What would you do?

[knightryda01]

ok guys, the transmission went out on my tahoe again.... 96 2wd. 260,000 miles. Motor runs great and body is pretty good, but still 260,000 miles. A rebuild on the trans is gonna cost me anywhere from 500-1000 No idea why this transmission giving me such issues. I got 220,000 on the stock and 40,000 on 2 rebuilds.... The 2nd one was free

I been looking for a beater but can't seem to find anything somewhat decent. Don't want a car payment, and can't afford one anyways. Putting more money into the truck is a toss-up because I get lousy mileage anyways... lol and she could probally go at anytime considering. What little money I have saved up was hoping to pay off CC debt so I can get outta debt.

I don't want the bird as the daily driver either... lol


Lost...

[wheeliE-maxx]

Get an s10 or Colorado, toyotas cost way more (here atleast)

[SHines-IT]

Sell it for $1,500 and put an extra $750 into a somewhat nice beater?

[Transamws6]

Jesus christ man, my parents went through 4 trannys on their 4x4 96' Tahoe, had 160k on it I believe, they put up with that trucks shit for 8 years, they had to get rid of it in 04'. That truck was the biggest piece of shit they've ever owned, which is what my dad claims. Always something wrong with it. We got rid of ours, i suggest you just save up and do the same. I'd try and get something newer. Probably well worth it.

[importhater81]

You said motor runs great and body is in good shape? I'd opt for the trans and keep driving it. No telling what kind of shitbox you would get that might potentially cost you more than the Tahoe to keep on the road.

[wheeliE-maxx]

Jesus christ man, my parents went through 4 trannys on their 4x4 96' Tahoe, had 160k on it I believe, they put up with that trucks shit for 8 years, they had to get rid of it in 04'. That truck was the biggest piece of shit they've ever owned, which is what my dad claims. Always something wrong with it. We got rid of ours, i suggest you just save up and do the same. I'd try and get something newer. Probably well worth it.

Some 4l60e's last forever, others pop frequently. We have had good luck, but their stock slow mushy shifting sickens me. Op, a mail order tune to increase shift pressure could help. Where are you getting your rebuilt transmissions?

[Transamws6]

I'd actually go ahead and get a little 2wd Regular Cab Tacoma OP. Would be a nice little inexpensive substitute IMO.

[2000LS1Bird]

ok guys, the transmission went out on my tahoe again.... 96 2wd. 260,000 miles. Motor runs great and body is pretty good, but still 260,000 miles. A rebuild on the trans is gonna cost me anywhere from 500-1000 No idea why this transmission giving me such issues. I got 220,000 on the stock and 40,000 on 2 rebuilds.... The 2nd one was free

I been looking for a beater but can't seem to find anything somewhat decent. Don't want a car payment, and can't afford one anyways. Putting more money into the truck is a toss-up because I get lousy mileage anyways... lol and she could probally go at anytime considering. What little money I have saved up was hoping to pay off CC debt so I can get outta debt.

I don't want the bird as the daily driver either... lol


Lost...

I would scrap it, pay off debt, and make the bird the daily for now. Summer is here, after all!

Buy another beater this fall.

[whitelightnin99]

id scrap it too or sell for whatever you can get. Me personally i still love the early 90 model S10's, i drove one as a beater for years- it had a 4tec engine... seriously thats what it was called. That or a toyota pickup or early 90's accord would be my cheap reliable beater suggestions

[Grimpala]

Why would he scrap a vehicle just because the trans went? I have a 96 C1500 that has ~150,000 on the clock and it is nowhere near ready for the scrap heap.

My trans is slipping, and when it goes, it's getting a rebuild and I'll put another 150,000+ on it.

At least with fixing the trans you know all the problems with the truck and what to expect, rather than taking over someone elses problem vehicle.

Plus it's going to be the cheapest option.

