Daily driver worth it?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
Try ebay or your tempo.
Or try tempotopaz.com
you would be surprised what other people like.
I finally got the repairs list for this tempo. The stack of receipts is 1/2" thick over 10 years.
Or try tempotopaz.com
you would be surprised what other people like.
I finally got the repairs list for this tempo. The stack of receipts is 1/2" thick over 10 years.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
I finally got my Topaz here. I hereby officially designate it as my daily driver over my venerable Caprice wagon (and its 18mpg)
I got it with the repairs folder 1/2" thick! Everything has been replaced but the engine. Windshield, radiator, fuel and water pumps, window motors, TPS sensor, IAC, and much much more.
I drove it home, and man, what a energetic little bug. I was surprised. It was faster than my '93 Tempo I had. I think compression must be good at 105K miles. I like the tach in it.
As to not deceive me about its track record, the AC went just a few days ago. I found a compressor. Looks like working on it is going to be an interesting experience with much cursing.
I like the "sport" cluster with tach in it. Neat.
I got it with the repairs folder 1/2" thick! Everything has been replaced but the engine. Windshield, radiator, fuel and water pumps, window motors, TPS sensor, IAC, and much much more.
I drove it home, and man, what a energetic little bug. I was surprised. It was faster than my '93 Tempo I had. I think compression must be good at 105K miles. I like the tach in it.
As to not deceive me about its track record, the AC went just a few days ago. I found a compressor. Looks like working on it is going to be an interesting experience with much cursing.
I like the "sport" cluster with tach in it. Neat.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 1
From: House Springs, MO
Daily driver worth it?
My new daily driver was a gift also, that I'm gonna keep for quite a while. 85 F250 diesel. About as good fuel mileage as my new truck (02 Ranger FX4) and get's a lot more respect than the Ranger does. Now, I get in the Ranger and start to feel all cramped. Sure, it drinks 2 quarts of oil a week, but that just means that it gets a constant supply of good oil, right? I think it's worth it...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio
Daily driver worth it?
Less than 5k try getting one for 50 dollars usually its in better shape and the person selling it just wants to get rid of it (kind of a gift of good will). get something that is just for transportation purposes only like a metro,escort,tempo,topaz,caviler,tercel,323,omni,s hadow,civic,etc.etc. Set a maxuim amount of money you will not go over for repairs like 150 get tire and other parts from junk yards and tire shops do the repairs your self and when you have to repair it and its over your limit junk it for 50.You can always save money doing this
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
Always? Doubfful.
There is a reason such cars are being given away, and that's because there is something majorly wrong with them. Usually, they don't run, or run on 3 cylinders and take about an hour to accelerate to highway speeds, or something like tranny doesn't shift right, carb. needs a rebuilt, etc. In my rural region anyway. Maybe city folks have different (higher) standards for the cars they give away.
85 F250 diesel.
Neat
There is a reason such cars are being given away, and that's because there is something majorly wrong with them. Usually, they don't run, or run on 3 cylinders and take about an hour to accelerate to highway speeds, or something like tranny doesn't shift right, carb. needs a rebuilt, etc. In my rural region anyway. Maybe city folks have different (higher) standards for the cars they give away.
85 F250 diesel.
Neat
Last edited by carpe_diem; Sep 17, 2003 at 04:28 PM.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Wish I could find "old junk" thats cheap. Around here at about 5 or 6 years things start rusting badly. By the time they are 10 years old the econo boxes (cavaliers, civics) dont often have much of there frame left (my friends 89 cavalier had large holes in the frame and the tire shop didn't want to let him drive it home even but he got a new car shortly after) everything falls apart which drives the prices of old junk up, and the new stuff is...new and expensive.
I love snow. I hate rust.
Chado
I love snow. I hate rust.
Chado
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
Stuff made after about 1983 has much better rust protection than 70's stuff. I remember about 10 years ago, I saw lots of 70's vehicles on the road. These days, see none. Drive train was OK, but body junk.
and I am talking about the South. rust belt has entirely different criteria for rust.
and I am talking about the South. rust belt has entirely different criteria for rust.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Meh, I was talking to my neighbour one day (who is in her 70's) and she said she wished they made cars like they used to, her mid 90's crown vic is rusting...she said her cars she had in the 50's went a LOT longer without rusting.
I dont know, I just wish I could find myself a nice old 50's sedan as a daily driver that was in "ok" condition. Unfortunatly if I did find one it would be a fortune and I wouldn't want to drive it every day because its irreplacable. I wish they made cars like that (size wise) you know where you can actually fit people in the back seat? Even the new crown vics and town cars cant compare to the old 50's sedans.
Chado
I dont know, I just wish I could find myself a nice old 50's sedan as a daily driver that was in "ok" condition. Unfortunatly if I did find one it would be a fortune and I wouldn't want to drive it every day because its irreplacable. I wish they made cars like that (size wise) you know where you can actually fit people in the back seat? Even the new crown vics and town cars cant compare to the old 50's sedans.
Chado
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Daily driver worth it?
Indeed. In the 50's gas mileage wasn't even a concern. It is only later that they started making them out of thinner metal, especially in 70's. Which is why these 70's cars are terrible with rust. Took them another decade to figure out how to galvanize metal. I had a 1974 dodge rust bucket but noticed that the model which followed after it in the 80's was much better, no rust.
but I agree. 50's and then 60's was the golden age of auto. Power, simplicity, no computers.
but I agree. 50's and then 60's was the golden age of auto. Power, simplicity, no computers.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 3
From: CT
Daily driver worth it?
For me, my truck is my daily driver. I would love to get an older (1982 to be exact) trans am, and use that as a "beat around car" or a daily driver. Something that would get better MPG than the 6 wheel'ed truck I drive now 
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Daily driver worth it?
Don't know your age but for me driving a 79 F-150 gets me much better insurance rates and thats a big help. Also I would think that when stuff breaks its cheaper to fix my truck then yours.
But you do have a nice truck on your hands judging by your sig
Chado
But you do have a nice truck on your hands judging by your sig
Chado