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Good, Cheap Beater Cars & Inexpensive Commuter Cars - how to find one?

356 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2010 at 10:25 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura Integra, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Mazda Protege, Buying Insurance

Messages Page 34 of 36

#327 of 356 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by qbrozen

Sep 24, 2007 (12:39 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 12:16 pm)
Personally, I don't see the added expense of parts on a euro car that people talk about. The brakes on our Honda cost just as much as my volvo. The tune-up on my mazda cost just as much as my bimmer. Etc. Etc.
 
well... ok, the bimmer was a tad more expensive, but that was due to 2 extra cylinders, so 2 more wires and 2 more plugs. But you get my meanings. When it comes to brake pads, wires, plugs, fuel filters, air filters, shocks, struts, rubber bushings, or what have you, I have not found the make of the car matters 95% of the time.
 
Now, the other 5% of the time can be a killer. $100 a pop for the shocks and struts on my Alfa is a bit out of line. But that applies to alot of parts on the Alfa. The Bimmer is downright cheap in comparison.

#328 of 356 Re: good thread timing [qbrozen] by thegraduate

Sep 24, 2007 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 12:39 pm)
The Audi dealership I used to frequent (my ex-girlfriend's father was GSM at Tom Williams Porsche/Audi in Birmingham) had MUCH higher prices than Honda did; that will vary dealer-by-dealer though. (And, Audi IS a VW = $$$ in repairs!!).
 
I'd steer clear of ANY VW at all costs!

#329 of 356 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by qbrozen

Sep 24, 2007 (1:35 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 1:16 pm)
oh well heck, of course dealership costs are higher. that ain't the car's fault, though. ;b
 
For me, the parts have similar costs and the jobs take me about the same amount of time, so I am assuming a good indy shop will charge you the same for both cars for similar repairs.

#330 of 356 Re: good thread timing [thegraduate] by british_rover

Sep 24, 2007 (1:53 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 24, 2007 1:16 pm)
Oh you can't compare Audi parts prices to BMW or Merc prices. Audi doesn't support a car after they are more then about 5-7 years old so the part prices go up at a near exponential rate.
 
My wife had a Audi 100 years ago before we were married. The expansion tank tarted to leak where the return hose came in. The audi dealer wanted 800 something bucks plus tax for the tank. I couldn't find the part anywhere else so I repaired the tank using a bit of PVC pipe and the highest temp epoxy I could find.
 
I got some PVC pipe that was just a bit narrower then the entrance for the return tube in the tank and epoxied it in place. Worked like a charm and only cost about 15 bucks plus a couple of hours of labor.

#332 of 356 Re:Good thread Timing......... by 2doorpost

Apr 10, 2008 (9:16 am)

My favorite beater cars- 2002-2008
 
5) 1978 Monte Carlo (traderonline) 135k miles Ran and drove Southern Car 700 bucks
 
4) 1974 Nova Coupe (Local Paper) 70k miles Ran and drove 500 bucks
 
3) 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix (traderonline) 101k miles Ran and drove 300 bucks
 
2) 1964 Impala 2 door (sitting down the street in yard) Ran and drove 800 bucks
 
1) 1974 Nova Hatchback (on line ad ) Runs and drives currently 300 bucks

#333 of 356 93 escort LX radiator swap by dudeman1

Dec 16, 2008 (2:03 pm)

Hope this is the right forum for this,
 
I recently hit a deer and it pretty much totalled the front of my car. I have bought replacement parts at the junkyard for $125 (hood, bumper, grill, condensor, headlite assy, turn signal assy, hood latch assy) and a new radiator ($150). I put the new radiator in and refilled the fluids with 1/2 water and 1/2 anti-freeze and started the car. Once running, I noticed a fountain of water coming from a little silver valve mounted on top of the manifold on the passenger side of the engine. It's right next to the fuel pressure line and i don't know why its spewing water. Any suggestions on what it could be?

#334 of 356 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [dudeman1] by dudeman1

Dec 16, 2008 (5:35 pm)

Replying to: dudeman1 (Dec 16, 2008 2:03 pm)
Cancel my previous posting, it seems the fountain is gas coming from the top of the fuel filter going towards the manifold. I turn the key and the gas starts flowing out the relief valve. Now I have to figure out how to stop the valve from leaking gas!

#335 of 356 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [dudeman1] by Kirstie@Edmunds HOST

Dec 17, 2008 (8:17 am)

Replying to: dudeman1 (Dec 16, 2008 5:35 pm)
Head over to our Maintenance & Repair board. Lots of knowledgeable members hang out there and might be able to help you.

#336 of 356 Re: 93 escort LX radiator swap [kirstie_h] by fezo

Dec 17, 2008 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: Kirstie@Edmunds (Dec 17, 2008 8:17 am)
Nothing simple like just a cracked fuel filter, huh? Deer hits can be nasty.

Messages Page 34 of 36

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