YACT: Its just about that time to look for a better car

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: kevbot
American cars depriciate like a rock. Good used car values. You can score an excellent newer Buick that is very reliable for cheap. Same for Caddy's if you want to go upscale.

Toyota's & Honda's are great cars, no doubt, but make terrible used car choices unless you are willing to go closer to the beater class. Their resale value is so high they make little sense compared to new.

Go to Edmunds.com and lurk around on the forums, and you will find a wealth of good advice.

Good luck.

Good advice. :thumbsup:

Excellent suggestion. And you are not just limited to boring buicks, there are some good choices for fun to drive cars also. Ex. Mercury Marauder. Good fuel economy, reliable, and when equipped properly, looks like the po-po and will run 12-13's.

Regal GS != Boring 😛

- M4H

 

[jai6638]

Get a camry from a private seller.. I got my 99 camry from a private seller in my apartment complex for $6200 at 82,000 miles.... I'm now at 140,000 miles and it's still running great ( with the only problem being that I had to change the timing belt at 120,000k since it snapped..)

 

[AdamK47]

I'd have to agree with getting either a Honda or a Toyota. The cars are mind blowingly amazing. When I'm next to one on the road I get all hot and sweaty. The roar of the engine as they take off from a stop has my heart skipping beats. The dust, grime, paint chips, and scratches all over the body sends me a clear message that the owner is serious about driving by giving it their full attention. I have to admit, I get envious of the fact these people have such profound pleasures sitting behind the controls of so much power. To feel the jerk of the wheel on wet pavement with front wheel drive is something I lust for. Some day maybe I'll be lucky enough to know what millions of Americans already know. Reality sets in when I'm behind the wheel of my GTO, Corvette, or Z28 that I'll never be worthy of owning such an amazing automobile.

 

[Deleted member 54998]

We get it, you drive three cars that combined might be worth over 100x his current $1k beater. I'm sure the many female forum lurkers are impressed. Why doesn't he just buy 2 Corvettes and drive by 'waterskiing' with one foot on the hood of each?

My advice: drive your current car into the ground and save that $300 a month for a big downpayment on your next used car. The joy you'll get from a new car now can't match what it must feel like to be paid $300 a month to drive your current car.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Its a 93?

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
interesting thread, since my accord is the same boat, though with about 75K more miles. rear main seal, stinks me out at stoplights. i think it drips oil on the exhaust. anyway, i'm considering:

1. Honda Fit
2. Honda Civic Si Sedan
3. Honda Accord EX-L V6 MT
4. Used Acura TL 6-speed
5. Fit (commuter) + used S2000 (weekend car)
6. used Accord (commuter) + used S2000.

i honestly can't decide between these options. they all have significant advantages. i've been beating my head against the wall and writing down projected costs for weeks and am no closer. i love all these cars, and none of them perfectly meet my needs, but meet most of them (obviously different needs from different cars). the mazdaspeed 3 is out of the picture based on its GM-quality interior and questionable reliability.

it's a 91 wagon, but its the same generation and uses the same engine. my clear coat is totally gone, though, so it really LOOKS like a beater. my engine has had a lot of abuse from occasional poor mechanics that made nearly catastophic mistakes (try flinging a loose spark plug out of the top of the engine at 70 MPH... and still driving home at freeway speeds on 3 cylinders!). that said, the car has needed no unscheduled maintenance for the last 75,000 miles. but a leaking rear main seal means a repair or rebuild that would cost more than the car is worth. and while the car will go for a long time on a rebuild, it will still be ugly, and the fuel economy will still be poor for the performance. and like you, i drive a lot for work, and really don't want a break-down on the job. the radiator and alternator are still original... it's only a matter of time.

i did the math and i could drive a Fit for five years, sell it, and have spent nearly nothing above my current operating costs, simply because of the improvement in gas mileage. the fit is also roughly equal to my accord in performance, but has a lot more safety features. not a bad trade-off for a new car.

but since i want something fun, the question is if i can hack two newer cars (Fit+S2000) or if need to look at a compromise car.