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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous

32402 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 7:44 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying

Messages Page 2498 of 3241

#24971 of 32402 Re: Almost persuaded.... [au1994] by steve_ HOST

Apr 25, 2012 (6:19 am)

Replying to: au1994 (Apr 25, 2012 3:35 am)
I'm waxing nostalgic about my '89 4 banger Plymouth Voyager right now.
 
Actually I wax nostalgic about my old Bugs, but not enough to risk driving around in one, even though they were reliable (or easy to Band-Aid back together).

#24972 of 32402 Re: Almost persuaded.... [graphicguy] by dwynne

Apr 25, 2012 (8:32 am)

Replying to: graphicguy (Apr 25, 2012 1:18 am)
I think one reviewer said it sounded like "a large jar of angry bees behind your head". The small rear trunk was not well insulated and close to the engine so it was "the best place to carry home the pizza".
 
The worst problem I had was the pin hole in the fuel pump diaphragm because of how long it took to find and fix it. It would appear to vapor lock - drive it and stop for a short while and it would not restart. Leave it sitting with the engine cover open for a bit and it would start up fine. I figured it out myself stuck on the side of the road. I took the fuel line off the carb and stuck it in a found coke bottle while my passenger cranked the car - nothing. When I called to get the part the indy parts guy (or course) knew all about the problem! Dealer and indy Fiat guy did not. He said "check the oil, it will be too high, too thin, and will smell like gas". One new fuel pump and oil/filter change later it was fixed. I should have called the parts guy rather than the mechanics?

#24973 of 32402 Re: Almost persuaded.... [au1994] by dwynne

Apr 25, 2012 (8:41 am)

Replying to: au1994 (Apr 25, 2012 3:38 am)
My first car (for $600) was a 1967 Mustang. Inline 6 with 3 on the floor and 100k plus on the clock. White with red vinyl seats. What a heap. Back then 100k was unusual so the car was pretty played out. I had to run 50 weight racing oil and hot plugs and huge coil so it would not foul plugs - but it still did. I left a smoke screen at most stop lights when I took off and carried tools and plugs to change them on the side of the road when the fouled out. I put a new clutch in it in my front yard on stands with my Mom (!) helping me lift the heavy tranny into place. No end to stuff I had to change out and fix on that car - a huge list.
 
When it finally expired I replaced it with a $300 Vega. Auto tranny with a sleeved replacement engine. Pretty decent car with one problem - some teeth missing from the flywheel. Engine stops with the bad teeth at the starter and you can't fire it up. Climb under the car with a giant wrench and hand crank it past the bad teeth and it fires right up.
 
Those were the good old days - NOT!

#24974 of 32402 Re: Almost persuaded.... [dwynne] by steve_ HOST

Apr 25, 2012 (9:03 am)

Replying to: dwynne (Apr 25, 2012 8:41 am)
Heh, I had a '74 Volvo like that but it had an access port underneath. All it took was a big screwdriver to move the flywheel a notch or two and it'd crank right up.
 
Then the rubber belows would crack and you'd be in for a tow.

#24975 of 32402 Road Trip by akangl

Apr 26, 2012 (4:39 pm)

We decided to take a road trip with the Sierra and the 24' trailer on Sunday to haul a friend's scout, about 500 miles round trip. Averaged 12.2 mpg through the mountains on the way there empty (trailer approx 4000 lbs) and 11.7 mpg on the way back loaded (trailer approx 8000 lbs).
 
It was a beautiful day, the truck pulled flawlessly (that allison transmission is very impressive), the trailer was quiet, but wow did that scout leak some gas, of course nobody knew that it did beforehand or we wouldnt have hauled it. Thankfully nothing bad happened and it was easy to push off the trailer when we got home since the risk of starting it inside was way too high.
 
I do believe we made the right choice in letting the F-150 go and moving up to a Sierra 2500HD duramax.
 
Next on the list is teaching my daughter to drive a manual transmission so she can have the Civic once we get moved and hubby can get a new car (I'm guessing he's thinking mustang or something along those lines).

#24976 of 32402 . by fintail

Apr 26, 2012 (6:44 pm)

Local Caddy dealer has a fun lineup of used sedans on the lot, all wearing prices on the windshields.. First gen CTS - $9988, late 90s Infiniti Maxima - $9988 (!), late 90s normal Maxima - $9988 (!), 95-96 Camry - $9988 (!!!). I think someone doesn't understand pricing.

#24977 of 32402 Re: . [fintail] by isellhondas

Apr 26, 2012 (6:58 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Apr 26, 2012 6:44 pm)
That Caddy dealer has been through some very interesting times.

#24978 of 32402 Re: . [isellhondas] by fintail

Apr 26, 2012 (7:13 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Apr 26, 2012 6:58 pm)
I think the local octogenarian set must be keeping them going, along with the trophy wife Escalade crowd. I don't see what else they sell - usually a very small assortment on the lot - which is also difficult to access and doesn't have the most visible frontage. I kind of liked the old style building they had downtown, still sitting abandoned since the real estate collapse. I guess now being located in the cast off Hummer building doesn't help anything, either, when the Barrier brands and Lexus all now have fancy new digs.

#24979 of 32402 Re: . [fintail] by au1994

Apr 27, 2012 (5:03 am)

Replying to: fintail (Apr 26, 2012 6:44 pm)
95-96 Camry for $10k? Holy Smokes...where's my checkbook!!

#24980 of 32402 Been shopping by anonymousposts

Apr 27, 2012 (5:47 am)

Still can't make up our minds. Too many choices, yet none of them seem exactly right.
 
Option 1: Keep driving the RAV4
Option 2: Toyota Prius ... great gas mileage but they get expensive fast when you add options
Option 3: Lexus CT200h ... more expensive than the Prius but its nicer and more of a real car.
Option 4: Used 3 series. Local dealer was willing to take $12,000 off a demo 328i with sport, nav, premium, etc.
 
Right now I am leaning towards just keeping the RAV4.

Messages Page 2498 of 3241

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