17 year old niece, first car, $3500 budget....?

[saaber1]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04

She wants a black Olds Alero, with a sunroof. Now, all that I have to do is find one.


I have a question, did her dad put you in charge of this purchase so that you would just let her choose whatever car? If so, why didn't he just tell her to pick whatever car she wanted?

Or is your role to put some common sense and experience into the mix and help her find something reliable, etc.?

You know what you need to do.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Just watch out for the 3.1 in that Alero, it eats those intake manifold gaskets and it could end up costing more than you hoped! I drove in a loaner Alero and I liked it, but then again we didn't have it long enough to truly see any problems arise. They're probably similar to the Malibu/Cutlass/Grand Am of the time in terms of quality, which seems to be hit or miss. Not my first choice for a first car, but to each his (or her) own.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: saaber1
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04

She wants a black Olds Alero, with a sunroof. Now, all that I have to do is find one.


I have a question, did her dad put you in charge of this purchase so that you would just let her choose whatever car? If so, why didn't he just tell her to pick whatever car she wanted?

Or is your role to put some common sense and experience into the mix and help her find something reliable, etc.?

You know what you need to do.


I only asked the question to see what SHE was thinking. She already knows that she'll get what she gets, and she'll like it.

She has two choices here. Drive whatever she gets or walk.

 

[firemachine69]

Make her get the Ecotec version if possible.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69
Make her get the Ecotec version if possible.


Did the Alero even come with the Ecotec? I thought it had the Quad 4 2.4L.

 

[Drew99GT]

Oops, yup, it did. Doubt you could find an ecotec version for 35oo bucks though.

 

[UncleS2]

Hmm...I think you should try to talk the neighbors down a little on that Olds 88. Bargains are where you find 'em, & sometimes one falls right in your lap.

And btw: if you're that leery of Neons(the Rodney Dangerfield of cars!

) because of size & weight- well, the Cavaliers, Escorts, Civics, etc all have similar size & weight. Did you ride in a 95-99 model, or in a 00-05 model? I've put over 200K on my 97 bought new, it's fine with me- however, by all accounts, the 2nd generation body style(00-05) has a much more solid feel to it.

But I'd look hard at that Oldsmobile.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I knew someone that had an early 2000's Neon that was a previous salvage car, and he beat the living heck out of that car. I highly doubt the oil was ever changed either. He got into 2 accidents with it, if I remember correctly and constantly drove at 30+ mph over the speed limit and tried to race it all the time. It still ran when he sold it, even though the body looked like it went through a war. Tough little cars.

 

[mrsilv04]

Right now, looking at a low mile '98 Malibu V6. Two owner unit. The owner tells me that the intake gasket has been done "within the past year".

His comments about the work included the following "When the manifold gasket failed, I had them tear it down and check for trouble, and we replaced several lifters. have kept oil changed, and no further troubles".

The "replaced several lifters" and "kept oil changed" comments concern me.

Thoughts / comments?

 

[PandaBear]

No to the 98 Malibu. Who knows how well he replaced it. Unless he runs a UOA I'll pass.

 

[mrsilv04]

I'm curious as to why several lifters were repaired....

 

[Cutehumor]

My dad has an 03 nissan sentra, headgasket replaced twice, with a tiny coolant leak that you might be interested in...

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
I'm curious as to why several lifters were repaired....


My bad... Replaced, not repaired.

 

[addyguy]

I know its been a while, but is the Olds 88 still an option?

As others have said, sounds like a decent deal, and its close, so no hunting all over....

 

[ThirdeYe]

I must have missed it, but when they replaced the intake manifold gasket leak on my mom's '03 Malibu they said the same thing, that they had to replace some lifters. Not quite sure why...

 

[eljefino]

I had a saturn SOHC apart a while back that was ticking & I could not figure out why, or even surely if it was up top or down low. Lifters ridiculously easy to get out of that car. Took each lifter apart to desludge and most of them were very tough! A "good" lifter you can squeeze in a firm grip and the oil will ooze out. My conclusion was they're like drum brake adjusters, they gum up for no reason. Incidentally the rest of under the cam cover was not sludgy!

I would not blow by the malibu, the mechanic sounds like he did a decent job and they're being forthright with the records. I've flipped a few cars and find they sell better if I shut my mouth and say "no problems" even if it means throwing out a stack of receipts!!

I wouldn't pay more than $1800 for the 'bu though, not because it's junk, but because you should make poor resale work for you.

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

I would not blow by the malibu, the mechanic sounds like he did a decent job and they're being forthright with the records. I've flipped a few cars and find they sell better if I shut my mouth and say "no problems" even if it means throwing out a stack of receipts!!


isn't that the truth? I sold a 92 mitsu for $400 last year. People were asking me for every problem. the car runs and drives and for cheap! (so what the trunk leaks, a/c and heat don't work, muffler has a rust hole, tires are bald, etc) People expect a pristine car at the $400 price range, just say "no problems"

 

[eljefino]

I should clarify that previous problems were repaired, but people like thinking a car is 100% virgin from the factory and never saw a wrench. Kind of a "loyalty" thing.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I should clarify that previous problems were repaired, but people like thinking a car is 100% virgin from the factory and never saw a wrench. Kind of a "loyalty" thing.


No, I'm not looking for a virgin, I'm looking for something that was repaired correctly, and before the coolant caused any damage to the engine.

Is that too much to ask?

 

[Hermann]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I should clarify that previous problems were repaired, but people like thinking a car is 100% virgin from the factory and never saw a wrench. Kind of a "loyalty" thing.


No, I'm not looking for a virgin, I'm looking for something that was repaired correctly, and before the coolant caused any damage to the engine.

Is that too much to ask?


It probably is, since 99% of owners have not a clue to the inherint problems in these engines. Heck 90% of people don't even check their oil level, till the next change and then its too late. If you find one in reasonable condition, that has had the gaskets done, and the engine sounds good, jump on it as they get good mileage and I see tons of them on the streets here still going strong.