Lisa was rearended Monday and her car was totalled. She is sore but ok. Other driver was totally responsible.She is in need of a used good SMALL car with good gas mileage. She had a 98 Honda Civic and is leaning in that direction again. Does any one have a favorite small car?

Charlotte

   I'm very fond of the 91-99 Mitsubishi 3000 VR-4. It gets 28 MPG on the hiway. And is a very confortable car to drive. It only comes with a 6 speed manual transmission though. It also has All Wheel Drive, which makes it very safe in the rain and snow. Good luck.
[smiley=smokin.gif]

I'm partial to Toyota's, the last couple my wife and daughter have had have been next to bullet proof. Glad the swim rat is okay, give her a hug for me.

Guiseppi

Charlotte,

Let me know if you want the name and number of that guy I told you about who helps us get our used cars.  I could even ask my dad if he would mind making the initial call, if you'd like.  He is VERY reliable, and has always gotten us a good deal for the money we were willing to spend.  He finds good cars that usually only need a few minor things done before they are in top shape.  All you have to do is name your price range and give him an idea of what you are looking for.

As I said, in the past I have gotten Fords for as cheap as $2000-$3000, but this time around I didn't want a car like that again.  I was looking for something similar to Lisa.  At first, we were willing to spend $5500, which was the cost of the sale of my dad's Explorer and my Sable combined, but then I told him I'd be willing to go up to $6500 if that would help.  The auctioneer for my car ended up being a friend of Jim's (the guy we work with), and he pulled my car off the auction block right at $6500 for Jim, even though truly it could have gone for a higher price.

It is a 2000 Nissan Maxima with basically all the conveniences one could ever want, even though I wasn't looking for all that.  Leather interior, and so on.  Very nice car.  It had over 100,000 miles on it, but Nissans can take into the very high mileages, so we figure it has 5 good years on it.  It gets about 20-21mpg for my regular commuter driving, slightly better if I'm doing mainly highway.  I know that's not as good as the newer cars get today, but it's pretty good for a 2000 car!  And while it is not compact, it is not as big as the boat I was driving - much better size for me.  When he got it off auction, it required a little work - I think Jim paid for some of it and we paid $500 to get it road-ready.  So as I said, our car sales covered $5500, and then I owe my parents another $1500 for it. (Already paid some towards it...)  This year, the car has needed a little work, but the money I have spent on it has not been as bad as having a car payment would have been!  And it is a safe car - I really am surprised by the fact that it has minimal damage with the impact it sustained today!

At any rate - I know Jim would probably be happy to help, if you would want that.  Just let me know.  And I am curious what the lawyer says tomorrow - see what he thinks you can get out of the accident, given the car being totaled, her minor injuries and having to miss a couple days of work.  He really should have to pay for her to get a comparable car - but I don't know how all that legal stuff works.

Now - didn't I say I was going to bed like 2 hours ago?  haha...

Hugz,
Carrie :)

P.S. Lisa is definitely moving into the bubble with me....  But we'll stay down your way.  I'd rather live near Ocean City, MD than in Philly!! ;)

Holy-smokes !!!!! I guess my wife and I are the only two people left in the country driving American cars!!!!!  ( and puhleesse dont give me that," well its MADE in the USA" line)      Tuck  

I was a devoted Ford man for 20 years. I just couldn't afford a new tranny every 65-70,000 miles, (can you say 4 speed electronic overdrive...they're STILL using that P.O.S.!) Air conditioners which go out after 2-3 years, electronics, that guarantee at least $300 just in diagnostics every visit. It was with a heavy heart I finally had to bid farewell to planned obsolesence. They freely admit they design and build cars for the "drive it 3 years and trade it in" mentality. Give me a Ford I can afford to drive for 10 years, I'm all over it again, still have my Ford ballcaps! :-/

Guiseppi

tuck wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 1:26am:

Holy-smokes !!!!! I guess my wife and I are the only two people left in the country driving American cars!!!!!  ( and puhleesse dont give me that," well its MADE in the USA" line)      Tuck

Make that 3 :)  Hard to find a car made in the USA anymore.  May be a US company but chances are it was assembled in Canada or Mexico.  I have never purchased a forign car and hope I never have to.  All my cars went well above 100K and the last 4 were well into the 200K mi range with no major problems.  Best thing you can do for a car is drive it each day for a long trip, change the oil and don't whomp on it.

