Noticing a trend on craigslist...

[Colt45ws]

I didnt really notice this before this last couple days but Ive seen a lot of ads for "fix'er uppers" have the problem as a blown head gasket.
Usually it goes like, "Not 100% sure, but I think it has a blown head gasket"
Theres always the usual suspects for blown HGs, but Im even seeing bomb proof cars like 20 year old Civics and Camrys with this diagnosis.
Then theres the golden "Doesnt run.. Might be head gasket or starter, not sure"
???
Is there coolant in the oil? If you take a hammer to the starter will it roll over then?
Im beginning to think its some sort of default diagnosis.
"My car doesn't run, bro." "Oh, you probably have a blown head gasket, bro"
Anyway, just put that out there to get everyones opinion. If I had the cash and the means to tow them all home, I probably would. I bet I could get half of them running in a couple hours.
Reason Im looking at cheap cars is Im on the hunt. My Aunt asked me to look for a car for my Cousin. It would be her first car. She told me she doesn't really want to spend more than $1000. Im going, jeeze, you want me to pull a miracle out of my butt? Its gonna be hard to hit unless its totally beat to heck.
The only that might save it is I asked if stick was okay and she goes, "Yeah, she'd just have to learn."
I tried a $1600 Saturn that looked to be in good condition, but that was a no go.
Oh, if anybody here has a good car for around a grand in the NW US, PM me.

 

[spackard]

Even Cal Worthington didn't want to talk to me for under $3k, and that was 30+ years ago.

You have to get one for $1k down, and payments for several years.

 

[01rangerxl]

A lot of people won't pay for diagnosis, so that's what you get. If there is an engine problem, that's the head gasket or starter, because what else could it possibly be? Those are the only parts on an engine, a mechanic who tells you otherwise is trying to cheat you. The only other problem a car has is the transmission "don't pull," oh, and tires. Cars that need tires are such junk because tires cost a lot for just a piece of rubber, so you should always sell them right away when they need tires and get a car that just needs a starter and some "breaks" instead.

You run into people like tecnologprone at the bottom of the Craigslist barrel.

 

[krismoriah72]

Its tax time..so craigs will be flooded with problem cars that people are upgrading with their new found fortune.

Good time to buy and sell junk cars.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Since we have had a heavier-snow-February than usual this month, CL is flooded with "snow tire" postings.

Snow tires being bald all seasons. I feel bad for people who buy them thinking they are getting a real snow tire.

On a side note ... I love when people always go to jumpstart a car. I watched a few people in the building behind me "jumpstart" a Honda Accord for a few hours.

It was cranking over quite quickly ... they never got the hint.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: Miller88

On a side note ... I love when people always go to jumpstart a car. I watched a few people in the building behind me "jumpstart" a Honda Accord for a few hours.

It was cranking over quite quickly ... they never got the hint.

Last week I saw someone jump starting a car at the end of an exit ramp. I guess the car stalled while driving, and they apparently thought it was a bad battery. I didn't stick around to see what happened.

 

[cptbarkey]

i very much enjoy anyone who posts a HG failure on CL. its an automatic $500 special to me which is right up my alley most of the time.

 

[eljefino]

Some people don't trust mechanics because every time they go there the mech proposes $4000 worth of work. So they drive a car until, duh, it breaks.

I have state inspections where I live so at most a car gets a year's wear, which isn't insurmountable. Folks will then drive a few months over on their sticker hoping they won't get caught, and they don't, but then something stupid like an alternator derails the car.

The car then doesn't get diagnosed (well) and pops up needing a couple used tires, $100 in chinese parts from advance auto, and some bondo to get running and legal. It takes a discerning eye to differentiate between these guys and the dealers who claim "just needs a tune up" or "might be a gas cap".

Early winters are a great time to find these, when cities have their first on-street snow parking bans, and people start thinking about their half-abandoned car at the curb and what to do with them.

I almost picked up a saturn (shocker!) under these circumstances but the dude couldn't find the title. Surprise again, these flakes don't keep track of their car stuff.

