Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

Personally, I think there are other cars just as good for less money. Or younger/lower miles and just as good for the same money. Used Hondas just ain't worth the premium, IMHO.

I suggest a Protege, Sentra, or even Impreza/Legacy.

woodyww

They looked at a 2004 Mitsu Lancer

Where would they get a Mitsu serviced, & get parts? To me, Mitsu is like a "fringe" brand.

$5--to $8K-- If it was my kid--I'd think Safety First, used Volvo 850 or V70 possibly. Probably a lot more car than with a used Honda for that money.

Personally, I'd almost spend the high $teens or $20-ish to buy the kid a new base Subie or Civic, with side airbags & new shocks, tires, brakes, etc......no worries....no break-down phone calls at 1 am......

michaellno

Personally, I'd almost spend the high $teens or $20-ish to buy the kid a new base Subie or Civic, with side airbags & new shocks, tires, brakes, etc......no worries....no break-down phone calls at 1 am......

Which is why we got our daughter the '06 ION for her 100 mile weekend commute to college. We wanted the safety features (ABS, TC, airbags) and the reliability of a new car.

2.5 years and 23K later, there have been no mechanical issues to speak of.

Cosmetically, it's a different story. Twice the car has been damaged while parked - the front bumper cover was backed into, leaving a scrape and a gash in the plastic, and the passenger side mirror was broken off (maliciously, we think). The daughter has repaired that with copious amounts of duct tape - the power functions still work. Both issues will be resolved once she graduates; it doesn't make sense to fix everything while she still has a year and a half of school left.

corvette

I think $8k will get you a 2006 or newer Sonata, which has a full complement of airbags, ABS, and stability control. For $8k it won't be a low mileage one, but Consumer Reports says they're reliable.

tifighter

Personally, I think there are other cars just as good for less money. Or younger/lower miles and just as good for the same money. Used Hondas just ain't worth the premium, IMHO.

I suggest a Protege, Sentra, or even Impreza/Legacy

Good advice. Here in the NW, used Subies aren't that great of a deal as they suffer from the same 'used Honda' problem. But Mazdas are usually a great used deal...

guss

I'll second the Protege,or even a Protege5 if a wagon is needed.

Also a Focus is a pretty good used deal and have been pretty reliable . They also come in 2 door,4 door, hatchback and wagon.

roadburner

The problem is, the kid's mom isn't exactly rich, so $8K is the upper limit. I've narrowed the search down to a couple of Proteges and one Mazda6. FWIW, my kid is getting our 2004 X3 when he goes off to school in @4 years.

anonymousposts

listed it on a certain free posting site and it was gone in 2 days. Ad hit at 4 PM Sunday and we had two committed buyers by last night. Sold it to the higher offer who had the cash faster.

So I will definitely be buying the G35. Can't wait. We've been driving it around the last couple of days and it is great having 300HP available. Gas mileage will probably be mediocre but I'm hoping for a little better than the RX returned which is 20 MPG in mixed driving.

oregonboy

Woo-hoo!!!
Should be a really nice ride. Hope it works out well for you.

fezo

An X3 to go to school in? You wanna adopt me?

Gee, when I got a car for college I was going into junior year. It was teh 67 Tempest wagon I learned to drive on...

stever

Poor baby. I had a Schwinn Varsity until my junior year when I went upscale with a Reynolds 531 Libertas from Belgium.

I borrowed Mom's Galaxy 500 one week around Thanksgiving and didn't know that the winter antifreeze hadn't been put in and cracked the block when a cold snap moved in.

oregonboy

I had a Schwinn Varsity my freshman year at OSU, which had a sad demise one day as I was on my way to class. I was zipping past a line of cars on the right, in the imaginary "bike-lane" when a MG Midget turned right into a parking lot right in front of me. I flew over his car. All I hit war the radio antenna.

