Finally, my 1996 2.2 is getting reborn.

[J708]

Okay, I've had enough with my 1996 2.2, especially after I flew over a pavement and took down a road sign last week. I called up my relative and he hooked me up some a friend of his which I can trust the guy with, without getting ripped off.

I dropped off my car to the mechanics house last night, cause he told me he'll drive it to work today morning. I told him all the problems I was facing, which are these:

-Steering Bush worn out
-rubbing noise while driving or turning
-Very light breaks
-Very very loose steering and no control what so god damn ever.
-Timing Belt and tension belt need replacements
-Electrical parts in car are bad. A/C control board light goes off and on whenever it pleases. Also when I open the back door the door light doesn't turn on.
-Kick down not smooth and I feel like ignition needs changing again when I just changed them a few months ago
-Door lock for front passenger is not working properly. Car door needs to be closed twice for it to close completely.
-Warning light of back light has been on the dash board since forever, and no one has been able to figure out the problem
-Front bumper and light, and also back bumper banged up pretty bad

I also told him to fix anything that needs to be replaced for it to be fine.


So today morning I call him at 11AM hoping he reached to his car shop safely. The first thing he tells me is "God damn! you are fuckin suicidal man!" Apperantly he drove the car a few meters realised how fucked it was, did a U-turn and called the tow truck cause he realised there was a very low chance of getting to his shop without an accident. Yeah, thats how bad the state of the car is. And Im fed up! But I can't let go of it... I love my Camry

He told me what needed replacement, which are:
-Break pump
-break pads and discs
-bearing
-links (god knows what that is, he's arab, so he used wierd technical terms)
-steering wheel bearing
-engine mounting
-gear box mounting

=438$ Without labour
=547$ Including labour charge (which I will get a good discount on cause Im family)


optional:
-do a 4 layer wax and polish on the car
-fix all the dents in the front and the back.


=273$


parts I chose to purchase

-Rim and michelin tyre (cause i've been driving around without a spare tyre due to my damaged rim)

=117$ Approx.


The car will be ready by Sunday or Monday.

So I'll be paying approx. 900$-1000 bucks to bring back my car to life.

Is that alot for a 1996 110,000 mileage Camry?

This is the most I've ever paid, but I want the car to run for atleast another 50,000 miles. I was actually expecting to pay atleast 2000$. When he told me the parts cost 438$ I was shocked. He thought I would hesistate on giving him the green light to start working on the car. Fuck yeah!!! Do your thing! Haha. Anyway, I'll take pics of the car when its complete.

Wish me luck, cause I need it.

Later guys.

[95PimpingCamry]

To me $1000 is a lot of money, but if that's all your car needs, do it! I had to put a new (actually used) engine in my Camry almost a year ago and spend $1900 on that.

[J708]

Originally Posted by 95PimpingCamry

To me $1000 is a lot of money, but if that's all your car needs, do it! I had to put a new (actually used) engine in my Camry almost a year ago and spend $1900 on that.

I know, 1000 is alot! As I said I've never paid this much ever at one go. Probably 1000$ is the total amount I paid on the car including every single thing from maintaining to fixing, in the past 2 years.

But the solid body on the Camry has gotten me so attached to it. Plus I don't wanna commit my self to a 5 year lease to own deal. I think its a headache if I'm not convinced about the car I want to buy. The only car Im convinced about is the Volvo S40. But servicing it is in the end of the world, and its american. I'de rather be damned before buying an american car. Except Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Challenger 2008. Infact I plan to keep my Camry if I can afford the Challenger when it comes out. Anyway, I thought about it, i'de rather pay 1000 bucks every year to fix the car completely and be happy with it, than pay 500$ on a lease to own car every month, with a shit body firmness.

[bigbird]

tahts alot of work to be done so i say thats not to bad. hes giving ya a good discount on the parts too. congrats

[xet]

lets just say i paid about 1k for a new front bumper and repairs to my back bumper and side panel and paint

for all the problems you listed and how messed up your car seemed to be it sounds like a great deal

[J708]

Originally Posted by bigbird

tahts alot of work to be done so i say thats not to bad. hes giving ya a good discount on the parts too. congrats

Thanks man, Im just hoping the car lasts with me for atleast 2 more years, and not give me anymore headaches. Im hoping no one gives it the devils eye with its new polish. I once manually polished it, and it was sexy! It stood out between alot of cars. Then again there is a saying "a monkey is handsome in the eye its mother"

[J708]

Originally Posted by xet

lets just say i paid about 1k for a new front bumper and repairs to my back bumper and side panel and paint

for all the problems you listed and how messed up your car seemed to be it sounds like a great deal

Lets hope this great deal doesn't jump a few hundred bucks today or the day after if more problems are appear in the car.

[ryannel2003]

Funny thing about these cars is they never seem to die! A friend of mine had a '92 XLE V6 with 200k miles and everything except the engine didn't run. The car was beaten up, torn up, and just horrible; but the car still ran. Sometimes it blew a little white smoke but she tried to run that thing out of it's misery. Never died. These cars will last forever and for $1000, that is an awesome deal to get all that fixed. Hell, I was quoted $1300 for a whole new sunroof assembly on my Camry.

[J708]

Originally Posted by ryannel2003

Funny thing about these cars is they never seem to die! A friend of mine had a '92 XLE V6 with 200k miles and everything except the engine didn't run. The car was beaten up, torn up, and just horrible; but the car still ran. Sometimes it blew a little white smoke but she tried to run that thing out of it's misery. Never died. These cars will last forever and for $1000, that is an awesome deal to get all that fixed. Hell, I was quoted $1300 for a whole new sunroof assembly on my Camry.

Tell me about it pal! I can't wait to see my car on Sunday for the rend result. I'll make sure I take alot of pics and post them on here.

[J708]

Originally Posted by xet

lets just say i paid about 1k for a new front bumper and repairs to my back bumper and side panel and paint

for all the problems you listed and how messed up your car seemed to be it sounds like a great deal

I think if I delt with the dealersip directly the car wouldv'e cost me atleast 3000$. Im guessing replacing body parts always costs alot cause I doubt you can find commercial parts with it comes to exterior.

[ryannel2003]

I can't wait to see some pictures of your car!

[J708]

Originally Posted by ryannel2003

I can't wait to see some pictures of your car!

I really do hope I get blown away and am impressed when the car is done. I was hesitant at first when the mechanic told me about the wax and polishing, cause the car was banged up. But when he told me he can fix all the dents along with the polish and wax, and that I will be really impressed, I told him to go for it. I will take as many pics as I can when. I was told the car will be ready on Sunday. But I doubt it, Im guessing it will be ready on Monday.

Laters

[Kep]

I suspect that it will be included but I didn't see you list an alignment. You might want to check that.

Kep

[J708]

Originally Posted by Kep

I suspect that it will be included but I didn't see you list an alignment. You might want to check that.

Kep

An alignment and balance will be included like you flush when you take a crap. But Im paying all this money for labour and other stuff other than the price of the parts that need to be replaced, so he's gonna do it without telling me cause it has to be done.

[wahed3001]

Dang, only $109 for labor? That's friggin' terrific! I see you're located in Dubai so he's charging you in the local currency and you've converted it to dollars, right? Either way
it's a great deal provided he does a quality job. Good luck!