Buying a car today

[pegkerr]

We called Rob's step-brother-in-law who used to be in the used car business, and he tapped his sources for us. We're going tonight to sign the paperwork on a 1994 Buick Regal with only 37,500 miles on it. Very good condition, no rust. Mechanic's report checks out fine. We got them to drop their asking price $1,100 and so will be buying it for only about $360 or so over the amount of the settlement check we got from the insurance company for Rob's last vehicle.

One teensy problem: former owner was smoker. Does anyone local have an air ionizer that we could borrow for the weekend to put into the car to try to clean out the air?

We name our cars in alphabetical order, alternating boy/girl names, and this car is going to be a "J" boy name. Suggestions?

Comments

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

Can't help with the ionizer, but I can tell you from working at my brother's car dealership years ago that you will want to clean no only the upholstery on the seats and the carpet, but also the ceiling. The last is where a lot of the odor & smoke collects. There are some spray uphostery cleaners for cars out there that work similar to carpet cleaners -- that's a good start. Odor killers/neutralizers also help.

The car will still likely smell of nicotine after being closed up on hot, sunny days for a long while, but this is normal. The heat and sun release odors trapped in the cloth, glue and vinyl. The mileage is low, though, meaning the previous owner hopefully didn't spend that much time in the car. Leave some windows cracked when it is parked in the sun to help minimalize the lingering smell. Eventually, it will fade away.

Glad you found something at a reasonable price! I hope it runs trouble-free for a long, long time.

[semperfiona]

Jeremiah.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Febreze, and leave the windows open as much as possible, the car will air out. I can't see how you're going to clean the interior roof lining.

K.

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

I can't see how you're going to clean the interior roof lining.

There is (okay, used to be, but should still be around) spray upholstery cleaner that can be scrubbed in and then vaccumed or wiped out. You just don't want a heavy, heavy duty one in case it reacts with the glue on the ceiling (which nicotine degades over time, btw, but not after only 37k miles).

The cedar suggestion further down sounds like a good one, too. Pretty much any constantly present odor neutralizer (even cat litter in a sachet or something) would help. It all depends on what you want to smell over/instead of the old smoke. :)

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I somehow doubt that they have unlimited time to attend to this in the best possible way, with scrubbing and vacuuming and all that. My suggestions were meant to be the most efficient and effective while having the least cost in time, energy, and money.

K.

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'm talking an hour or two of work that will make the car more habitable in the long run. Simple stuff. Heck, even baking soda and water in a spray bottle would work in a pinch. An ionizer may not get all of the smell out of the fabric long-term.

If they can't do any of this now, it is an option down the line should they decide the smell is too bad. Maybe it isn't that bad. Maybe this guy only smoked with the windows wide open. I don't know. I was simply offering options. I certainly wasn't saying they had to spend all day and a C-note on this.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

We appreciate all suggestions, thanks. And thanks for the tip that we should particularly pay attention to the interior roof lining; I hadn't thought of that.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

You just don't want a heavy, heavy duty one in case it reacts with the glue on the ceiling (which nicotine degades over time, btw, but not after only 37k miles).

1994. Fourteen years. That's plenty of time for the nicotine to have affected the glue on the interior roof lining, or even for time itself to have affected the process.

Congratulations to Peg and Rob for finding such a remarkably low-mileage vehicle in excellent condition!

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

Good point. :)

[aome.livejournal.com]

Since the car is a "Regal", I've been trying to think of kingly-sounding names. John - maybe Johann? John might be better, since it's an American car, but I know it's a little plain. Abandoning the regal idea, how about ... Jack? Jeffrey? Jude? (Patron saint of lost causes - my husband's favorite.) Jeb? (As in Bartlett, as in the fantastic but sadly fictional president on West Wing.) Jules (as in Verne)? John Jacob Jingleheimer-Schmidt? :D

Maybe also try spraying the interior thoroughly with Febreze to help rid it of the smoke smell?

[perimyndith.livejournal.com]

Justinian comes to mind for a distinctly royal name...

[utterings.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

My uncle inherited my grandmother's car when she died, and swears by cedar to remove the smoke odor. It took several months to remove the lingering traces, but you'd never know now that the car belonged to a smoker. You may want to grab a small bundle of pieces or a mesh bag of chips in addition to the ionizer.

As for names, my vote is for Jack, but that's because I've become obsessed with Torchwood. There's something to be said for a namesake that can't die, is protective of his team at all costs, and whom even a die-hard lesbian finds sexier than hell. (I truly mean the latter. Weak knees and all.)

[littlecatfeet.livejournal.com]

Jerome.

[brigidsblest.livejournal.com]

Jason. Jacob. Jared. Julian.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Jebediah!

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Jasper.

Jonas.

Jude.

Jehosaphat. (That does not look like it is spelled right?)

Jem.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Josiah, Joshua

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Jack Flash. (it's a gas, gas, gas!)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

THAT'S a great suggestion.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

And you get a bonus theme song! ;)

name

[(Anonymous)]

Jedediah, or just Jed

[nwl.livejournal.com]

I'm not expert (or smoker), but I've read in the the Heloise column that activated charcoal (the kind used in fish tank filters) is best for removing smoke smell from cars I think the idea is to put it in the ash tray and let it work. Activated charcoal also supposed to work better than baking soda for keeping the fridge sweet smelling. However, baking soda works much better as a scrubbing agent and for baking.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Good suggestion that I think will implement, thanks.

[fileg.livejournal.com]

Joss

[gwendolyngrace.livejournal.com]

Jensen.
John.
Jeffrey.
Jim.
Jared.
Jareth.
Justin.
Julian.
Julius.

Too many J names.

I don't actually care for febreze in enclosed spaces. Try your local rent-a-center for an ionizer? Or Home Depot or Loews - sometimes they will rent specialized tools.