everything I know about buying and selling cars I learned from one episode of This American Life

Oh, I listened to that one, I think. Buy on the last day of the month!

I'm taking my 96 Jeep Cherokee for its oil change tomorrow. I am not going to ask about new shocks, I cannot afford those at the moment. I had to get four new tires earlier this year.

If they're looking for a used midsized car, you can't go wrong with Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

Does the Corolla not qualify as midsized? (Of course, we went from an Echo [which Tim still drives to work] to the Corolla, so to me, it feels "midsized".)

I am not going to ask about new shocks, I cannot afford those at the moment.

The Echo (circa 2000) totally needs shocks, but we're not getting those right now, either. Tim just drives it 1.3 miles to work, so it's not a huge deal.

Kalshane, have you looked at Consumer Reports? I tend to buy Toyotas by default at this point (the Corolla is my third Toyota in 20 years), but the 2013 Corolla we bought last year was rated very well by CR.

I've looked some. Should probably pony up for a subscription to get the more detailed information.

Kalshane--here is what my charming spouse said: If they're looking for a used midsized car, you can't go wrong with Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Boring and appliance-like, but perfect for people who don't care about "performance driving" and just want reliability and safety.

Thanks. I've looked at those a bit, but as Gud says, they tend to be a good deal pricier than other models used due to their reputation. Maybe I'll have to look at something a little older from them.

One thing I'm seeing on a lot of sites is reliability in recent cars is down across the board due to the car companies making a lot of new changes to their engines in order to meet the new government fuel standards. Maybe I should be looking a little older because of that.

I'm taking my 96 Jeep Cherokee for its oil change tomorrow. I am not going to ask about new shocks, I cannot afford those at the moment. I had to get four new tires earlier this year.

That's impressive. Most of my family buys Dodges or Jeeps because both my grandfather and great-grandfather worked for AMC, but their track record has been less than inspiring, in my experience. I did love our old late 80s/early 90s Cherokee when I first started driving.

My 1996 Honda Civic with the broken head gasket was auctioned off for $1K, so I am happy with that tax write-off. Most of the time we are fine with just having one car - a 1999 Subaru - but with the Metro line not running to my work at the moment, it is a PITA. We're waiting to see what a Bolt is like for me to drive. I will miss, miss, miss the manual transmission when we no longer have the Subaru. A neighbor who also drives an old manual and I discuss quitting our jobs and starting a driving school named "Kill My Clutch" to teach the young'uns how to drive one.

Hot buttered rum. Just saying. You can make up a batch of the butter mixture at the beginning of winter, refrigerate it, and make up mug whenever the weather gets too nasty.

My parents drink rum and cokes everyday before dinner. (Very 1950's cocktail hour without the swishy dresses.) Once, when I was very little, I gulped down my mom's thinking it was just Coke. I have never been able to stomach rum since.

It is pretty great in baking.

That's impressive.

For most of its life, according to the CarFax, it was owned by someone who didn't drive it much. I hope it holds on till I get another unexpected windfall (ie, the gas lands lease gets renewed), because I don't want a car payment. ION, my garage is apparently more popular than I thought, because there are no appointments available tomorrow. Oil change next week!

Your public library will have Consumer Reports available.

Oh, I listened to that one, I think. Buy on the last day of the month!

Yes, that is my other (only?) hot tip!