New to Me Car...My FIL Rocks!

beccachow · #1 03/25/13, 08:45 AM

We had a friend of my FIL who was going to give us a deal on a 1999 Honda Accord. It has 110,000 miles, but with Hondas that is still really good with a lot of life left. She was going to give it to us, EXCELLENT shape, leather interior, cruise control, sun roof, standard...for $2000. Sadly, we still couldn't juggle the funds. My Explorer gets around 15-17 miles per gallon, and costs $55 to fill every few days...but we just couldn't afford a new car at this point.

SO my FIL calls us over to the house Thursday night...and pleased as punch with himself, flips on the garage light and there she was. "Welp," he told me, "Here's your new car." Mileage of 25 to 30 miles per gallon if not better (don't recall the exact mileage now).

She is currently being inspected by a friend who works as a mechanic, so I know we won't get taken for a ride (pardon the pun) with that.

Now I get to keep the Explorer as a farm truck (hay and such if needed), a doggie transport unit, and a 4WD for snow.

I will, of course, pay him back as I can, but Hot Dog, FIL rocks!!!

She is a pretty tannish/gold with one smallish shopping cart induced looking ding on the rear fender. I am loving leather...and six way adjustable seats! And if Spring ever comes, I will love the sun on my shoulders!!! Drives like a dream, too.

Just had to share...I so often come here with doom and gloom, I thought I would share some GOOD news!

**clovis** · #2 03/25/13, 08:52 AM

Congrats!!!!

AngieM2 · #3 03/25/13, 08:58 AM

Fantastic. And nice to have a higher mpg auto to get around in, but better is to have a FIL such as that.

wannabechef · #4 03/25/13, 09:09 AM

You will love that car...mom has the same one but its a 1998...it has less than 40,000 miles on it.

Backfourty,MI. · #5 03/25/13, 11:55 AM

What a nice surprise & a great FIL you have. Congrats on the new car, it sounds like just the right vehicle for you.

emdeengee · #6 03/25/13, 12:12 PM

You do have a great FIL but I would still want the satisfaction of doing this on my own.

You tried to juggle the funds to buy this vehicle but could not make it work. However, even considering buying the vehicle means you supposedly did have some funds available. If you took even a part of this and added in some of the gas savings you could repay the car over several years. And if your FIL does not want to accept it then when you have the $2000 saved you could do something special for him.

I did this with my first car that my Mom and Dad gave me. The difference in the gas money alone was $75 a month so I put that aside and threw in any extra I had so was able to repay the loan in just over 3 years. It still saved me a fortune and was still a generous gift because I paid no interest.

Jokarva · #7 03/25/13, 12:45 PM

What a guy, definitely a keeper!

My 97 Toyota (which I intend to drive till the wheels fall out from under me) is rolling over 150,000 miles sometime this month....not fancy and no upgraded anything, but still going strong!

beccachow · #8 03/25/13, 01:50 PM

I agree, I will definitely be paying him back as quickly as I can, even in small amounts at first.

Yeah, he doesn't like me at all...lol!

Otter · #9 03/25/13, 02:18 PM

That is so awesome!

CheerfulMom4 · #10 03/25/13, 03:05 PM

We got a 1997 subaru sedan not long ago. After driving my suburban all over for years I'm having a blast driving around in this little standard shift car. hehe
Can't wait to hear when you can really start driving yours..it's so much easier to do everything.
My suburban pretty much stays hooked up to the horse trailer now.