Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 26 to 44 of 44

Thread: Help me decide on a car

  1. #26
    Featured Member yogibear179's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2007
    Location
    R.I
    Posts
    751
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 31 Times in 26 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    well if you do buy a car buy it on the second to last day or the last day of the month, that is the best days to buy a car.
    Also you're in luck, september, oct and novemeber are the best months to buy a car

    lol that might help

    but about the car... my friend has a tiboron and its so awesome =D


  2. #27
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    To answer all the questions:
    1) My car has been shaking when I start it since August, but only when I start it, not at all after I get going. (took it for 2 diagnostics tests at autozone and came u with nothing)
    2) ocassionally it will hesitate to start, but it always has in the end.
    3) About 2 or 3 weeks ago the arrow was moving to hot, but only when I accelerated so I brought it back on over to autozone (test #2) and when the guy pulled the radiator cap off the shit shot out all over him. He said even with a hot engine there shouldn't have been that much pressure. Also, most of my reserve of coolant was gone too.
    4)Autozone guy put coolant in both radiator and reserve an dsent me on my way, warning me that I may now have engine damage and to look for white smoke. He also said I may have damaged my thermostat because I'm not sure how long my arrow was moving up when I accelerated (and only when I accelerated)
    5) on the way back from autozone my car overheats- smoke and all, so I put on the heater full blast and drive the 30 ft or so back into my complex
    6) I call a friend and explained what happened and he says there could have been an air bubble an dto put the rest of the coolant in the radiator, but to let the car cool for at least 3 hours first. I do this, I also call autozone to ask why it over heated and they also tell me probably an air bubble.
    7) Thusday night my service engine soon light comes on, so I take it in Friday morning
    guy tells me it's a miss fire code and to bring it back in on monday.
    9) Brought it backin and explained I wanted a full work up on everything that could be wrong because I have done No maintnance other than breaks and oil changes ever, an dthe fluid refills at the oil change place.
    10) guy calls me today and tells me it'll be about $800 for repairs which include
    a) replacing very fouled spark plugs
    b) replacing leaky radiator hose
    c) replacing air hose an drefilling with freon (this stopped working about a month ago

    d) My window sticks on humid days so he suggested repairing that
    e) discount tire apparently gave me one tire that was a different size than my other three (I told him I'd take that up with them.

    So, I think that's all but I can't remember. Anyway, it's at this point that I remember to mention the shaking an dthat's when he suggested the head gaskett.

    He says that he left the car sitting for about 6 hrs. and only drove it from the parking lot into the garage and when he unscrewed the radiator cap that there was a lot of pressure.

    That's when I tell him about the guy at autozone. I completely forgot to mention that it over heated. Then he tells me it's very likely that it's the head gaskett. Says from everything I told him he's probably 90% sure. Say's with the miles on the car it might not be worth it to fix (it's a 2001 nissan sentra, 100,000 miles almost)

    He says the only way to be sure is if I do the other work an dthe car still has problems. That I'd know for sure within a month or tow of fixing it depending on how much I drive. (I live about 50 miles from work)

    So, I told him fix the radiator and spark plugs and forget about the rest, we can see from there. He doesn't work for any car company. I actually spent a few hours researching mechanics in the austin area before I took my car to them.

    They had the best reveiws for both work and honesty over and over again. I did this becasue PEPBoYS has had my little bros car on and off since august keeping telling him it's one problem and then oh sorry it's this other thing. It's november now and my bro just got his car back the day i took mine in. This is partly the reason I waite dso long to do this shit, because I couldn't jack my moms car to use because my bro had it already.
    Oh, and I need an oil change. I get the expensive one that's supposed to last 5,000 miles an dI havn't changed it since July, and have no idea how many miles I've put on it since then, but i was low.

    Ok that's every ;ast little deatil. For thos eof you who read it all, Bless You for caring that much about my car *hugs*
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  3. #28
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    I'd also like to add that I bought thi scar used at just over 32,000 miles in 2004 or 2005- from car max if that makes a difference.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  4. #29
    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Gettin the fuck outta Dodge!
    Posts
    14,241
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Don't get a Chevy! Or anything American for that matter. Best cars I've ever had by far are Japanese. Honda Civic is a fucken GREAT car for the money and in your price range. Honda also has a Fit that is smaller and cheaper than the Civic, and would be worlds better than a friggin Chevy, ugh.

