Need help on two things involving cars

[Tim Traini]

Here's the situation: My car is fucked up and needs a lot of front-end body work and the engine doesn't turn, probably cause things are smashed into it and less that it's busted. It is parked at my house and would have to be towed to some garage. My dad is willing to look into getting me another used car as this one has had a long run and is at 140k miles. However, in his frugal dad nature he wants to see how much it'd cost to get what's actually wrong with the thing fixed and keep some crappy bodywork for a while. If it's over like $600 then he won't bother and will look into another car. He isn't a mechanic, but he's been working on his own cars for a decade now and isn't stupid about them. I am.

I don't care what option I wind up with, as long as I have a working car. That being said, the least painful option would be to replace it. El Capidad wants me to find out two things:

-A mechanic or someone who can imagine a good estimate to swing by my place and take a look and guess how much it'd cost to get in working order for like a couple bucks and a beer. No work needs to be done, but a once over/looksee and a dollar number is what I'm shooting for. I have some pictures linked here but it's dark and one hand is holding up the hood so it probably doesn't help much. I really want to avoid towing it unless it's a sure bet it won't be THAT little to fix.

-A good place to buy a used car for under $5000. Since dad knows I'm shit with cars he wants to make sure I'm not getting screwed and he'd prefer to look at it. A place that does both repairs and used car sales he thinks would be best since I could get some money off and get rid of the old one at the same time. He's also hesitant to fly down here cause he'd rather spend that extra money on the car. Fair enough, but ugh this is going to be a process.

[jillybee72]

Do you need a mechanic, or an improvisor in a jumpsuit that says "Earl" over the pocket?

[trabka]

Do you need a mechanic, or an improvisor in a jumpsuit that says "Earl" over the pocket?

If it's the latter I have a both a Dharma Initiative jumpsuit or an orange jumpsuit with a T-Rex Skull over Crossed Rocket Ships spray painted on the back you can borrow.

Seriously though, I don't know much about cars, but my roommate had a very similar accident a few months ago (his car just yells angrily about running, rather than not turning over at all) and I'm pretty sure his estimate is over $600 mainly due to his frame being bent, which it sounds like yours is. Like I said, I don't know much about cars, but it sounds like the conditions of your cars are comparable. May you find someone with more than just anecdotal knowledge to help you.

[Tim Traini]

I'd settle for an improviser in a jumpsuit who can make up a believable story about what's wrong and how much it might cost. He'd see right through me, and also I'm a terrible liar. I still don't get it cause look at the motherfucking scrap of metal, in what universe does that cost less than $600 to fix even before labor? Under the barter system maybe.

Anywho, that bit's not as important as a place to get a decent used car. That's just to shut his stubborn self up so I don't have to pay more money to tow the thing elsewhere, as he is completely staunch in ensuring someone at least look at it despite me going LOOK AT IT NOW FOR FUCKS SAKE, like a mechanic is going to wave his magic wand and it'll only be an oil change and a re-up on freon inside that massively crushed exterior.

[LisaJackson]

Yost Automotive came and towed my car to look at it in their shop. I don't recall paying for that but it might have been because I actually let them do the work once I got the estimate. I do recommend them highly though.

Josh bought his car at Accent Auto on South Lamar and was very pleased with the transaction.