Crisis fundraiser signal boost: SkeeterTheLurker · 10:38pm March 3rd
I need to establish a basic fact immediately: this is my fault.
I wanted to leave the convention/art poll blog on my front page for the full voting period. Total attention on that. Nothing else. (Please vote.) I was deliberately putting off any other blogs until after the results went up. Which meant I had to hope for no emergencies, crises, disasters, or anything darker.
I was really, really hoping on that.
Therefore, Skeeter losing their car and being unable to reach their work site is completely my fault.
This link goes to Skeeter's blog, where they can explain what happened in their own words: the fundraising links can also be accessed through that page. I was asked to boost the signal, and -- that's what I can do.
...well, I can also take the blame.
And I can be really, really frustrated. Because with this goal, Skeeter is directly stating that they can get a reliable used car for $3000 or less. And speaking as someone who hasn't had a car for the last fifteen months...
* deep breath *
WHERE?!?
I've found two cars at that number, and do you know why I didn't ring the bell for myself? Because one was a barely-rolling wreck, and the other didn't have a VIN! Where is Skeeter shopping, and how do I get in line behind them?
Ain't your fault, bro/sis/other.
Life shits on us all. ...Some hard than others, case in point.
Love you and thank you beyond anything I could do or say.
~Skeeter The Lurker
A Nickel's Worth Of Free Advice
Did a fast peek on the internet. You lack basic car repair skills. So, your best bet is a 10+ year old Toyota with no more than 12,000 miles/year on it.
Be aware that only 3% of vehicles make it past 200,000 miles without needing MAJOR transmission work. This gets real expensive, REAL fast.
You also face a trade off between online (less reliable) and dealer (more expensive). Kelly Blue Book is probably your best guide for price.
Voice of Experience
NEVER buy a car from a mechanic's lien. There's a reason the previous owner abandoned it. Same goes for a repo.
Folklore says "Buy a used car from the same brand as the dealer sells". This means the owner was happy enough with the car to buy its replacement from the same car company.
Boosted along and donated, too. Thank you for sharing this, Estee.
A relative got a pretty nice van for around 3K used about two years back.
5770730
Valuable. Thank you for posting that, I'll need keep it in mind.
~Skeeter The Lurker
"$3,000 reliable used cars" kinda fall under the same category as "the ten dollar pair of boots" from the Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory of Socio-economic Unfairness.
Can you find one? Sure, if you look in the right places.
Will they get you from A to B? Sure, with a little rattling and leakage.
Is it going to live long enough for you to save enough for a newer car? Probably not.