If it's the dollar value of the deal in question, the deal is fair. It's not great and it's not bad but it is fair. Figure on getting 50 cents for each $1 put into fixing up a rod as a general rule.
When looking at what you have, you know what you have done to it. The Kia will be a total unknown to begin with and any time you get an used vehicle, you have to go through the fluids/filters, belts, brakes, hoses, etc., just to make sure you have a reliable rig. On top of that you fix anything else that's wrong you found. Then you wait to see what else breaks down, fix that and finally you have a rig of known reliability you can count on. Do you want to mess with that?
I'd fix the ****** on the Nova, whether it winds up cheap or expensive. Buy an off-brand 4-cylinder beater for local daily driving. That will save you on gas plus you can use each car to back up the other. Right now you could use the econo-beater until you get the Nova ****** situation straightened out. Later on the roles will be reversed.
If it turns out you cannot handle having two cars at one time, then it's Hard Times At Decision Central. The Nova you have is a pretty special rig and your heart as well as your money has been poured into it. You will mourn it's going away most likely and it will be THE car you talk about for the rest of your life as the car you wish you kept.
I'd find a way to keep it and suffer that way if I was in your shoes and if you really DID love your car as much as I think you do. If I'm wrong, then you'll do what you need to do today with what you have in hand today to work with in order to resolve the situation. It may not be an optimum solution you wind up with but so long as it is a workable solution, take that and call it a day. You can recoup any losses later on but if you took this path, it means you put having transportation today as Priority #1.
1-Values 2-Decision tree 3-Action
Rick
thats what im afraid of because the only thing that isnt new on the nova is pretty much the body, frame, rear end, and ****** an if i get this kia idk what it was put throught.
on the other hand it kills me on gas to keep the nova as a daily driver yea its hella fun to drive i love it but **** with gas going up to 4 bucks its going to ****.
and i think imna be getting the ****** fixed when i get back on thursday if its not a 40 buck part then ill replace the ****** and put that in on the weekend but i cant afford another car i wish i could but right now with no job its tight.
and i have put alot of money, blood, sweat, and tears into her hell i dont like taking her to a shop because i dont like other people touching her and driving her idk what there doing and i know this may sound like im crazy but it feels like id be letting her and myself down i had this kind of dream when i first got her when i was 15 of how i was going to get her to look, sound, and run and now i feel like i cant do that no more and it sucks.
and as for the transportation i have my moms car, bus, homies so i have rides to places hell ill walk if i have to i dont have school anymore so ill just be trying to work on my car as much as i can.
nova
pros:
sentimental value
alot of money and time put into her
hella fun to drive
im known for the fast yellow car
first car i paid for
can fix stuff myself
cons:
gas
alot of money and time put into her
alot of body work to be done
Optima
pros:
gas
newer car
can get it loud with $1500
cons:
dont know the car
newer car has computer can fix stuff myself
here you go on the pics