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Smart Shopper Used Vehicles Best Values
948 messages, Last post on Aug 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
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Replying to: jipster (May 08, 2008 11:34 am) Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, Chevrolet Caprice (the smaller, 5-6 year old model) - all work fine as long as you stay away from the supercharger equipped models. But it's automatic... As for the 240, you need to find one in good condition and 1992 or 1993. By then they had worked out every last bug. And, yes, you will need 2-3K for repairs over the next 5-6 years, due to bits and pieces needing attention, but it is a great car. European handling, good reliability as far as mechanicals go, and fun to drive if it has a manual transmission. Still, it's cheaper in the long run than a 6K used car. A Volvo 940 is the same car with different sheet metal and a bit better options. They made this for a couple of extra years and it's also extremely good. I found both to be very BMW or VW like in their driving position, visibility, and direct feedback. *** The Tacoma is a *truck*, to be sure, but they also forgot to mention that it also is the most reliable one that you can buy. You can also add in a roll bar inside and side sliders/nerf bars for added side impact protection. My 4Runner has both and I'd feel safe rolling it while off-roading as a result. I'd rather roll over than cave in in a side impact. Here's what you'd want in a Tacoma: 2005, standard cab, normal bed. As short a wheelbase as possible, actually. This helps handling and makes it easier to park. 4x4 models sit an inch higher, but also are about two inches wider - bigger tires. And it gives you tons of warning that you are going fast, since it's a RWD truck with quite a bit of lean and understeer - unlike a lot of AWD SUVs that try to feel like a car and lull you into a false sense of complacency. With only 167HP from that 2.7L engine, and a 5 speed gearbox, it's never going to get fast enough to roll over, anyways, thanks to really short gearing. ie - 3K rpm at 70mph in 5th. 26-27mpg on the highway, but it won't comfortably go over 70-75mph, much like the GM cars won't. Or at least if you ARE going that fast, you know it since the engine is complaining. In my truck, btw... 0-60 is at least 12 seconds including time shifting. (1-2 is dreadfully slow - heh) There's nothing quick about it. But it WILL go over anything in bad weather.  In a BMW, you can fly past 90mph in 4th and not honestly notice it. Nothing changes other than the scenery suddenly is going by quicker. From that page the previous poster linked to, btw: "Automakers have been critical of NHTSA's rollover tests, since the agency uses a mathematical formula instead of a moving test to predict rollover. NHTSA stands by the test as a good predictor of vehicle behavior." I bet a lot of SUVs would fare much worse, like the Xterra. http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2007/toyota/tacoma/crash_test_ratings/index.html The new 2005+ ones are more than 6K, but they also got 5 stars. Rollover rating for the newer ones is 4 out of 5 stars. The things are tanks, to be honest. they certainly won't be on the receiving end if a SUV hits them, unlike a Yaris, which basically saves you the cost of a coffin - just bury you in it instead of taking it apart to get what's left out. But... they also run 12K for 4x4 and about 10K for 2WD. Still, 4x4 do depreciate very slowly. It will be worth 7-8K or more in another 5 years, while a ten year old Buick will be worth whatever you can donate it for. And, yes, a boring Taurus would also work, but for those years, they aren't as nice or reliable as a GM, which you can buy, drive into the ground, and toss. |
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Replying to: plekto (May 08, 2008 5:54 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (May 08, 2008 5:54 pm)  Pretty much any volvo with a 4 in the middle is a good bet (i think... unless i'm forgetting something). HOWEVER, all of those are RWD. Depending on where she lives, maybe not a good idea. Yes, many of us learned on RWD because used FWD cars weren't common 20 years ago ... but we also learned with far fewer people on the roads. I think the Protege is an excellent suggestion, as is the Buick. I'm not really feeling warm and fuzzy about a truck for a teenage girl. Call me crazy.
