My dh got a call from the guy who did the apparaisal on our van: They totaled it!!! Can you believe it??? Going less than 10 miles an hour and it totaled our van!!! I'm just sick about this! It bent some of the main frame on the front of the van, which made it way harder and more expensive to fix, so the repairs would cost more than it's worth! Yikes, I just can't believe it! And the worst thing about it is that it's my fault! We've been getting along well enough, cuz we don't have car payments. My dh won't have just any cheap car. He wants a good one that we can keep up, but not have to pile repairs into, and one that's as safe as possible for his family. So, we'll be back to having car payments for a few years again. Okay, I really need to move on, but it's a little hard/stressful, ya know? I think we still need a van. So we'll be spending the next couple of weeks or so checking out the info. on vehicles, and figuring out new vs. used, what we can afford to pay for the vehicle, and what we can afford to pay per month, and looking up the vehicles and seeing what we can get them for. Does anyone know of good websites to search for vehicles, probably new vehicles?
Go to the web site of your local dealers for new cars or to the manufac web site. My ds was looking at a used 2008 Mazda CX-7 which they wanted $22,000.00 with 19k miles on it. I told him that seemed really expensive and I thought he could get a brand new one for less than that, he did! If your van is still drivable and in safe running condition you can buy the van back from the ins. and keep some of the repair money. A friend's truck had been hit, the only damage was really the box, they got to keep the truck along with $2,000.00 from the ins. co. They totaled the truck out. Just a thought!
I know somone who's bought a car back from the insurance company, too. You have to keep a salvage title on it and can never well it. It would depend on whether or not the van could still work for you.
Sigh.... And life goes on! Carl (finally) caught the budget up last night, and it WASN'T pretty! We had LOTS of legit expenses (orthodontist, car repairs), but a good bit of it was a husband that spends like crazy. He's tried to remove the card from his wallet, but the other day he went to buy gas and realized he didn't have it (!!!). It frustrates me, because I go crazy trying to stay in a budget and doing without some things that we REALLY don't need but would be nice. Praying you find something that will meet your needs!!!
Maybe you know someone who is selling a good used van. Pray about it. God will help you find what you need and what you can afford. I would of never dreamed less than 10mph would have totaled a van. I guess it is where you hit it at.
You can still sell something with a salvage title, if you get in another accident the ins. won't total it out again.
oh, I was told you couldn't, but I've never personally done it. I do think you can probably get a good deal now. We never buy new. We always try to find a new-er car with low mileage and some warranty left. Then we drive them a long time. Unfortunately, we had to go from a one-car to a 2-car family when dh's company did away with company cars. That has put a strain on us, and I look forward to being car-payment-free again someday!
Deena, I wish you were visiting your family here in Maryland, because there's a dealership near Baltimore having an incredible sale. I hope everything works out for you.
I'm sorry that you are dealing with this stress. I hope that you can find an affordable van that is perfect for your family. Consumer Reports usually rates Honda and Toyota vans as the best. We have a Toyota Sienna an I LOVE it.
Ds just bought a new Mazda CX-7. It is a Cross-Over with four wheel drive. He really loves his car! Great mpg's, cheap to insure, great to drive............. Here is a link to them. http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=CX7
The main support frame was bent on both sides, so even if we bought it back, it'd cost us too much to fix it. If we fixed the radiator and all that, it still wouldn't be safe to drive, and my fil said it'd always be "off", and go through tires in nothing flat. So, we did already look into buying it back, but it wouldn't work in this case. Becky, My brother (who lives in Florida) has a friend that's a Toyota Dealer that they just got a killer deal from for a new Toyota Camry (which, coincidentally enough is what we have for our rental car). He said he'd talk to him and see if it'd be savings enough for me to fly out and drive it back. Not sure about airline costs, and putting 3000 miles on it right off the bat, though! Ange, That's what my van was---a Toyota Sienna. We got it new in 1998, and it has over 100,000 miles on it and was going strong. I've always loved my Sienna, so that's what I would like to get again! I don't know how many vvehicles you can say that you still love after having them for more than 10 years! I think we'd only look at Toyotas and Hondas. They are more expensive, but they are highly rated for safety and lasting ability. Yeah less than 10 miles an hour! It was such a low-impact that the airbags didn't even think of going off! Steel bumpers stink!!!! We're going to get a PAL to get the new/used vehicle. That way we don't need to hassle with the dealership, and will get a way better rate! I think I commented on all the posts. Last, but certainly not least (as the old saying goes), THANKYOU so much for your ideas and support! You gals are GREAT!
Instead of a van what about a SUV? SUVs are popular here and we are in Maine. So are the little cars that start with a S. they are little all wheel cars. I am not a car person. We have a truck that fits all five of us and the mini van. We got another van because the dealer was selling the 07s really cheap because the 08s were comming in. Mybe if you don't care about windows going down you can still find a new 07 for cheap if wanted to go the new route. Hubby has always boughten new since I met him. He grew up with used and rough cars/trucks/vans. He's tired to work on them. He is even doing the extra warrently so when he is deployed I won't have to deal with anything just take it in.
Ohio Mom, We've been looking at Auto Trader.com. We checked lots of prices. We are actually going today to see if we can get one with all the info. We decided to go with 2006-2008 Toyota Sienna. We've done lots of research and are armed with 2 blue books (Kelly and NADA) prices, so know what the vehicles are worth and what to offer. We are pre-approved, so there shouldn't be a hassle. They need sales, so we can walk if they don't want to deal. We have possibilities and 3 or 4 dealerships, so will tell them we'll go to another one if it's not working out. So pray that we find a good deal and are able to get something today! Thanks for all your ideas and comments!
