Wow, what a day! Seems like I have been in the car all.day.long. Insurance office. Banks. Picking up lunch. Taking Mike to the lot to get his stuff out of the wrecked car.
I got a lot accomplished though, and I'm 98% sure we've got a new/old car for Michael.
We've spent days poring over Craigslist ads and internet ads for cars, much to no avail. Buying something as large as a car off Craigslist gives me the heebie jeebies, and dealerships are a ripoff, IMHO. (Ironically, my great grandfather R.E. Butler owned one of the first car dealerships in Marietta Georgia around 1910, and his sons owned and operated car dealerships in the area for years afterwards...)
I contacted several folks who said they were selling cars locally, only to find out the cars were actually in New Jersey and Nebraska and the sellers wanted to use ebay?!? I said no thanks. They smelled like scams.
Finally, I posted on a neighborhood Facebook page and learned a neighbor was selling a 2003 Buick LeSabre. Mike and I looked at it this afternoon and he test drove it. It's a luxury automobile. It won't get great gas mileage, but I think it's a solid deal. Clean, seems to be running well, seems great. (knock wood)
We are getting it checked out by a mechanic and hopefully tomorrow morning we will get the "all clear" on the engine and we can proceed with the purchase.
Unlike most 18 year olds, Michael loves old cars. He loves "classic" cars. He is thrilled to be getting a "grandpa car." This one has a lot of extras - heated seats, great sounding stereo, all kinds of cool features.
Not a great photo, but it gives you an idea of the size of the car.