Piston Slap: Ter-Sell or not Ter-Sell?

TTAC Commentator Ryoku75 writes: Thanks for your response on my question on modern car grilles, you make a good point on modern cars being a bit taller up-front than needed. Now, I own an '89 Toyota Tercel that needs a rear wheel bearing and exhaust (muffler, piping), otherwise it works fine and has 125k. Unless if I fix the bearings and exhaust it won't pass inspection. To fix them it would be $600 for both at my local garage.Should I fix it or sell it for $1500 and get something else? If I should sell it, what should I get? My Criteria is: 1. Reliable 2. Long-Lasting 3. Cheap to fix (Parts, Labor, ease of work) 4. Not a Nissan Juke (I can take ugly, but this is something else) If you suggest a "Panther" I'd go with it, they seem like good cars from what I've heard. Sajeev answers: Come on, Son!  If you're even remotely considering a Panther, you know that I'm In It To Win It! Just like the perfect license plate on a fat (non-beancounted) Panther. Ahem, now where were we? Then again, your Tercel sounds pretty sweet, only needing a few hundred in repairs to make it a decent runner. Definitely don't sell it, unless you want something newer.  Do you want something newer? I hope not. But I'd love to see you with a Panther and a Tercel.  You'll have a (very) poor man's S-class Benz for when you want to relax, and a proper miser (from the over-engineered era of Japanese cars) for the rest of the time.   Can't swing that way?  Just be honest in your assessment of the Tercel's future repairs. If ye olde Tercel needs a few hundred in repairs every year, who cares?  Does your job demand you have a 100% reliable ride so you will always be 15 minutes early in the office? Must you have a fully functional vehicle all the time, or are items like a fubar A/C not a deal breaker in the short-term? Answer those questions honestly and you'll have your answer.  And if you wind up with a Panther, well, it's all good. Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you're in a hurry. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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