(sorta) Funny/Sad story

Hi just sharing a story. My friend bought a 89 Pontiac Grand AM from his stepdads relatives for $500.

Spent so far: $500;

Anyways the car was driven from somewhere in NJ back to NY no real problems. After a day of driving it it doesn't start up anymore. So they replace the spark plugs. Don't know how muc hthe plugs where but they're Bosch Platinum 2's. estimated price: $40.

Spent so far: $540;

I believe they got the car to work after that for about half a day or so. Anyways me and my friend took a look at it with help from his grandpa (a mechanic). Turns out he needs a new alternator. $130.

Spent so far: $670;

My friend and I replaced his alternator. It was running fine for about a day. Then it craps out on him at his workplace. At this point my friends pretty pissed, but wha does he do? Gets the car towed and taken to a mechanic. Turns out the car doesn't spark and needs a new Ignition coil and crank shaft. $650. As of now the bill is unpayed my friend doesn't have is car. While I'm trying to convince him to just save another paycheck and buy a newer damned car.

Alas, he decides to pay for the fees.

Spent so far: $1220;

I don't know what to tell him. I tried to get him to just buy another car and donate his GrandAm. He just won't listen. Oh yah and his windshield is cracked. So however much a new windshield plus labor costs.

He's already spent two times what the vehicle cost him. So let's all laugh at him.

P.S. His power steering is messed up also.

For one thing $40 dollars for a spark plug?
$130 for alternator?
$650 for ignition coil and crankshaft? or crankshaft position sensor?

For one thing, my spark plug would only cost me $3 each and alternator around $60, ignition coil?
probably it was good and it was just the spark plug wires. If this a DIS (Distributorless Ignition System), for a V6 it has 3 ignition coil. They don't fail all three together and probably just one. He could have gotten a decent ignition coil at the junkyard. Crankshaft position sensor is cheap and not hard to replace.

Anyway, that's how he wants it done and it is his money. I would have at least learn about that car first and what he can do to fix it himself.

He replaced all 4 spark plugs that was just an estimated guesso nthe price.

The alternator... well.. it was $130... don't know why...

He didn't buy a haynes manual or anything.

I'm betting his mechanic took him for a ride also.

Oh well.