    Of all the cars I've had I'm most partial to Hondas, but I also had a Suzuki Swift that I bought new in 1994, sold to a girl I worked with in 1999, and in 2004 she was STILL driving it and said it ran like a champ. For all I know she still drives it LOL! Also had a Mitsubishi Mirage that was a really good car. Go Japanese.

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

  5. #30
    Banned
    Joined
    Feb 2007
    Location
    ATX
    Posts
    3,502
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    wait- what kind of car is it again?

  6. #31
    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,776
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Quote Originally Posted by BrunetteGoddess View Post
    Eh, new engine shouldn't automatically mean replacement. Mine was replaced 80,000 miles ago and now it has 185,000 miles

    Here's another great car review site by owners:

    .


    yeah but replacing the car engine at 100,000 is kind of extreme.

    most cars' engines should last at LEAST bare minimum to 200,000+ miles
    and that's what the mechanic probably meant about the other stuff probably being not worth working a new engine into.

  7. #32
    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2006
    Location
    "Trinity Vicinity" Wilmington, Delaware
    Posts
    797
    Thanks
    72
    Thanked 55 Times in 38 Posts
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    To answer all the questions:
    1) My car has been shaking when I start it since August, but only when I start it, not at all after I get going. (took it for 2 diagnostics tests at autozone and came u with nothing)
    Sounds like a cylinder not firing. It could be related to the ignition system, itself, but if the plugs are actually fouled, it is either oil or coolant leaking into the engine, which would mean a bad head gasket.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    2) ocassionally it will hesitate to start, but it always has in the end.
    This could be the bad cylinder or cylinders.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    3) About 2 or 3 weeks ago the arrow was moving to hot, but only when I accelerated so I brought it back on over to autozone (test #2) and when the guy pulled the radiator cap off the shit shot out all over him. He said even with a hot engine there shouldn't have been that much pressure. Also, most of my reserve of coolant was gone too.
    IF the water pump is directly powered off of the crankshaft, then the coolant pressure should increase with RPM's. However, if the leak is actually OIL, then you could have the engine heat up from improper lubrication, which would also cause the coolant to be too hot and pressurized in the radiator. If there is smoke coming out of the exhaust that looks black or gray, then oil is leaking into the engine. There would be a burnt oil residue inside the exhaust outlet, as well. With coolant leaking into the engine, the exhaust usually looks like bright white steam.

    Oil smoke smells like burnt oil. Coolant smells sweet.

    In either case, as long as there is still coolant circulating, you'll have the radiator hot enough to have high pressure.

    A cylinder compression test will determine if there is a leak in any of the cylinders.

    One concern with any overheating issue is whether the heat in one specific part of the engine increased, uncontrolled, to a point where the metal began to change shape. With some aluminum engines, the main block could even melt. With others, the metal could warp. If part of the engine warps, then pieces come out of alignment, leak more and could become dangerous.

    If the problem is an oil leak, not only do you get the heat buildup concern, but the heat buildup results from metal brushing against metal, which wears the surfaces down and opens up large gaps where small ones are supposed to be. This can result in decreased efficiency of the engine, even if it doesn't result in anything becoming unbalanced or developing fatigue fractures.

