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What's the best vehicle for my needs?

1145 messages,  Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM

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#978 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [morin2] by plekto Jul 04, 2009 (10:44 am)
Replying to: morin2 (Jul 04, 2009 7:44 am) I forgot to mention my own personal list of vehicles:   81 Buick Regal - slow but impossible to kill. 84 Buick Regal - same exact car, different dash. Died in accident. 75 Volvo 164E - bulletproof and simple. No smog. 81 Dodge Colt/Mitsubishi Mirage. Indestructible but slow as a slug. 87 Buick LeSabre - transmission finally gave out so tossed it. 90 Volvo 240. Loved this car. Sold eventually as I wanted something better. 67 Mercedes 230S. This was it. Lovely car. Would still have it if the *entire* engine didn't need replacing at $4-6K. 87 4Runner. 380K on the odometer. Can't kill it - repels yuppies. (plus a bunch of smaller stuff and motorcycles)   I've never bought anything new. Either classic or 5-8 years old at the time. Sure stuff breaks, but nothing bad.   The average person spends half a million dollars in their lifetime if they do nothing but buy new cars all the time. I won't likely spend 1/5th that.   What are thr criteria? Also, will she drive manual(anyone can learn - that's not an issue, really). I've spent less maintaining my 5 vehicles with manuals so far than even ONE of my Buicks' automatics. This is the easiest way to keep a car running for cheap. And it's a good skill to learn.(plus a turn-on to guys she might date later on - heh)   *** As for the crash test - you'll notice that the 2nd row was fine since it was past the crumple zone. If the seats have headrests, it's very rare to have major injuries in a rear collision in a sedan.(if RWD, the rear axle is about as good as an engine block in stopping further crumpling) At worst, they get pushed forward into the front seats which are padded. Maybe break their legs at worst. But 6 inches from the back like a lot of 3rd rows are... yeah... way too close. Get a full size van or SUV if you really need to carry 6 or more people. Replies to this message: asafonov (Jul 13, 2009 1:50 pm) tidester (Jul 13, 2009 7:40 pm) jeffyscott (Jul 13, 2009 8:06 pm) and 3 more...
#979 of 1145 Re: Turbocharged cars [demigawd] by jchan2 Jul 04, 2009 (4:42 pm)
Replying to: demigawd (Jun 24, 2009 11:33 am) If you're going to consider a Volvo, I also have to throw in a suggestion for a Saab.   Yes, the '03-'05 9-3s had some rather troubling reliability problems, but the ancient 9-5 has been pretty solidly reliable after about 2003, and in your price range, you might be able to get into an '06 9-3 if you really wanted to.   Sure, they're not AWD/4WD, but they are FWD and known as decent snow cars. Avoid the V6 on the 9-5 (2004 and up models were 4 cylinder only) and you should be good to go...   Generally, all Saabs depreciate like crazy because on the new end they are discounted like crazy since they are (in my opinion) overpriced on the new end.   You might also consider a Saab 9-2X, which was basically just a rebadged Subaru Impreza. Given that you're looking in Chicagoland (if I recall correctly) you should be able to find plenty of Saabs, although the 9-2X can be rather difficult to find since it was never really popular to begin with.
#980 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [jeffyscott] by fritzi2 Jul 05, 2009 (10:42 pm)
Replying to: jeffyscott (Jul 04, 2009 4:26 am) Thanks everyone. These are really great suggestions. She has a friend who is a mechanic who has offered to not only go with her but make any repairs that she needs free of charge. The problem is finding a used car with the money she has and it's not much, believe me. I just don't understand why a bank is willing to finance her for 18 months at 12.5% when the loan is over $9,000 but ups the interest rate to 24% when the loan amount is only $6,000. Each way the payments are $100.00/mo over what she can reasonably afford to pay. I have to respect the kid in that she refuses to go over what she knows she can afford. Unfortunately, we don't have an extra car for her to use so it looks like I will be driving her to and from work for a while. Since she only works about 3 miles from home, she is toying with buying a used Vespa for the commute during the summer. If nothing else, please keep us in your prayers. Replies to this message: jeffyscott (Jul 06, 2009 6:13 am) morin2 (Jul 06, 2009 3:12 pm) erniesdad (Jul 08, 2009 7:17 am) dtownfb (Jul 09, 2009 8:01 am)
#981 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [fritzi2] by jeffyscott Jul 06, 2009 (6:13 am)
Replying to: fritzi2 (Jul 05, 2009 10:42 pm) Unless she has a bad credit rating, both those rates seem very high. The highest used auto loan rate my credit union is showing is 8.4%, that rate applies to '94 to '99 models. (Even credit card from my credit union are "only" at 6-14% interest rates)   Another possibility...I see chase and citi offering 0% for 12 months on some credit cards. I'm sure there are other deals like that out there. Also with my existing credit cards I often get "checks" that have promotional rates of 0% or close to it. These deals are never worth it to me, as they have transaction fees of 3-5%, but something like that might work for her, if she gets such offers and has a high enough limit on the card, and is careful to be sure she can pay it off in the allotted time.
