19 yrs old...car hunting...a lil help? :D

[D_Adoniah Sheervolume]

forgot to add: for values, go to:

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/UsedCars/default.aspx and
http://www.edmunds.com/tmv/used/index.html

always buy at or very near trade in, NOT retail or private party value. trade in is more than what the owner was offered by any dealership anyway, and you'll be in better position when it comes time to sell. be sure to deduct for any reconditioning the car would need to bring it normal condition for its age with no mechanical problems. using this technique i recently got a 1996 all-wheel drive toyota minivan for $300--the owner was asking $3000...

 

[B_dxjnorto]

After a string of car buying debacles a friend told me, "you cannot afford a cheap car."

Here's the nutshell/nineteen y.o. version of Consumer Reports:

Get the newest/lowest miles Honda Civic/Accord or Toyota Camry you can afford.

They are also the most frequently stolen, so lock up or maybe even use "the club" if you live in a highly urban area.

(Incredible cock BTW.)

 

[transformer_99]

First off, stay away from trucks unless you need one (and I would bet that you do not.) This is the voice of experience. I love trucks, own two and live in redneck country (that automatically qualifies it as a necessity.) Even if you get one that gets “not too bad” millage you will curb your driving. One of the reasons to get a care is to escape town and explore, not just transportation. At your age you have better things to spend $$$ on that supporting Exon.

With all due respect, this is what we're talking about in terms of real world fuel economy, a Ranger is every bit a legitimate contender to either of those two choices. I've driven all 3, the Ranger has a better ride than the other two as well (test one for yourself). And if you don't like the Ranger, every other brand has a smaller 4 cylinder truck that is competitively priced. A truck can make you money too, I can't count the times I've turned down someone that wanted to rent my truck, it's ugly but it's a hard worker too:

1999 Ford Escort ZX2​

Find a Car​

Fuel Economy​

Fuel Type

Regular​

MPG (city)

25​

MPG (highway)

33​

MPG (combined)

28

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse​

Find a Car​

Fuel Economy​

Fuel Type

Premium​

MPG (city)

20​

MPG (highway)

27​

MPG (combined)

23​

For the Ranger:
http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/Used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2306/act/usedcarreviewshowall/

EnginesSize liters/
cu. in.
Horse-
power
Torque
Transmission:
EPA city/hgwy
Consumer Guide®
Observed

ohc I42.5 / 152117-119146-1495-speed manual: 22/27
4-speed automatic: 20/25
5-speed manual: --
4-speed automatic: --dohc I42.3 / 138135-143153-1545-speed manual: 24/28
5-speed automatic: 21/25
5-speed manual: --
5-speed automatic: --

 

[gibsonguy]

I'm new hear but I might help out a bit.

I know you might like the look of the Mitsu, IMO the ford is the more reliable. If it's the ZX2 2 door coupe, It has the 2.0 Zetec form the Focus, so parts (and recalls) are plenty. The Escorts have been around for a very long time, and have been tweaked and de-bugged evrey production year. The last ones made are some of the best and most reliable.

By the way, I'd bet the ZX2 would hand the mitsu its ass on the dragstrip.

 

[dolf250]

Believe me, I know they are supposed to have trans and A/C problems. The A/C on Areostars died what became known as “the black death” and the trans had an aluminum part (I don't recall what it was [piston?]) that cracked and should have been made stronger. Mine is an AWD (which I am told is even worse) that has pulled a flat deck weighing around 2000 lbs from Texas to Florida. It rode back home again, but has had to pull the Humvee and '79 Lincoln more than once as well as a Chev short box from about 350 KM away. I KNOW I have been lucky. It brought the Lincoln into the transmission shop. The guy looked at me and said that if the thing blows up not to bring it to him- there will be nothing left. I just joked that the stress keeps the valves and passages clean.:biggrin1:

I also agree with wowniceone on buying one with a nice exterior and interior, but for different reasons. For me mechanical is fairly easy and I will do it- I cannot do rust repair and nothing will turn off a woman faster than riding around in a rust bucket with no muffler. The nicer the interior, the more pride you are likely to have in the car. Duct tape does not need to be dusted or need a coat of armorall. I am not saying buy something that has s blown engine and a nice body; but do pay attention to it. A few bubbles quickly turn into a few holes.

Finally regarding the truck; go ahead and buy a ranger. When I advised against a truck I was referring to a REAL truck:tongue: :wink: . I have owned Chevy's with 350's 400's and one 454 (all 4X4's) and presently own an ex military Humvee. None have got stellar fuel mileage, but all can pull a trailer or go off road.

 

[vindicari]

we have a television programme in uk called top gear, they do all sorts of crazy things with cars in one episode they dropped a toyota flatbed from a six storey building and it started. this one is my fav. driving a land rover up a scottish mountain.http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/...ram=1&clip=pack1-tg_headtohead_landrover_16x9
last week one of the presenters was almost killed driving a jet powered car at 300 mph. he is still in hospital with serious brain injuries.

 

[B_dxjnorto]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/...ram=1&clip=pack1-tg_headtohead_landrover_16x9

Nice segment. You may have to download and install real alternative lite to view it.

I hope the guy with the head injury recovers. It's a wonder he's alive.

 

[chrysler fanatic]

I'm a mechanic. Regular maintenance and a one owner car is always better than unknown history. They both get good mileage, they're both equally made of plastic and crap.

I'm not knocking new cars, but if you can find a decent vehicle of some vintage, they are lower in price, the maintance is cheaper, the parts are cheaper, you could probably do most of the work yourself with a manual.
But number one- they look way fuckin' cooler. My girl is is smokin' hot. (I'm serious, I have no Idea what she's doing with me) We dated in high school. Guess how she noticed me. I drove a lowered, primered, loud, and fast 57 chevy wagon. Chicks dig old cars, dude. And so do I. Chrome is sexier than plastic. If you want mileage, go with a vintage bug or get real nasty and find yourself a slick lookin' bike.

and the wagon had mufflers, just loud ones

Buy a chrysler

 

[chrysler fanatic]

I'm new hear but I might help out a bit.

I know you might like the look of the Mitsu, IMO the ford is the more reliable. If it's the ZX2 2 door coupe, It has the 2.0 Zetec form the Focus, so parts (and recalls) are plenty. The Escorts have been around for a very long time, and have been tweaked and de-bugged evrey production year. The last ones made are some of the best and most reliable.

By the way, I'd bet the ZX2 would hand the mitsu its ass on the dragstrip.

Its still plastic, and has miles of wiring, which will get oil soaked and/or rotten from age and short out. A wise old mechanic told me when I started out "Cars are made to throw away nowadays. When a NEW car gets old, it ain't worth a shit!" ANd if you're buying a car for the dragstrip, why the fuck would you even consider the escort or the mitsu? My car is 50 years old. has ac power everything. Fifty years from now, show me a ford escort that's still driving. I'll give you a kidney if you can. That's value at its finest.