Support for a used car for Matthew M. Bartlett

Hi, it’s Matthew M. Bartlett, author of Gateways to Abomination, cat dad to Lawrence and Peachpie, husband to Katie. At a rough time, with expenses chipping away at my income, I find myself with a car that has reached the end of its long life.

I bought my 2007 Toyota Yaris in 2010; I was its third owner. It had around 44,000 miles on it at the time. I paid it off in 2016 and have driven it, free of trouble and free from catastrophic repairs, up until now. It has nearly 250,000 miles on it. And it’s dying. It loses power dramatically when it's on an incline, struggling to move forward, and the check engine light starts blinking.

A few months ago, a code reader indicated an exhaust leak, and I paid for two different repairs that didn't solve the problem.

When it got considerably worse this week, I brought it in, and my mechanic replaced the catalytic converter and an oxygen sensor to the tune of $877.00, another jolt to the bank account.

The mechanic told me that during the course of the work, new issues and symptoms were uncovered. Any further attempts at diagnostics or repairs will be prohibitively costly. There's a famous metaphor about deck chairs and doomed luxury ships.

The car did seem to drive okay when I drove it home, until I hit that first incline. Now it's just as bad as it had been.

So, he has officially given the sad, resigned shake of the head. At this point I'm lucky if the car can get me to nearby used car dealerships.

I need a car to get me to my two part-time jobs, to local conventions, and to my parents' house. I'm not looking for a luxury car or anything with bells and whistles. I'm looking for something used, I'm looking for something relatively inexpensive, and I'm looking for something reliable. I could use your help. Any amount, no matter how small, would be gratefully and humbly received.

I ask that whether or not you can donate, please share. It would mean the world, it would help ease things. I appreciate your reading.