SpudFiles

I need to get a new car, because me and my brother having to share just isnt working.

Currently I have a 2000 impala LS. So whatever i get, it would be nice, if now required, that it be as good or better.

It needs to stay under 10k, and it cant be a ford (im sorry... my whole family hates them and yea... its not happening). I like the idea of a chevy, basicly because almost every one in my family has had one, several of which are over 200,000 miles. they just seems reliable to me.

Part of me would actually like to get another impala (lol.. thatd make 3 in my imediat family) especially the SS.

I was also looking at the grand prix/am. it looks like i could get a 2003.. maybe even a 2004 under 10k.

It would be nice to get somthing more sporty, but the insurance would be insane, along with the fact that im one ticket away from no license. So more or less this car has to have a lil get up and go... but not too much, after all its gotta be somewhat fun to drive.

I actually dont know what i want.... a trunk might be fun. IDK.

More or less, im asking for imput/advice/tips etc as to what car.

thanks spudfiles.

Mate I doubt theres no way you can get an 03-04 model under $10 grand. However I recommend some old school muscle. A Bel Air or an older Impala would be sweet. My advice trust in old school steel like the older Chevys like your family.

I would push you strongly towards Japanese cars. I've owned two American (one Ford, one Chevy), and two Japanese cars. I can say without a doubt whatsoever that the Japanese cars ran smoother, longer, with less maintenance required.

The Chevy was an s10 (2.6L v6 ~120hp) pickup, had lots of minor mechanical problems (oil leaks, transmission/clutch problems, suspension problems) and I got rid of it at about 110k miles due to excessive costs to keep it on the road.
The Ford is a 97 (4.0L v6 ~300hp [w/ intake/exhaust/chip]) Explorer that I still have and use when there's snow on the ground and for hauling crap around. It's at 110k miles. It's required a timing chain, new ball joints, new shocks, and a few other things that shouldn't have needed to be replaced as soon as they did. It also burns a lot of gas at 17mpg. If I didn't live on a steep hill and need 4wd in the winter, I'd sell it.
My two Toyotas, one Previa minivan (2.2L I4 ~165hp) lasted to 250k miles with no major work done whatsoever, just normal maintenance) and my 99 Lexus ES300 (3.0L I6 ~295hp) that's my current daily driver, 65k miles and running excellently It, too, has needed no major work at all. It gets 22-24 mpg if I drive it gently, about 19mpg if I'm heavy on the gas pedal (as I seem to be far too often...).

Can't go wrong with a Toyota. Honda's, though generic, are well-built machines.

Remember that trucks aren't subjected to the same safety standards as other cars - and don't perform as well in crash tests.

Fuel economy is a big concern these days with gas at $3.00 a gallon in many places, and rising. V8's are pretty much out, V6's are only an option if they're reasonably efficient and in a small-ish vehicle, and 4-bangers are looking better and better these days.

Do research on whatever you're going to buy. The $20 carfax report is worth it on any used car. If you buy used, make sure the previous owner has complete service records, and have the car checked over by a mechanic before you commit to buy.

Don't be in a rush (unless you have to). Take your time and wait for a great deal to come your way. Watch craigslist, the local paper, etc... Some people really like to scout police impound auctions and etc... but I've never been a big fan of those. You might want to try it, though.

Hope that helps a bit.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

I have to agree with Pete on a few points, don't be impatient, wait for something good to come along. I will disagree with him on Chevy's though, I love my Silverado, aside from gas, though it's pretty good for a truck. If you do get a sportier car, learn to drive a standard and get one, you can squeeze a little more mileage out of them, and they're more fun. If you go Japanese, go Toyota. Although a friend of mine knows a guy who took a Civic over 300K miles without major engine work, but that's just one. My dad used to have a Toyota truck that we had at about 250k, with only a carbuerator tune-up, then we sold it cause we needed something bigger, it's probably still running somewhere, lol. SO I'd personally say Chevy or Toyota.

Definitely go with the Impala. Gets good gas mileage and still has plenty "get up an' go" with it's V6 engine. I was also impressed with the space available to lug things around if you need to. If you fold the back seats down to get to the trunk, you've got around 7' of room back there to haul... whatever. My dad's friend, Mr. Ralph, also said that they slapped a class II trailer hitch to the frame of his old one and towed his boat to Florida once. That one made me laugh, but it's feasible. He said that it was very scary, though, as the back of the car was barely a few inches off the ground.

If you're going with Chevy's, I'd also recommend a Caprice. It's an older car, but it's nothing but business. You could smoke your brother with a small-block 350 cube V8...

On a last note... what's wrong with you!!! I'd hitch a ride with my brother any day to save having to buy gas on my lonesome these days. I don't know for sure, but I think I've got a reasonable agreement with my friend where we're gonna take turns giving each other rides to school and split the gas.

