I know its no big deal for some people and they can stop reading. But I always wanted to join the 200,000+ mile club and averaging 12,500 miles per year it took exactly 16 one owner years to do. (I am more impressed with people who drive the same car for a long time than the person that drives 30,000 miles a year and makes it in 7 years -too much windshield time).
I had opportunities to get rid of it. In 2008 Mexico passed a law that only US cars that were exactly 10 years old could be imported and every lawnmower was after it. In 2009 I seriously considered the cash for clunkers until the dealer grabbed all the benefit, then came the axle corrosion recall, but it passed with flying colors.
Anyway I thought I'd provide my experience for others that are wondering if its worth it? The answer is it is if you can do your own repairs, buy parts on line and no small thanks to advice and support from BITOG.
I'm guessing total maintenance and repairs are running $800 per year in recent years. Pretty good for a car that has a bad reputation, but I got one of the last 98's made and by that time the headgasket issue was fixed and the transmission is reliable if you do the 30,000 mile changes. Definitely cheap transportation when you factor in that I say about $800 per year not having to insure for collision.
Main long term hassle is the screws holding the intake manifold runner control valves have fused into the lower intake manifold and I don't want to tear it all a part. So I plugged them off and it runs.
What oil have I used? Everything imaginable. I hate to confess I even used the Teflon stuff a time or two. Been gradually increasing oil change intervals from 3,000 miles to 7,500. PP definitely cleaned out the varnish but it uses a quart every 3,500 miles on synthetic versus very little on conventional so I use a mix starting off with synethic or a blend and topping off with conventional.
I had opportunities to get rid of it. In 2008 Mexico passed a law that only US cars that were exactly 10 years old could be imported and every lawnmower was after it. In 2009 I seriously considered the cash for clunkers until the dealer grabbed all the benefit, then came the axle corrosion recall, but it passed with flying colors.
Anyway I thought I'd provide my experience for others that are wondering if its worth it? The answer is it is if you can do your own repairs, buy parts on line and no small thanks to advice and support from BITOG.
I'm guessing total maintenance and repairs are running $800 per year in recent years. Pretty good for a car that has a bad reputation, but I got one of the last 98's made and by that time the headgasket issue was fixed and the transmission is reliable if you do the 30,000 mile changes. Definitely cheap transportation when you factor in that I say about $800 per year not having to insure for collision.
Main long term hassle is the screws holding the intake manifold runner control valves have fused into the lower intake manifold and I don't want to tear it all a part. So I plugged them off and it runs.
What oil have I used? Everything imaginable. I hate to confess I even used the Teflon stuff a time or two. Been gradually increasing oil change intervals from 3,000 miles to 7,500. PP definitely cleaned out the varnish but it uses a quart every 3,500 miles on synthetic versus very little on conventional so I use a mix starting off with synethic or a blend and topping off with conventional.
