A long time customer of mine, in his seventies, calls me for a water heater repair in his house. A very nice honest gentleman and I have never had a problem with him over the years. When I pull up I notice the PT Cruiser he has been driving for many years is in his driveway with a brick being used as a wheel chock and a big stain on the driveway under the engine.
He explains that his daughter bought a used Toyota Corolla for him to drive and he wants to sell his PT Cruiser. Do I know anybody looking for a good used car? Nothing much wrong with it except no heat in the cabin and a coolant leak which caused the stain on the driveway. I said - sure, I will ask around. After all, no visible rust on the body.
It hit me about a minute later - car developed a coolant leak, he drove with low coolant and overheated the engine and damaged the head gasket and the escaping compression is causing the no heat situation. Shop told him it will be very expensive to fix, he does not want to believe it but his daughter did and that is why she bought him another car.
With some cars it might be worth sinking some money in and getting the head gasket taken care of but not the PT Cruiser. It does not have a good reputation at all. So he essentially has a pile of junk sitting in his driveway.
He explains that his daughter bought a used Toyota Corolla for him to drive and he wants to sell his PT Cruiser. Do I know anybody looking for a good used car? Nothing much wrong with it except no heat in the cabin and a coolant leak which caused the stain on the driveway. I said - sure, I will ask around. After all, no visible rust on the body.
It hit me about a minute later - car developed a coolant leak, he drove with low coolant and overheated the engine and damaged the head gasket and the escaping compression is causing the no heat situation. Shop told him it will be very expensive to fix, he does not want to believe it but his daughter did and that is why she bought him another car.
With some cars it might be worth sinking some money in and getting the head gasket taken care of but not the PT Cruiser. It does not have a good reputation at all. So he essentially has a pile of junk sitting in his driveway.
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