Author Topic: Ok, time for a car (Read 1554 times)

Martlet · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2003, 10:15:53 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by hawk220
72 chevy nova.. you can't kill them. and if you are lucky, you can find one with an 8-track:p

I had one in HS. You can soup them up for real cheap, too. They fly.

Anyway, Ford is out for reliability? Maybe things have changed. When I was in college, I bought a Ford escort that had 100k miles on it for $300 bucks. I put another hundred miles on it, never changed the oil, just added some once or twice. Never did ANYTHING to it the whole time I had it, except put a new trunk lid on it that didn't match the car. (A chunk of ice fell off the Frat House roof and went right through the hatch window) The right rear wheel bearing or what ever started grinding at 160k miles, but I still drove it for another 40k like that. Sold it to a garage for $500 after school was out.

Dingbat · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2003, 10:23:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2

I know you hate fords but a mustang is dead reliable and the aformentioned parts are cheap and easy to instal or, they are cheap to have installed.
lazs

Speak for yourself, I bought a 2000 model used, and it died in a year... I replaced the motor under warranty, PS, tranny. after that I said ****it and bought my GMC 1500 Extendcab and never looked at a ford car again.

midnight Target · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2003, 10:27:37 AM »

Chevy is giving $3500 in rebates on the S-10. Just bought one 2 days ago.

loser · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2003, 10:32:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
If you want an older car... you will have to buy some stuff for it... starters, alternators, water pumps fuel pumps belts hoses shocks etc. will all be close to the end of their lifecycle..

I know you hate fords but a mustang is dead reliable and the aformentioned parts are cheap and easy to instal or, they are cheap to have installed.
lazs

And this from a "chevy guy". If you are looking for a cheap beater look for a chevy truck in the early to mid 80s. Ugly as all hell but bullet proof.

Plus they are simple and you can fix the whole damned thing with a 1/2" or 9/16" wrench. (you might need to bend the wrench to take the distributer out)

capt. apathy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2003, 11:00:39 AM »

Quote

I know you hate fords but a mustang is dead reliable and the aformentioned parts are cheap and easy to instal or, they are cheap to have installed.
lazs

I've not found anything easy to fix on a ford since my old 72 f-350.

I had a 86 escort. everything I ever fixed on it required at least one special tool (only available through ford of couse) and you could almost predict the price of the tool before you asked- $10 over the cost of shop labor to hire a ford machanic to do the job instead.
and it was always a squeak to work on. I mean really stupid and intentional designs to make the car harder to work on (one example that comes screaming through my memory is that the water pump had a little spur coming off of it maybe 1" long that ran into a slot under the timing belt tensioner, requiring you to remove the timeing belt and tensioner just to do a simple water pump change)

and every other ford I've worked on that was made in the 80's or newer was as bad or worse. all my machanic freinds agreed about the special tool thing to. of course they loved it though. while it's not worth it for the home machanic to buy a special tool for a repair he may never have to do again, it's well worth it for a pro to buy these tools. they will quickly be paid for with all the extra bussines from people who could fix their own but don't have the equipment.

Strange · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2003, 11:25:17 AM »

Mazda has 0% finacing.. On three of their models.. Tribue,Protege, and Miata. And all are fair in price.

ra · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2003, 01:01:33 PM »

It amazes me to say this, but my 96 Neon has been an awesome car.

In '96 my '85 Civic hatchback had 160K miles of maniacal driving on it and it was starting to show a lot of wear. I wanted to replace it with a similar car, but something made in the US for a change. I ended up holding my nose and buying the Neon.

Now, 7 years and 127K miles later, the thing is frikkin great. All early model Neons had bad head gaskets, but Chrysler paid for half of that repair. Other than that, the only other problem was a short circuit in the instrument cluster, which I replaced from a junkyard for $100. I'd say all told I've spent $350 in non-routine repairs in 7 years. And even the routine repairs have been minimal: 1 set of spark plug wires; 1 new thermostat; one set of new rotors. Even the muffler is original, and will probably last the life of the car.

It's been outdoors its whole life and the paint is still good. The upholstery is flawless. Never had to re-charge the AC. Everything works like new even now when I'm driving 1,000 miles a week. Overall, it is even better than my 85 Civic, which was damn good.

You can get a used Neon dirt cheap, but don't get one built before the model year where Chrysler finally corrected the head gasket problem.

ra

mosgood · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2003, 01:33:54 PM »

I know it's a birthcontrol mobile but I just bought a new Honda CRV and I love it. It has the same space on the inside as an explorer. Not any balls at all though but look at how many are on the road these days though. it's cheap for a new car and honda reliable. Consumer reports luvs it too.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:14:26 PM »

Wow RA - thats odd. A buddy of mine had a first year Neon - the thing went through 2 engines in 35,000 miles before he sold it. Total POS.

Admittedly, he wasnt much on maint - so theoretically just about any car should run well past the 100,000 mile mark if its taken care of.

I still have my 91 Cherokee - 147,000 miles and still running like a top without any major work.

By contrast, my old roommates 90 Cherokee ran like crap after about 50,000 miles.

Take care of your car and your car will take care of you.

gofaster · « **Reply #24 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:18:12 PM »

You're in luck. This is advertised on eBay for less than $120 bucks. It should get you around just fine.

LePaul · « **Reply #25 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:23:43 PM »

Off topic a bit but someone mentioned them....and Im new car hunting....

How do Cherokees rate? I'm told anything Jeep is expensive, yet the folks who live in the apartment above me rave about theirs.

The Special Edition looks *sweet*

capt. apathy · « **Reply #26 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:37:59 PM »

overall I like my cherokee. but I pay somebody else to work on it. it's a real squeak to work on. they seem to be cobled together out of parts that where never intended to be used together. no parts are easy to get to.

they also go through exaust manifolds fairly regularly, until you give up on the cast one and get the header type made from pipe.

and gas milage sucks, I get about 15mpg.

funkedup · « **Reply #27 on:** May 30, 2003, 03:41:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by loser
(you might need to bend the wrench to take the distributer out)

They still make cars with distributors?

LePaul · « **Reply #28 on:** May 30, 2003, 03:44:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by capt. apathy
overall I like my cherokee. but I pay somebody else to work on it. it's a real squeak to work on. they seem to be cobled together out of parts that where never intended to be used together. no parts are easy to get to.

they also go through exaust manifolds fairly regularly, until you give up on the cast one and get the header type made from pipe.

and gas milage sucks, I get about 15mpg.

Yea....I loved my Dodge Dakota Sport but didn't miss seeing the gas station attendant all the time, thus the change to the Saturn where i average 30 on a bad week!

Hmm...so the Honda Accord Coupe is looking that much better to me

midnight Target · « **Reply #29 on:** May 30, 2003, 04:14:24 PM »

Jeep has a sale going now too. You put $1000 down, they'll match it and add on a $3000 rebate to equal $5000 down. Worth a look.