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Folks, I think I scored a major win on a car. Got a 2012 Impala for $3800. 230000 miles but runs like a charm. If I need to replace the engine someday that is about $3000. A few rust spots I need to halt in its tracks but otherwise should be a 10 year car. 27 mpg highway.
Folks, I think I scored a major win on a car. Got a 2012 Impala for $3800. 230000 miles but runs like a charm. If I need to replace the engine someday that is about $3000. A few rust spots I need to halt in its tracks but otherwise should be a 10 year car. 27 mpg highway.
It's a great way to save money if you know how to fix it and replace parts. We try to keep our cars for 10 years before we sell, but sometimes, it is better for us to upgrade before then. I did that with my last vehicle and replaced it with a newer model of the same vehicle. The newer safety features like bigger backup camera, lane keeping assistance, etc., made the changeover worth it for me.
Folks, I think I scored a major win on a car. Got a 2012 Impala for $3800. 230000 miles but runs like a charm. If I need to replace the engine someday that is about $3000. A few rust spots I need to halt in its tracks but otherwise should be a 10 year car. 27 mpg highway.
They were used as police cars then cabs in the rest of their life so the platform has been tested!
If you bought the car for $3800, why would you ever consider swapping a motor for $3000? I'd just get another car at that point. The Impala is already 11 yrs old, don't get married to it.
Do you drive a lot of miles? The 27 MPG is fine but remember after about 60 tanks of fuel you have spent more on fuel than you did for the car.
I thought the newest (last) Impala was pretty sharp and had a Cadillac like vibe going on it.
Buying a $8k car that could last 5 years is lower cost than buying a $4k car that you'll have to put another $4k into, that may still only last 2 years.
The 27 MPG is fine but remember after about 60 tanks of fuel you have spent more on fuel than you did for the car.
This is a valid point. And 27 is highway; meaning its probably only 23 combined.
I would've spent $8k on a Corolla with half the miles, as the extra $4k you spend on the car, you'd save in gas. Plus, you'd get several more years of longevity.
Thanks for the feedback. It could be frugal depending on the main factors of purchase amount, miles driven, repairs and resale value. I might have to break out the financial spreadsheet to see how it may turn out. I was looking at Toyotas too but the prices were more than double this Chevy.
Thanks for the feedback. It could be frugal depending on the main factors of purchase amount, miles driven, repairs and resale value. I might have to break out the financial spreadsheet to see how it may turn out. I was looking at Toyotas too but the prices were more than double this Chevy.
I wonder why that is. Maybe it is because a Toyota will last 300k if properly maintained and a GM product will generally crap out at about half that.
For the record, I have owned EIGHT GM products and one Toyota.
The Chevy Impala is an expensive car to maintain properly.
Folks, I think I scored a major win on a car. Got a 2012 Impala for $3800. 230000 miles but runs like a charm. If I need to replace the engine someday that is about $3000. A few rust spots I need to halt in its tracks but otherwise should be a 10 year car. 27 mpg highway.
Good move.
You may want to price a rebuild for that engine. Might pay off to do it early; it all depends on how long you plan to keep it and what you will use it for.
My 90 GMC pickup runs like a watch at 400,000 miles. But I maintain it well and keep it looking good.
Much depends on the history of the car. Is it a one owner/regularly serviced/no accident/ highway miles car, or a four owner/spotty to no service or maintenance/multiple owner car with maybe one or more accidents?
Much also depends on how you drive and maintain it from here on in. Scotty Kilmer would never have bought it and likely would predict it to be an "endless money pit". But he doesn't generally like GM products.
A quick search of Autotrader shows some 2011 and 2012 Ford Taurus'es with mileage hovering around the 200,000 range for sale by dealers asking around $5,700 to slightly over $6,000. And remember, that's the ASKING price and you could well find one for a little less with a private owner.
Something like the Taurus would have been a better way to go IMO, but you just might luck out and have a reliable car. Best of luck with it.
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