ThosL

So often they get taxed based on Kelly Bluebook, etc., which is often way off of real value.

Many states and locales tax vehicles: http://www.factorywarrantylist.com/car-tax-by-state.html And as I pointed out before some of them play extreme hardball if you don't pay that or other taxes with corrupt enforcers, or at the very least the inability to register vehicles until you do pay it. http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Cops-Ex-Fairfield-County-high-sheriff-charged-6313743.php I hope this guy never sees the light of day after his sentencing.

Town property tax, I think the bill was over $50. NH is famous for hefty taxes on vehicles.

This is pretty easy to do with many cash sales and it begs the question whether people flipping vehicles, buying at auction and in private sales and selling them for cash are reporting their profits as income? Do the states do due diligence?

So I was taxed in my residence town based on the Kelly bluebook value on my 99 Outback of around $3300 at 70% of that. So I challenged it claiming my 99 OB with around 300K miles and blown head gaskets was worth around $1K. So I had a hearing yesterday with the assessment board of two guys and a woman. When I said the vehicle was basically a junker the older woman asked whether it was safe to drive then? I said yes, the mechanic issue is my problem not a public safety one, but most of the local mattoids driving their high end vehicles have absurdly high standards like my sister who calls triple A if her check engine light goes on. The upshot of the meeting is they may lower the assessed tax, but are limited on what they can lower it to.

And by the way the car runs much better without the thermostat; no overheating, leaking is minimal, can drive at 65 without problems. Bubbling in the radiator overflow is still happening though not that bad.

Leak was from the thermostat hose junction; I pulled the thermostat out due to overheating and left the rubber gasket in.

I'll go back out there and see if I can see where the leak is coming from. Having had the two hoses over the engine blow out probably the rubber one to the water pump is now going.

How do I diagnose which it is? I just bought a couple feet of 5/16 rubber fuel line to do the job if it is the rubber line. If it is the rubber line what are the steps to remove and replace it? It looks pretty well hidden.

OK, thanks. I will follow up and let you know how it goes as this must be done apparently with the drip, drip drip when driving. Too bad those hoses weren't replaced when the water pump was done.

I was able to do those two hoses myself; another leak has developed from around the water pump which was replaced last fall. I spoke with F and S the Subaru experts locally and they said that is not a do it yourself hose replacement. Apparently the hose comes from around the engine down to the water pump.

Good luck with those, I didn't know you could upgrade to 16 inch tires. I found one at a tire shop in Bridgeport, installed for $43 with the tax, he wanted cash because the boss was out of the office, but I showed him how to work the cc machine. I've never had much luck with Craigslist.

About 50% tread, I have never seen such short supply of used tires, apparently the trend is away from these sizes.

All of them locally; I guess I need to keep calling.

I tried some of the Blue Devil and "water glass" chemical based products which may be worth researching for mild issues. One of them bought me some time, fall to summer. Keep the receipts and get the refunds, or double refunds in the case of the K and W products.

That ebay one sold for $1500, probably high risk with the 2.5 engine, you never know unless you really check it out, there are too many shady operators out there, a neighbor said he bought an engine for his Forester online which blew the head gasket after a while.

I checked all around for a used 205 70 r15; no one has them, they all want around $100 mounted etc..

Good discussion on this topic. However running the 2.2 without a thermostat I am not getting the overheating or the loss of water which is far more destructive and stressful, it can be a living hell to have to constantly watch the temperature gauge wondering if it is accurate, seeing the needle creep up alarmingly; not knowing what is actually going on and on overheatings, whether I need to let it cool for a half hour and then refill with water. Forget about $13 a gallon antifreeze, I would just be pissing more money away. The only real solution I'm afraid is a good used engine which will run upwards of $1500 all in which I can't afford.

I picked up a replacement switch for my 99 Outback at F and S for around $50-$75, the windows would not close which is a serious issue. I put it in myself, and easy job.

With a fair number of cracked up cars with intact engines and cars in good condition with blown engines, and you have the will to make one out of two. Southend auto in northern Vermont did the 2.2 into my previous 2.5 Outback in a day for around $1500 with engine mileage of 75K.

I went to several used tire places in the area today and none of them had 15" tires, I had a blowout last night. They said that cars these days are not using 15" tires much. If you go to Town Fair and major area retailer in tires, they will not sell you just one tire if you have a blowout, due to the four wheel drive issue. What are reasonable prices these days fo tires either new or used?

I checked with a used Subaru parts supplier in the state on 2.2 replacement engines and they said they are currently getting $750 for 2.2 engines that have been thoroughly checked out with a warranty and around 175K miles; no dice on 2.5 engines of 2000 or so; installation charges varied from $500 to $1000; what are reasonable charges on good engines and installation?

One of the area Subaru specialists installed a really heavy duty looking thermostat in my 2.2 Outback engine when they did the water pump job. I went to an auto parts place recently asking for an OE unit which was considerably less substantial looking, they both functioned. I was wondering if you pull out the thermostat leaving the rubber o ring in against leaking if that has any bad effects?

There are many people who try to flip vehicles through jumping on Bargain News type vehicle ads and, as I encountered on my Outback purchase a few years ago, and took the title from the guy they had bought it at $1200 and resold it to me after correcting an issue for $3000. I don't know how the state keeps track of cash transactions like that for tax purposes. On a side note this marshall who was seizing vehicles for taxes and was finally nailed for fraud escaped arrest for many years: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Cops-Ex-Fairfield-County-high-sheriff-charged-6313743.php

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/09/no_author/how-to-sell-your-car-safely/ I listed a Mazda 626 years ago and got the usual types of people when selling cheaper cars; finally a babysitter came by, said she wanted it, gave me a rubber check and by that time she was long gone with the check and the car and I had no recourse. The cops weren't interested in a case under $1000 and when I contacted the people she had worked for they didn't want to say anything.