Wrote off the $400 Corolla with the knocking engine, then watched a guy drive it 90 miles home

Felix Harris · 2026-09-17T00:00:05.004945+00:00

I used to think any beater with a rod knock was done, just strip it and scrap it. Then last Saturday I watched a guy buy a 1997 Corolla off Craigslist for $400, pour in a bottle of Lucas and some 20w50, and drive it 90 miles back to Modesto with the knock still ticking away. He said he just needed it to last till inspection in April and he would part it out after. That made me think about all the cars I passed on because of one bad noise. Anyone else run a knocking motor way longer than it should have lasted?

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Wrote off the $400 Corolla with the knocking engine, then watched a guy drive it 90 miles home | Cars for Cheap - Rigidtalk