[GTP231]

I'd actually go ahead and get a little 2wd Regular Cab Tacoma OP. Would be a nice little inexpensive substitute IMO.

So he can have an accident from the frame rotting out?

[Neil]

It's always cheaper to repair your old beater than to get something else. At $1000 for a rebuilt tranny, even if you only get three months out of it you're still ahead of the game. Any half way decent car is going to come with a payment of $500/month (ignoring leases), and if you live in a state that collects personal property tax, that is going to be higher as well. 260k miles is a lot, but if the timing belt is good,the tires are fair and everything else seems to be solid, I'd take the chance and go for it. You may even want to start setting aside $300-$500 a month (once you've paid off the repair) so you get used to a car payment and start building up a down payment for when your Tahoe finally explodes. At that kind'a mileage it'll be soon, but maybe you can squeak a year or two more out of it.

Buying another beater for $3k is pretty risky. You may luck out, but most likely you'll be in the same situation within a year. I guess it comes down to the devil you know vs. the devil you don't.

[SHines-IT]

What you can get a damn nice car for $2,500-5,000 if you look...

[tnthub]

Sounds like a dollars issue to me... In the shallow end of the money pool it is always a gamble to get rid of something with problems you know about for something of unknown status.

My 1998 Sable I bought almost two years ago (for $400.00), didn't pass inspection due to the k member rusting out, and some other "rot", and at over a grand to replace it I started looking around and found a 1997 Ford Escort Wagon with a brand new sticker, four good tires, and clean interior for $500.00. I hope to get a year out of it and then find something else if it doesn't take a sticker next spring.

Cash in hand and a beater that has been well cared for is often less expensive than a car payment...

[HOBS]

Any half way decent car is going to come with a payment of $500/month (ignoring leases), and if you live in a state that collects personal property tax, that is going to be higher as well.

Whats your definition of a decent car? My truck and car payment were less than $500 a month(not leased). Personally I'd just fix it and drive it til the wheels fall off.

[Neil]

Whats your definition of a decent car? My truck and car payment were less than $500 a month(not leased). Personally I'd just fix it and drive it til the wheels fall off.

My point is you get what you pay for - and sometimes you get less. With the average new car running around $23k-$25k, you can't expect much when you are only willing/able to pay 10%-20% of that price. There are exceptions and sucess stories, but in general you will be buying someone else's problems at that price. Like I said before, it all comes down to the devil you know vs. the devil you don't.

[SHines-IT]

Buy an old ass car from the 60's to mids 70's. Get a rolling project witch you could easily find, then you don't mind fixing and replacing parts. Yep, do that. What's the worse that can happend?

[ss~zoso~ss]

you can't possibly find a junk yard tranny and just swap a lower mileage one in?

[86 IROC-Z]

In my opinion you should store it as-is in your parents garage for a year (Parked diagonal so it takes up both spaces, but it's a good position to "work on it (lmao)").

During that year, borrow your parents' and friends' cars, bum rides off people, and ride public transportation.

And if anyone makes fun of you for not having a working vehicle, get your friend Steve to bust out a beat while you drop some sick ass rhymes in their face, for example,


I can't afford a car, I use public transportation,
I don't mind, I read until I reach my destination,
Sometimes a newspaper, sometimes a book,
The amount of money I save, this shit is off the hook

[Aetos]

In my opinion you should store it as-is in your parents garage for a year (Parked diagonal so it takes up both spaces, but it's a good position to "work on it (lmao)").

During that year, borrow your parents' and friends' cars, bum rides off people, and ride public transportation.

And if anyone makes fun of you for not having a working vehicle, get your friend Steve to bust out a beat while you drop some sick ass rhymes in their face, for example,


I can't afford a car, I use public transportation,
I don't mind, I read until I reach my destination,
Sometimes a newspaper, sometimes a book,
The amount of money I save, this shit is off the hook

Sounds like this comes from experience...
Let me guess, the iroc is in your parents garage parked diagonally