Frustration with never-ending problems

[thirdman]

(this is a huge whiney rant, so proceed at your own risk)


I bought my stinktiva with the intent of it being cheap, reliable transportation. I expected to have to stick some money in to it as it is a older, used car, but things are just spiraling out of control.

When do you just give up and cut your losses?

In the last six months, I've had to:
replace rotors, drums, pads, shoes
fix an moderately serious oil leak
replace springs and shocks
shift linkage bushings
replace steering rack
tie rods/control arms
radiator/hoses/etc
ac compressor
new ball joints
replace clutch
water pump
timing belt
ac pulley
muffler

and lot of standard maintenance stuff: filters, hoses, plugs, wires, cap-n-rotor, etc.

I keep thinking "well, I've replaced darn near every moving part, it should be stable now, right?" and then something else breaks or falls off.

Right now the brakes are still screwy, and just today it started hesitating and sputtering on me on the way to work.

It doesn't help that I got seriously screwed over by two different mechanics replacing things that weren't broken, breaking things outright, or charging me for work they didn't do.

I don't have the ability or resources to do much of any work myself, so I am at the mercy of the mechanics.

I've also stuck a ton of time fixing the carpet and seats, and spent a bunch more money on stuff like a new windshield, window tint, stereo, better wheels/tires, replace auto seatbelts with manual, right side mirror, dash with a tach, interval wipers, etc.

What do y'all use as a rule of thumb for how much a "cheap" car is worth in time and money? I just want it to be reliable... too much to ask of a 15 year old car? My other festy is 100% trouble free, but has fewer miles... (and is unavailable to me as my mom has it).

Anywho, rant, rant, vent, vent, etc, etc.

[batstiva]

I feel your pain. Seemed like I replaced every moving part on the Batstiva trying to correct a running/idle problem. Never did figure it out, parted the car, and sent the rest to scrap. Never could let it go completely, so now it's back here, minus all the stuff I sold off of it, basically dismantled until I can get to fixing some rust issues before I put it back together. Not knowing what you paid for the car, it's a little hard to say where the stop point is, but I can definitely sympathize with feeling like it's a never ending bottomless pit.

[FFW]

yeah learn the hard way by taking it towards the mechanic and that they were trying to shell me out 3-5 grand for a new engine.....with a couple of months and help from good people, post threads, and manual book...did it less than $350 (including new parts) It is a frustrating yet awesome learning experience! If your a guy that loves to fix things, you must know its a feeling of accomplishment once that car starts to move by itself ( must be a father feeling, seeing their children born and grow up) that you did majority of the work!

[thirdman]

Unfortunately, I have little to no desire or ability to do my own "wrenching". Plus, every mechanical device I try to "fix" generally implodes or dissolves into it's component elements.

I don't mind sticking money into something as long as I feel like I am getting something out of it. The current situation is feeling like I am never going to end up with a reliable vehicle, no matter how much money I throw at it...

[ejp2fast]

sorry that you are having so many issues with this bugger....sometimes it "all goes wrong" at the same time...
i noticed that a distibutor wasn't on your list of things you've replaced..

sounds like the car's name is living up to its name..

[thirdman]

Haven't done the whole distributor, but did the dist. cap and the rotor.

The worst part is that I won't even be able to use it to take advantage of the "cash for clunkers" thing, 'cause it gets too many MPGs!

If it starts and runs well on the way home for me, I'll feel a lot better. If it craps out on me, watch the news for a story about a dude setting fire to a car in the middle of the freeway and dancing as it burns.

[batstiva]

If it starts and runs well on the way home for me, I'll feel a lot better. If it craps out on me, watch the news for a story about a dude setting fire to a car in the middle of the freeway and dancing as it burns.

Ha, that's funny. I seem to recall debating dropping a long fuse down the gas tank on mine.:violent3:

[hotfordcat]

Hey, don't sweat that stuff. I got a 91 GL for five dollars, and now it has more than two grand in it and it's nowhere near done. The body is rusty everywhere, the interior sucks, but it does have a B6 in it. It's great to drive, and I love messing with the pretty imports.

[festyxfi]

I can also feel your pain, and especially your frustration. You don't know how many times I've sent myself to the brink of exploding (literally) all over the walls when it comes to fixing and maintaining vehicles.

Here's something an old mentor said to me years ago, "God punishes the poor with their cars"...

Here's one thing I would mention (very respectfully I might add) I've come to the conclusion that for the most part, people that don't like to work on their own vehicles, or can't for some reason, should probably just make life easy on themselves and buy new vehicles every few years. There still are a few cars one can buy out there that seem to have escaped the "let's design them to die in such and such amount of time/miles..." My ex's 06 Toyota Corolla is a great car with a VVT-i that will probably last 20+ years (and that's even with a female driving it) it also gets 38-44MPG depending on conditions. Sure it was a few bucks upfront, but it's trouble free.

Festivas are just too old by now to be THAT reliable without occasional attention of the wrenching varity. I've had more festys than I can count, and some have been buggers, but I'll tell you, the 89 L that's been my daily driver (abuser...oh the hell I put that car through) has never given me any trouble. I've replaced a timing belt (easy, cheap) I had to replace the muffler (easy, cheap) and a few other easy, cheap things. It just keeps going. I paid $150 bucks for it.

It sounds to me like you got one that hadn't been well cared for in teh first place. That's always a hard thing to correct.

Either way, just try to stay calm. I say that to you, I say that to me...

FX

[thirdman]

It ran well on the way home, so it gets to live another day...

[Mike McKown]

Here's one thing I would mention (very respectfully I might add) I've come to the conclusion that for the most part, people that don't like to work on their own vehicles, or can't for some reason, should probably just make life easy on themselves and buy new vehicles every few years.

Festivas are just too old by now to be THAT reliable without occasional attention of the wrenching varity.

It sounds to me like you got one that hadn't been well cared for in teh first place. That's always a hard thing to correct.


FX

Good advice.

[Fez]

Don't give up! I've seen people put a lot of money in their cars and then one last thing breaks and they give up. Along comes a guy who scoops it up cheap and he does a simple repair and the car runs fine. For a long time. I've gotten a few cars like that.

[Festiva_tunner]

look at it on the bright side most of the standard maintenance is done for a while

[drof 89]

If it starts and runs well on the way home for me, I'll feel a lot better. If it craps out on me, watch the news for a story about a dude setting fire to a car in the middle of the freeway and dancing as it burns.

Ha, that's funny. I seem to recall debating dropping a long fuse down the gas tank on mine.:violent3:

Years ago on I-81 outside of Harrisburg Pa. i saw a black leathered,monster of metal type dude working over a 1975 VW Rabbit that craped out on him. Round house kicking,punching,elbowing. And when i went buy him and looked i the rear view mirrow. He was up on the hood jumping up and down! He was pissed.

[billthekat]

let this be a lesson to all who own " less desierable" cars. if its not a comaro or a 'vett,
if it dosent have a hemi' or 48" super swampers. if it isint new and shiny, you'r mechanic dosent give a crap. sadly it's true, but your baby is just another pos he has to work on.

me, i am different, i like festivas, but never get to work on aneyones but mine.

ask around, someone you know is bound to know a good, honest shop. otherwise come on up to michigan.


also, dont give up or be discouraged. your car retailed for like 6grand so as long as you dont pass that.....soon you'l have a new car. basicaly.