Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs: | reply to dirtyjeffer
Re: Recommend a used one?
Then have to pay thousands in repairs as the domestics will be hitting their out of warranty period. |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to markwp2001
said by markwp2001  :Budget is $4,000, it's going to have to be a few years old  sure, if all he looks at is Honda's and Toyota's.
he could probably get a decent domestic in that price range that isn't 10 years old.
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Today's motto: Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to bid farewell to personal responsibility and accountability. |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS
| reply to dirtyjeffer
said by dirtyjeffer : said by markwp2001 :
Ah, but the OP is not shopping for a new vehicle, so ten year old differences are important.
they shouldn't be, anything 10 years old is going to need repairs. Budget is $4,000, it's going to have to be a few years old
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Into music? tealeafgreen.com |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to markwp2001
said by markwp2001 :
Ah, but the OP is not shopping for a new vehicle, so ten year old differences are important.
they shouldn't be, anything 10 years old is going to need repairs.
quote:
Also, how would we know if "everyone makes great vehicles now"? Only time will tell, and the data right now is that certain makes are better than others.
there are differences, but as i said, the differences are not as significant as they used to be...don't forget, the 80's were over 20 years ago. 
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Today's motto: Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to bid farewell to personal responsibility and accountability. |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS
| reply to Anon
Ah, but the OP is not shopping for a new vehicle, so ten year old differences are important.
Also, how would we know if "everyone makes great vehicles now"? Only time will tell, and the data right now is that certain makes are better than others.
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Into music? tealeafgreen.com |
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aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA
| reply to Rxdoxx
When I was in college (late 80's) I have never bought any car more expensive than $400.
My reasoning was:
a) if something expensive breaks, I can just junk the car, and never need to worry about fixing it (never had anything more serious than clutch/waterpump/starter/alternator/rear main oil seal/tire/master cylinder/brakes)
b) if I wreck it -- big deal (did happen with an $350 Toyota, a day after I bought it  )
c) I won't need to worry much about my cars getting stolen (once I even left the key in the car by accident, but there were no takers  )
On the downside, they didn't look pretty, and I got stopped more than once just because my car didn't fit the neighborhood image. (Of course the "official reason" was something like 2 mph over the speed limit, cracked break light, etc.)
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And the winner is: |
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matt5
join:2001-10-06
Lagrangeville, NY
| reply to Rxdoxx
Re: Recommend a used one?
Honda, Toyota, older Jeeps with the in line 6.
Anyone who buys American has no idea whats going on.
Yes everyone will make cars that have a defect, however buddy of mine has 3 vehicles.
07 ford 350 (bought new) all options, front end is already 3-5 inches lower than new.
07 caddy XLR, leaks like hell so it smells. Been to dealer a few times for other issues as well (bought used with 3k miles)
09 Yukon Denali (bought new), leaks, also smells, been to dealer, still leaks.
3 of 3 suck, and those are high end cars and trucks.
Before the Yukon he had a GMC truck again top end one, by 80k miles door handles were breaking, had a clunk in the front end no one could find. American cars and trucks are junk.
Don't remember what make and model but, 6year old American car, blow motor goes bad, was around $200 for the blow motor, another $30 for the install kit... HAHA! |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS | reply to Anon
What is true is the long term reliability data; the issue of a newer domestic vs. an older Honda is a matter of opinion.
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Into music? tealeafgreen.com |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS
| reply to Rxdoxx
Re: Recommend a used one?
As mentioned earlier, Consumer Reports has extensive long term reliability data. No one else comes close, as far as I know. While specific models and specific years might vary, your best bets on inexpensive older cars are:
Honda and Toyota
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Into music? tealeafgreen.com |
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xj31
join:2005-09-25
Lake Villa, IL | reply to dirtyjeffer
They were crap,in the late 80's and early 90's.Now not so much.I thought they were great,I made a lot of money overhauling 604s.Nowadays we almost never see problems with them |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to CylonRed
yea, but everyone knows Chrysler transmissions are crap...they have been for years...much like the transmissions used in most domestic minivans.
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Today's motto: Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to bid farewell to personal responsibility and accountability. |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | reply to itguy05
quote:
Google Toyota Sludge or Honda Transmission..... Just as bad as the domestics.
Not in my experience - replaced the auto tranny in a Chrysler before it was 7 years old yet the 12 year old Accord Wagon's tranny is fine.
Chrysler is still far worse and my ILs 2000 Oddessy - the tranny was fixed for free or they replaced then for free. I got to pay $3400+ for the Chrysler. I know which one I trust more....
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Brian
"It drops into your stomach like a Abrams's tank.... driven by Rosanne Barr..." A. Bourdain |
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slaterK
join:2006-01-31
| reply to Rxdoxx
A late 90's Subaru Impreza would be the good AWD option.
Other than that, a civic is a great way to go. For 4k, you can probably get something from the 2000 era.
Maxima is a great car for little money, however they are frequently beat up and will generally not last as long as the cars above. Whatever he gets, he should look for one in good shape that has had its maintenance for the foreseeable future done. Concetrate on this more than actual mileage. A civic with 120k that has had all the major maintenance done recently can be way less expensive to own that one with 70k that just about to be due for the big stuff. |
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uber69er
join:2009-03-19
North of You | reply to Rxdoxx
Civic or Corolla |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to Pentaxian
said by Pentaxian :Find a used Subaru - good on gas, great in poor weather, very reliable. Repair costs will eat them up when it breaks down.
Honda is cheaper and much more reliable than Subaru.
Plus the Subaru boxer engine isn't as easy to work on for shops like the Honda inline 4.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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Pentaxian
Premium
join:2008-01-23
West Milford, NJ | reply to Rxdoxx
Find a used Subaru - good on gas, great in poor weather, very reliable. |
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Grumpy
Premium
join:2001-07-28
99999
clubs:
 ·AT&T Yahoo
1 edit | reply to Rxdoxx
One of my favorite sleepers: The late 80s Chevy Novas. They are 99.9% Toyota Corollas, built by Toyota, and badged as Chevys (the 0.1% part) Due to their age, they have become hard to find. They were popular with older folks, and so low mileage units are or were available. The pros - a reliable unit with reasonably priced parts. The cons - maximum MPG is around the mid 20s, perhaps due to carburetor design. The headliners fall down, which should be a 2 or 3 hundred dollar fix. The exterior 'rubber' or plastic based parts fade to white, yet that can be remedied with some car store potions and elixirs.
Another good value is used Buicks. Their design often lends them toward older buyers, which puts ego in the way of purchase for many, driving the prices down. |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to bemis
said by bemis :Don't count out the Taurus/Sable yet... My 2000 3.0 Duratec has done remarkably well in terms of repairs costs (avg less then $250/yr) and now has just over 100K miles. i have had equally good reliability from my 2000 Taurus (with the Duratec engine as well).
one thing i did at the 100,000 kms mark is a transmission flush with new fluid and filter...$80 at the Ford Dealership i get my service done at...it shifts as good as it did the day it was new. 
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Today's motto: Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to bid farewell to personal responsibility and accountability. |
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