Marry, berkeley, kill?

Car in question is a 91 Integra. Currently has almost 350,000 miles. Motor was replaced with a 40,000 mile jap motor at about 210,000.

Still runs good. Intermediate shaft/bushings will need to be replaced next time the axels are done. WAAAAAAY overdue for a t-belt/waterpump. Needs every suspension bushing known to man. The driver's seat is falling apart. Doesn't look bad inside or out except for the seat. No A/C. Something's plugged. Maybe expansion valve(?)

I've made up my mind that I'm not berkeleying with the tbelt and pump. I hate doing that E36 M3, we've got a 3-month old baby, and I've already got too many car projects, not to mention house projects. By the time they hit more for cam and crank seals, vc gasket, etc., I'm guessing our mom & pop repair shop will charge me $350-$500.

I know the cheapest car is the one you own, but I'm trying to figure out if I'm due for something with fewer miles. We just bought a Honda Fit, so the "safe, reliable, mommy/baby-mobile" is covered. Daddy just needs a cheap, reliable, commuter appliance that gets good gas mileage (80 mile/day round trip commute) and is not mind-numbingly boring to drive in the twisties.

SO, trying to decide what to do. I could:

A: Fix what NEEDS fixin'. Probably $500-$700 all-in with a junkyard or generic seat and maintenance stuff.

B: Drive it till it freakin' dies. Pull off any decent parts and try to sell on CL. Get $300-$400 at the squisher.

C: Sell for a grand-ish. Use said grand plus another grand or so and buy a lower-mile Festiva or Metro or some crap.

Last part of the equation: I have a D16-powered CRX project I really need to finish. That could become the new "daddy's DD." Could finish that, then sell the integra to recoup the cost of the remainder of the project...come to think of it, probably the best option, though it's also the one that involves me getting off my ass and getting it done!!!

I would say option C, then buy something you dont hate working on (if you want to drive a cheap car), or buy something new.

Get the CRX runnin' poopy!

I really don't want to think about how long it's been sitting in its current state. "Getting it running" shouldn't be a huge issue. Know what's stalling me out? It's a 7/10 car right now. It would be an 8/10 if I paint the engine bay and detail/paint the living E36 M3 out of the donor motor before putting it in...plus, I should really do a t-belt and pump on the donor motor (of course, not nearly as much of an ordeal with the motor out.) Excuses excuses.

poopshovel wrote: By the time they hit more for cam and crank seals, vc gasket, etc., I'm guessing our mom & pop repair shop will charge me $350-$500.

I'm not a Honduuh guy, but it cost me more than that in parts to do a water pump t-belt and 'while I'm in there' on an Accord of similar vintage, with most things sourced from rock auto.

If you can really get a grand for it, I'd take the money and run.

Edit: found the paperwork

Tbelt 49.99

Tbelt tensioner 89.28

Balance shaft belt 47.31

Lower timing cover 62.70

lower timing cover gasket 7.03

Water pump 43.19

Air filter 22.20

Valve cover gasket 17.93

Thermostat 10.95

Oil filter 4.95

Power steering pump belt 16.98

Alternator/AC compressor belt 18.98

Distributor cap 14.98

Distributor rotor 4.98

Spark plugs 10.72

Oil 10.66

Roughly $433 plus shipping/tax. Some of those parts came from the dealer but many came from the interweb and a sharp pencil. Then I discovered the radiator had a leak and replaced that, and the coolant as well - ending up well over $600 in parts.

Build up the CRX.

poopshovel wrote: I really don't want to think about how long it's been sitting in its current state. "Getting it running" shouldn't be a huge issue. Know what's stalling me out? It's a 7/10 car right now. It would be an 8/10 if I paint the engine bay and detail/paint the living E36 M3 out of the donor motor before putting it in...plus, I should really do a t-belt and pump on the donor motor (of course, not nearly as much of an ordeal with the motor out.) Excuses excuses.

I will be rafting in da mountains Saturday mornin. Shall I stop by cassa-de-poop afterwards and paint a bay?

DILYSI Dave wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I really don't want to think about how long it's been sitting in its current state. "Getting it running" shouldn't be a huge issue. Know what's stalling me out? It's a 7/10 car right now. It would be an 8/10 if I paint the engine bay and detail/paint the living E36 M3 out of the donor motor before putting it in...plus, I should really do a t-belt and pump on the donor motor (of course, not nearly as much of an ordeal with the motor out.) Excuses excuses.

I will be rafting in da mountains Saturday mornin. Shall I stop by cassa-de-poop afterwards and paint a bay?

Nah. You should stop by the shop and convince me to leave early, then have beers or vodka-tonics at the house/meet baby though. Wifey coming with? You and I share the disease. It's not the "Put paint in the sprayer and start spraying" part. It's the "If I'm going to do it, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and that need to be done first." With about a week's worth of work, it could look like a show car.

Thanks, as always for the offer, btw. So much more cool stuff would happen if we lived closer. There's a house like ours in the neighborhood that could probably had for 5 figures. Just sayin.

Sell it to some high school kid and get yourself something nicer.

I wouldn't do a HS kid like that :)

I read this title in off topic and thought I was going to get a story about a serial killer

Option B is the worst - better to live with the devil you know (A) or do what you know you want to do (C).

option D: have DILYSI Dave put a TB/WP in it, paid with the promise that he inherits it when you have had enough integra goodness.

Nobody wants that. :)

I like your get "the CRX running" idea.

Get what you can for the 'Teg to make up for it.

A, B, and CRX.

Remember this?

tuna55 wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I think they did lexan side windows that slide in and out of the impact beam on the door. It is the kind of car that Tuna would want to drive to work every day.

If I would want to do it I think that means you have to do it. It's a pact or something.