Dave Ramsey, debt, credit cards, retirement, etc

[SuperJETT]

I'm sure you could hook up with a local tow truck driver and offer him some cash for a "special" trip.
Who couldn't use a few extra bucks right about now.
Once you get the van home you can do some trouble shooting and/or repairs on your own time.

I know you're trying to help, but I'm way ahead of you.

When you have 3 kids and the van is the only vehicle you can really get them in, you gotta get it fixed or replaced quickly. My Accord will barely fit all 3 in the back, but it's extremely hard to get them all buckled because of how tight the booster seats are wedged in.

Trying to find a 'local tow truck driver' on a Sunday, 2 hours away from me, to tow a van 120 miles, not so easy, plus it's probably money wasted if you think about it when I can get it fixed there.

Anyway, the point is, we have money to get it fixed, no credit required...

 

[Scorn800]

It's a mistake to get it repaired far from your house. If anything goes wrong it's far to bring it back. Pay for the tow. What no AAA?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

It's a mistake to get it repaired far from your house. If anything goes wrong it's far to bring it back. Pay for the tow. What no AAA?

I don't think DR covered AAA in his book.:slap:

 

[tnj4life]

Man I love my manual trannys on my vehicles! Sorry bout the tuff luck with the van superjett. Just change that tranny on the side of the road redkneck style.

 

[Matt_E]

I don't think DR covered AAA in his book.:slap:

Have you read it? :clown:

 

[SuperJETT]

No AAA, and I'm not sure they would cover a 120 mile tow would they?

Anyway, things have changed, my Dad is going to meet me there with his trailer/truck and we're going to bring it back to the transmission place here that is the best option, plus I have a quote from them already from last month for a rebuild for $2000.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Have you read it? :clown:

No I started to but decide to invest my $10.00 in wine, women and song,turned out pretty good,I got drunk,got my groove on and got laid,Damn I love Alabama!:bigok:

 

[Scorn800]

No AAA, and I'm not sure they would cover a 120 mile tow would they?

Anyway, things have changed, my Dad is going to meet me there with his trailer/truck and we're going to bring it back to the transmission place here that is the best option, plus I have a quote from them already from last month for a rebuild for $2000.

AAA would tow you 100mls 1 way for free. I used it many times.
It's good idea to get the trans repaired at the shop you know. Rebuilt trans are a crap shoot. Sometimes they work great for years & sometimes it takes the shop a few times to get it right. Our last van had to go back twice till the shop got it. Good luck:beerchug:

 

[djkorn1]

I have found when my car starts to get old, AAA is worth the money....If your car is newer and reliable, it's not worth it.

When I was in college, they towed my car 100 miles from Toledo to Cleveland so my brother could fix it for free! Just using the tow once, made it worth while.

 

[Matt_E]

FYI....many cell phone contracts include free road side assistance.

 

[BruceSki]

I have found when my car starts to get old, AAA is worth the money....If your car is newer and reliable, it's not worth it.

When I was in college, they towed my car 100 miles from Toledo to Cleveland so my brother could fix it for free! Just using the tow once, made it worth while.

you can even use it for friends...i was in a friends blazer when the fuel pump went 80 miles from school.... well my free 100 mile tow got us back and he had his car fixed by the next day.

it has helped me with my own vehicle(my old truck) on more than one occasion too. luckily i havent needed it with this truck

 

[MADMAT]

Progressive recently added it to our policy. Before that I also had it free through safe auto.

It saved my azz 3 times. Twice they brought me gas and once they towed me 50 miles.

 

[douglee25]

Look up what a Jasper rebuilt unit costs. They do has specific guidelines that you must follow like replacing the transmission cooler, etc, etc. I would recommend this even with rebuilding your unit because whatever failed (if it's hard parts, etc) has been pumped throughout the cooler. Replace it or the 'new' trans is going to go south rather quickly. The Jasper unit will also come with a decent warranty (3 year/100,000 mile).

Doug

Edit:

2001 Chrysler T&C EX - $2009
2001 Chrysler T&C LX, LXI, Limited - $2009

http://www.jasperengines.com/index.html

 

[Speedfreak]

Look up what a Jasper rebuilt unit costs.
http://www.jasperengines.com/index.html

I was going to say the same thing. Our work vans go through large parts quite often since we don't trade them off until after 300K miles. We have had a LOT better luck with jasper rebuilds than having engines, or trans rebuilt. Plus the price is almost the same.

Hey I just reread the post and seen that the van might still be in Evansville? If it is still there and you want to get it fixed thee call me. I have a nephew that lives there and he is an insurance adjuster so he knows all of the mechanics and bodyshops.

Good luck

 

[SuperJETT]

I'm headed out the door to go meet my Dad to tow it to Louisville to the shop that I trust, and it's 5.4F outside with -4F windchill.

 

[Big Kahuna]

FYI....many cell phone contracts include free road side assistance.

Yup, years ago we were going to the beach, Alternator went out, our cell phone assistance covered the tow charge.

 

[afcblink]

Why didn't we learn about this kind of stuff in school..?

I went to hear Ralph Nader speak at my university in 1990. I know is name is a four-letter word to most folks, but I was much more impressed with what he had to say than I expected to be.

The focus of his speech is that we teach our children quite a lot about how to be excellent producers, but we teach them almost nothing about how to be excellent consumers. I thought it was right on the mark.

 

[SuperJETT]

It's at the transmission place, we should have it back Wed., the owner pretty much promised it because they aren't working Thurs/Fri.

 

[SuperJETT]

It took a couple extra days due to problems getting parts thanks to the holidays, but we got it back yesterday, $2205.40 for a full rebuild. It shifts very nicely now.

Anyway, $640 for the water heater 2 weeks ago, plus $2205 for the tranny, that's $2850 out of the emergency fund and we've already put ~$1100 back into it, so we're only down $1700 or so from normal.

I love having no debt (except the house) and a good emergency fund, it really does help get through stuff like this instead of having to put it on a credit card.

 

[tnj4life]

Ive been down for 2 weeks for bad weather and work slowing down. Our savings has come in handy. The first week I made $180 the next one I made a big goose egg 0.