#982 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [fritzi2] by morin2 Jul 06, 2009 (3:12 pm)
Replying to: fritzi2 (Jul 05, 2009 10:42 pm) Did you say 3 miles or was that a typo? If my one way commute was 3 and not 54 miles, I would walk it or ride a bike. I walk about 3 miles at lunchtime for exercise. Would walking these 3 miles take her through dangerous neighborhoods or across highways? I'm an old fart of 54, but even I can walk a measured mile in 15-16 minutes.
#983 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [fritzi2] by erniesdad Jul 08, 2009 (7:17 am)
Replying to: fritzi2 (Jul 05, 2009 10:42 pm) 3 Miles? Honestly, get a bicycle. $500 can get an excellent commuter bike that can be ridden in street clothes with nice wide tires. for a comfortable ride. Get a quality lock(kryptonite ulock or something similar), and she can save the money on gas and insurance to save up for a better car later. 3 miles is less than 20 minutes ride time, even on a slow bike with a slow rider, in difficult terrain.
#984 of 1145 1996 Olds 88 LS questions by lhy Jul 09, 2009 (4:16 am)
I am looking at buying a used 1996 Olds 88 LS. It has low mileage of 40K. One owner. Clean title. The seller is asking $3900 for it.   In general, what do you think of the mechanical reliability of this model, especially the engine (intake manifold issues) and transmission?   What kind of gas mileage does this car get, especially in the city?   Are the maintenance and repair costs more expensive since this is a discontinued line? Replies to this message: suydam (Jul 09, 2009 5:19 am) imidazol97 (Jul 09, 2009 5:35 am) morin2 (Jul 09, 2009 5:33 pm) qbrozen (Jul 10, 2009 6:56 am) lhy (Jul 09, 2009 9:40 pm) corvette (Jul 10, 2009 7:01 am) imidazol97 (Jul 10, 2009 7:10 am) lhy (Jul 10, 2009 9:30 pm) imidazol97 (Jul 11, 2009 7:52 am) and 3 more...
#985 of 1145 Re: 1996 Olds 88 LS questions [lhy] by suydam Jul 09, 2009 (5:19 am)
Replying to: lhy (Jul 09, 2009 4:16 am) If you look at Edmund's used car prices, this vehicle would sell between $1800 and $2300 in my area. If it really has such low miles (very suspicious on a 13 year old car) then it has most likely sat somewhere for years. Parts can be dried out and cracked from non-use. So its low mileage isn't really enough to warrant such a high price, especially considering that it's a discontinued line.
#986 of 1145 Re: 1996 Olds 88 LS questions [lhy] by imidazol97 Jul 09, 2009 (5:35 am)
Replying to: lhy (Jul 09, 2009 4:16 am) Mileage? Definition of city is variable. If you're talking about stoplights every block or two and 35 mph with AC running, I'd guess about 18. If you're talking about 1 mile or two between stoplights and 40-45 mph, I'd guess at about 22. That's for a normal, gentle driver. If you're talking more suburban type driving, that'll go up to 24.5 for my leSabres. Highway trips can be 33 on flatter ground with 3 people, full of luggage and coolers and AC at 65. Hilly areas cut down the mileage.   If the car has been maintained with coolant changes through those 12 years about every 3 years with fresh DexCool I'd say you're about 50/50 for eventual seeps around the seals under the upper intake manifold. If it had green coolant that goes way down. If coolant was never changed and it's DexCool, I'd expect to change the UIM gasket with an aftermarket replacement--about $150 for part-- and about 5 hours of labor at a local shop who's done them before. If coolant is old style green, I'd feel a lot safer; early DexCool had a different formula and was changed after a couple of years. I am NOT sure your car came with DexCool.   The other factor is the EGR tube up through the UIM heats up and causes deterioration and leakage. I'd expect that on a car driven highway rather than short trips, which is what a car with 40K on it would have.   Change the coolant with a flush if you get it. You can do that in your driveway. I'd put in the longlife Mixes with Any Color by Prestone.   Transmission is the 4T60E which is a durable transmission by GM. Only problems come from abuse or lack of maintenance and a pressure control modulator that occasionally weakens. It can be replaced by dropping the pan like for a fluid and filter change. Unless fluid has been changed by owner, I'd drop the pan and replace filter with a good brand and put in Dexron III by Walmart called Supertech. Do not allow a shop to sell the easy and profitable "flush" they like to use. Seven quarts max needed. These engines and transmission do really well with regular service.
#987 of 1145 Re: I need help finding a car that my daughter can afford [fritzi2] by dtownfb Jul 09, 2009 (8:01 am)
Replying to: fritzi2 (Jul 05, 2009 10:42 pm) Basically she is looking for a $3000 car. I would begin looking at 8-9 year old GM cars. they will be high mileage but the engine and transmissions are pretty durable. The mechanic should be able to keep a car like this running for at least 2 years/24,000 miles.   Are you in position to lend her $1000 to put toward the car? this way she can put $2000 down (save the rest for insurance) and pay $100 a month and be done with payments in a year...even if it is a high interest loan.

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