Looking for a car?
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Looking for a car?
OK ladies and gentlemen, I need some help here. My dear mother has been screwed when buying cars the last two times and has finally realized she should have listened to me before. So... now it is my turn to find her a good used car. Something semi-small, great on gas milage, and something that I can work on instead of paying for the dealer to fix it. So what is a good car, needs an auto tranny, nothing fancy, that will get good milage. Makes and model along with years.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Southern MD
Is this a loaded question??? (Just kidding.)
Not knowing what abilities you have, this is difficult to answer.
Leaving major repairs out of the equation, I would suggest either a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord, ONLY because of their 'track record'.
(I mean, this IS a Ford site!)
In this day of leaping gas prices, either of these vehicles would be a good piece of transportation.
Hey guys. . . . don't shoot me because I didn't say Focus, first!
Not knowing what abilities you have, this is difficult to answer.
Leaving major repairs out of the equation, I would suggest either a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord, ONLY because of their 'track record'.
(I mean, this IS a Ford site!)
In this day of leaping gas prices, either of these vehicles would be a good piece of transportation.
Hey guys. . . . don't shoot me because I didn't say Focus, first!
Lead Driver
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
From what I've heard, Camrys and Accords are NOT easy to work on (he did say he wanted to be able to work on it himself). I really think a basic Saturn fills this bill the best: simple, easy to work on, econonmical, and they do run forever (the little SLs). Nothing sophisticated (fair ride, kinda noisy), but they get the job done. One of the last Escorts ('98, '99, '00) would work, too, if you can find one that's been reasonably maintained.
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I can do anything short of major machining or something requiring a lift. I can do exhaust, electircal, maintinence, anything up to a total disassemble. Ok, keep them coming. So far honda accord or toyota camry. Any others? Im hoping for something that doesnt neet an ODB II code reader if possible, dont want to drop the money for that if no need. I am used to working on older FI or carbed trucks so....
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From: Sussex County, DE
Originally Posted by 1956MarkII
From what I've heard, Camrys and Accords are NOT easy to work on (he did say he wanted to be able to work on it himself). I really think a basic Saturn fills this bill the best: simple, easy to work on, econonmical, and they do run forever (the little SLs). Nothing sophisticated (fair ride, kinda noisy), but they get the job done. One of the last Escorts ('98, '99, '00) would work, too, if you can find one that's been reasonably maintained.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
my mom has a 99 saturn with 112000 miles on it and still running strong, cept for the clutch that my older brother fried doing burnouts. its a sc1 with a 1.9 liter and a 5 speed. gets about 40-45, depending on whos driveing, less if its my dad or brother or me. really easy to work on. very simple
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From: Indiana
saturns are good and last forever, Toyota Camry's and Honda Civics are good as well. Just drove a friend's 95 camry today. it has 180,000 miles on it, and it drives as nice as a new car. I'd own one. Also, you could go with newer GM cars like the chevy malibu, or any newer olds (alero, intrigue, aurora, etc). As far as ford, the Escort and Focus are good cars from what I've seen. Dodge neons are also good.
Anyway, that's what I'd look for.
Anyway, that's what I'd look for.
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We are selling the 99 malibu because its the biggest POS i have ever seen and gets worse milage than my friends K10 with a carbed 350. I know that everybody went OBD II in 96, so that is why I threw that out.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Cloverdale, BC
A Firefly, Geo, or Swift will fit the bill nicely. And when you put them beside a Toyota Echo or one of those "Smart Cars" they're downright HUGE!!!
We had a Firefly. My brother just got a Swift. Easy to work on, awesome on gas. Can be had in automatic, 5 speed, 2 door or 4 door too.
We had a Firefly. My brother just got a Swift. Easy to work on, awesome on gas. Can be had in automatic, 5 speed, 2 door or 4 door too.
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From: VA BEACH. but am from IL
The Ford escort ZX2 (1998-2003) is a nice little car. they were only made 1998-2003 but are easy to come by at decent prices. They are small but not too small and come in automatics. they are 2 doors so i dont know if that is what she would look for but they get great gas mileage. I drive ours everyday. Its easy to work on.
If the ZX2 is not good i would try a Ford Contour or a Mercury Mystique. I have a 96 Mystique. its a little 4 cyc. and has plenty of room. Nice little car and is easy on the gas
these are fairly decent to work on. no real problems with mine yet except the water pump but that was an easy fix. Usually can get one for a good price. i see them under 5,000 all the time for good decent ones with low miles.
If the ZX2 is not good i would try a Ford Contour or a Mercury Mystique. I have a 96 Mystique. its a little 4 cyc. and has plenty of room. Nice little car and is easy on the gas
these are fairly decent to work on. no real problems with mine yet except the water pump but that was an easy fix. Usually can get one for a good price. i see them under 5,000 all the time for good decent ones with low miles.
Last edited by FoxyFord83; Apr 12, 2005 at 09:53 PM.
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From: Saratoga USA
How about a V-6 Mustang? I have a bias against front wheel drive (all the components jammed under the hood). If you don't need a 4 door, you could probably find a good deal on a V-6 car. Plus, it has a sporty look rather than another boring 4 door family sedan. With Toyotas, I have to look at the nameplate to tell if it's a Corolla, Camary, or Avalon. Also, why not OBD II? Just get the right scanner!
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Trying to not spend more than I need and I am way more comfortable under the hood of older cars, I can handle OBD II, but I am familiar with OBD I. Anything to look out for on the contours or mystiques? Doesnt really matter if its a 2 or 4 door, but it can't be a geo swift or firefly, she has been there and done that and wants something a little bit bigger/safer. So far sounds like the contour or mystique is at the top of the list unless they have massive issues.
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From: Isanti, MN
I think the V6 mustang will top the list for being easy to work on. However, the mileage isn't great, I only average ~20 MPG with mine, so she probably won't be happy with that.
A 4 cylender front driver wouldn't be tough to work on, but you should avoid V6 front wheel drive cars like the plague. Oh, they're great cars, but hellish to work on. I think any compact front driver would work well. I would avoid Neons before '97, as they had a penchant for blowing head gaskets. After '97, though, they are pretty solid cars.
A 4 cylender front driver wouldn't be tough to work on, but you should avoid V6 front wheel drive cars like the plague. Oh, they're great cars, but hellish to work on. I think any compact front driver would work well. I would avoid Neons before '97, as they had a penchant for blowing head gaskets. After '97, though, they are pretty solid cars.
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From: just outside of Phila.
I've had a 99 Nissan Altima since August, put 15,000 miles on it since then, and all I've had to do is change the oil. It runs great, smooth and quiet. It's good on gas, and Consumer Reports gives that year a GREAT rating and report. The oil is cake to change obviously, though so far the only way I've found to replace the filter is from below, but a set of ramps cures that. 4 doors, nice sized trunk, sunroof, 4 cyl automatic with cold air, CD and a short warranty cost me under $10k. No problems after just turning 50k miles.