2009 vehicles last year exboyfil Jan 2021 #33

We had too many issues with the used car purchases recently. haele Jan 2021 #35

We just bought a 2001 Nissan for $4000. LakeArenal Jan 2021 #37

I'm 3 months into a 2003 Frontier with camper top onethatcares Jan 2021 #79

Lots that finance talkinghand Jan 2021 #40

When electric vehicles become more ubiquitous and older used models are available ToxMarz Jan 2021 #42

Poor folks don't usually have a yard or a driveway to work on cars in. Doing repairs on the street BamaRefugee Jan 2021 #45

A lot of the "low income" folks LIVE in those cars. davsand Jan 2021 #48

My father didn't own a new car until he was in his 60s. George II Jan 2021 #49

Best investment I ever made was the skills to maintain autos bucolic_frolic Jan 2021 #50

And don't forget car insurance judesedit Jan 2021 #51

Smart observation. Pepsidog Jan 2021 #52

Good post and very true. Can't work on them much anymore; by design out of making $$$. Evolve Dammit Jan 2021 #53

2003 nissan altima Ollie Garkie Jan 2021 #54

If you buy a new car, drive it until it dies or you do. WheelWalker Jan 2021 #56

One Toy 4Runner with 400,000 and VW Rabbit with 250,000 erronis Jan 2021 #95

This is a good question LeftInTX Jan 2021 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author infullview Jan 2021 #65

Nope. That's not true at all. MineralMan Jan 2021 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author infullview Jan 2021 #129

You live up to your moniker, infullview. herding cats Jan 2021 #137

Replaced... mbusby Jan 2021 #68

I live in a rural area where there are no busses or taxi services. appleannie1 Jan 2021 #70

I hear you, but I also like having the modern on-board diagnostics Hiawatha Pete Jan 2021 #71

Also a good argument for more public transportation. Nt raccoon Jan 2021 #75

Yes. But that only exists in urban areas. MineralMan Jan 2021 #80

Yes, except repubs always argue against funding it... even though roads get far more subsidies Hiawatha Pete Jan 2021 #84

They buy tickets to ride on buses and subways. nt pnwmom Jan 2021 #76

Well, they do where those exist, anyway. MineralMan Jan 2021 #78

Do you know who made us dependent on cars? Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2021 #81

That's simplistic and urban-based. MineralMan Jan 2021 #90

It's still true. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2021 #98

You're still ignoring small town and rural America. MineralMan Jan 2021 #103

No, I am not ignoring rural America. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2021 #150

You dismiss it as simplistic, but it's true that this country, especially for the last century, Ron Green Jan 2021 #105

i dont have one , cant afford one and am medicly unable to drive one . AllaN01Bear Jan 2021 #83

Thanks for that perspective. Many people I know can't drive for many reasons - and we're rural. erronis Jan 2021 #101

Excellent portrayal. Your argument for a livable minimum wage is KPN Jan 2021 #87

Thank you! This is a human rights issue. MineralMan Jan 2021 #89

Absolutely. KPN Jan 2021 #91

I've been there struggling with junkers Johnny2X2X Jan 2021 #96

From one of my favorite authors Bear Creek Jan 2021 #97

Good example! MineralMan Jan 2021 #100

May I introduce to you.... orangecrush Jan 2021 #102

Used cop car in a nearby neighborhood. keithbvadu2 Jan 2021 #111

I was behind a White Bronco at a light a few months ago happybird Jan 2021 #112

People bus it BainsBane Jan 2021 #104

Public transit is an urban choice only. MineralMan Jan 2021 #106

Yes, but if you need to take the bus BainsBane Jan 2021 #108

Buses not available Bear Creek Jan 2021 #114

that's not true in Minneapolis BainsBane Jan 2021 #115

It's gotten very unreliable with capacity limits such as 10 people max progree Jan 2021 #131

I haven't ridden during the pandemic BainsBane Jan 2021 #134

Several years ago I bought a used truck. cayugafalls Jan 2021 #107

New car maintenance ZERTErYNOthe Jan 2021 #109

My new car is 10 years old. I keep it up cuz it's value to me is more than I would get as a trade in keithbvadu2 Jan 2021 #110

The plan is lyft, uber, and self driving cars will replace car ownership Mosby Jan 2021 #116

Whose plan is that? MineralMan Jan 2021 #119

Here is GMs plan Mosby Jan 2021 #125

Something has got to change, with global climate disruption progree Jan 2021 #133

It's a pity America doesn't believe in mass transit. BlueIdaho Jan 2021 #117

Here in the Twin Cities its not working, and won't until the pandemic is over progree Jan 2021 #130

We had a free Chevette Bettie Jan 2021 #120

LOL! I had a car like that once. MineralMan Jan 2021 #121

Stick shift too Bettie Jan 2021 #123

OMG orangecrush Jan 2021 #126

You have Delphinus Jan 2021 #122

Thanks. It can be a real problem. MineralMan Jan 2021 #124

And bus service (Metro Transit) has become unreliable too - there's a 10 person limit progree Jan 2021 #128

Living on SSDI, I prefer to not have a car and have more money for other things. Kaleva Jan 2021 #135

We had two junk yards on the outskirts of town, Arne Jan 2021 #136

I worked as an general auto mechanic for several years. MineralMan Jan 2021 #140

You mentioned what a bitch the wheel bearings can be. Arne Jan 2021 #142

Glad you got that rat. MineralMan Jan 2021 #143

Seems those who know a good deal are buying the Korean cars. Arne Jan 2021 #145

K&R for a thread filled with great conversation and observations. nt crickets Jan 2021 #139

Thanks. It has been an interesting thread. MineralMan Jan 2021 #141