-P.

The Toyota Corolla 1.6L engine is, as Guiseppi has said, is next to bullet-proof.

I won't give anyone that "but it's MADE in AMERICA" line. I'll simply say that, when it's my hard-earned dollars that are paying for it, I will always go with the best bet that I've made a decent "investment."

(And I put quotes around "investment" because a car is never an investment - it's an expense, pure and simple. Don't believe me? Buy a brand new car, drive it off the lot, and then try to sell it for more than you bought it for. It depreciates by a couple thousand dollars within about 2 nanoseconds after you lift the pen from the last paper you sign.)

tuck wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 1:26am:

Holy-smokes !!!!! I guess my wife and I are the only two people left in the country driving American cars!!!!!  ( and puhleesse dont give me that," well its MADE in the USA" line)      Tuck

Most "American" cars are MADE in Mexico or Canada.  As soon as the American car companies can make a product worthy of my dollar, I'll consider buying one.  Until then, I think I'll continue to drive what I do.  

The whole "The money goes back to Japan" argument has got to be one of the lamest tactics used by the big 3 to keep people from buying superior imported cars.  It's just something to make you feel like you're being patriotic, the profits still go into the pockets of executives and union representatives.  If GM, Ford and Chrysler would actually spend some money on research and development and make an affordable, quality automobile, instead of just throwing crap at the consumers and counting on their "Buy American" mentality, then they might actually save themselves from the demise that is right down the road for them.  There is a reason that Toyota is the number one seller of automobiles in the world, and it's affordable quality.  Plus they are very concerned with customer satisfaction.  THey've worked hard to earn my money, not sat back and think I am obligated to spend my money with them.  

I found a 2001 Corolla today for $8900, 77,000 miles. I have only owned one non foreign car and it was a Dodge van made in Brazil (or somewhere in S. America) I think. On the other hand my Camry wagon was made in Kentucky. I just want to find a good deal with a reputation to back it. My experience with Toyota and Honda have been great.

Anyone else have any suggestions for some cars? Thanks for the feedback. Kirk, your idea sounds like too much fun and trouble!

Charlotte

My wife drives a little toyota echo.  ITs over 80,000 miles and we rarely have a roblem with it.  OUtside of breaks, there has been nothing expensive to repair on the car.  She just decided she wants to keep it a couple more years instead of getting a new one.  Thats fine by me.

Glad Lisa is OK

I've never seen a dealership that didn't have a service dept out back. They all break sooner or later. All Toyota's are not perfect, all Fords don't break down.

I've had 3 Jeeps that went well over 100k (one has 248k on it now). Even after 3 good ones, I don't fool myself into thinking all Jeeps would give that service, particularly after they discontinued the 4.0L six.

For me, it's local. A bad dealership can make a good car suck, a good dealer can make lemonaide from a lemon. I'll never buy a Honda as long as our local dealer exists. Toyota? Possibly.

Subaru Legacy AWD with the 2.2 liter engine, not the 2.5 that they put in the Outback.  Look for a '96 to '99 model with under a hundred K miles if you can find one.  Price should run somewhere between $5000 and $10,000, depending.  

We've got two of them right now, a '97 and a '98.  Both have been very dependable.  Of course, any car will have problems, but compared to many other cars we've had, the Subarus we've owned have created fewer headaches than others.  

Get 'em to replace the timing belt before you drive it home.  Sooner or later, you're going to have to do that anyway.  It's a Subaru thing.  All brands of cars have a "thing", you know?

