Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

[CAPT_Howdy]

It is possible to get a reliable car for $1500.

Back in 2005, I paid $1100 for a 1990 Buick Regal Limited coupe with 110,000 miles on it. The only repair I needed to do on it in the year I drove it was replace the sagging headliner.

2 years later all the electrics died on it after I sold it to a friend, but I had no problems with it.

And I paid $1600 for my Geo and it's been very reliable.

So the bargains are out there, but they will take some searching.

 

[_HighVoltage_]

They look cool, but there's rubbish underneath. Renault engines, fwd drivetrain with loads of understeer, French gearboxes that are anything but sporty, etc. It's basically a Volvo 460 in a tracksuit. It looks cool, but it's nothing but a boring, slow car underneath.

Rubbish? Comparing to the cars of today maybe. But at the time it came out, the 480 was just as fast and just as good in handling as a VW Golf GTI Mk2.

From my point of view, the Mk2 is terrible...and so is the 480. But to people who worship Mk2 GTI's, they should also look with respect toward the 480.

 

[tigger]

So the bargains are out there, but they will take some searching.

This. I had a $700 Celica GT-S for almost 2 years. Drove the piss out of it and it was still very reliable. As long as rick doesn't buy another small, '90s GM car he'll be fine.

 

[Blind_Io]

I know the are good (or good enough) cars to be had in that price range, but there is a ton of crap too. Given his history with crap cars, what are the chances of him finding that jewel amongst the turds?

 

[Okaen]

There are a lot of nice cars for that money. I drive a reliable, around $1500 dollar car for instance. My car is interesting enough(for what it is) to drive and really boring to talk about the issues it has. Just stay away from Korean cars. They look good when you are looking at that price range because you can buy something 5 years newer then anything else. There is a reason for that.

 

[Redliner]

I know the are good (or good enough) cars to be had in that price range, but there is a ton of crap too. Given his history with crap cars, what are the chances of him finding that jewel amongst the turds?

He needs a team of experts, then.

FG crap car team, ASSEMBLE!

 

[Labcoatguy]

Geo Prizm. Team can disband now.

 

[gaasc]

Old Toyota Corolla, done

can you even get a 4.0L Cherokee for $1500

 

[CAPT_Howdy]

Geo Prizm. Team can disband now.

Strangely enough, I already recommended a Prizm about 6 months ago when he was first talking about getting rid of his Saturn.

 

[rickhamilton620]

I know the are good (or good enough) cars to be had in that price range, but there is a ton of crap too. Given his history with crap cars, what are the chances of him finding that jewel amongst the turds?

:lol: Yeah, i'm sticking to previously recommended FG options like the escort/protege, prizm, etc. It'll be about a week before classes start and the money gets disbursed a few days later, but the moment it does it's off to the races.

Old Toyota Corolla, done

can you even get a 4.0L Cherokee for $1500

Yes I saw one a while back and there's another now.

The highest I'm willing to go for a car is 2000 dollars, as I want money remaining for books and all that.

 

[katwalk]

iirc I found a decent amount of civics, accords, corollas etc on criagslist looking for one for my aunt.
GUESS WHAT SHE BOUGHT

 

[rickhamilton620]

iirc I found a decent amount of civics, accords, corollas etc on criagslist looking for one for my aunt.
GUESS WHAT SHE BOUGHT

I remember this, a Saturn. How's it holding up?

 

[CrzRsn]

Thanks all for supporting my new terrible idea that will never happen :lol:

They look cool, but there's rubbish underneath. Renault engines, fwd drivetrain with loads of understeer, French gearboxes that are anything but sporty, etc. It's basically a Volvo 460 in a tracksuit. It looks cool, but it's nothing but a boring, slow car underneath.

WHAT IS THIS?! A Volvo I've never heard of?! I must find out more!

https://pic.armedcats.net/c/cr/crazyrussian540/2011/08/15/11981df2-dc45-4693-a451-f722d1b19ecc.jpg

Errr, wikipedia.


Also, you just read that in the Professor's voice.

 

[katwalk]

I remember this, a Saturn. How's it holding up?

I have not really heard, so it might be ok or it might have exploded. I heard something about the transmission last time I was there though.

Also, she bought it to put a stupid breathalyzer thing in so it has to last THREE YEARS.

 

[rickhamilton620]

I have not really heard, so it might be ok or it might have exploded. I heard something about the transmission last time I was there though.

Also, she bought it to put a stupid breathalyzer thing in so it has to last THREE YEARS.

Three years?

My transmission's been fucked up since I got the car so if it can hold up to 5 years of my (horrible) driving then hopefully it'll last your aunt three years.

I can't help but admit that a large part of me is like:

at the lasting 3 years part though. If she drives gently (if the car doesn't "catch" reverse gear right away-common problem-...don't slam it...learn to find the engine revs where it "catches" and smoothly feather your way to that point when reversing) and really pays attention to engine oil levels...she might have a shot.

 

[_HighVoltage_]

WHAT IS THIS?! A Volvo I've never heard of?! I must find out more!

Son, I am disappoint! The 460 was the 850 for poor people

 

[Blind_Io]

Old Toyota Corolla, done

can you even get a 4.0L Cherokee for $1500

I veto, having had one. That thing was in the shop more often than any car in my family's collective history.

 

[katwalk]

Three years?

My transmission's been fucked up since I got the car so if it can hold up to 5 years of my (horrible) driving then hopefully it'll last your aunt three years.

I can't help but admit that a large part of me is like:

at the lasting 3 years part though. If she drives gently (if the car doesn't "catch" reverse gear right away-common problem-...don't slam it...learn to find the engine revs where it "catches" and smoothly feather your way to that point when reversing) and really pays attention to engine oil levels...she might have a shot.

It is worth mentioning it is a manual, and judging by the times she has been the driver for family trips, there will be no gentle driving. Oh and she hasn't driven a manual for years and my 17 year old cousin is using it as "manual practice" which knowing him might be stunt driving sort of things.

 

[rickhamilton620]

I veto, having had one. That thing was in the shop more often than any car in my family's collective history.

That's what I hear: Get a good one and your good, get a bad one and oooohhhh man.....:S

I could be convinced otherwise, but it'll take a lot of convincing to overcome that...and gas mileage.

Hence I'm sticking to mostly Japanese compacts. There's a decent 97 Escort, and the fact that it was co developed with Mazda gives me a bit more confidence in its reliability.

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/2543514588.html

Price seems a bit low, in any case its a bit early to be looking at CL as I won't have the refund money until the end of next week at the earliest.

It is worth mentioning it is a manual, and judging by the times she has been the driver for family trips, there will be no gentle driving. Oh and she hasn't driven a manual for years and my 17 year old cousin is using it as "manual practice" which knowing him might be stunt driving sort of things.

Ahh, I dunno the manual's weak spots, and hahah at her driving. I wish them luck with it, at least a manual is a bit cheaper to fix if things go wrong.

 

[93Flareside]

Love the Roadmasters. They only one I saw was here in Belgium and it was a hearse. But the station wagon is awesome!

Those things look like plastic rottboxes to me. If I were getting a roadmaster/custom cruiser, you get the generation before that one you have pictured.