Author Topic: What do you drive?  (Read 115176 times)

Offline King_Maul

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #195 on: December 3, 2008, 11:32 AM »
*chuckle*

Ford Escape.  Very nice to have a 4WD in the winter.
Typical American.  Someone even just says snow and you guys slide all over the frickin' place ::) ;)

It doesn't even take that in So Cal.  A light sprinkle will cause a spike in accidents ;D.

Offline darth punkinhed

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #196 on: December 4, 2008, 11:02 AM »
I thought FOcus got good scores on the longevity, gas mileage, etc.  And I've heard it's one of the better cars on the road quality-wise competing easily with foreign cars.  Probably because I'd bet it's comprised of many foreign made parts, if not constructed itself in another country.  ::)  I've heard nothing but good things about the Focus though...  Stuff like that, the G5 (or G6?  I'm losing track of Pontiac cars these days), I've always heard good things about.

The new ones are probably on par. 

The early versions. . . from my own experience and others. . . not so much.

I have a 2000 focus zx3 and I've got to say, everything I've heard that could go wrong with it has. It's been sitting for the past 6 months with the transmission out. The car has less than 90k on it. I've replaced the ignition cylinder ($350), had the strut coils replaced (recall or it would have been very expensive, quoted at $800) and the hatch lock has gone bad but may also be on a recall. I've researched the trany issue and have found it usually goes bad after you pass 60k. In some cases it's a matter of replacing selenoids but a full rebuild has cost some up to $1,900. I wouldn't suggest the car unless you've got cash to burn. Some have even had to have it done 3 times in less than 20k miles. I've got a 97 Ford Probe that I drive on a daily basis now.
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Offline Jesse James

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #197 on: December 4, 2008, 02:50 PM »
Probe's are good if you take care of the body...  Be dilligent about down at the bottom of the doors on those.  As long as the engine is maintained though the Probe's a pretty good car that'll last a while.  I looked into those when I got my last car (which I love, and still have).  Sebrings are really slick too, if you're looking for older model cars...  Tons of them out there, and other than their engine being slightly underpowered for the car's size (more an issue with the heavier convertibles than the hardtops), they've gotten good reviews as just a simple solid car from what I hear.  Probably will be my next purchase when I need another car.

I've been looking high and low for an AMC Eagle...  I'd love to own one for winter.  There was a damn good car for its time.
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Offline ruiner

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #198 on: December 4, 2008, 03:50 PM »
Probes have always been a pain in the ass.

Offline Morgbug

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #199 on: December 4, 2008, 04:39 PM »
Ba-dum, tssssh.
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Offline Keonobi

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #200 on: December 4, 2008, 04:46 PM »
JDers are tripping over themselves to put that one in the Out of Context thread.

You know what cars are most notorious for their only problem being the body, Honda Civics and Accords.  Every car from about 1995-2000 you see on the road (with like 250k miles on them) has that little spot of rust behind the rear wheels.  I think Honda realized that if the engine and transmission go forever people won't buy another.  So they have the body rust out instead...
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Offline I Am Sith

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #201 on: December 4, 2008, 05:04 PM »
You know what cars are most notorious for their only problem being the body, Honda Civics and Accords.  Every car from about 1995-2000 you see on the road (with like 250k miles on them) has that little spot of rust behind the rear wheels.  I think Honda realized that if the engine and transmission go forever people won't buy another.  So they have the body rust out instead...

Toyota 4x4's are the same way.  If you look at the beds of those trucks, the rear wheel wells rust out something aweful.  Mine went for over 200k miles, but the bed rusted out somewhere around 130k miles and needed to be replaced.  At around the time I got rid of the truck I needed to replace a gasket near the rocker arm assembly (leaked oil all over the place with the broken gasket).  When I went to replace the gasket, my brother-in-law was giving me a hand.  When he looked at the engine (internally), he said that in the 20 years he had been a mechanic and even at 200k miles, it was one of the cleanest engines he had ever seen.  He speculated that the engine would probably be able to go another 200k miles with how good it looked, but by that point, the new owner would be on their 3rd bed with how bad they rust.
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Offline Jesse James

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #202 on: December 4, 2008, 05:11 PM »
They all do that...  USPS trucks are actually made of alluminum and are called "Long Life Vehicles".  They just replace engines/transmissions (Chevy S10) as they get old/worn out.  Of course the tradeoff there too is they're ultra light by comparison to a normal car and that's not good for controlling them of course.

My car's a 94 Lebaron Convertible...  If you ever can get a 1990's (or very late 1980's with the 6 Cyl. engine) LeBaron, go for it.  They're amazingly durable, well built cars.  The body, the engine, etc.  They aren't 100% american made though, the engines are Mitsubishi, but they're built solid top to bottom.  They're good though if you can find one in good shape...  The bodies rust is all, all in the same spot (bottom of the door and behind the mudflaps on the front).  If you can nip that in the bud early though you have a long lasting vehicle that'll not give you much problem, and it's got balls to spare.

The sedan version of the same car is just in the "Plymouth Acclaim" type body that replaced 1980's K-Cars...  It has more areas prone to rusting, but it's a good solid sedan.  I got rear-ended in an Acclaim and then later in a LeBaron Sedan and the person who hit me had 10 times the damage either one of my cars did.  All the LeBaron and Acclaim got were little dents on the bumper, haha.  The Acclaim sucked eggs though, as it had the small 4 cylinder engine in it that old 80's K-Cars had, and they blow head gaskets routinely.  Dealt with those many years too.