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Replying to: qbrozen (May 09, 2008 9:23 am) I like the slow and boring. For about that money I got my daughter a 99 Camry. As it turned out I found the one 4 Cyl Camry with a motor issue but things happen. If I'd been driving it I would have seen the problem before it became a big issue. We fixed it and she loves the thing. NO explaining taste... It is the quietest car in the stable. Volvo issues are exactly as stated. You can't kill the cars but eventually all the doors will stop working and you won't be able to get into the car, If you can it will run however. A Century would be great. So would a Protege or Altima. All good choices. Good thought on punting on the original choices. |
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Replying to: qbrozen (May 09, 2008 9:23 am) The gearing on any of the manual Volvos is perfectly spaced for city traffic and as a result, it drives like a much smaller car. ie - performance was everything, economy wasn't. That said, the 4 or 5 cylinder engine does get about 30 highway. A Volvo 850 non-turbo does 0-60 in 8.8 seconds. The 960 in 8.9. A 940 or 240 in... 9.2 These aren't fast by todays standards, so they make for good choices as they will always be a bit slower than the surrounding traffic, yet their Autobahn capable suspension and 32-24 ft turning radius doesn't mean that they aren't safe. I dodged stuff in the 240 I had that most cars wouldn't have had a hope avoiding. ABS and BMW 3 series handling makes for excellent avoidance handling. Yeah, it's no 3 series in terms of power, though. The 4 cylinder models make a whopping 120 HP or so. (hence the get a 4 and manual suggestion) Plus, the retro boxy look is actually an "in" thing right now. I like to think of late 90s Volvos as the European Buick - just done right. Same power to weight ratio and reliability. But worlds better safety, features, and handling. A 240, 850(non turbo), 940, or 960 - all are decent choices with tons of safety features.
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Replying to: plekto (May 09, 2008 12:02 pm) |
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The others have given you good advise. By all means DO NOT even think about buying an Audi or any european car. They don't age well and they will cause you nothing but expensive trouble. the chances of finding a 240 volvo are almost nil and I disagree about how reliable they are. Wonderful engines and tough bodies but as they age, the electrical problems will eat you up. Hondas and Toyota make the most sense but they hold their resale values so well that 6000.00 won't get you much. I agree on the Buick or Pontiac but ONLY with the bulletproof 3800 engine. I've also found that a well taken care of Saturn can be a lot of car for the money. |
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Replying to: jipster (May 09, 2008 4:14 am) The thing is LOADED. Heated mirrors, electrocramtic (sp?) mirrors (great for night driving), rain sensing wipers, side impact air bags, front air bags, traction control, heads up display, homelink, daytime running lights, automatic lights, dimming feature for interior and exterior lights, auto climate control, steering wheel controls, rear air conditioning vents, key fob with alarm and trunk release, compass on the mirror, the power seats are GREAT they adjust UP and Down which can come in handy when driving on the road with SUV's, heated seats, cd, cassette (which will accept a mp3 player adapter), etc. Im sure im forgetting something.. OH.. and good crash test ratings (which you have to remember are bit misleading because they are only applicable if you hit something the same size as you are. Could you imagine the damage of a corrolla hitting a lesabre.. nuff said). Plus it has the 3.8L engine which is low maintenance and easy to fix. That Hyundai is expensive to repair, my friend has one and frankly the ride is NOTHING compared to the Buick and the Hyundai felt cheap to me and not as comfy. My Buick is going to my daughter in 5 years when she is ready to drive and im buying the newer version with the 3.8L engine (by then the car will have 100,000 miles on it and still have many more years left). Im sold and im not OLD either, im 30 years young. I LOVE my car and know a couple of people who had the same engine that lasted WELL over 200,000 with no problems (one sold their bonneville with 242,000 miles on it about 4 years ago and its still running, only major problem was water pump failure and some sensor, the car still had the original spark plugs in it at 242k). If they want a little sporter car you could look into the Chevy Impala LS (3.8l engine), Pontiac Grand Prix, or the Buick Regal. My mechanic said to stay away from the Century. The engine has power, so be careful. It would be really easy to get into trouble with any of these cars but in situations when you need to move the car moves. |
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Replying to: tkcolorado (May 14, 2008 12:24 pm) Makes me wonder what other maintenance they skimped on and it still went 242,000 miles! The 3800 engine has a long history. It's been much modified but it came to life in 1962 in Buick Specials. Buicks like most domestics depreciate liuke a rock so they can be a great buy as used cars. |
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Replying to: tkcolorado (May 14, 2008 12:24 pm) **** The Century came with the 3.4 and 3.1 engines for the most part. With GM, it's either a 3.8L engine or a V8 Northstar. Nearly every other engine they make has problems. But those two are Toyota reliable. I recommend the Grand Prix. 1:Less expensive initially. 2:More rental models, which means more depreciation/cheaper used cost) 3:Better suspension. The LeSabre is very soft and will annoy most drivers who are used to anything better. 4:Better shifter layout. The typical Grand Prix has a shifter between the seats. IT's automatic, but it's all in a single row, so 1, 2, 3, or 4 is just a matter of bumping the shifter up or down a notch. Much easier than the stalk on the column. 5:While it can be had with supercharged engines and such, the base model is rated at about 180HP or so, which is the lowest HP model of the 3.8 engine currently sold. It won't get you into trouble nearly as quickly. 6:Less bling. No need for leather or whatnot if the kid is going to slowly kill it..
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