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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / June 2005used car for cross country drive
hi all, i’m hoping to get some advice and suggestions. i’m moving from portland, oregon to ithaca, new york at the end of july, and i’m looking to buy a used vehicle to make the move and then survive a few years of driving in ithaca. right now, i’m thinking about a used honda civic or something similar, but i’m really open to anything. the catch is that my budget is rather limited: i’ve got $3,000 to $5,000 or so to spend. i’d like to come in the middle of that range if possible, in order to keep some money for maintenance. i don’t care much about looks. i’m just looking for something that will run reliably for a student for a few years. what models/years would you recommend? thanks for any thoughts - john >hi all, > >i’m hoping to get some advice and suggestions. i’m moving from >portland, oregon to ithaca, new york at the end of july, and i’m >looking to buy a used vehicle to make the move and then survive a few >years of driving in ithaca. I'd be looking for a private sale where the owner has kept all records of maintainance and repairs to the vehicle. Also do some searching on reliability in vehicles. Most automotive companies now are putting out very reliable vehicles as long as the preventative maintainance has been kept up to date. ...Ron -- 68' Camaro RS 88' Firebird Formula 00' Mustang GT Vert >I’d be looking for a private sale where the owner has kept all >records >of maintainance and repairs to the vehicle. This is not bad advise because they are less likely to screw you with a troublesome car because they usually trade in lemons or poorly kept cars. >>I’d be looking for a private sale where the owner has kept all >>records [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >a troublesome car because they usually trade in lemons or poorly kept >cars. Well, I disagree...The private sellers simply know they'll get more for their vehicle then a dealer will give them. Plus, they have NO care if you get a lemon or P.O.S. After all, once you hand over the cash and drive away, it's your tough luck if the car blows up. That is, dealer or private seller. > Well, I disagree...The private sellers simply know they’ll get >more [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >the car >blows up. That is, dealer or private seller. Odds are far higher of getting screwd by a used car dealer plus at least you can see the owner and how it was used and how long they had it too because if they had it for several years it has likely been reliable but if they have had it less than a year or so you might be carefull if reason for sale sounds fishy. > [quote:742e8ea4db="Gene"] > Well, I disagree...The private sellers simply know they'll [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > than a year or so you might be carefull if reason for sale > sounds fishy. first, thanks to everyone for all of the advice and information. i really appreciate the help. i’ll be attending cornell law school in the fall, and raymond, you’ve got a good point. ithaca is plenty hilly. i lived for a few years in japan, and drove a manual nissan sunny (not sure what that car is called here) in a very snowy and hilly place. there were some tricky starts and stops, and ithaca is even hillier. here in portland, we seem to be swimming in subarus. that said, their popularity makes them a little more expensive when compared to other, non-AWD cars. i am interested in a little hatchback or a light wagon, and an AWD subaru would probably be great in the snow. but i’m curious if these cars are worth the extra price. for example, if the same amount could buy a an older subaru legacy with 80 or 90k miles, or a ’02 ford focus (or similar) with 50k miles, would the older, more driven subaru be worth it? i’ve seen good reviews on ’02 and ’03 focuses. with good tires, would a front wheel drive wagon or hatchback get me around ithaca as well? or is it better to go with an AWD subaru, despite the cost? are AWD cars more expensive to maintain in the long run? snowman, are there any toyota wagon or hatchback models that you’d recommend? as to buying from a dealer or an individual, i’ve been looking at both options. in either case, i’m going to check the VIN on carfax, go over the paperwork and maintenance records, and have my mechanic do a check. are there other precautions i should be taking? thanks again everybody! this is all very very helpful! - 5john >ill be attending cornell law school in the fall, and raymond, youve >got a good point. ithaca is plenty hilly. i lived for a few years in [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >AWD subaru, despite the cost? are AWD cars more expensive to maintain >in the long run? Hell, with good tires, you can get around Ithaca in a 1965 Ford Fairlane if you wanted to. It's just a matter of what you prefer. I get around just as well in my 88 Daytona as I do in my 88 Towncar. Of course, the Towncar DOES eat a bit more gas and has a bit less get up and GONE. My suggestions for Ithaca would be something small and maneuverable, the city is NOT laid out very well, traffic can get VERY heavy, and the more nimble