I think some of the rusting problems with foreign cars can sometimes be attirbuted to lesser quality steel too...  American cars made with American Steel tend to have a higher quality to them, according to most body shop guys I know...  But they still rust and most have their problem spots.  I know my Thunderbird (and all I've ever seen) rot in the same spots...  Many foreign cars though do seem to go faster.
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Offline Matt

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #203 on: December 4, 2008, 05:15 PM »
My car's a 94 Lebaron Convertible...  If you ever can get a 1990's (or very late 1980's with the 6 Cyl. engine) LeBaron, go for it.  They're amazingly durable, well built cars.  The body, the engine, etc.  They aren't 100% american made though, the engines are Mitsubishi, but they're built solid top to bottom.  They're good though if you can find one in good shape...  The bodies rust is all, all in the same spot (bottom of the door and behind the mudflaps on the front).  If you can nip that in the bud early though you have a long lasting vehicle that'll not give you much problem, and it's got balls to spare.

Hey, if it was good enough for Mr. Jon Voight, it's good enough for me.  I'm sold.
« Last Edit: December 4, 2008, 05:27 PM by Matt »
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Offline ruiner

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #204 on: December 4, 2008, 05:33 PM »
JDers are tripping over themselves to put that one in the Out of Context thread.

You know what cars are most notorious for their only problem being the body, Honda Civics and Accords.  Every car from about 1995-2000 you see on the road (with like 250k miles on them) has that little spot of rust behind the rear wheels.  I think Honda realized that if the engine and transmission go forever people won't buy another.  So they have the body rust out instead...

I'm one of the few with an American car that's close to 300K:


Currently, and don't laugh, I drive a 96 Grand Prix with check this, 235K miles. 

Up to 280K as of today.

I'm burning the bastard the day it hits 300.

Offline Jesse James

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #205 on: December 4, 2008, 05:35 PM »
My car's a 94 Lebaron Convertible...  If you ever can get a 1990's (or very late 1980's with the 6 Cyl. engine) LeBaron, go for it.  They're amazingly durable, well built cars.  The body, the engine, etc.  They aren't 100% american made though, the engines are Mitsubishi, but they're built solid top to bottom.  They're good though if you can find one in good shape...  The bodies rust is all, all in the same spot (bottom of the door and behind the mudflaps on the front).  If you can nip that in the bud early though you have a long lasting vehicle that'll not give you much problem, and it's got balls to spare.

Hey, if it was good enough for Mr. Jon Voight, it's good enough for me.  I'm sold.

All you would need are "Assman" plates for the ultimate Kramer-mobile.

Actually Ruiner, if everyone took good care of their US cars, they'd last...  These days most cars have so many foreign parts on them, they're not really "American" anyway.  Like I said, my LeBaron's got a 3.0 Mitsubishi V6 in it...  But it's a Chrysler LeBaron.  People's views that "All American cars are junk", is mostly a bull**** think they've been fed to believe.  My 1986 Caravelle went to 235,000 miles and beyond (Odometer broke at that point).  I'd say it got close to 300 before the body wasn't salvageable.  It has a 4 cylinder American engine, and beyond the head gaskets blowing and needing replaced every other year or so, it was fine...  Grand Prix, Thunderbirds, etc.  There's lots of great American cars that if you took care of them they lasted.  Like I said, I'd like an AMC Eagle as they're an outstanding car, and 4WD. 

Some specific cars, both foreign and domestic, suck...  They're specific though.  For the most part if you took good care of a car, it lasted.  Ford Probes are a good example.  They're fairly cheap/disposable cars, and they're easily found in good shape used even though they've not been made for a while now.  If you find one that was well taken care of, and you need a daily driver, I say pick it up if the price is right.  Same with Ford EScort, it was a very good car and the one with Turbo is outstandingly powerful...  base model mustangs through the 90's and early 00's are equally great cars, and the base modesl are easily had for a good price used.

I'd not be opposed to buying a foreign car, but ultimately when things do go wrong I prefer something I can work on myself and foreign is usually tougher to deal with in that regard.  I've fixed many a Corolla or Civic or whatnot for girls I dated in my younger days, and if I hadn't learned it already, they taught me that I'd rather have an American (mostly) car I can work on easier...  Those Corollas and Civics had just as many problems as my car did.  OF course my Caravelle was very lame looking though, and that couldn't be helped I guess.  :(
« Last Edit: December 4, 2008, 05:43 PM by Jesse James »
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Offline john todd

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #206 on: December 27, 2008, 12:52 AM »
going slightly against my better judgement, i got myself a pick 'em up truck a few days ago.  i have been needing one more and more often lately, so i got a tundra.  its really nice, but i know i am going to jinx the whole cheap gas thing.  here is a pic.

« Last Edit: December 27, 2008, 12:53 AM by john todd »

Offline Hemish

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #207 on: January 10, 2009, 10:12 AM »
Time for a new car, with another baby on the way I needed a 7seater, so I gots me this one

Got it in Black, looks nice, get it delivered next week
The problem with America is stupidity I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself

Offline I Am Sith

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #208 on: January 10, 2009, 01:17 PM »
Looks like a nice ride Hemish!  Congrats.
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Offline john todd

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Re: What do you drive?
« Reply #209 on: January 10, 2009, 05:20 PM »
is that a Holden Captiva?  i like that emblem... chevy should use that instead of the bowtie.