    If it is a gasket problem, and if the leak did not let enough heat build up to warp anything, changing the gasket should fix the problem. In either case, the thermostat's components have probably been over-stressed and will require that the thermostat be replaced.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    4)Autozone guy put coolant in both radiator and reserve and sent me on my way, warning me that I may now have engine damage and to look for white smoke. He also said I may have damaged my thermostat because I'm not sure how long my arrow was moving up when I accelerated (and only when I accelerated)
    Just having the car overheat usually cooks the thermostat. They aren't all that resilient.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    5) on the way back from autozone my car overheats- smoke and all, so I put on the heater full blast and drive the 30 ft or so back into my complex
    Bright white, or gray or black?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    6) I call a friend and explained what happened and he says there could have been an air bubble and to put the rest of the coolant in the radiator, but to let the car cool for at least 3 hours first. I do this, I also call autozone to ask why it over heated and they also tell me probably an air bubble.
    Assuming the car didn't sit for more than ten minutes, there is a possibility that opening the raditor cap left enough air in the system to affect the circulation of coolant when you left, but if the radiator cap was on and both the radiator and the reserve were full, the water pump should not have had any difficulty drawing coolant from the radiator and through the engine.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    7) Thusday night my service engine soon light comes on, so I take it in Friday morning
    guy tells me it's a miss fire code and to bring it back in on monday.
    9) Brought it backin and explained I wanted a full work up on everything that could be wrong because I have done No maintnance other than breaks and oil changes ever, and the fluid refills at the oil change place.
    10) guy calls me today and tells me it'll be about $800 for repairs which include
    a) replacing very fouled spark plugs
    fouled with what? oil generally looks black, coolant usually looks green or white.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    b) replacing leaky radiator hose
    probably a good idea, regardless, if you keep the car

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    c) replacing air hose an drefilling with freon (this stopped working about a month ago
    air conditioning? did the refigerant vent out, or is it a vacuum hose being replaced?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post

    d) My window sticks on humid days so he suggested repairing that
    As in a power window motor not working, or does it physically stick to its frame?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    e) discount tire apparently gave me one tire that was a different size than my other three (I told him I'd take that up with them.
    check to see if the tire people accidentally put the fourth proper-size tire in the spare tire compartment

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post

    So, I think that's all but I can't remember. Anyway, it's at this point that I remember to mention the shaking and that's when he suggested the head gasket.

    He says that he left the car sitting for about 6 hrs. and only drove it from the parking lot into the garage and when he unscrewed the radiator cap that there was a lot of pressure.

    That's when I tell him about the guy at autozone. I completely forgot to mention that it over heated. Then he tells me it's very likely that it's the head gasket. Says from everything I told him he's probably 90% sure. Say's with the miles on the car it might not be worth it to fix (it's a 2001 nissan sentra, 100,000 miles almost)

    He says the only way to be sure is if I do the other work and the car still has problems. That I'd know for sure within a month or two of fixing it depending on how much I drive. (I live about 50 miles from work)

    So, I told him fix the radiator and spark plugs and forget about the rest, we can see from there. He doesn't work for any car company. I actually spent a few hours researching mechanics in the austin area before I took my car to them.

    They had the best reveiws for both work and honesty over and over again. I did this becasue PEPBoYS has had my little bros car on and off since august keeping telling him it's one problem and then oh sorry it's this other thing. It's november now and my bro just got his car back the day i took mine in. This is partly the reason I waite dso long to do this shit, because I couldn't jack my moms car to use because my bro had it already.
    Oh, and I need an oil change. I get the expensive one that's supposed to last 5,000 miles and I havn't changed it since July, and have no idea how many miles I've put on it since then, but i was low.
    If you kept your receipt, you should be able to find out. Also, if you call the people who did that July oil change, they could tell you.

    Even if it was 5,000-10,000 miles on the oil, it should just get black, not get particularly low. If your car is having an oil leak, you should keep checking the oil and keep it to the correct "full" level until you get the gasket repaired.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post

    Ok that's every last little deatil. For those of you who read it all, Bless You for caring that much about my car *hugs*
    ED E’ SUBITO SERA

    Ognuno sta solo sul cuor della terra
    trafitto da un raggio di sole:
    ed è subito sera

    --Salvatore Quasimodo--

    =============================

  8. #33
    Pamela
    Guest

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Quote Originally Posted by Bridgette View Post
    Don't get a Chevy! Or anything American for that matter. Best cars I've ever had by far are Japanese. Honda Civic is a fucken GREAT car for the money and in your price range. Honda also has a Fit that is smaller and cheaper than the Civic, and would be worlds better than a friggin Chevy, ugh.

