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Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 01:22 pm: | 
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Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 02:17 pm: |
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Guell, it's listed on ADV for $3500. With the long list of extras, I'm not flexible on the price. I've been riding it even more than normal lately and loving the fuel economy. Unfortunately, it won't work for getting me to school/work this winter.
Just stopped by a dealer to look at an SL1 that caught my eye. Owner walked out and said he'd sell anything except that car. Apparently he likes 44mpg on his daily commute. 
(Message edited by pkforbes87 on July 14, 2012) |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 02:25 pm: |
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always lusted after the notion of Fiero GT with a Buick GNX turbo 6 behind the firewall.
would have to put the Sunbird front end on it though, I cant stand pop up headlights.
The SL2 I had for ten years was flawless - it was a 'copper haze' metallic gold - absolutely invisible to law enforcement.
Great insurance rates, and very low on the theft totem pole |
Brinnutz
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 03:33 pm: |
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1995 Toyota Camry with the 2200 4-cylinder motor.
This car has never had a MAJOR issue.
It was my grama's car since new, and I've never been let down by her since I got her in 07. I've put 80,000 miles on her since then (she just passed 145,000 miles total) and have put a new exhaust on, new struts, brakes all around, tires, a new alternator, battery and that's pretty much it.
Roomy trunk, and great ride, I get 400+miles to a 16 gallon tank and between city driving and highway driving the avgerage MPG over that tank is usually >28mpg.
And, it's got a sun roof. 
So I figure I'm over 30mpg when cruising on the highway easily, probably closer to 35mpg.
Gen2 Camry, highly recommended by me. You can even do a brake swap from the Avalons/Lexus models and have full disc all the way around (I haven't done it yet).
My entire motorcycle fit into this car (when it was in pieces)...Engine rode shotgun, frame back seat:
In fact, the desk and file cabinet to the right actually ALL fit into this car when I picked it up in Chicago one weekend on my way home from drill.
By my estimation, you could possibly fit 3, maybe 4 dead bodies in the trunk.
Last night, as a matter of fact, I used the 3M headlight restoration kit to get rid of the yellowing/fogging of the headlights. Works great:
And, here's the product of one fogged next to one freshly cleaned:
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Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 05:11 pm: |
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As a professional parts nazi, and by that I mean I work in a REAL parts store, not Autozone or Pep Boys (they buy from me), I'd like to throw my hat in the ring.
Overall, I'd go with older GMs. mid to late 90's small, mid a full sized sedans. They are reliable, plentiful, easy to work on, parts are cheap. Something like a 94 Olds Ciera or Buick Century.
Not all the Japanese cars are desirable. The older GMs take more abuse than Civics, Accords, Camrys etc. They are still great cars, but no better than the older GMs and cost more to maintain. Parts are often more expensive and they are often harder to work on.
Don't even think about a German car.
Fords suck. They really help keep me in business. 'Nuff said.
Saabs are the worst. They may be decent cars, but God help you when you need parts. They should not be compared with Buells. You can get parts for Buells. And Buells are awesome.
And one thing, when I say older GMs, I don't mean Saturns. Stay away from any L series.
And since you're looking for a sub-$4k vehicle, stay away from Mopars. Except for a nice XJ Cherokee. The 4.0 w/ AW4 tranny is friggin bulletproof. |
Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 05:13 pm: |
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And Brinnutz, the 3M headight restoration kit is awesome! I've sold a hell of a lot of those. Just follow the directions and you can't fail! |
Thumper74
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 05:27 pm: |
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Brinnutz, I've got a rebuilt head, headset, waterpump, head bolt seat, and timing belt hanging out in my garage for your car. I pulled my head off and never got around to putting it back together. I ended up scrapping the car. If you want it to keep around, I'll almost give it away. |
Thumper74
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 05:30 pm: |
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I just did a the 3M kit on my Accord and I'm really impressed. After I hit it with a power buffer, they look as close to new as I can do without replacing them. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 05:58 pm: |
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>>>>Fords suck.
What's been your experience with the newer Fords?
I had a 2006 F-150 and the last year I had it I put like $6,000 in it.
That was no fun.
The new ones I've got (2010 and 2012) appear, thus far, to be bullet proof. |
Guell
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 07:26 pm: |
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although with my 01 ranger, ive had to replace ball joints (something all makes are guilty of, it had no greasable joints from the factory), did the shocks on it, and exhaust on it. Other than that its been bullet proof. Thats over 6 years of ownership, and 137k miles. |
Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 07:40 pm: |
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Court, the Fusion seems to be an excellent vehicle. As much as I hate Ford (blue oval = blue turd), they've really made some progress. But I would still never buy one. If I were looking for a new truck, it would be a Ram. The 5.7 Hemi is a truly awesome motor. And the stuff that bolts onto it just doesn't break. Starters, alternators, water pumps, etc, I sell very few and the Rams are all over the road.
The 6.0 Powerstroke was a horrible POS. I have a friend who recently blew his 6.0 in his F350. He's replacing it with a Cummins.
(Message edited by gixxer86g on July 14, 2012) |
Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 07:43 pm: |
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Guell, ball joints are really normal wear items. However, some vehicles are worse than others. The 3.0 Ford motor has ignition coil issues. The 5.4 Triton has plug issues. The 4.6 has coil issues. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 08:16 pm: |
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>>>>The 5.4 Triton has plug issues.
Which you NEVER really appreciate until that make you sign the statement "the spark plugs in this motor are prone to breakage. In the event any plugs break while we are working on the vehicle their will be an $87 per spark plug charge to remove each spark plug".
