Need some used car advice

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Scooby
Originally Posted By: rjundi
With your price range have you considered just hanging onto your own car. $3500-$5500 buys a well used car which you already own. However you know yours.


If it only had cruise!! I make several 600 mile trips per year and cruise would be SOOOO nice.


Quote:
You can add cruise.


Combine these two posts and you will have the best option financially and from reliability stand point.

For your budget you will be getting pretty much what you have now, just with a different badge, but you will have no idea what was done and what wasn't done to the car. You know your current ride and if that transmission was finally fixed properly, you should enjoy trouble free commuting for few more years. I would keep what you have and add the cruise control.

Now, if you want something different and cruise control is just an excuse to get rid of Corolla, go ahead, as nothing is worse than driving a car you no longer like or enjoy.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Scooby
Originally Posted By: rjundi
With your price range have you considered just hanging onto your own car. $3500-$5500 buys a well used car which you already own. However you know yours.


If it only had cruise!! I make several 600 mile trips per year and cruise would be SOOOO nice.


I know my wife has cruise in her 2005 Legacy turbo wagon. It randomly quits and fix not sure what to do. The car is drive by wire so it either computer programming or bad sensor somewhere. I get 5-800 miles of it working.

Have you considered just renting if duration not super long.

Your price range is the wild west of cars.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: [email protected]
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
What? No American made cars in the list?


Honda Accord - Made in Marysville, Ohio since 1982

Toyota Camry - Made in Kentucky & Indiana "Most American made car in America; more than Ford F-150"
citation: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...american-made/1

Subaru - Made in Indiana.

Nissan Altima - Made in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Honda Civic - Made in Greensburg, Indiana.

All of the vehicles that the OP asked about are made in America. The Camry contains more domestic US materials than a Ford F-150 to boot AND its made here right in the US.


To be fair, some of the Civics are made in Canada.

But so is the Crown Victoria, 300, Camaro, etc....

 

[ottotheclown]

Subaru had early head gasket problems Altima 6 is great Toyota seems to last forever, Civic is great gas mileage you really have a good list.BUT WATCH OUT FOR FLOOD CARS WE HAVE PARKING AREAS FILLED WITH THEM, SOME LOOK GREAT!!Thousands are out there gotta get past history any from Sandy area run away.

 

[4D-56]

Im looking for a used Honda with the same budget. There is so much [censored] out there for sale~!

Im tempted to say, stick with your own, known vehicle, you know that car, just add the cruise and run it~!

I would prefer an Accord but as said, the 98-02 years are plagued with auto tranny issues and finding a 4cyl 5spd is like finding hens teeth~! Apparently Honda decided that it was a good idea to make 1 transmission to fit both the Accord and the Odyssey...didnt work. the 4 cyl cars hold up better than the 6cyl since it has fifty horsepower less being pushed at it, but both are best avoided. bummer~!

so that pushes me into the Civics. I dont really want a 5spd for the driving of south Florida, that got old with the Wife's 5spd. are some years of the 2k -04 better than others on the auto tranny??

I guess, if the right car comes along and its a 5spd, ill buy it, since finding a good used car is rough~!

 

[supton]

I'd add cruise control. If it fails to work well, then ditch the car.

We had an '01 Civic/5spd, and supposedly they were the worst of the bunch. Lots of recalls and known issues, supposedly. We did eek out 170k, but it needed a completely new AC system by that time. Headliner was falling down too, needed a complete exhaust system (manifold and back), and a set of front wheel bearings. I've been told to go 99 and older on Civics, after that the reliability dropped. [Could probably ask how much, but that's a different question.]

 

[randomhero439]

Originally Posted By: supton
I'd add cruise control. If it fails to work well, then ditch the car.

We had an '01 Civic/5spd, and supposedly they were the worst of the bunch. Lots of recalls and known issues, supposedly. We did eek out 170k, but it needed a completely new AC system by that time. Headliner was falling down too, needed a complete exhaust system (manifold and back), and a set of front wheel bearings. I've been told to go 99 and older on Civics, after that the reliability dropped. [Could probably ask how much, but that's a different question.]


Yes the 01-05 Civics are the MisFits. Aweful suspension, headgasket issues, exhaust manifold cracks. Mine has held up fine though thankfully, however the previous owner had to replace the manifold 02 sensor, and catalytic converter.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Originally Posted By: supton
I'd add cruise control. If it fails to work well, then ditch the car.