My bike, however hit the right rear fender of his car, bending the forks back to where the bike was no longer rideable, and messing the rear quarter of the MG... totally my fault. However, he agreed to "call it even". (Lucky me!)

guss

I did not know MG's were made that well. I would have thought a Schwinn Varsity would just about total a MG.

grandtotal

I had a Schwinn Varsity my freshman year at OSU, which had a sad demise one day as I was on my way to class. I was zipping past a line of cars on the right, in the imaginary "bike-lane" when a MG Midget turned right into a parking lot right in front of me. I flew over his car. All I hit war the radio antenna.

My bike, however hit the right rear fender of his car, bending the forks back to where the bike was no longer rideable, and messing the rear quarter of the MG... totally my fault. However, he agreed to "call it even". (Lucky me!)

From your description the incident was totally the fault of the MG driver. No wonder he agreed to "call it even".

stickguy

Well, I have a nice clean '98 Contour sitting in front of the house for sale. Only 90,600 miles, new tires, real nice looking.

Only asking $2,295. But, since I like you, 2K cash. Just come to NJ and pick it up.

I picked 2 lousy weekends to stick it on "that certain free site". Crappy weather, and the Eagles were playing. Got some interest, but only a couple of low ball offers. Good thing I am not desperate to sell!

anonymousposts

We sold the RX300 for our asking price of $7500. I was amazed at how quickly it sold.

michaellno

I haven't gotten any word recently on my son's attempt to sell the Subaru. I suspect it's even more important now because he lost his part time job and isn't working, so he'll need gas and insurance money for the Mustang.

I know he cleaned it up inside and out and I suspect that he, too, is using "that certain free site".

Congratulations to those who have sold (or are attempting to sell) their cars.

stever

Are y'all trying to keep craigslist a secret or is there another "certain free site" out there? I don't know anyone using Kiiji or however you spell it.

roadburner

An X3 to go to school in? You wanna adopt me?

Well, It will be nine years old by the time he heads out. It's also pretty safe and it packs less than 200 hp. And that's important; remember, my kid is the one who says, "C'mon Dad, he's not that fast- you can take him!" whenever some punk pulls up beside the MS3 and guns the engine.

kyfdx

I'm probably a year-and-a-half, at least... from having to do this...

I figure the car my son will get.. is currently getting the crap beat out of it by some other high school kid... but, even that might be too good for him... :surprise:

fezo

Yo, Steve! That Reynolds 531 Libertas was probably worth more than my Tempest! It was certainly more reliable. :sick:

The first two years of college I walked and used the campus buses. This was at Rutgers which has a good sized campus.

My senior year i had a 62 Chevy panel truck.

rb - true enough. I would suspect that even a 9 year old X3 would have more of a cool factor than the Tempest ever had on its best day.

stever

No one could believe a bike could cost $250 back in '71 or so (the Varsity was on the edge at $100). It's probably still a good ride, if it's still in someone's stable. I kept it for 20 some years, and about all that was wrong with it was some brinelling in the bottom bracket.

I don't think this guy is for sale:



link

boomchek

I thought it looked familair, the setting that is. Petersen's Auto Museum.

woodyww

My first 3 HS & college cars: '62 Merc Meteor, '67 Plymouth Barracuda, '68 Dodge Charger. All used, all really cra**py as far as reliability, & when they didn't break down by themselves, I managed to wreck the engines, or trannys, or body in some crazed road-trip or beach-racing sceniaro. Not as bad as the guys in Animal House with the Lincoln, no wait, lt was.

Tell the truth, I think HS & college students had a lot more fun in the '60's & early 70's......

fezo

I was a relatively good boy back then. Didn't manage to wreck anything.

The Tempest was on its second engine by the time I had it that year. That one held up until we sold it with maybe 120K on it.

The panel truck was amusing. Just had the old flathead 6 in it so it was plenty slow. Three on the tree. My dad had bought it for delivery for his business on the odd occasion that an Impala wasn't big enough. Almost immediately he decided the Tempest would suit him more and I got the truck. Can' complain. The price was right.

It actually was dependable for me. After that dad joined the transmission of the month club with it.

woodyww

This was at Rutgers which has a good sized campus.....My senior year i had a 62 Chevy panel truck.

