Sweet 2012 Malibu LTZ I could offer you

 

If I were closer, I'd think about it if the price was right. Then again there are 129481274971239 Malibu's for sale.

 

but none of those would make for a fake internet friend becomes real friend road trip home story.
worth more than the car.

 

True, only 85k on it.
Would force me to have to find new car, too.
There are a ton available, though.

 

Honda Civic, bonus for Si model. This is the universal suggestion for cheap, simple daily drivers that aren't totally soul sucking.

 

^ Good choice.
GTI would be another fun DD

 

I should add, something that will be left stock outside of tints and 4 doors.

 

GTI would still be a solid option, pretty economical & a blast to drive.
Si might be a bit easier on the wallet long-term, though.

 

Jeremy Clarkson says if he could only have 1 car, it would be a GTI.

 

Mazda 6? Good size car, 25/35 MPG, and not a bad looking ride.....

 

A 6 GTR wouldn't be bad, I liked the couple I tested, the turbo definitely peps the car up.

 

Looks like I am just going to buy the car I have been driving around for the last 2 months. Haven't found anything I like within a decent price around here. Dealerships are marking everything up 3-4k and I am not paying that just to have a car. Ill drive this thru the winter and re-evaluate next summer.

2007 Civic Sedan, Grandma Gold in color, 131k miles, few dings from the hail storm that beat up my truck. Already sourced some winter wheels with fresh blizzaks to get me thru. Will look for some 16/17's for next summer threads to get rid of the steelies/hub caps it has now that are in poor shape.

Truck is finally getting some diagnostics done. The company that the warranty is thru has been putting me thru the ringer. Finally got a reply back as to what they need. Hopefully that will be back on the road soon. Not sure if I will keep or sell afterwards with all the issues I've had with it. If I could get 10k for it, I'll take it and run and cut my losses.

 

Plans for the Civic

Fresh Oil
Fresh Trans Oil
Winter wheels and tires
Tintz
New window door seals (dry rotted)
Buff/polish headlights
LED DRL/Headlights/High Beams
Quick detail before the salt gets laid down.

Keeping it simple to recoupe my money when I sell next year or the year after.

 

Sounds like how I ended up with the Malibu.
Bought off my wife's grandmother when she stopped driving.

 

It not a bad car, just being tall and trying to get a kid in the back sucks. That is my only gripe about it. Great on gas is a plus!

 

I will try to smooth out some hail dents myself if I really want to clean it up some.

 

MPGs are a plus on your side.
The Malibu would be better if it got getter than truck MPG out of a 4cyl car

 

Smooth out hail dents yourself!!
A daily beater is fine, man. I think you're smart for going this route.

 

Dents make it like a golf ball so it flies more efficiently.

 

Truck has bad lifters and should be getting replaced this week or next. Hopefully have it back soon.

The civic has gotten some love since I took ownership last week. I was able to spend some time this past Thursday, taking advantage of the 74° weather to clean her up a bit. She received a good clay bar, wax, face lift with LED HI/LOW/DRL, ass lift with new LED plate lights and new window seals on all 4 doors. I had purchased a set of wheels, on the cheap, without confirming the bore size... yup, too small for cars hub. Bummer because they look pretty nice and cleaned up well. I could have the bore machined open. They currently are 60.1mm and I need 64.1mm but don't really want to go thru that process. I have them listed and hope they sell soon so I can get a different set up. These hub caps are driving me crazy with how shitty they look.

The car is really clean, minimal rust if any, just lots of hail dents. Interior is almost spot less as well. Should be a good commuter for the time being. Last thing I need to do is a headlight polish to clean up the lenses. If they don't turn out, I will buy some cheap aftermarket ones to address the hazing.




Installed the LEDs and can actually see at night now. The halogens with shitty housings was unbearable. Much better now!





Cleaner look with the LED plate lights.





Window seals were dry and cracked/missing. Cheap knockoffs that fit well and look good.





