| EasternPA |
I just got renewed for another year at my assignment, but they want me to commute 150 miles a day, 5 days most likely through the winter. I'm already at 40k in 18ish months on the Murano, and I just don't want to start throwing another 1,000 miles a week on it, counting weekend driving. So, I need a commuter car.
My wife's girlfriend's brother has like 4 used car dealerships, but I wanted to get your opinions on the best way to quickly research used cars. For instance, I spotted a '94 Taurus SE in their inventory. How would you check to see what kind of troubled past that line (not that specific car, a la CarFax) experienced? How would you pick a sub-$10k car that just has to get you to work for the next five months? (think NE winter, no RWD).
There's also a '94 Pathfinder SE 4x4 with 78k miles for $9k.. mmm... a spare 4x4 to BEAT ON when I'm done commuting with it.. |
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| zebelkhan |
Unless you get paid for gas, I think you should add gas mileage to your list of requirements. Keep in mind that for the most part, a used car is being sold because someone else did not want to have it anymore, for whatever reason. Gas mileage alone (and dependability) will more than likely limit your search to small japanese cars. In that case, I would only go with Honda and then Toyota. Whatever you choose, make sure you take it to your trusted mechanic and have him/her check everything thoroughly.
OTOH, and this is only a suggestion since you need a very dependable car, and I seriously considered this for myself because I also commute 100 miles a day but we needed a bigger car, I would strike a deal on a brand new base model 2004 Honda Civic 4 dr. I think you can get one for almost the price you have in mind . A few months back I could get one for almost $11,000. Then sell it at the end of the assignment and get most of your money back! |
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| Halo |
| I second the notion of a new, base model Civic or Corolla. You just can't go wrong with these cars for daily transportation. |
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| elliotgb |
Eastern, what kind of biz are you in?
I guess that you'll probably say something that excludes telecommuting. |
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| SugarRushMurano |
But i am going to try that anyway :)
Here are the crucial things that need to be check on a used car:
- past maintenance record (regular on schedule service?)
- vin number (ala car fax) naturally for any accident that damage the frame.
- cooling system (any leak, headgasket problem, coolant smell)
Bring it in for a pressure test
- compresion test on the engine. (Pinging, knocking, misfire?)
- transmission (grinding, sputtering)
- suspension (squicky?)
- power steering pump (leak?)
- brake cylinder condition?
Those are the things that will cost you lots of money if neeed to be replaced in a used car. You dont want to buy a $9K suv and have to shell out another $2000 (around 22% of the vehicle value) for repairs right?
Things like sparkplug, fuel injector, filters, wipers, brake pads, tires are replaceable at relatively low cost. Hence they are not as crucial.
Some people can live with no air conditioner. So it is all depend on you ;). Good luck |
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| elliotgb |
I believe that there's also a website that will tell you about a car's past history, whether or not it's been in a wreck, etc.
Don't recall exactly what the site's called though. |
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| Kris |
Do not go for a Taurus. I got rid of one at 65k because mechanics started to go.......my two friend had to replace automatic transmission in Tauruses after only 75K.
I would go, as stated above, for a mid size new car (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla) or a 2 years old dependable car - again Toyota, Honda (Camry, Accord) or Nissan Altima (4 cylinder version is quite cheap and drives very well). For $10k you can get a lot of a car. Just makes sure that major components - engine, transmission are OK. Most of todays cars can go without major maintenance till at least 100k...... |
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| EasternPA |
But some of you knew that already.
Elliotgb, I design large-scale IT environments. I've been with one customer for 2.5 years. I lived in a hotel for 8 months last year, and then I telecommuted for 8 months after that. I've been pretty wishy-washy, working here or there since about Labor Day. Now I'm back to 9-5 at the office but its 77 miles from home.
I said I'm an idiot because I totally forgot that I can rent a car from Hertz a month at a time and charge the customer for it. I really don't want the hassle of buying another car and having to maintain it. I also found out today that I've been missing out on charging them nearly $60/day for commutation expenses. Company policy states that when considering a rental car over driving my own, the more economic solution is the one to use. I worked the numbers, and a rental car is $120/mo less expensive than using my own car, not including fuel (which I get to charge for when using a rental).
Thanks for your pointers, everyone. Sorry for the useless sidetrack. Back to the Murano fun! |
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| zebelkhan |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
I would go, as stated above, for a mid size new car (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla) or a 2 years old dependable car - again Toyota, Honda (Camry, Accord) or Nissan Altima (4 cylinder version is quite cheap and drives very well). For $10k you can get a lot of a car. Just makes sure that major components - engine, transmission are OK. Most of todays cars can go without major maintenance till at least 100k......
I remember the days when a civic or a corolla was considered a sub-compact. As Kris correctly pointed out, they are now a mid size vehicle! I recently found out myself when I decided to upgrade my rental car from a compact to mid-size, so they gave me a.... Corolla! :cursin: Did you also know that an accord or a camry is a full size car??????????? |
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| Kris |
Didn't Einstein say: EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE!!!
:D |
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| Halo |
Clearly not full size in the sense of a Lincoln Town Car, but the Accord and Camry have grown somewhat in size in the last 10 years in wheelbase and interior space.
Renting a car for a month would be awesome. You can beat on it like a redheaded stepchild and then if you brake something... bring it back in. "Hey, the alternator failed, I need a whole new car please." |
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| EasternPA |
quote:
Originally posted by Halo
Renting a car for a month would be awesome. You can beat on it like a redheaded stepchild and then if you brake something... bring it back in. "Hey, the alternator failed, I need a whole new car please."
Exactly. One of my coworkers has been doing this for over 6 months now (renting for ommutation to a customer site, not beating on the rentals) and they've been giving him upgrades. This month he has a Lincoln LS for the cost of a Corolla!! Not too shabby. |
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| GripperDon |
| Great chance to try out some prospective vehicles and give us reports. GRIP :D |
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