mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 10:23:27 AM new
Last week my van blew....... it's going to be too expensive to repair it. Transmission, etc.
We went to a car lot last night and I found a couple vehicles I'm interested in. I checked at vehix.com and saw that the prices they're offering the two I liked at are either at or below wholesale just as they'd claimed. They're both within 50 dollars of being the same price - under 10 thousand.
The first is a light blue Explorer, 1998 with 40,000 miles. It's the same blue as the van I've driven for 7 years (that's a minus). It has new michelin tires on it. It's practical... very, very practical.
They also had a 1997 Town and Country Van. Fully loaded with double sliding doors, leather interior, major cool sound system with cd and cassette. It has 57,000 miles on it. Gold wheels - automatic everything. Also a service record packet with it that shows it's been very well maintained as far as oil changes, etc. And, most importantly.......
It's PURPLE!!!!!!!!! I don't mean it's a nice soft purple. It's a bright - damned near glow in the dark purple!!!
I've always wanted a purple car. But, purple is so....loud - so ...not soft blue. What could I be thinking? Plus, the van is a year older and has more mileage then the Explorer (which is a practical, steady vehicle for a 44 year old mom, isn't it?).
So, I should be mature and sensible about this and buy the one with lower mileage for the same price. The one that blends in with all the others on the road.
But, I want the glow in the dark purple one. We only live once. If the purple one makes me happy then that's what I should have. Or so I'm trying to convince myself. 
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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chococake
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posted on November 20, 2001 10:29:37 AM new
Well, if it was me I wouldn't even have to think about it. Go for it purple.
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 10:52:33 AM new
Hi Chococake! One vote for purple. But, now I'm curious. What do you drive? Wild or sensible?
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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plsmith
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posted on November 20, 2001 10:53:08 AM new
Hi Mybiddness, I'd go for the purple, too, but first I'd look into the background of the vehicle.
http://www.lemonbusters.com/cartrackers/
http://wsf.carfax.com/
http://alldata.com/recalls/
Good luck
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:00:58 AM new
Good idea! I just called them for the vin # so that I can run a check on it. He's supposed to call me back.
I can't be impulsive though if I do all this responsible checking... I'm trying to do something impulsive here, ya know. 
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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stockticker
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:02:33 AM new
Consumer Reports magazine has a car issue every spring. I dug out my copy of the last such issue. Here is how they rated the two vans:
Ford Explorer
Chrysler Town & Country
(Full red circles are the best rating; full black circles are the worst rating.)
Irene
(edited to fix links)
[ edited by stockticker on Nov 20, 2001 11:30 AM ]
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rawbunzel
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:11:43 AM new
PURPLE!! Life is too darn short...if you want purple then get it! [unless it's a lemon..then go with the blue. ]
Stockticker, your links aren't working for me.
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krs
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:17:12 AM new
rawbunz, lemons are yellow.
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rawbunzel
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:21:46 AM new
They ARE?
Alrighty then.Go ahead and get the purple one. KRS says the lemons are always yellow!
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:23:15 AM new
Irene, I can't get the links to work for me either.
I got the vin # and checked the history on one of your links, plsmith. No problems so far. The records do show that it's a lease car that was used for business... which is what they had said.
I know it's terrible to be this way but I don't trust used car salesmen much more than I do politicians.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:24:27 AM new
Rawbunzel. That's the green light I was looking for.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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stockticker
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:33:32 AM new
(I fixed the links above. Edit feature was acting strangely for a minute. I actually saw html code for line breaks in the post while I was in edit.)
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stusi
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:33:54 AM new
Get the Explorer and paint it the exact shade of purple that you like.
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krs
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:33:59 AM new
Juan will like it.
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plsmith
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:35:48 AM new
"...a lease car that was used for business..."
Uh, any idea what business? (Trying to think who might use a "glow in the dark purple" van with gold wheels.)
Go for it, once you're satisfied that it's mechanically sound. You'll enjoy driving something you really like, which will make you a more pleasant driver
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snowyegret
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:38:33 AM new
On stockticker's links, the Explorer tends to have electric problems. I hate electric problems. I'd rather blow the head gasket than have electric problems.
I had a wonderful purple Hornet that ran well for a loooooong time.
You have the right to an informed opinion
-Harlan Ellison
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rawbunzel
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posted on November 20, 2001 11:41:06 AM new
In purple people will be able to see you coming and get out of your way.And if you get lost they'll be able to locate you really easily. See the advantages of a purple van?
