Commute and Cars Opinion

P

palmer

#1
I drive 600 miles per week back and forth to work. That's 60 miles each way 5 days a week.:notme:

My car is 13 years old and has 250k miles on it. I bought it used 3 years ago for the fuel economy and price. It is a Saturn SC1, 32 mpg. I had heard they run and run and run.... I have proof of this now.:cool:

I spent $2k on it and have spent less than $1k in 3 years fixing various things.

Now it is going to need a valve job :blowup: $500. This will wear the pistons and rings out and use oil.

What do I do? Drive it til it drops?

Are there other cars, new or used that I should consider?

I know Saturn and Pontiac are going out of business.... wait until they practically give them away...:sarcasm:

Cash is really tight, the economy is doing a number on me... wife is laid off, son out of a job n lost unemployment due to a glitch exemployer used so I support him and his bills, I haven't had a raise in 2 yrs and lost 2 weeks pay last year due to furlough.....:nopity:


Just looking for some suggestions. :thanx:


Any suggestions?
 
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hogheavenfarm

Quite Involved in Discussions
#2
Hi Palmer,
I have had very good luck with Nissans. Driving a Versa now, like you said, for gas mileage. Bought a Rogue last summer, not bad, had a pathfinder (great), still running with 300k, and have a 2004 sentra, pretty good also, although my leg cramps on a long drive.
Toyota has always been good on reliability and longetivity also, in spite of recent problems.
 
T

True Position

#3
If I were in your position I'd look for a crown vic(or whatever the Mercury equivalent was). Easy to work on, body on frame construction, nice lazy V8, known for being insanely reliable. Also, tons of parts are around since the car didn't change much for so many years. Not the most fuel efficient option, but not too awful on the highway if your foot isn't too heavy.

This option is even better if you were going to work on it yourself. Available cheap since they were mostly fleet cars when new.
 

Marc

Hunkered Down for the Duration with a Mask on...
Staff member
Admin
#4
My *best* car was a 1989 Mazda 626 I bought used with 60K miles on it. It had about 275K miles on it when I retired it. In all the miles I drove it I never had one major repair job other than the CV joints, and they're not really major. I didn't want to get rid of it. It sat in my yard 1 1/2 years before I finally let go of it when a fellow stopped by and asked "You've had that car sitting there for a long time. You want to sell it?" The guy came and brought a battery with him and it started up (with a bit of smoke) on the first turn of the key. I have no idea how it turned out after sitting for a year and a half without having been so much as started, but when I retired the car it didn't burn oil and ran very well.

I got a Bonneville (friend's recommendation that I'm happy with mainly because it's pretty quick) and I still have one, but I'd probably get a Mazda if I needed a car now. If they make them like they did in 1989, they're one heck of a car.
 

Randy

Super Moderator
#5
Judi got a 2008 Grand Prix from the dealer with less than 100 miles on it for about $18000 off sticker price...$34K and we bought it for $16K....Loaded just like a Cadillac CTS...about 30mpg on highway
 

Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#6
Judi got a 2008 Grand Prix from the dealer with less than 100 miles on it for about $18000 off sticker price...$34K and we bought it for $16K....Loaded just like a Cadillac CTS...about 30mpg on highway
WOW!!

How's that 'Vette coming along?? :D

Stijloor.
 
P

palmer

#7
Judi got a 2008 Grand Prix from the dealer with less than 100 miles on it for about $18000 off sticker price...$34K and we bought it for $16K....Loaded just like a Cadillac CTS...about 30mpg on highway
Holy Crap...... they are starting to give them away.....:mg:
 
P

palmer

#8
I guess the smart thing is to get a valve job and drive til it drops or when I get a better cash flow going.

If I buy a older used it could have issues that pop up that put me in a worse situation.

I can't buy new.... cash issues now..... guess this was originally posted out of frustration :mad:
 
M

mguilbert

#9
I currently drive a 1994 Toyota bought it with low miles (less the 75000) 5 years ago for $500. I know Toyota has had quality issues recently. A good place to look for a "New" car for a low price is at estate auctions. These cars are usually driven to and from the store and possibly church.

HTH,
Matt
 
G

George Holz

#10
I'm kind of a car nut, so I'll throw in my opinion on this. I don't like Saturns anyway, but I will try to give an unbiased opinion. Having a valve job done will not wear out anything else like your pistons or rings. At 250k though, I would also replace the timing chain (or belt??) while it was open. If you like everything else, you probably won't do any better for $500.

I second the Crown Vic as good reliable transportation. Mine gets 25MPG on the highway and can haul more than the small Sport Utes. Easy to work on and cheapest parts around.
 
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