I went to Stony Brook, on L.I., when I had the '68 Charger. By then, I actually treated my (3rd) car very well, but it was so so unreliable in sometimes bizarre ways that my room-mates dubbed it the "Ghost Car".

A few years later, I managed to get a new '73 V6 4sp Mercury Capri (European Ford). Actually one of the best cars I've ever owned, & by then I was obsessively doing tune-ups myself, oil changes, bought a timing light, etc.

But I think buying a "disposable car" for an 18 y.o. could be a very good idea.....

guss

One of my college roommates had a '76 Mercury Capri. It was a very nice car, especially when compared to the Novas, and Granadas everyone else was driving. I guess you could even call it a sports coupe.

michaellno

One of my college roommates had a '76 Mercury Capri.

Same here ... though his may have been a '77 .. I do know it was the second generation, not the first one that was available around 1971 or so. This was around '83 / '84.

I was driving a '79 Sunbird at the time, and his car was positively luxurious compared to mine.

Then, the Sunbird got totaled and I bought the aforementioned Olds Omega, which I drove for only a few months before graduating.

My buddy with the Capri traded it in on a Mazda B-series pickup just before graduation.

fezo

Somewhere in 69 or 70 I played up at some coffee house gig up at Stony Brook. Small world.

zq8

My first car was a 1976 Mercury Capri II as they were called. Black with Gold seat, trim and wheels !

kyfdx

Found a couple of nice cars for you...

'06 9-5 SportCombis... Low miles with warranty left... loaded up.... Asking $15K-$16K..

Yeah.. ten hour drive away... but, whaddaya think?

stickguy

I like these. I actaully stopped to check them out not too long ago (that and a 9-2x). Only had a new one (and a couple of used 9-5 wagons).

Would probably have to be certified though, but who knows if saab will even be in business 3 years from now?

I need to wait a few months to figure out what my job/commute situation is. Not sure I would be comfortable putting 25K+ a year on a SAAB. you go from low mile to high mile real quick.

Not a bad deal though if they have a nice option load.

kyfdx

These two aren't certified.... but, they have 23K and 36K miles respectively, and over a year of the 4yr/50K warranty left..

Most of the certified ones are closer to $20K+

I'm not sure I would risk a high-mileage commute on one of them, either.... but, I thought they were an interesting value proposition at that price...

akangl

Wow, its been a while since I've been here. Busy wouldn't even begin to describe my life now! Its a rare day I can sit down at the computer and do something like visit Edmunds, lol.

I'm still driving the Pilot, quickly approaching the end of the B2B warranty. Next week it goes in for a not too cheap service. Its been a really good car, but in the next few months I think I'll be saying goodbye to it. Since we sold our dually we have nothing to tow the TT with, so rather than own 3 vehicles I'm going to let the Pilot go in favor of an older Suburban. I'm not thrilled about it, but want to be able to use the TT, seems silly to pay for something we can't use. Course if the right older truck comes along I might grab that and end up with 3 vehicles after all!!

Hubby is still thrilled with his Civic, its closing in on the 10k miles mark. No, we haven't fixed the bumper, he has a roll of blue duct tape if pieces start coming off, lol. Just don't see the point in fixing it before summer. So far other than the coyote incident its been a really good little car.

Its been really nice this winter to have a garage for both vehicles, I don't complain one bit about getting into a warm car to go somewhere, lol. That's about it from the frozen north, I'll be glad when summer gets here!

Kirstie_H

A reporter from a large national newspaper would like to speak to consumers who are holding onto their cars versus selling them or buying a new one because of economic uncertainties. Please respond to ctalati@edmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Friday, January 30, 2009.