Also, I know you said you were appalled by Ford, but here's some choices... JUST in case.

Taurus. Some are a very good ride. The one we've got at my dad's, (we're selling), has over 100 K miles and still purrs. Just had to fix the A/C lines and replace the battery. because it had been sitting in a driveway for over a year.

Mazda Miata. Most are available with a four-cylinder engine, but it's such a small car it feels like a damn V8. My stepmom owns one, and I've driven it once, (although I don't like it because I get so damned cramped in that thing).

Look at the avatar. If you can find a used with without too many miles, (unlikely, because they're driven like race-cars everygoddamnedwhichwayfromSunday), it'd be interesting to see what your brother could scrounge up on it.

My neighbor has a taurus, that thing is the most uncomfortable vehicle I've ever sat it.The head rest just seems to be pressure pointing you in the neck the whole ride.I can give it credit for good gas mileage but I'd take a neon over a taurus any day.Even if you do have to pick up the neon to put it on
VW has some fun little cars.I don't know the price range but they're fun.

I will be driving my brother, and actually 2 of his friends in every day, and they pay me to do so, so i make a lil bit of money off that. Kind of like a free ride for me =]

The Taurus is just not happening. I had a 1993 (yes the newer ones may be better) and i hated it with a passion. the transmission froze on me while i was going 55mph... that was entertaining.

i was looking at the VW jetta for a while it would be fun with a stick, but they hold there value so dam well. i could either get a higher millage 2001 or a 70k one from about 98. just doesn't sound to great to me.

The miata is just to small, though it would be fun to drive

I would love a truck, and the silverado is actually my top pick but they just are too expensive with less that 100k.

I would absolutely love an older car, but i'm betting that they wouldn't be so good in a Wisconsin winter. Also, maybe i hold these cars way to high, but if i couldn't give the car the proper car, id just feel bad about such a classic going down the tubes.

Any thoughts on a Nissan? my grandpa (other side of the family thats not Chevy) has taken 3 of their trucks past 250k,

I do plan on learning stick yet this summer. We are renting something to learn so i don't break anyones clutch out


-EDIT-

I just took a look around on craigslist, and damn... much better prices than ebay (not that i would buy from there) or kelly blue book. dang...

I'd recommend a Japanese car as well. They are very high quality, and, as Pete said, require little maintenance. They're also very efficient. I have a 1990 Lexus ES-250, and I've never had to service it at all! (Except the time some moron hit me... GRRRR! ) It gets 25 mpg as well. I bought it for 2,200$ (I'm only 17, okay, lol ). The body work isn't great, but that's because the previous owner treated it like crap! I personally can't stand American non-sports cars, but to each his own. If you have to go American, I'd recommend dodge, as they are pretty reliable for an American brand.

While the all make good points as to why to get a japaneese car over an american car, i have to dissagree, there aint much that can beat a good ol' american V-8 Engine, Go with a silverado.

Silverado man.I gotta say so far as trucks go my silverado had a good 20 mpg.And you can't beat the git up and go.

Or get a VW rabbit!

Or get a VW rabbit!

I had to look out the window and count how many vw rabbits there are in my yard. (The old kind, not the new ones). There are five. one runs.

Japanese cars seem to be a pretty good option, actually. I haven't really heard anything negative about most of them.
My friend has an impala, by the way. They don't seem to bad either.

If you get a VW, get a microbus.
You can paint it all crazy and hang beads inside and then drive around Woodstock and Burning Man in it

sharpshooter wrote:The Taurus is just not happening. I had a 1993 (yes the newer ones may be better) and i hated it with a passion. the transmission froze on me while i was going 55mph... that was entertaining.

Haha, try haveing the transmission completely go out... at the top of Pike's Peak. Stupid Ford Explorer. Don't get a Ford!! Ever!!!

Of and _Fnord, you're usually considered a redneck if you have more than two cars in your front yard...

Well I'm in the redneck boat.But wait 4 of my 5 run.So that doesn't count does it?

Fnord,I know a kid who buys VW rabbits to mud in.I just laughed when he told me that, but it works.Even if my cousin has to pull him out.
I stopped my dad from getting a VW bus.I swore we'd have no hippy vehicle in the yard.

goathunter wrote:Well I'm in the redneck boat.But wait 4 of my 5 run.So that doesn't count does it?

Fnord,I know a kid who buys VW rabbits to mud in.I just laughed when he told me that, but it works.Even if my cousin has to pull him out.
I stopped my dad from getting a VW bus.I swore we'd have no hippy vehicle in the yard.

For the longest time I wanted to be a cop when I graduated high school, and I thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to soupe up a hippie van and use it as an interceptor. I still think it would be pretty awesome. I can just imagine the stories.

"Man, I got pulled over by a hippie van."

lol, you could be the heavy artillery of the police with all the stuff you could fit in there