Car Broke Down. What should I do?

Recently my 1994 Izusu Trooper (Red) broke down because I blew out the radiator and I'm debating what I should do. The truck it self has over 250,000 miles on it and already has a cracked oil pan. Acquiring parts for it is expensive as there is no Izusu dealership in the area. It is currently being left in the parking lot of a bank. I was recently offered $200 for it. I live in a small town and will be living on campus this coming semester so I don't really think I'll need an automobile. The only place that I go to regularly is work and that is about 5 miles away. Should I just invest in a bike since I don't know how to take care of a vehicle or should I just buy a new car? I have $1500 to my name at the moment.

You do what you feel is best. Follow your heart and it will lead the way.

@AcidBrandon18: That sucks man - if you don't need a car at the moment, no real reason why you should get a new one... especially if you don't know how to maintain it yourself - bike/transit.... cheaper/healthier, and probably more in line with your current student lifestyle.

@JCTango: Thats what I'm feeling, but then again winter is coming and riding a bike during that time is harsh. I live in Indiana so winter is kind of a pain due to all of the lake affect snow. Then again there is the bus...

You won't have to pay insurance, tags, or inspection if you don't have a car.

@AcidBrandon18 said:

@JCTango: Thats what I'm feeling, but then again winter is coming and riding a bike during that time is harsh. I live in Indiana so winter is kind of a pain due to all of the lake affect snow. Then again there is the bus...

I take the bus, Do you have a metro/subway? My buses tend to be more crowedded in the summer time, and bare in the winter. I know the buses around here you can put bikes in the front of them.

Also perhaps you could think about a alternitive?

Perhaps a Vespa, or Scooter. In Maryland in order to drive one you still need your motorcycle license, but you can take a class at the DMV. And when you pass the class they give you the license . You don't even have to take the motorcycle driving test. I think the class is $300 and Vespas are only 1500 for a new one. But driving in the snow wouldn't be an option, and driving in the rain would be dangerous.

i was going to say get it repaired until i read it has over 250,000 miles on it. i would say save up for a better car.

Get a bike or see if the bus would do it for you. Good thing about the bike it's free and gets you exercise, but you'll have to bike everyday. Or the bus which you have to play. Actually do both. Bike on most days and if you don't feel like biking take the bus.

@Dagbiker: We do have Bus transportation. I figured I'd just buy a bike for the rest of summer/spring and take the bus during the winter. It'll be the most cost effective way. The most important thing is getting to work on a timely manner because if I get called in I need to be there in 30 mins or I get written up.

@Dagbiker: i can put bikes in front of buses around here too, but the drivers wont stop >:/

I have a car and I only use it for errands. I take the bus EVERYWHERE. It's easy and reliable and surprisingly cheap.

Bike/Bus/Walk and start saving up for a better car. $1,500 is only going to get you a piece of shit that needs some kind of work.

@AcidBrandon18 said:

@JCTango: Thats what I'm feeling, but then again winter is coming and riding a bike during that time is harsh. I live in Indiana so winter is kind of a pain due to all of the lake affect snow. Then again there is the bus...

Yeah man it's rough - depends on how bad your route is - I rode my bike and also took bus during winter up here - and it snows/ices up a lot... just have to take it slow and easy.. and take side streets.

I wouldn't advise biking during the winter on main roads - just too damn risky.

Also, with car - you'd have to worry about parking and stuff... at least with biking you just lock it up (and risk get it stolen :( )... and it's right next to the building you're going to classes for.

Fire solves all problems.

Have you considered insurance fraud? Actually you could try donating and getting deducted from your taxes or something. Also you can try to sell it to a junk yard. My dad has the problem a few years ago with an Oldsmobile and he eventually just gave up and paid someone $100 to remove it.

Buy a new car.

Why hasn't the bank had the car towed? It will cost you an arm and a leg if someone reports the vehicle as abandoned and it is traced back to you. Take the $200 and bike until the white walkers come. Save up during this period and by the time November hits, you should have close to 2k if you banked the gas money.

@JCTango said:

@AcidBrandon18: That sucks man - if you don't need a car at the moment, no real reason why you should get a new one... especially if you don't know how to maintain it yourself - bike/transit.... cheaper/healthier, and probably more in line with your current student lifestyle.

Or you could do both and buy a cheap 250cc motorcycle!

But seriously, I'd vote for a bicycle in your current situation.

Light that shit on fire and buy a bike.

Spend all the money on a sweet hybrid bike or something. Make the winter your bitch.

Yeah, repair a car with 250k miles on it.

sell it and buy a good bike (hopefully you live in an area that is warm year round). you not only save money on gas and everything, but you get exercise to boot. can't go wrong.

Steal your neighbor's car.

Buy an e-bike (bike with a motor). All the benefits of a bike, with the added benefit of being able to go farther/be lazy/be faster etc.

I got a good one for 500$. Then save for a car or whatever.

The only disadvantage is either winter (depends on your locaiton, im in Canada), and groceries. It can be annoying when you need a buncha stuff or a big thing (paper towels are the worst). But it's good enough to get buy, you just buy less at a time and go out a bit more, which has another benefit of including your health.

@AcidBrandon18 I've seen running used cars on Craig's List for 200-500 bucks before OP. It might be worth checking out before dropping money into your vehicle. When you try to fix an old well-used vehicle like that, you often encounter unexpected problems and the costs can go up pretty quick.

However if you only $1500 and are going to school with no income, then you probably shouldn't have a car anyway. Insurance + gas +maintenance is going eat through that pretty fast.