you are, the better. You'll want something with decent low-end grunt to get you moving on those uphill-grade stop signs and traffic lights. You'll want something with an automatic transmission (Listen to the Bill Cosby routine about driving a VW bug in San Francisco for further enlightenment). Most of all, you'll want something that you don't give a sh.t about if it gets banged up and dented. Ithaca is a city with two colleges, and every fall the male population suffers from testosterone poisoning. I've seen more drivers do more stupid stuff in two years in Ithaca than I have in nearly 30 years on the road elsewhere. Don't, as in DO NOT, go out and spend $15K on some tricked out pocket rocket and then get suicidal when some idiot gouges the paint in the local Papa John's parking lot. If your car makes it through a semester without adding dents and dings, you'll be a candidate for the Second Coming. Get something basic, dependable, rugged, and disposable. Trust me, the Lexus can come AFTER you've passed the Bar... (and I do not mean as in Tavern....) Raymond Sirois KU2S SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS 607-733-5745 telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6000 >first, thanks to everyone for all of the advice and information. i >really appreciate the help. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >on ’02 and ’03 focuses. with good tires, would a front >wheel drive wagon or hatchback get me around ithaca as well? or is it >better to go with an AWD subaru, despite the cost? are AWD cars more >expensive to maintain in the long run? [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >- 5john I owned Subarus for a total of 10 years and the only reason I stopped at the time was my wife had twins and we already had children so we out grew it overnight for car seat room. My wife wants another one someday. Its combination FWD/AWD was awesome in snow and on slick pavement. They are very sturdy cars too and I never had any trouble with my two. Subarus are not as "refined" as some other small cars in creature comforts and such which kinda makes them a nitch car but they are very practical dependable cars new or well used. They have a well thought out and unconventailly desgne engine and drive train that is well proven and extremely durable. Its all aluminum motor can be a bit noisier than some but it will good the distance and then some and the hill holder clutch if something they have had for a long time (they have a specailly design master cylinder that is linked to clutch in a foolproof way that allows you to hold the brakes with the clutch fully depressed on a hill and takes the "terror" out of starting on steep hills with clutches for limited experiance stick shift drivers. They make a sturdy automatic too > [quote:48141bc643="5john"]first, thanks to everyone for all of > the advice and information. i really appreciate the help. [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > steep hills with clutches for limited experiance stick shift > drivers. They make a sturdy automatic too raymond and snoman, thanks again. my experience driving around ithaca when apartment hunting already gave me a little vision into what you’re describing, raymond. i hadn’t considered the ramifications of having 20,000 plus undergraduates in the area, but i wasn’t planning on buying anything particularly fancy, anyway. as you say, dings are inevitable. so i’m narrowing down my search to the following types of cars: a FWD hatchback, maybe honda, toyota or the like, or perhaps a subaru with AWD, if i can find one that fits within my budget. if i didn’t have to drive this thing across country for the move, i’d be less concerned with a high mileage subaru. snoman, it sounds like you’ve had some pretty good experiences with them. i’ve had people tell me to avoid cars with 100,000 miles already on them. most subarus in my price range here are at that mark, or a little higher, already. do you think this is a valid concern? aahhh, the fun of buying a used car. i’ve been driving a bicycle for five years. this is all so new... - 5john > if i didn’t have to drive this thing across country for the >move, i’d be less concerned with a high mileage subaru. snoman, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >- 5john Generally you get tired of driving a Subaru become they finailly wear out. Back here in Ohio I have seen several wih over 200K on them that ran well but the bodies where finailly giving up to rust. If a Subaru has had reasonable maintainance, 100K is nothing on one. I have a 89 Suburban that I bought new that has 172K on it now and is basically our family traveling vehical that is not used daily. It is in near mint condition and I would drive it to Florida or Colorado tomorrow without even thinking about it as it has never left me stranded or required repair on more than 1 dozen cross country trips. A high mileage vehical that has been well maintained and still runs well if a safer beat than one with 50K or less but has been poorly maintained. Once a car get past 100K or so and it still runs well and uses little if any oil, they usually have a lot of life left in them. My som has a Tercel with 170K on it and some of them hard miles too and it still runs well too. The moral here, do not let the mileage scare you because if it has been well cared for and shows no signs of abuse, it is not likely to "die" suddenly for a long time. . The moral here, do not let the mileage scare you >because if it has been well cared for and shows no signs of abuse, it >is not likely to "die" suddenly for a long time. ============================================= I agree completely.... epecially when a vehicle is not equipted with a high reving buz saw engine... 