I asked a question about my aging and ailing Ford Escort last year along the lines of “Do I bother to repair it or not…” and after reading all the advice everyone had to give, I didn’t bother to repair it. Now with close to 200k on the clock, a whole host of issues have now come to the surface including:
Exhaust manifold gasket leaking (I’m guessing because I never bothered to fix the jelly like engine mounts)
Front two shocks gone
Both front wheel bearings worn
A/C failed
Car eats oil (valve stem oil seals?)
Getting harder and harder to put into first gear (synchro going?)
My wife and I currently own an 04 Honda Civic EX (mine) sedan and an 03 Honda CR-V LX (hers). We have two Golden Retrievers who travel with us a lot to visit family, etc and we are expecting our first child this March and probably another child while we are driving this new car. This means we are running out of space and need something big, compared to the CR-V at least.
As of today I have a: 997 ‘06 Carrera, E39 ’02 525i Sport Wagon, ‘08 LR3. The cars I wish to own include a Boxster Spyder, VW GTi gen VI and an ‘07/08 AMG E63 wagon. I can have four vehicles, three in the garage, one in the sun.
Even in Seattle, it’s springtime and for the first time in a decade I find myself without either a woman or a convertible in my life. The woman’s best not replaced too quickly, but going a summer without a convertible is a sacrilege I’m unwilling to commit. I’ve gone through my finances, and about $25K – $27K is my price range. I know I’m buying at the wrong time; both because it’s spring and because the supply-side guys are winning, but spending a summer without going topless just feels … dirty.
I know that European vehicle snobbism is often frowned upon here, but I do love the look and feel of German cars better than any other. The downside seems to be maintenance costs, that they are simply not affordable to own.
I’m going to be looking for a car in about the $20-25k range, so my choice is between pretty dull new Japanese cars and a circa 2008 BMW 328i or Mercedes C300. Both of them seems to be really attractive cars, but of course the enthusiast crown always goes to the BMW.
What I’m wondering is if the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program might be the answer. I’m sure most of you already know this, but the general idea is that they inspect and recondition low mileage used cars, give them a comprehensive warranty and basically treat them like almost new vehicles. The Mercedes program is the best known, but BMW appears to be coming on strong with an offer of five years free maintenance. On paper that should mean nearly cost-free ownership save brakes and other wear items.
Thanks for your work on TTAC. The site entertains and irritates, so it’s a great place to read and learn, right?
Here is my problem. I have a couple of jobs, one of them is being self-employed and what I do requires carrying lots of equipment and driving lots of miles. I have used a Chevy Astro Van for a long time; The first one lost it’s second tranny at 246,000, and the one I use now has 193,000 miles. The 4.3 litre engine wears like a rock, but the gas mileage is a killer.
Thanks to reading all the ‘Hammer Time’ series! I cruise local online estate auctions from time to time and a 1996 Accord LX has popped up, auto trans, and under 90km. From the photos it looks clean, based on the other contents of the auction it has been gently used by old people, and I will be going to inspect it Monday per the Steve Lang guidelines. The car is sold with emissions test and a safety certificate which on their face indicate a lack of glaring issues.
I’m in the midst of finishing law school, writing bar ads, and moving to a Big Law job – which starts in August and where I won’t need a car. Through May and June I need to do a decent amount of driving, 12-20 rental car days worth, and if I had a car I’d do a few more.
As such I’m exploring bidding on this car, using it for 2 or 3 months, then selling it with the hope of rental costs washing with the ownership costs and selling it as revenue neutral or for a small profit. As the car is ultra clean and low km I believe there could be some profit left in it. Currently the high bid is $1600, $1650 to top.
Everyday for the past 6 months I’ve been reading TTAC, usually on my phone between actual “work” at work. I find it very informative and enjoy it immensely. In the next 2-6 months I will be looking to “upgrade” my current car (Corolla S) to something a bit more sporty and fun to drive (which compared to a corolla leaves a lot of options out there) but, as usual, I am having difficulty deciding what to consider. The possibility of buying a outright fun car and keeping the Corolla is a possibility. I should also mention that I travel quite a bit (400 miles/week) with 75% highway use.
As spring descends on Texas & a young man’s (OK, middle aged man’s) fancy turns to cars deficient in practicality but full in spirit, I bring to you the following dilemma for your consideration.
The parameters are simple, manual is a must, RWD is preferable, A/C is mandatory (this is Texas), price point should be less than $30K, pre-owned and pre-loved is fine.