Best,

George

I got a Ford ranger with 220,000 miles on it you can have for a $100....LOL ;D

All it needs is 4WD hubs, wheels, 02 sensor, shocks....plus the the whole under belly is rotted out and the check engine light has been on for a year.

I drive it every day.....LMMFAO!  :D

Guiseppi wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 3:07am:

I was a devoted Ford man for 20 years. I just couldn't afford a new tranny every 65-70,000 miles, (can you say 4 speed electronic overdrive...they're STILL using that P.O.S.!) Air conditioners which go out after 2-3 years, electronics, that guarantee at least $300 just in diagnostics every visit. It was with a heavy heart I finally had to bid farewell to planned obsolesence. They freely admit they design and build cars for the "drive it 3 years and trade it in" mentality. Give me a Ford I can afford to drive for 10 years, I'm all over it again, still have my Ford ballcaps! :-/ Guiseppi

man i tell ya ford, gm, and chrysler have really gone down hill. the guy i work for let me borrow his 07 ford taurus. 50,000 miles and the door locks and the a/c blower don't work and the paint is chipping off the bumper. no wonder they're going broke. if i was going to buy a car i would get a camry or an accord. toyotas are very well built cars. i have a 91 honda prelude. it has 220,000 miles. it's tight to work on but it has been a good car.

wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 8:42pm:

I got a Ford ranger with 220,000 miles on it you can have for a $100....LOL ;D All it needs is 4WD hubs, wheels, 02 sensor, shocks....plus the the whole under belly is rotted out and the check engine light has been on for a year. I drive it every day.....LMMFAO!  :D

a friend of mine gave me an 84 ranger with 200 and some thousand miles on it. the floor boards were totally gone and i cut up an old washing machine and welded that into the floor. that a tune up and some tires are all i ever did to it. i drove it around for about 2 years and ass ended somebody 1 week after i bought new tires for it. that was a good little truck. coarse i still i have my ole 78 f-150 4x4 that i had in high school. it has a nice flat black paint job the wipers work and the heater will melt the soles off your shoes.

Oh what a week! Despite anyone's advice, she ended up driving home another Civic, 2004 pretty blue, with fairly low mileage. Her neck has improved but her wrist still has some issues. And this too will pass.... Now maybe i can focus on school seeing that all my kiddies will be returning Monday morning bright and early!

Thanks for everyone's advice. Jonny, that truck sounds like a great beach mobile. 4 wheel drive, no worry about rusting it out and you don't have to worry about sand.

Charlotte

We have a 2000 Toyota Corolla that hubby uses as his work car.  Has over 150,000 miles on it, air works very cold, heater even better, gets 34mpg and turns into parking spaces like a dream.

Sorry to hear about the accident, hope she's feeling better!

:)mel

I tried on the Corolla. My niece has one too and loves it. No convincing her! She's paying the car payments so she has final say.

Charlotte

I've had Chevy's since 1957....until 2001 when I had to choose between price and make.

It was either no car at all or a Kia...cheapest new car on the market.  So I bought my first Kia in 2001.  Then I went to a 2003.

My 2003 has never had anything repaired or replaced except the battery and tires.  I have 70,000 miles on it. Original brakes, spark plugs.......the whole kit and kaboodle. I am faithful about oil changes and filters, the hoses, etc. are still in good shape.

When it comes to a decision of no car or one I can actually pay for,  I guess American made isn't an option any more.  A sign of the times.

It really stinkes doesn't it?

what stinks even more is the majority of american made cars are made in mexico. i was talking to a trucker on the cb up in detroit and he was hauling transmissions from borg-warner to the toyota factory in kentucky. i was hauling a headlight die mold from an old machine shop up there that went back to stanley electric in london oh that makes most of the plastic parts for honda in maryville. theres a factory in washinton courthouse that makes gauge clusters and upholstery for honda. there are huge factories up around flint that have tall weeds growing over the gigantic parking lots and small trees growing up through the railroad spurs. a sad observation from the windshield of a truck.