Chintan Talati
Edmunds.com
Corporate Communications

[Deleted User]

I found a buyer for our TSX and would like to get into something pretty cheap, 2-3 year lease. I've looked at the Civic, which is an option for about $239/month with just first down but wanted to see what else others might suggest, Impreza, ?? Thanks!

woodyww

'06 9-5 SportCombis... Low miles with warranty left... loaded up.... Asking $15K-$16K

Just an opinion: I drove a new 9-5 a few years ago before I bought my slightly used e39. The 9-5 was "OK". It seemed more like a GM car, than the 9000, which was highly regarded. (I still remember when saabs were very desirable, almost as much as bmw's, but this is going back to the late '80's).

I always liked the looks of the 9-5 wagon tho.......

kyfdx

Yeah... checked the ads today.. one of those two is already gone..

As far as the cheap lease for dad23? I think Legacy SE models have a pretty cheap lease.. under $250/mo... Also, the Impreza, with the sedan about $30/mo less than the hatch...

If you can live with a base model, then the Rabbit and Jetta S models are also pretty cheap..

michaellno

I would second ky's suggestion on the Impreza. Probably could get into one for right around $200/mo and the AWD would work well here in Colorado.

If I absolutely, positively had to get a car tomorrow, I'd lean towards an Impreza lease and cash out the equity I have in the L300.

kyfdx

That is what I did last summer... Traded in my paid off '02 CR-V with 106K for $9K, and got a 24mo/30K lease on an Impreza for 23 payments of $244/mo., including all fees and taxes....

I wish I had the hatch, though... but, not for another $25/mo..

michaellno

So, what are your plans when the lease is up?

I'm hoping the L makes it until June of 2011, which is when the ION will be paid off. Since the L only has 78K on it and I'm driving about 10K per year, I should be just over the 100K mark when that time comes.

kyfdx

Well... if my 401K keeps going the same direction, my plan is to hang out at the soup kitchen... :surprise:

Not sure yet... My son will be 16 1/2 when the lease is up, and eligible for his full license, which may mean buying him a beater... So, I'd like to say that I'll be getting a MINI, but if I'm shelling out $300/mo. for car insurance for the family, it may be something cheaper..

My wife's lease isn't up until 15 months after that.... We usually don't lease both cars, but the Impreza deal/trade-in was too good to pass up..

rayainsw

"Well... if my 401K keeps going the same direction, my plan is to hang out at the soup kitchen.."

I expect that I will end up

in a VAN

down by the RIVER

[ apologies to SNL ]

woodyww

if my 401K keeps going the same direction, my plan is to hang out at the soup kitchen

I may be at the soup kitchen soon too; the stock mkt. crash has really screwed up my house/condo buying plans, or even my 2nd car idea, say a used Z4. (Frankly I could still pull off a used $20K-ish car w/o hurting myself too much, lots of interesting ads in the Dec. Roundel).

Altho "investing" (AKA, gambling) in the stock mkt. makes buying a 2nd or 3rd used car at a good price seem positively sensible......I'd bet even newish Porsche 911's have held up better.....

kyfdx

One thing for sure...

I'd be a lot happier losing 40% of the value on a Porsche, than 40% of my 401K..

grandtotal

Your 401(k) will recover (eventually) a Porsche 911 won't.

ecogan

Dad23 - I recently car-shopped and test drove the base Impreza. Very unimpressive (pun intended) actually. No heart in the car. You may have a different experience with a bigger engine Impreza. Ended up getting a Mazda3 Hatch. Beautiful car.

I hear that Mitsubishi has some great deals - lease and finance.

Would you consider any American cars?

Good luck on your search!

[Deleted User]

I would consider American, stopped and loooked at some Saturns yesterday, in the extreme cold! I too received the email saying my GM rewards have also been bumped up to $2000 so it's a consideration. I think we're comfortable with the Civic as we've had a few in the past and never a complaint, just want something inexpensive for now. Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming, I have the TSX until Thursday!

oregonboy

I suspect that you would have been more impressed if your test drives had taken place in the snow.

ecogan

Dad23 - another car we test drove was the Fit. Very good car for the price (under $18K) with a good service record. Also, deceptively large inside, with lots of cargo space. You may also want to consider a Hyundai (Elantra/Accent/Sonata) depending on what you are looking for. You can't beat their warranties. Good luck!!