100000 miles on a SBC is really no cause for concern...IF it has been maintained ... Bob G. >.. The moral here, do not let the mileage scare you >>because if it has been well cared for and shows no signs of abuse, it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Bob G. My sons old 90 tercal "buzzes" a bit and he is a kid and hard on it too. He has put 30K on it in last 10 months too and it still uses about a quart every 2000 miles with 170K on the clock and runs really well too. Suburu engines tend to be a bit noisier than other engines a times because the all aluminum block transmitts noises and such well and they can sometimes even sound a bit "knocky" when very cold but it is normal due to different tolerances built into the engine design to allow for heat up expandtion of aluminum opposed engine. I mention this because they can sound different at times than a Toyta or a Honda and such engine wise but it is no cause for concern at all as they have one of the tuffest motors out there in their class. > hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > john Toyotas are pretty tuff old cars and I have seen several go well past 200k miles too and they are not the bad to work on either compared to a honda tha can be a nightmare to work on. When you look at one, if it has a automatic, look and tranny fluid for color, it should be bright to medium dark red, if it is brownish at all stay awy from it and also if it does not have a funny sweet smell to it, if it smell burnt or like peanut butter stay away from it. And when you buy it service all of the fluids (engine and tranny) before going cross counrty regardless of what seller says its condition is so you know where you are at and what is in it. > Toyotas are pretty tuff old cars and I have seen several go > well past 200k miles too and they are not the bad to work on [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > counrty regardless of what seller says its condition is so you > know where you are at and what is in it. thanks snoman! i’ll take a look at some toyotas around here. any models/years specifically you think might work? -john >thanks snoman! i’ll take a look at some toyotas around here. >any models/years specifically you think might work? > >-john Depending how old you want to go, I have seen 88 to 91 Camarys go past 300K miles as though models were really built to last. (I could tell you some stories about a junker 89 camary that my son tried very hard to kill doing things you would not believe and I have trouble believing too and it did not die and someone took it and fixed it up the body and is driving it today) Mid 90’s tercels and Corolla’s are good to as are the Camary’s as well. My son has a 90 Tercel that he is pretty hard on and it has 180k on it and it is still going strong and the original AC compressor still works and is quiet too. > > Toyotas are pretty tuff old cars and I have seen several go > > well past 200k miles too and they are not the bad to work on [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >-john 5John, Ithaca is a city that is built on hills. My guess is that you're attending either Ithaca College or Cornell University. Both campuses are situated in the hilly part of the city, a city that has stop signs and traffic lights located on steep uphill grades. Take my advice. Unless you are ALREADY VERY WELL acquainted with the techniques of working a clutch on hilly roads, you should seriously consider only cars with automatic transmissions. Raymond Sirois KU2S SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS 607-733-5745 telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6000 > Ithaca is a city that is built on hills. My guess is that >you’re attending either Ithaca College or Cornell University. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >techniques of working a clutch on hilly roads, you should seriously >consider only cars with automatic transmissions. Good point but then there is the Subaru with its hill holder clutch which works pretty slick as I owned a few in years past and can vouch for its operation and not to mention its all wheel drive for those hills in the winter. They are very reliable cars too and I have seen some old used ones with more than 200K miles on them too. carfax.... take it with a pinch of salt I was buying a car for wifey, got unlimited carfax reports deal Pulled report on my car. CLEAN!. I put it through a bad wreck at 80 miles and had to be reconstructed. Insurance paid for it, mind you So it should have showed on carfax Wife's car. lots of problems. but the car wasnt lots of $$$ so it fine. I suspect some hidden history that's not there in carfa |
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