-johnny- wrote on Aug 24^th, 2008 at 2:33pm:

there are huge factories up around flint that have tall weeds growing over the gigantic parking lots and small trees growing up through the railroad spurs. a sad observation from the windshield of a truck.

Nobody to thank for that 'cept the UAW. They sold out for unwarranted wages and pension plans a long time ago.

wrote on Aug 24^th, 2008 at 2:50pm:

-johnny- wrote on Aug 24th, 2008 at 2:33pm: there are huge factories up around flint that have tall weeds growing over the gigantic parking lots and small trees growing up through the railroad spurs. a sad observation from the windshield of a truck. Nobody to thank for that 'cept the UAW. They sold out for unwarranted wages and pension plans a long time ago.

yeah unions have really become a joke anymore. when i was in high school i worked at kroger. it was a union job and held the record for the least paying job around with a nickel rase every 6 months. actually paid less if you figure in your dues.   when i laid carpet they put me in the carpenters union local 200. it seemed that you had to play allot of politics to move up and only 1/3 of the company was union. the boss picked and chose who he wanted in the union and acted like it was some kind of privilege. then theres the teamsters union. they went after overnite. overnight drivers already made as much as union drivers did. ups bought out overnite and again lots of politics and ass kissing. the teamsters union has no interest in otr drivers what so ever. fuckin bullshit if you ask me.

It's actually quite simple, my friend - unions and their bosses are interested in one thing and one thing only: self-preservation. Through their dues and fees, their members are simply a source of income to the brass. That's all.

wrote on Aug 24^th, 2008 at 5:13pm:

It's actually quite simple, my friend - unions and their bosses are interested in one thing and one thing only: self-preservation. Through their dues and fees, their members are simply a source of income to the brass. That's all.

yep i agree you %100 brother

Last year we traded our Nissan Murano for a Prius.

All the negative-hype BS about the Prius is false. My Prius MPG usually never falls below 50 MPG unless I am driving like it is a race car. If I drive very conserative I can keep it closer to 60 MPG than 50 MPG.

There will be times during the winter it will fall below 50 MPG for perhaps the first part of the tank of gas due to snow, ice, wind, cold engine, but by the time the tank is gone I can usually have it back up around 50. This is just in the winter thou.

It also was 10 grand less then our Murano. Just in the cost of gas alone over that 20 MPH gas hog we are saving 600 bucks a month in gas, whcih means the car is actually paying for itself.

No problems with it so far and its been a year-ish, but I expect that from a Toyota. No the replacement batteries do not cost 5000 dollars, no they are not more polluting to drive than a Hummer or any of that ultra-conservative anti-liberal crap. (why must politics get into EVERYTHING now days?)

I don't see gas being the "cheap" 2.50 a gallon it was when we bought our Prius. I figure in a couple more years not only will the car have paid for itself but it may start paying for my Subaru as well.

Something to consider.

Racer1_NC wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 2:48pm:

I'll never buy a Honda as long as our local dealer exists.

Rick Hendrick?  Last time I was there, you couldn't hardly buy a Honda or Chevy in N.C. unless it was from them.

Agostino Leyre wrote on Aug 25^th, 2008 at 10:56am:

Racer1_NC wrote on Aug 22nd, 2008 at 2:48pm: I'll never buy a Honda as long as our local dealer exists. Rick Hendrick?  Last time I was there, you couldn't hardly buy a Honda or Chevy in N.C. unless it was from them.

Don Flow.....this area is one that Rick hasn't got his hands on yet.....

Racer1_NC wrote on Aug 25^th, 2008 at 11:51am:

Agostino Leyre wrote on Aug 25th, 2008 at 10:56am: Racer1_NC wrote on Aug 22nd, 2008 at 2:48pm: I'll never buy a Honda as long as our local dealer exists. Rick Hendrick?  Last time I was there, you couldn't hardly buy a Honda or Chevy in N.C. unless it was from them. Don Flow.....this area is one that Rick hasn't got his hands on yet.....

I'm sure it wont be long.........