Re: I may be getting a car soon guys!!! (Car Buffs I need your opinion)
I'm with the other girls...a 97 with that much mileage is a bad idea.
For a car with a lot of miles, the first thing you should look at is the body. If it isn't in perfect shape, then you can bet that the inside parts aren't in good shape either (most people spend money on cosmetic changes/upkeep first...if they didnt even do that, you beter believe they didnt take car of the rest of it).
Just keep shopping around. I got a 94 Pontiac Grand Am, in perfect condition (it had one tiny paint chip on the bumper) with 30,000 miles, for $4,000. It ran perfectly, with absolutely no maintenence costs (not even a headlight change) until it got smashed in a parking lot (it was parked...a big ol HUmmer backed into it, crushing it against the cart corral).
American cars, especially in recent years, are notoriously unreliable, especially Ford.
I'd also recommend buying a car through a reliable dealership (No, not "honest Bob's Cars"...but any of the company dealerships...they usually will have other cars outside of their brand due to trade ins and such), rather than a private seller. In order to sell the car, they have to make sure it can pass an inspection, and most offer a warranty.
For instance, I just bought a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon in December, in terrific shape, low miles, and it is the love of my life. Three weeks after buying it, however, the engine wouldn't start. I called the dealership, and they sent (and paid) a tow truck to come get it to the nearest Hyundai dealership, paid for the repairs completely, and also paid for it to be detailed as an apology. THey had it brought back to me two days later, and it has been perfect ever since. A private dealer would have had no responsibility, and could have just said "sucks to be you, not my car anymore"...and I would have had to pay repairs for a car I had had onlyf or 3 weeks.
Re: I may be getting a car soon guys!!! (Car Buffs I need your opinion)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EtchyLives
I've owned a number of vehicles (9, actually) and am a self-proclaimed car-guy. I have a few questions with some possible answers and a few words of advice.
Questions
1. What is your price range and can you finance? $2k is really low money to pay for a car. ANY CAR. Domestic, German, Japanese or Korean. If at all possible set your target price to around $5k. Anything less than $5k you are FAR more likely to run into trouble.
2. What do you want to do with your car? If it's just getting around the city, look small and don't worry too much about engine size. As a general rule, the smaller the engine the cheaper the maintenance. If you need to get out on the highway, I would suggest getting nothing smaller than a 2 Liter engine. This means you will be choosing from a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder engine. The most engine anyone without kids REALLY needs is about 2.5 Liters. That's the max.
3. Do you live where it snows? If so, (especially since you're a new driver) then you want a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or All-Wheel Drive (AWD) car. FWD are the cheapest for maintenance and parts. AWD are not as cheap (Audi's are EXPENSIVE) but if properly maintained are great. If you go AWD, go Subaru. Their AWD system is far more robust than others out there.
4. Do you have a mechanic you trust? This is key. Find some car-smart people in your area (message boards similar to this one by owners of the same kind of car) and find the local forum area. Ask those people who they trust. I know on my other message boards if you ask you will get pointed in the right direction. Whenever I move (and I move a lot) I get on the message boards and get recommendations for good shops. I've never been disappointed, yet.
So in the end here are my recommendations:
1. FWD vehicle with a small engine. Toyota and Honda ARE great, but with gas prices going up, I know all of those in my area (MN) jumped in price $1-3k this spring. Hyundai and Kia are very reliable and even an 8-year old car should have the balance of warranty left.
2. AWD vehicle with slightly larger engine. Subaru's cost a bit more up front, but I know MANY cars that ran over 250,000 miles on their first engine.
3. What you don't want: A Rear-Wheel Drive car or a car with an engine larger than 3 Liters (or more than 6 cylinders). Also avoid German and Swedish cars (not because they are bad, but because they are more expensive to maintain.)
FYI: I drive a 2000 BMW, a 2002 Audi, and a 1994 Subaru.
Good luck, and PM if you'd like more details.
OK I gotta disagree with a few points here. Kia is perhaps one of the worst manufacturers of cars ever. I would buy a lecar first.
There are plenty of cars with sub 2 litre engines that are fine on the highway. Civics for instance, *cough* rx7 *cough* (not in her criteria but part of the point) Many cars can be fine with under 2 litres if done right.
Rear wheel drive is the cheapest for maint and parts by a long shot. Followed by front, followed by 4, then lastly awd.
THere are plenty of cheap to repair engines larger than 3 litres that are reliable. the 4 litre inline 6 from jeep is an excelent example. The 4.0 V6 from ford exploders and rangers is also a great engine, too bad the trucks are plagued with tons of other problems.
I just believe some info in here is a little misleading.
The reason I said a big no to the neon isnt safety. Its reliability. They are perhaps the most famous of all head gasket problems. Infact they go so often that mechanics developed a new technique to change them out.
Re: I may be getting a car soon guys!!! (Car Buffs I need your opinion)
You want her to drive an RX-7? Unless you know how to keep up on the maintenance, and you want a sports car as a DD, a rotary powered car is not the way to go...
I agree with all of your other points though Res, especially the Jeep's 4.0.
Re: I may be getting a car soon guys!!! (Car Buffs I need your opinion)
My post may not have been clear enough. I am not recomending her buy an Rx7 at all. just pointing out to the author of the other post that you can do plenty with less than 2 litres on the highway.
I personally would love an rx7 but they are tons of work