From: "Ernest Lilley" <elilley at mindspring.com>
To: "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA]  [WSFA] RE: Car Advice Wanted
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:12:56 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Chuck (et al),

Just got back from email purgatory.

I really liked Barry's suggestion. As you probably know, there are
several 1999 camaros for sale on ebay currently...all less than the size
of the insurance check. Maybe buying a car at auction makes you
nervous...but I've had good experiences. Then again, I put myself
through college (in part) buying and selling used cars. Now where did I
put that flashy blazer I used to love?

Otherwise, I've got to vent. Well, I don't have to, and I'm sure I'll
regret it, but this seems to be a frequently erupting crowd.

Hey. Dude. Have you ever considered driving something that got decent
mileage? All cars go fast enough in my experience. I've cranked 4
cylinder Datsuns up to triple digits and cry if my car can't get over 30
mpg on the highway.

My first car was a VW station wagon (a Type III "Variant") named
"ignoble beastie". The first piece of work on a car I ever did came when
I bought a wreck (named "the Hesperus") for the engine and swapped them.
I'd heard it was easy. What it was was educational.

Of course, I'm a grownup now. I drive a VW Station Wagon (a 2001 VW
Passat named "Discovery") and never drive it at triple digits. Well,
almost never. Maybe once or twice in New Mexico.

Oops. I was going to vent and I wound up rambling. Must be age.

If I didn't think you'd shudder at the suggestion, I'd suggest looking
at the new Scion tC
(http://www.scion.com/drive/gallery/drive_tc_gallery.html). Yes, it cost
a little more than twice what they paid you for the camaro, but you can
finance the difference at low rates over a number of years and reset the
clock on when you're getting rid of it. In general I like the cars that
manufacturers use to bring young drivers into the marque and build brand
loyalty with. They're cheap but well built...as the mfrs are counting on
a good experience leading to the later purchase of more expensive cars.

Ernest