    Of all the cars I've had I'm most partial to Hondas, but I also had a Suzuki Swift that I bought new in 1994, sold to a girl I worked with in 1999, and in 2004 she was STILL driving it and said it ran like a champ. For all I know she still drives it LOL! Also had a Mitsubishi Mirage that was a really good car. Go Japanese.
    Mitsubishi is American made.

    To be practical. Honda and Toyota dominate these days, as they make many nice models at different prices for just about anyone.

    Me, i LOVE my Mustang, first american made car i owned...and it kicks ass! Parts are cheap, always stocked!

  9. #34
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    For the past 15+ years I have always used the following approach ...

    - buy a Japanese car design ... best combination of reliability plus fuel economy plus resale value plus performance

    - buy a 1-2 year old car instead of a new one. This takes the edge off initial depreciation, but still leaves plenty of 'life'. If possible look for a 'program car' i.e. a fleet return or dealer demo / loaner or lease car return, because legally speaking you will be the first registered owner besides the car manufacturer. This usually means you get the full manufacturer's warrantee, and your purchase as first legally registered owner means you're also likely to be eligible for factory financing and incentive programs.

    Fawn, you didn't mention what year, make and model of car you presently have that has 100,000 miles on it. Some cars are worth investing serious repair money in because you can expect to get 150k or 200k miles out of it before everything else starts falling apart. But there are other cars where 100,000 miles indicates the probable onset of all sorts of future problems, such that you're better off saving the repair money. If the car in question is a 'budget' model American car it probably falls in the latter category.

    Personally, I have had fantastic luck with mitsubishi's and subarus. Hondas are excellent cars but a bit overpriced due to the 'mystique' among American car buyers. Some of the newest model American cars (like the 'Stang' or my favorite the Caddy XLR) aren't too shabby either, but you won't find them on the used market yet.

  10. #35
    Pamela
    Guest

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Ok my ex just told me that Dodge is making Mitsubishi. He has an Eclipse.
    I have heard that as well, and he says he will not buy another one because of this.

    Anyone?

  11. #36
    God/dess lestat1's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2002
    Location
    NY Capital District
    Posts
    3,775
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 1,943 Times in 696 Posts
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    My family has always had Hondas and Toyotas, so this notion of a car being dead at a mere 100,000 miles is new to me. Spend the extra money and go for a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla.
    Quote Originally Posted by _Avery_ View Post
    omg, why is it so huge?!! lol lol

  12. #37
    Pamela
    Guest

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Quote Originally Posted by lestat1 View Post
    My family has always had Hondas and Toyotas, so this notion of a car being dead at a mere 100,000 miles is new to me. Spend the extra money and go for a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla.
    I second that. There are tons of them on the roads in Florida, good looking, and you never see them on the back of a tow!!!!

  13. #38
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Ok my ex just told me that Dodge is making Mitsubishi. He has an Eclipse.
    Prior to Chrysler Corp being bought out by Mercedes a few years ago, Chrysler had a long-standing partnership with Mitsubishi. This in itself was a legacy from Chrysler's buyout of Jeep I think ... because Mitsubishi did produce Eagle Talons for Jeep. So for most of the 90's Chrysler made use of lots of mitsubishi based engines and transmissions not only in Jeeps but also in Dodges. But Mercedes threw the Mitsubishi partnership overboard when they bought Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep ... at least in terms of using Mitsubishi engines and transmissions in cars with Dodge nameplates ... which were in turn replaced with Mercedes based components (i.e. the Chrysler Crossfire is almost all Mercedes design).

    The Mitsubishi cars being sold today are designed, produced and sold as an entirely separate car brand, and the Mitsubishi cars have all been redesigned since Mitsubishi parted ways with Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep. Chrysler Corp has now been bought by Cerberus, which is a private investor group. If there is any linkage remaining between Chrysler and Mitsubishi it would most likely only be at a stock ownership level.

    IMHO today's Mitsubishi's are not as good as Hondas or Subarus. But they are significantly less expensive too on a feature by feature basis. IMHO Mitsubishi and Toyota are at about the same level. Personally speaking I have owned 4 different Mitsubishi Eclipse ( = Eagle Talon), a '90 (which I drove 140,000 miles), a 95(which I totalled almost immediately), another '95 (which I drove 130,000 miles) and a '98 (which I am still driving as a back-up). The only reason that I stopped buying Mitsubishi's after the '98 is that after Mercedes bought Chrysler and cancelled the Mitsubishi partnership in 1999, Mitsubishi of Japan decided not to continue building 4 wheel drive models (which is a must where I live) - which pretty much forced me to make the leap to Subaru.

