Car suggestions

modmaven · Tue, November 3rd, 2009, 12:09 PM

So my 2001 Chevy Blazer is at death's door and we're feeling too poor to prance into a dealership and see what's new. I think we need to look for a modestly priced car that is a year or two old and very reliable. Must seat at least four people. Any suggestions on what make and model to look for?

JKulp42757 · Tue, November 3rd, 2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modmaven

So my 2001 Chevy Blazer is at death's door and we're feeling too poor to prance into a dealership and see what's new. I think we need to look for a modestly priced car that is a year or two old and very reliable. Must seat at least four people. Any suggestions on what make and model to look for?

I know it's not the "sexy" answer, but if you want a nice, reliable vehicle a couple years old that will seat four, look at a FORD.

They have really upped their quality standards the last few years, and are ahead of many imports now. The resale value also crashes pretty hard in those first couple years (partly because there are so many Fords, partly because most American's haven't yet realized that Ford now produces very good quality vehicles)...which is great for you, as you'll be able to pick up a real nice one cheap.

carguy · Thu, November 5th, 2009, 06:15 AM

This sounds like a job for...........Carguy !

I would suggest you look for a use Pontiac Vibe, the newest model year you can afford. It seats four, gets great gas mileage, is reliable (Toyota Corolla reskinned including the engine), has cargo room to haul stuff, etc. I just bought a new one with All Wheel Drive on the Cash For Clunker program and love it. I had one about 7 years ago and it was equally great.

Let me know if you have any questions about any car because, after all, I am the Car Guy.

CA$ON · Sun, November 8th, 2009, 12:57 PM

I'm loving my 2005 ford mustang GT. EASY to find parts for and fix. Also pretty cheap. A lot of second hand stock items you can find cheap from others that have upgraded. Drives better than any car I have ever driven. (I have worked at a BMW, Porsche, and VW dealership and the mustang could take turns better than any of those cars I have driven from the lot)

Bought it with 7,500 miles Jan 2007. Now has 38k miles and I have not any type of car issues.

What I have had to change in that time was your basic stuff. Also I have upgraded the clutch and rear end gear and other performance parts. I beat on it all the time (It's a mustang! ) and it drives in traffic great. If you want some fun it's there, if you want to get to point A to point B it's there as well.

You can pick them up for around 15k used with low miles. I could trade mine in but why? A used motor runs around 1500-2k with 30k miles. So when the motor dies it will be very cheap to replace and still have a great car.

Also the Shaker 1000 stereo is A +.

Just my opinion. If you want something nice and pretty cheap that you can count on I would look at mustangs.

I've been around shops and cars all my life. I do all the work on any of my cars now and in the past. I'm a bit of a motor head and think that I got a pretty decent car for the money.

Shamie · Sun, November 8th, 2009, 10:25 PM

Modmaven,
I think what JKulp42757 wrote is true. Fords are made well, but have a poor resale value, so it is a good deal to buy them used. But actually, I think that it is almost impossible to buy a bad car nowadays. They are all pretty much made well now, maybe some better then others, but even the ones not made as good as the best ones are still made pretty good. In general, Japanese cars have a high resale value, so when you buy them used, you don't get the deal you get on used American cars. Also, in general, German cars cost a lot to repair, so I would avoid used ones (though I wish I had a new one). Anytime I see a Jetta, I think, I would love to have that car.

Chadster · Tue, November 10th, 2009, 09:48 PM

What did you decide Mod?

+1 for used American vehicles. So many wise people have said buy your car 2 years old. We bought my wife's car off lease and got a steal on a factory extended bumper-to-bumper warranty directly from GM. We were $12,000 out the door on a 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo w/ warranty in December 2005. On one hand, the GM fit and finish quality is lacking. The interior is cheaply made and the paint finish is thin and chipping. But it is mechanically very reliable. One way or another, we get what we pay for usually.