The choices are narrowing down to classic marques and Japanese hot imports. In no particular order; Porsche 911, Lotus Elise, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru WRX-STI. Each has unique advantages and drawbacks. Cachet versus all-out performance, specialized services versus the local franchise dealer, low-tech tradition versus hi-tech cutting edge.
This is my case for you to ponder. Or perhaps there’s even a car or two I have overlooked (I already have a BMW 325)? Your input, knowledge and experience would be greatly appreciated.
In Nov-2010 my 2000 Camry v6 XE with 70k miles started to have some problems, mainly an oil leak and a power steering leak. Additionally it was going to need a new timing belt soon, and the front driver side wheel makes some squeaking noises. While I could live with a small oil leak, I needed to fix the power steering pump. I don’t have the time or place (and possibly ability) to replace the power steering pump myself so this was going to have to be done at the mechanic.
I’ve been a long time reader of TTAC and am a big fan of the New or Used and Piston Slap columns. I am in the market for a new or lightly used (CPO) car and have a preference for rear wheel drive. I have a budget in the 20-25k range for this purpose. This car will be my only car; hence it should be able to handle daily driver duties (25-30 mpg would do) without being a complete snooze to drive (that’s where the rear wheel drive part comes in). A 4 door isn’t strictly necessary since I am single with no kids.
The 2011 Mustang V6 and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe seem to fit the bill nicely. I’ve test driven both and found them a hoot to drive. The fuel efficiencies, ride, and interiors are also up to the mark. However, I can only get the 2.0T version of the Genesis Coupe for the same money as the V6 Mustang. So, the Mustang seems to offer more value for the money, live rear axle notwithstanding.
Hello gentlemen, I need some help with an upcoming car purchase. You may have covered my situation in the past, but here it is:
My wife currently drives a 2005 Saab 9-3 with about 60k miles on it. We owe around $8500 on the car. I’m doing my best to talk her into selling or trading before we have to pony up the cash for (another) inevitable repair, which from experience is never cheap on a Saab. I know nothing in my price range will drive quite like a 9-3, but my wife would prefer something very similar, with these qualifications:
Automatic transmission
Four doors
Sporty looks
A perky or down right powerful engine
2008 or newer
Less than $25,000
I know my wife would prefer something that’s of a similar size to the 9-3, but I don’t think she would be averse to a larger sedan like a TSX or an Infinity. I would prefer something still under warranty or at least less expensive to fix. I’m leaning towards a Mazda 3, but I’m not sure she’s sold on it just yet. Is there anything else that stacks up? Thanks in advance.
I think this question is right up Sajeev’s alley: my wife and I want to buy a new car (no more used-vehicle shenanigans for us). We like RWD cars; the bigger, the better. Panthers are a bit primitive (and extinct anyway), and the usual German suspects are much too expensive: we’d be happy to spend $30k, and could stretch to about $34k. We’d be much happier with our choices if this was 1969 instead of 2011.
I’m a young gentleman in college, and I currently own a 1995 Volvo 850 wagon, a 2005 Dodge Ram and a 2005 Cadillac SRX with the Northstar (I received a good deal.) I adore the Caddy, but I recently have been lucky enough to come across a bit of money. With that money I am looking to try to find a car to take the Caddy’s place as my daily driver when I’m home. I have my heart set on a new Maserati Quattroporte, now that it has had a true automatic for a few years. Even though the Maser has a extremely frustrating dashboard button layout, it is the best driving large sedan I have ever been graced with the opportunity to drive. But I have looked at the much uglier, faster, and more expensive Panamera too, and that’s where my dilemma begins… I want to know, should I buy one of these two cars, or is there a better option out there? By the way, I don’t want another SUV, and I’m 6’5” and over 300 lbs. so no smallish sedan will ever accommodate my body (I can’t drive the Aston Martin Rapide, sadly because the seat is too narrow, and my driving loafers tend to cover more than one pedal each.)
I’m a recent convert from a jalopy-related website to TTAC, and couldn’t be happier. So my first time question for everyone…
I’ve got a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3, five speed with 2.0 DOHC engine. It’s got a little over 130k on it, I’ve owned it since new and paid it off many years ago. It’s starting to show it’s age (a rough idle we can’t seem to pin down, the rear bearings are making a lot of noise even though we just replaced them, and a lot of squeaks and rattles that annoy from time to time). I do love this car, and when I’m on the open highway or zipping around an on-ramp, I’m reminded why I love it. My wife also loves it, and it’s been a part of my life for ten years. Yes, I’m a sentimental fool.
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