    ~
    Last edited by Melonie; 11-14-2007 at 11:50 AM.

  14. #39
    Veteran Member BmiWMT14's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2007
    Location
    In the Northeast
    Posts
    573
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    From what you have described, it does indeed sound like a Head gasket. Now depending on the rest of the car and the shape it is in, it may or may not be worth fixing.

    One of the problems with head gasket failures if that anti freeze can get into you engine oil, causing problems later on that are not immediately evident. When this happens it is possible to have a main bearing failure in the engine. If may not be immediate, but could happen a few months after the head gasket job. ( Chevy Tahoes are notorious for this). The Mechanic you have chosen may be aware of this scenario, and is trying to steer you in the right direction.

    Now what car would I buy? If your willing to get a used car a few years old, I would suggest a 2005 or newer VW Jetta TDI. The car is very roomy, comfortable, drives like a dream, and best of all gets 45+ MPG we have had ours for almost 60000 miles and have had zero problem with the car.
    You Cant Quit until you try, You cant live until you die, You Cant learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie.You Cant Breath Until you choke,You gotta Laugh When your the Joke, Theres Nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive! Will you swear on your life, that no one will cry at my Funeral!
    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Yes please save me from this life of debauchery! You can all kneel down and worship at the Church of the Holy Clitoris to convince me!!

  15. #40
    Featured Member NatalieFRPhilly's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,557
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    I would recommend getting like a 2006 or 2007 used honda civic..they are great cars. Tiberons are cute but my sister has a manual one and the clutch goes out like every 3 months it seems like!! The cobalt would be a bad idea too..one of my ex bfs was in a car accident and the air bag failed to deploy, he ended up in a coma for 3 months. I don't trust those cars.

    Good luck though, but I would really recommend the civic. If I hadn't of wanted an suv I'd have bought a civic myself.

  16. #41
    Featured Member minnow's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2007
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    1,003
    Thanks
    242
    Thanked 519 Times in 315 Posts
    Blog Entries
    10
    My Mood
    Twisted

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer View Post
    Maintenance is cheaper than depreciation.
    There comes a time when the aggravation of chasing down a bunch of little (and not so little) problems negates the purpose of owning a car in the 1st place. It appears that that point has been reached by OP, in her mind.

    I've rented both the Cobalt, and Toyota Corolla- go for the Corolla. As mentioned by another poster, the Hyundai is another good choice. Their reliability has improved in recent yrs, the Sonatas (mid-full size) that I've rented have been good with well designed interior, and intuitive controls- in contrast with some lower end GM cars that have scattershot & busy approach to driver controls.(climate, sound system, etc).

    The options presented by posters are good ones, it may come down to which dealer is easier to work with, and/or closer to home or work.

  17. #42
    Pamela
    Guest

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Funny thing: On the news a few momenst ago.
    Number one best model, Honda. Then VW followed by Toyota.

  18. #43
    AudreyLeigh
    Guest

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    An idea may be to rent a car for like a week before buying it to make sure is what you want.

  19. #44
    Featured Member
    Joined
    May 2007
    Posts
    1,599
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 57 Times in 48 Posts

    Default Re: Help me decide on a car

    Look into the Ford Focus - very cute car and it's economical.


    I have a mustang myself - you might want to look into thoes as well, then again even a used one might be out of the price range you desire.
    Just a thought.

    xoxox

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 9
    Last Post: 06-10-2008, 04:51 PM
  2. car loan vs car lease
    By jaizaine in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 07-31-2007, 04:20 AM
  3. Replies: 53
    Last Post: 06-23-2007, 03:10 PM
  4. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 02-02-2007, 08:52 AM
  5. I can't decide on a car. Someone Help Please
    By Alexis81 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 04-10-2006, 10:23 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •