TheSamba.com :: View topic - good used commuter vehicles- Input?

Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:38 pm

My gf recently totalled her commuter car, got the insurance check back and is ready to buy another one. She has about 2500 she wants to spend.

If it were my money it would be easy, I'd buy this sweet Opel hatch back down the road and fix it up. The thing is I dont want to recomend a car that she/I have to fix up an bunch.

Wondering what a good [automatic] commuter car might be, any leads would help. Early 90's corrolas are what im recomending right now, as well as subarus if she can afford it. Would get her into a vw ghia or bettle, but dont need two projects on my hands.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:45 pm

My 2 cents: can't beat the Corollas for reliability, and they are as cheap to fix as anything else with cats, airbags, EFI, etc. Plan on engine and tranny giong 200K before rebuilding, but a car that old probably has those kind of miles on it. You may be able to do the engine yourself (at least the externals), but the tranny should go to the shop.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:15 pm

Honda, Toyota, or Nissan

Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:23 pm

subarus are good cars as well

Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:03 pm

Honda.
Honda.
Or maybe a Honda.
I bought a Civic from the original owner with 201,000 on the clock.
Took it to my son (about a 900 mi trip) and it only got 37 mpg
at 75-80 mph on the interstate. :cry:
I dropped onto two lane roads at 65 mph and it popped up to 41 mpg. :D
He drove it until one night (264,000 miles at this point) he rear-ended
a pick up in a blizzard. Ruptured the radiator. He drove it another 55 miles with no coolant. :shock:
It got him home, but it was never the same after that.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:09 pm

Sounds like there's $2500 to spend and can't go over the limit. Seriously, I'd recommend a Ford Escort, or if finances allow, the ZX2. I had an Escort and it was one of the best cars I ever owned. 1.9L engine mated to a 5-speed. Got 400 miles out of a tank of gas when I changed to platinum plugs, and that included running the A/C. Just regular oil changes and catch when the harmonic balancer starts to hum. That's when it has to be replaced or you'll shred your belts.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:14 pm

Icy wrote: Sounds like there's $2500 to spend and can't go over the limit. Seriously, I'd recommend a Ford Escort, or if finances allow, the ZX2. I had an Escort and it was one of the best cars I ever owned. 1.9L engine mated to a 5-speed. Got 400 miles out of a tank of gas when I changed to platinum plugs, and that included running the A/C. Just regular oil changes and catch when the harmonic balancer starts to hum. That's when it has to be replaced or you'll shred your belts.

I keep seeing this teal green festiva in my neighborhood and hearing priase about them. Almost any american brand/european model car has my interest. Any experience with them.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:21 pm

KTPhil wrote: My 2 cents: can't beat the Corollas for reliability
x2. My dad is a toyota technician, and he believes the best year corolla was from '93 - '97. i have a '94 wagon and it's great

Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:26 pm

doubledoor64 wrote: subarus are good cars as well

+1
They are quite reliable, very similar to ACVWs and not awful to work on.
If you have to live with snow, all wheel drive also does not suck..

Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:10 pm

Find a good diesel rabbit.

~45 miles to a gallon of diesel isn't something to laugh at these days.

Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:48 pm

visibleink wrote: Find a good diesel rabbit.

~45 miles to a gallon of diesel isn't something to laugh at these days.

For $2500? I'll take one if such a beast exists!

Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:59 am

I really like Golfs & Jettas from 85-92.
The 8V 1.8 motor is rock solid, the car ride good and are pretty simple.
GTI & GLI versions handle really well, but later 16V 1.8 motor could have issues.
At some point around 88-89 they started building them in Mexico.
I like the German built ones better, I think the build quality is BETTER.

Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:23 am

Any of the above, just find one that you know a bit of history on (ie: 1 owner). Most cars built after the mid 80's are all decent cars, it is all in how it was driven and taken care of. Yeah hondas are great cars, but if you buy one from the high school kid you know its been driven like it was stolen.
And look, look, look.......Went looking last year for a commuter and after about 2 months found a one owner 96 GTI for $2800. All maintance records, clean as a whistle, and drove like it was brand new! If you need one immediatly it might not be a bad idea to rent for a few weeks to keep from jumping on one just because you need it now! Check your local rental agency, usually they will deeply discount a rental by the week or month.

And lastly whether it is a honda, vw, toyota, make sure she likes it, and not you. The endless bitching on the one you wanted might end up getting her another one and you will be stuck with that one!

Good luck!

Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:56 am

deerhoof wrote: Icy wrote: Sounds like there's $2500 to spend and can't go over the limit. Seriously, I'd recommend a Ford Escort, or if finances allow, the ZX2. I had an Escort and it was one of the best cars I ever owned. 1.9L engine mated to a 5-speed. Got 400 miles out of a tank of gas when I changed to platinum plugs, and that included running the A/C. Just regular oil changes and catch when the harmonic balancer starts to hum. That's when it has to be replaced or you'll shred your belts.

I keep seeing this teal green festiva in my neighborhood and hearing priase about them. Almost any american brand/european model car has my interest. Any experience with them.

Escorts(Mazda engine) are good, resale value isn't, but you can get an newer Escort for cheaper than a similiar year Honda
I'd vote for Honda over the Escort though
I've owned a Festiva and they are a throw away car, I wouldn't get one with an automatic. It was a great car for delivering pizzas but low on comfort and quality. Festiva is actually a Kia.
Any car will last if you do regular oil changes.
My sister had a 3 cyl Geo Metro that hit 275K The interior and body was trash and it still ran you just couldn't smog it anymore.

Really the deciding factor is what your girlfriend likes
you can get a newer Escort but would have to go for a older Honda
My vote is for a Honda CRX mine had 400K when I got rid of it (Still running) great gas mileage and fun to drive

Any car you decide on make sure to find out if the engine is am interference or non interference type
most Honda's are interference which means when the timing belt breaks the valves hit the pistons and your looking at a new engine. Best bet if the car has over 60K is to change the timing belt to be safe
Happy car shopping :D

Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:06 am

I bought an '89 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo for $250 when I got back to the states. It ran like ass, but only needed some $25 boost hose thing to get it up to par.

Until I got my bug and sold my RX-7, the car came to a total of 291,886 trouble free miles. The car's now completely rally capable and registered with rally america/fia as an Open-Open class car. I've since logged about 27,000 miles of rigorous off-road terrain with no problems at all.

Something to consider if, after a while, you choose to replace the car and use the former as an auto-x/rally-x car. Early 90's Golf/GTIs are also pretty decent in both case. :lol:

Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:25 pm

iowegian wrote: Honda.
Honda.
Or maybe a Honda.
I bought a Civic from the original owner with 201,000 on the clock.
Took it to my son (about a 900 mi trip) and it only got 37 mpg
at 75-80 mph on the interstate. :cry:
I dropped onto two lane roads at 65 mph and it popped up to 41 mpg. :D
He drove it until one night (264,000 miles at this point) he rear-ended
a pick up in a blizzard. Ruptured the radiator. He drove it another 55 miles with no coolant. :shock:
It got him home, but it was never the same after that.

I 2nd that! I drive a 2003 Civic Si and love it!

Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:28 pm

MLTIGGER2 wrote: deerhoof wrote: Icy wrote: Sounds like there's $2500 to spend and can't go over the limit. Seriously, I'd recommend a Ford Escort, or if finances allow, the ZX2. I had an Escort and it was one of the best cars I ever owned. 1.9L engine mated to a 5-speed. Got 400 miles out of a tank of gas when I changed to platinum plugs, and that included running the A/C. Just regular oil changes and catch when the harmonic balancer starts to hum. That's when it has to be replaced or you'll shred your belts.

I keep seeing this teal green festiva in my neighborhood and hearing priase about them. Almost any american brand/european model car has my interest. Any experience with them.

Escorts(Mazda engine) are good, resale value isn't, but you can get an newer Escort for cheaper than a similiar year Honda
I'd vote for Honda over the Escort though
I've owned a Festiva and they are a throw away car, I wouldn't get one with an automatic. It was a great car for delivering pizzas but low on comfort and quality. Festiva is actually a Kia.
Any car will last if you do regular oil changes.
My sister had a 3 cyl Geo Metro that hit 275K The interior and body was trash and it still ran you just couldn't smog it anymore.

Really the deciding factor is what your girlfriend likes
you can get a newer Escort but would have to go for a older Honda
My vote is for a Honda CRX mine had 400K when I got rid of it (Still running) great gas mileage and fun to drive

Any car you decide on make sure to find out if the engine is am interference or non interference type
most Honda's are interference which means when the timing belt breaks the valves hit the pistons and your looking at a new engine. Best bet if the car has over 60K is to change the timing belt to be safe
Happy car shopping :D

A thought the Festiva was a Mazda 121?

Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:36 pm

Are you thinking of the Ford Fiesta? Nevermind, I see why you said Mazda 121 I guess we are both right it is a Kia/Mazda/Ford LOL :roll:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Festiva

Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:45 pm

If you're just looking for a commuter appliance, a Toyota Echo is pretty tough to beat. The looks are not much to love, but great mileage and reliable as a hammer.

Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:24 pm

MLTIGGER2 wrote: Honda, Toyota, or Nissan

Nissan parts are expensive....

me... i stick with a Toyota....

honda is okay too, but the damn kids like to steal them, i had a civic years ago, and that car got broken into 9 times at 4 different spots throughout the city.....