Wish the interior was grey/black but can't be to picky for a beater/commuter car.



Wheels were pretty in pretty bad shape when I picked them up. A little Sonax and elbow grease got them looking clean. As mentioned above the hub bore diameter was 60.1mm and I need 64.1mm, so these will be up for sale unfortunately. Should have no problem getting back what I paid if not more. Expecting some snow here soon so I would hope these get more clicks and sold soon.







Wouldn't look half bad...



Have to pick up some oil and a filter and get than done soon. Top off other fluids and find my snow scraper. Trying to find a used set of weathertechs before I buy new.

Called a few places local for Tintz. Base tint for sedan is $300-$325 and ceramic is $425-$500. Does that sound about right? Been awhile since I had this done.

 

Not bad. Tints pricing seems close to what I was quoted for the Malibu around here.

 

Nice work!
For the b pillars, plastidip will get the job done.
What's the offset on the new wheels? Get a set of 15mm version 2 adapters!

 

B pillars and trim above window will need to be addressed. Thanks for the suggestion, thought about wrapping them but that seems easier.
Offset on wheels is 45. I could do that but may have a buyer tonight for them. Hoping to double my investment on them.

 

Got me thinking. Buy a set of 60.1mm adapters and hog out the inside diameter to 64.1mm. Would be cheaper than modifying the wheels and potentially ruining them.

 

LOL...an adapter would be 60 on the inside and 64 on the outside.

 

so if you want to go bolt on adapter you'll need at least 15mm to be thick enough...
if you go extended studs you just need something thicker than the hub protrusion.

If you were a real gangster you would just take and angle grinder to the hub and cut the center out
and use the conical lugnuts to center the wheel.

 

If the wheels don't sell, tonight, I would check out 15mm bolt on spacers with a 60.1mm hub, then turn the inside diameter to 64.1 on the lathe, done. Sounds legit, right?

 

Sold the wheels last night for $150 profit. Found a clean set of hub caps for the current steelies for $60. Going to snag those until I can find a set of wheels.

 

@BreezyTL no bro, leave the nascar steelie look until you find the wheels you want.

 

Steelies > Hubcaps

 

steelies are rusted... if they were new I would leave them but they look better with the beat up hub caps now.

 

Rattle can them after hitting them with a wire brush?

 

I like the way you think. Maybe if I get bored one day soon I will do that. Any specific paint for this?

 

Rustoleum but if you sand to areas to bare metal, just do some etch primer and then whatever color you like.

 

I was able to find some semi rare wheels from the 03-05 accord V6 coupe 6-spd. There are pretty clean, a little rash but they fit (based off internet searches) with no spacers/hub rings which is a plus for me. I will most likely hold off to put them on next year after the salt/snow this winter. Might make my steelies a dedicated set of snows.

These are what they look like. I will post some pictures when I get some time to clean them up.



Truck should be back within 2 weeks I am hoping. Once I get it back, a good detail is in order and some new pics for the forsale ad... I am done with that truck and I will search for something newer and that doesn't have Chevrolet in the name...

 

so GMC then?

 

Raptor

If rates weren't so terrible right now, I'd be more seriously shopping. Having 2 car notes at these high rates would just suck.
Maybe if we kibosh the pool install for a year or two, I'll think more seriously on it.

 

A V70 Wagon, please?
That's one that I will have at some point. I just have to.
Given my current lineup one might wonder why I need it.
but why ask why, try bud dry.

 

V70R with a manual

I'd likely go for a newer V60 but I want some more ground clearance for the couple times a year that I go down to our property. Getting in there with a Civic was not fun.

 

Should look pretty nice. Just need to get some new rubber come summer. Current tires are dated (2 from 09 / 2 form 14) the ones from 09 have cracks in the threads. I could run them but would feel better on something newer especially having my son in the car with me. Don't want one going on the freeway and causing an accident. Safety first you know!