Be careful of wearing out your car windows; I just found out what a new window regulator costs to install. The same day I was taking my car home after getting some repairs for inspection, on the way home a back seat window wouldn’t go all the way back up. I tried a Youtube trick on it, holding the button up and slamming the door, but that did nothing. (Online this guy was recommending using WD-40 on each window as a precaution against sticking, which puts a burden on the motor; I know I’ll be doing that with my cars from now on.)

So I went back to the car repair place the next day to see if they could fix it. I would have been satisfied without an actual fix, if they could just close the window. I’d just never open it again! But no, it wouldn’t budge for them and for security I have to have it repaired. Hundreds for the part and labor.

My car is so old it is becoming a problem just finding the parts. On the other hand, the engine and transmission are running great, and I have extremely low mileage on it. But I’ve been back at the shop about 4 times now for outer mechanical stuff. First they had trouble getting the part, then it didn’t work. A connecting circuit was burned out as well, so they had to search for that. Another delay.

This has driven me to car hunting online in earnest. But I’m so undecided about what to buy — not to mention how to buy it. I want to avoid these cars with CVT transmissions, which the car guys say are cheaper for the manufacturer but bad for the consumer, due to driving differences and expensive repairs when these transmissions have problems.

So all Civics, Accords, and I think even Corollas have them if they’re 2014-15 or later. Those unfortunately are the cars I wanted to get.

I’m now considering Toyota Camry. I think it’s a little bigger car and I’d have to get used to it. I’m short and am not great at “edge perception” when in a car, so a small car is really better for me. My sister tried to shake me loose from sticking to only Honda and Toyota, so I will have to think about that too.

I don’t know how people are buying used cars, now, when all the main listings are online but they cover the entire country. They obviously can’t ship a car in just for a test drive. Guess I have to talk to some local dealers and see what’s going on.