We had an '01 Civic/5spd, and supposedly they were the worst of the bunch. Lots of recalls and known issues, supposedly. We did eek out 170k, but it needed a completely new AC system by that time. Headliner was falling down too, needed a complete exhaust system (manifold and back), and a set of front wheel bearings. I've been told to go 99 and older on Civics, after that the reliability dropped. [Could probably ask how much, but that's a different question.]


Yes the 01-05 Civics are the MisFits. Aweful suspension, headgasket issues, exhaust manifold cracks. Mine has held up fine though thankfully, however the previous owner had to replace the manifold 02 sensor, and catalytic converter.


The suspension is still terrible even in the 8th gen. But it does not ruin the car overall. The engine is great, just runs like a sewing machine. And it's got a spacious and comfortable interior. I would still recommend the Civic. Every car has its pitfalls. You just have to decide what you can live with.

 

[GenSan]

Chevy Prizm if you want to be patriotic about it.

 

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted By: GenSan
Chevy Prizm if you want to be patriotic about it.


Hahahaaa!!! And then put a "Buy American - save jobs" sticker on the back....LOL 99.9% of people have NO idea about NUMMI.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

To be fair, some of the Civics are made in Canada.

But so is the Crown Victoria, 300, Camaro, etc....


point taken, but to be fair, the Crown vic went out of production in 2011(last police interceptor went to the Kansas Highway Patrol, who placed it in their Museum.,Last Civilian Model, went to a buyer in Saudi Arabia), and Camaro production is moving to a Cadillac plant in MI for the 2015 MY.
Don't forget last couple gens of Chrysler Minivans/VW Rutan. also made in

 

[Scooby]

Ok guys, think I may just keep the 'Rolla.

Been investigating cruise options, and it's pretty limited. If it was an 05+, it'd be a $50 fix as they are "drive by wire".

Toyota doesn't carry the part any more, and Rostra is my only option at around $275. Still cheaper in the long run. I'm averaging 20k miles/year, so if I can get another 3-5 years I'll be pretty happy.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Scooby
Ok guys, think I may just keep the 'Rolla.

Been investigating cruise options, and it's pretty limited. If it was an 05+, it'd be a $50 fix as they are "drive by wire".

Toyota doesn't carry the part any more, and Rostra is my only option at around $275. Still cheaper in the long run. I'm averaging 20k miles/year, so if I can get another 3-5 years I'll be pretty happy.


$275 is peanuts. Add cruise and don't look back.

 

[The_Jake]

Originally Posted By: Scooby
Ok guys, think I may just keep the 'Rolla.

Been investigating cruise options, and it's pretty limited. If it was an 05+, it'd be a $50 fix as they are "drive by wire".

Toyota doesn't carry the part any more, and Rostra is my only option at around $275. Still cheaper in the long run. I'm averaging 20k miles/year, so if I can get another 3-5 years I'll be pretty happy.


I would try the aftermarket CC for that price as well.

 

[VNTS]

Yes, two transmission replacements is reliable LOL

I think the poster meant to open up his horizons a bit and perhaps do a search query
based on the price, he may find a better deal on some other brands.

In my area, a 96-02 heap will be nothing rotted from iron worms.

Also dont understand all the love fest on some of the cars mention.

in most case anyone with half a brain will be open minded and shop condition and price vs some locked in notion that certain brand always equals better.

Originally Posted By: bigjl
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
What? No American made cars in the list?


He said he wants "cruise" and "reliable"

I'll be taking cover over here!


As far as the OP goes I can see the benefits of staying with the devil you know and adding cruise control to it.

But an Outback is also a reliable vehicle if you find one that has not been abused.

How many times has Brodie's wife's one given any trouble?

Though I suspect if it did there would be many volunteers to give her a hand!

 

[Scooby]

Just a quick update.

Thanks for the advice, I've decided (at least for the time being) to keep my Corolla.

I installed a Rostra cruise control kit last weekend before I had to go on an 1100 mile road trip for work. The cruise made it SOOOO much more comfortable.

Also put new brakes and replaced front wheel bearings. I've still got it listed on CL, but it's gonna need new tires within the next couple of months. If nobody offers what I want...then I'll keep when I have to put tires on it.

Thanks again!!