I was lucky . . they only broke 3. |
86129squids
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 08:47 pm: |
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My $.02:
Got a '92 Nissan hardbody kingcab. Got it in about '95.
Yes, mileage aint that great. Otherwise, I've replaced the wearable items, recently the clutch master and slave cylinders, mostly with my own labor.
Damn thing will outlast me, far as I can tell.
Might recharge the A/C sometime soon for cold air, but not yet researched what to use to not FU the ozone- IIRC it ends with 134?
Trucks can haul stuff. And bikes. And you can camp out of them. |
Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 09:05 pm: |
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That's one of the good ones squid. Even more so with Toyota trucks. Our delivery vehicles are Toyotas. Number four has around 350,000 miles and that's NOT highway miles.
I think the most important point here is that the better you are at maintaining your own vehicles, the more options you have. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2012 - 12:20 am: |
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Pelican Parts has served me well for Saab parts. As has Advance Auto. So far I've not had any trouble.'
Agree on the L series cars though. That was "after GM ruined Saturn". Kinda like "after GM ruined Saab". I see a trend here.
But the older genuine GM cars are what they are... never great, rarely awful, and capable of standing up to staggering levels of abuse.
If they hadn't screwed the investors while protecting the labor unions, I'd have kept buying them. |
Guell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2012 - 08:40 am: |
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Gixxer, I have the 4l in my ranger. I wish I would have never sold my 86 Toyota turbo pickup, but even toyotas have their issues.
I wasn't complaining about the wear and tear items on the truck, just that the factory didn't put greasable joints in there. I do all my of my own work so I was out 450 or so compared to 1200 if a shop did it |
Griffmeister
| | Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2012 - 09:39 pm: |
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Gixxer, what's wrong with the L series that you see? I have an 04 L300 2.2 with 98K so far. Other than normal wear items (brakes & tires) I've replaced the cat and front wheel bearings for just under $250 total. That's like one months new car payment. I don't consider that bad, what am I missing? |
Gixxer86g
| | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 06:50 am: |
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Griff, I had a customer with a 03 L200 and Monroe didn't even make front struts for them. My only choice was AC Delco, which were way too much. Plus, mechanics hate them.
Guell, the Toyota trucks have been famous for the bodies rotting out. Plus they had a major recall recently in which the frame is replaced. But they are hard to kill. Ask the guys at Top Gear. |
Buellish
| | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 07:28 am: |
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I'm with Griffmeister,I've got an'02 L200 Saturn with 117,000
miles that has been pretty dependable so far.Whats the deal? |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 08:15 am: |
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I knew a couple people with the L series Saturns and they had a lot of mechanical issues.
I don't think they are bad cars, they just lost that "simple and reliable" perspecitve and became "european (err, or Aussie) designs ported over to American markets" cars. At which point, I'd rather have a Saab than a Vuxhal (or whatever they were) |
Guell
| | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 08:31 am: |
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Gixxer, i knew about the frames rotting out, really depended on what part of the country you lived in. The body on my 86 was actually in good shape, couldnt kill that truck other than plastic timing chain guides. |
86129squids
| | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 01:19 pm: |
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I've decided long ago that if I EVER have to replace this truck, I'll try to get the same thing if possible, ideally "someone's grampa's truck"...
My GF drives a 2000 Toyota Solara- nice car, gets good mileage, by some miracle it gets INSTANTANEOUS A/C and heat when needed- but it seems that autos made past the mid 90's have gotten over-engineered in certain ways. Her car makes me paranoid with all its "safety" features, including automatic door locks- it has been known to lock the doors if the driver gets out and forgets to leave the door OPEN, luckily this was at home with the spare key nearby.
Just like most motorbikes, cars and trucks from the 90's onward got a little over-engineered and too homogenized. Lots of fun to find the older stuff in good condition, for usually VERY good $$$. |
Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 11:59 am: |
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Appreciate all the input. I'm heavily leaning toward an SL. Going to look at two today. A 98 w/ 107k, and '00 w/ 154k. Both 5spd and both have A/C. Only the 98 has cruise Some internet research shows that the 99+ engine ran a bit smoother and more efficient. Hmm.. anxious to drive them both.
'00 is listed at $2200 but the owner is talking about price being negotiable even before I've seen the car. I think $1800 sounds good. (this one also has 4 brand new tires and a fresh alignment) |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 12:18 pm: |
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If they have ABS, they also have traction control (even with the manual transmission, which was really cool). In 95, ABS also got you 4 wheel disk instead of rear drums. FWIW. |
Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 07:57 pm: |
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Picked up the '00 SL1.
Probably the second slowest vehicle I've ever driven. First would be an 87 Civic DX 1.5L.
I'm anxious to see some fuel economy numbers, and to find the oil filter.. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 08:39 am: |
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If I recall correctly, you pop off the drivers side front wheel, and remove a snap in panel, and it's all then right there in front of you. Its a really common filter... I think the same one my Saab and Sienna use. |
Natexlh1000
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 11:35 am: |
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If you need that car to go faster, I hear the thing to do is to add a huge friggin' wing to the back and a 4" exhaust tip with lights in it.
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No_rice
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 03:18 pm: |
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that 2000 must be in a different spot then the one on either of mine? i just got at the filter from under neath. although it is hard to spot at first.
and you can add cruise easy. yours looks to be a bit different then my 96 and 97, but still fairly cheap and easy.
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t= 118209&highlight=cruise+control |
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