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chococake
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:01:18 PM new
I drive a Grand Caravan. One of those years where the paint peels off. I have nothing but rust and down to primer on the roof. They wanted $1500 for a paint job!
My tranny has been bad for three years, downshifts into second whenever it feels like it, so I don't drive the freeway much. They wanted $2500 to fix that.
It was so nice when I got it, now it's just ratty like all the cars I've ever owned. But, it's got power everything. I especially like the power seats, don't know if I'll ever be able to go without that again.
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sweetpotato
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:08:38 PM new
For a decision based on color alone, definitely, definitely the purple.
A few years back, I had my VW Rabbit painted bellflower purple (a gorgeous mid range purple - not too dark but not as light as a lilac). It was the only one that color, very easy to spot in a crowded parking lot and everyone knew it was mine - very distinctive!
Now with small children, I'm forced to drive a "family" car - once you put a baby stroller and a bag in the back of the Rabbit, there isn't room for anything else . Boring white station wagon that I'm forever losing because it looks like everything else.
I'm thinking of having it painted - maybe a rich, amethyst color. The Rabbit is parked in the garage, waiting for the day when I don't need space for the stroller!
Go with your heart - wild purple
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snowyegret
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:35:03 PM new
Mybidness, do you know any motorheads you can take with you to look again?
My $750 Escort wagon is going strong, gets good gas mileage, and it's easy to find parts. It doesn't get more practical than that.
You have the right to an informed opinion
-Harlan Ellison
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:51:05 PM new
Snowy, By motorhead do you mean someone who knows what to look for under the hood? That would spoil the fun.
Chococake, your vehicle sounds like mine - really needs a paint job. And now with the transmission out and that acrid burning smell- I'll bet we get a whole $1,000 trade in. The sales guy told us if we could get it running we might get $2,000. LOL
Plsmith, apparently hubby already thought of that question. He just talked to the banker and hung up and told me it's time to go get my "pimp mobile." 
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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enchanted
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:51:40 PM new
Hi mybid!
Purple, definitely the purple. You only live once.
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plsmith
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posted on November 20, 2001 12:58:58 PM new
LOL Mybiddness! Sounds like hubby may have a new line of work in store for ya
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 01:01:59 PM new
Plsmith, Well, I was getting kinda bored selling books on eBay.
Hi Enchanted... I think I'm going with the purple. Now all I need is to find one of those bobbing dog heads to put on the front dash... maybe some nice furry dice too. Living on the wild side for once in my life, huh?
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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sweetpotato
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posted on November 20, 2001 01:07:06 PM new
Bobbing dogs. Go with ScoobyDoo
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snowyegret
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posted on November 20, 2001 01:13:54 PM new
Find a fish bobber for the Pisces.
And motorhead is a person who knows motors.
You have the right to an informed opinion
-Harlan Ellison
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mybiddness
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posted on November 20, 2001 01:33:14 PM new
Thanks Sweetpotato..... and hey, they even take Paypal.
A bobbing fish head? Gross!
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on November 20, 2001 08:53:44 PM new
I bought a beautiful black custom mini van ... table in the back, the couch folds down into a bed ... red pimp light...
I was in love Picture me 7 months pregnant ... drive thru a drive thru, load up on french fries and soda, taking off my shoes, relaxing in the back at my table ....
The air conditioner broke ... the black van became a black furnace
So ... I went to my brother the body man. I picked out a beautiful light blue ... wonderful poweder blue ...
OOPS .... the completed van looked like someone squashed a smurf on it ... BUT I was in love with it
I was easy to spot .. it was easy to find in the parking lot ... AND hubby refused to drive my "Smurfmobile"
Well, I sold it .. bought a nice, sensible, newer van ... and a black man with a white girlfriend bought my van.
He was sooo funny waving at everyone on my street ... he thought he was popular OOPS ... I wonder what everyone thought happened to MY hubby ... LOL
Guess what? I miss my Smurfmobile I hate it that someone else is riding in it, enjoying my couch ....
BUY THE PURPLE ONE. Life is short
Good luck
BECKY
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mybiddness
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posted on November 22, 2001 04:25:05 PM new
Here she is... Meet Maxine -- PURPLE won!
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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plsmith
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posted on November 22, 2001 05:17:04 PM new
Oh hell, Mybiddness, that van is not at all what I had envisioned. It's tame, it's respectable, even; well, there goes your new wardrobe
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