Need another car
#1
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Need another car
I'm looking for another car to replace my trailblazer.
Budget is about $4000 tops
I want something that is fuel efficient, easy to work on and not have expensive parts.
no domestics please. no more suvs please. no pickup trucks please.
any recommendations?
Budget is about $4000 tops
I want something that is fuel efficient, easy to work on and not have expensive parts.
no domestics please. no more suvs please. no pickup trucks please.
any recommendations?
#8
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http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3697558
fun, seats 4...decent on gas....cheap/easy to work on...mine.
fun, seats 4...decent on gas....cheap/easy to work on...mine.
Last edited by miatamania; 02-24-2008 at 07:59 PM.
#11
SUBARU!!!!
My dad had an 1980 GL wagon for 19 years and 325,000 miles! It wouldn't die.
I had a 1993 legacy and a 1994 impreza. Both were ridiculously reliable and very cheap to fix. Both cars had the lowest emissions #'s I've ever seen. (I've had 9 running cars and I used to work at a dealership)
And, since subaru's have so many interchangeable engine/drivetrains, swapping them is quite common.
My dad had an 1980 GL wagon for 19 years and 325,000 miles! It wouldn't die.
I had a 1993 legacy and a 1994 impreza. Both were ridiculously reliable and very cheap to fix. Both cars had the lowest emissions #'s I've ever seen. (I've had 9 running cars and I used to work at a dealership)
And, since subaru's have so many interchangeable engine/drivetrains, swapping them is quite common.
#12
I'm a big fan of Toyota engines.. my 20 year old Toyota pickup still runs like a champ, albeit not a spring chicken in any regard... engine was rebuilt at just over 250,000 miles, and the block looked so good, we didn't even bore out the cylinders, just a quick hone. The 4-speed transmission (not one of the stronger ones) lasted until 286k; probably would've went over 300k, if it wasn't for my .. ahem .. driving style.
While I've never been fond of the looks on most older Toyota cars, even when they were new, I can count more old Toyota cars on the road today, than most other makes, particularly ones owned by people who haven't had the budget and/or inclination to properly maintain them.
Honda and Mazda have also had their good models, I'm just biased towards Toyota because of the truck.
For something completely different, I wouldn't consider it super easy to work on, or even super cheap on parts (some are discontinued, e.g. head gaskets), the 89-95 Ford Taurus SHO is an impressive car. The transmission and brakes are the weak point on these cars, the engine came from Yamaha special for the car, and it's a work of art. ~225hp V6 3.0L, likes to rev high (good into 8k rpm, accessories mandate a lower rev limit), reasonable on gas (not a 4 banger), stick shift, and a trunk that'll fit at least 3 bodies. Yeah, owned one of these too; 4 door was great for insurance, plenty of space, surprisingly good handling for a 'sedan', stick shift, fully loaded with accessories, and a very strong engine. You can find them for well under $4k, varies with condition. Some performance parts (exhaust, bushings, chip) can be found.
While I've never been fond of the looks on most older Toyota cars, even when they were new, I can count more old Toyota cars on the road today, than most other makes, particularly ones owned by people who haven't had the budget and/or inclination to properly maintain them.
Honda and Mazda have also had their good models, I'm just biased towards Toyota because of the truck.
For something completely different, I wouldn't consider it super easy to work on, or even super cheap on parts (some are discontinued, e.g. head gaskets), the 89-95 Ford Taurus SHO is an impressive car. The transmission and brakes are the weak point on these cars, the engine came from Yamaha special for the car, and it's a work of art. ~225hp V6 3.0L, likes to rev high (good into 8k rpm, accessories mandate a lower rev limit), reasonable on gas (not a 4 banger), stick shift, and a trunk that'll fit at least 3 bodies. Yeah, owned one of these too; 4 door was great for insurance, plenty of space, surprisingly good handling for a 'sedan', stick shift, fully loaded with accessories, and a very strong engine. You can find them for well under $4k, varies with condition. Some performance parts (exhaust, bushings, chip) can be found.
#13
Get a Saab 93. 99-00's can be found cheap, and are easy to work on. (I got my 02 with 68K miles on it fully loaded for 5250.) They come with a turbo and are easy to mod with a simple ECU upgrade. ( Engines are good to 22Lbs of boost off their existing turbo too.)
Great in bad weather, and parts can be found used or cheap if you look in the right places.
Great in bad weather, and parts can be found used or cheap if you look in the right places.
#14
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Get a Saab 93. 99-00's can be found cheap, and are easy to work on. (I got my 02 with 68K miles on it fully loaded for 5250.) They come with a turbo and are easy to mod with a simple ECU upgrade. ( Engines are good to 22Lbs of boost off their existing turbo too.)
Great in bad weather, and parts can be found used or cheap if you look in the right places.
Great in bad weather, and parts can be found used or cheap if you look in the right places.
#16
get a yugo, they is so reliable...
any car that has been maintained properly will do, however, when it comes to buying a cheaper car or truck, on a budget, just a reliable cheap daily driver, that kind of car, i go to auctions and buy them wrecked and fix them, i do this for a number of reasons...
1. cheaper
2. i can do most of my own work and find cheap parts
3. you can sell them years later for close to what you paid
4. its not a car someone put for sale after it started giving them a problem, etc.
5. you can have a much newer car for same money as an older car
any car that has been maintained properly will do, however, when it comes to buying a cheaper car or truck, on a budget, just a reliable cheap daily driver, that kind of car, i go to auctions and buy them wrecked and fix them, i do this for a number of reasons...
1. cheaper
2. i can do most of my own work and find cheap parts
3. you can sell them years later for close to what you paid
4. its not a car someone put for sale after it started giving them a problem, etc.
5. you can have a much newer car for same money as an older car
#17
Tour de Franzia
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old subaru. Just check for the headgasket failure on the 2.2's. After 100k they either show the external leak, or they've already been replaced.
I have a 2kOBW and its been reliable at 150k miles. No major repairs on record from the previous owner.
I have a 2kOBW and its been reliable at 150k miles. No major repairs on record from the previous owner.
#20
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Its all about how a car has been taken care of.
Last edited by miatamania; 02-26-2008 at 04:20 PM.