These will universally have motor oil the color of tattoo ink.

 

[Donald]

If the owner knows the problems and its not too costly why doesn't he get it fixed before selling.

Buyer beware.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
I didnt really notice this before this last couple days but Ive seen a lot of ads for "fix'er uppers" have the problem as a blown head gasket.


I see that you have been looking mostly at used Subaru's.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
I didnt really notice this before this last couple days but Ive seen a lot of ads for "fix'er uppers" have the problem as a blown head gasket.


I see that you have been looking mostly at used Subaru's.

No, actually, lol. Not that they wouldn't be under consideration if I had more budget though...

 

[Ed_Flecko]

Originally Posted By: spackard
Even Cal Worthington didn't want to talk to me for under $3k, and that was 30+ years ago.

You have to get one for $1k down, and payments for several years.


Cal probably wouldn't even let you pet "Spot" for 3K.

Ed

 

[bubbatime]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Its tax time..so craigs will be flooded with problem cars that people are upgrading with their new found fortune.

Good time to buy and sell junk cars.




Yep, just what I was going to say. Tax time, people are buying new cars that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford throughout the year and dumping their used junk on craiglist.

Many deals can be found IF you know what you are looking at and can wade through the lies (it just needs a tune up)

 

[Michael_P]

Back in the day I used to buy Ford Escorts with 1.6 and 1.9 engines which would notoriously blow head gaskets as well as 1980's Sunbirds, Firenzas and and Skyhawks. I had head gasket changing on these cars down to a science. Buying, selling and sometimes just fixing these two types of cars is how I graduated from college debt free. We didn't have Craigslist back then too, it was all perusing the classifieds and word of mouth on campus. There can be good money fixing head gaskets. Especially 4cyl cars with timing belts. Those were the easiest. Though you have to know the nuances of each model. For instance, if a Toyota 4AZFE engine needs a new head gasket, steer clear. There is a distinct chance it needs a whole new block.

 

[KD0AXS]

I got my Saturn off CL for $500. They were asking $750 and said it had an "engine noise". Fired it up and it had a horrible knock. Told them it needed a new engine and they took $500. Tried to drive it home, made it half way and it threw a rod through the side of the block. Found a used engine for $350 off CL, plus I put in new front brakes and wheel bearings while I had it all torn apart. Less than $1000 and a nice little weekend project and I have a great little car that gets 30+ MPG.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: Ed_Flecko
Originally Posted By: spackard
Even Cal Worthington didn't want to talk to me for under $3k, and that was 30+ years ago.

You have to get one for $1k down, and payments for several years.


Cal probably wouldn't even let you pet "Spot" for 3K.

Ed


I miss Cal. His commercials were the best. His old hold music is the song from the commercial in long form.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Its tax time..so craigs will be flooded with problem cars that people are upgrading with their new found fortune.

Good time to buy and sell junk cars.




Yep, just what I was going to say. Tax time, people are buying new cars that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford throughout the year and dumping their used junk on craiglist.

Many deals can be found IF you know what you are looking at and can wade through the lies (it just needs a tune up)
I hate when on Craigslist it says "Just needs a tune up". People will actually fall for that. When I see those ads it obvious the car runs like [censored]. There's also tons of ads on Craigslist that say "probably just needs a fuel pump" or fuel filter. Idiots.

 

[dishdude]

Craigslist (and any other method of advertising used cars) are full of people who don't know what they're selling, scammers and junk. Luckily, it's pretty easy to weed through all the trash and see which ads are well written, have clear pictures and pick who you want to deal with. I can usually tell pretty quickly if it's something worth going to see or not.

Same goes for selling, if their email indicates they are going to be a pain, I just delete it.

 

[hattaresguy]

Its tax time, the bottom of the barrel is shopping.

 

[04SE]

Don't forget the bro trucks that have never had coal rollin' tuners installed, especially the 6 leaker Fords. They only used the trucks on Sundays to drive to church.