NICO, please opine on these potential cars for my brother.

[nissangirl74]

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 2944&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 1236&Log=0

[Bubba1]

Another idea, you've heard the expression, "if the shoe fits, wear it?"



It is a convertible, an automatic, has some "kick", plus Dr. Scholl makes an insert to make it more comfortable for a long trip..

[Jesda]

There may be some cargo-carrying concerns. :P

[Bubba1]

There may be some cargo-carrying concerns. :P

You're right. How 'bout an F150 with a cap:

[Rex]

I forgot to suggest a 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Try to find an XLS AWD, should give you most of what your brother wants.

[Jesda]

Went and kicked some tires today, took a 2006 Scion XA for a test drive. It's a weird looking car but the upright shape gives it plenty of cargo room. Mom passed on it and decided she didnt want to spend $7500, so we're looking at a 2002 Sentra tomorrow. It's a one-owner car with a little over 130k, but I can't tell from the pictures whether its a 1.8 or 2.5.

Are there any styling cues that might hint at which engine this Sentra has? I'd like to avoid the 2.5.

Here's the ad:
http://www.jlautosalesmo.com/vehicledet ... =153392146

You're right. How 'bout an F150 with a cap:

In Thailand they sell portable toilets for cars in case you get stuck in Bangkok traffic.

[Razi]

I think only the SE-Rs came with the 2.5 in 2002.
Edmunds says that the GXE trim came with the 1.8 engine.

[Jesda]

Thank you.

Going to take a look at it tomorrow.

[OriginalWheelman]

For what it's worth, if you go to a 2000-2001 you can get the B15 with an SR20.

[Jesda]

I forgot to suggest a 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Try to find an XLS AWD, should give you most of what your brother wants.

How are 2000ish Lancers?

[Kompresshun]

How are 2000ish Lancers?

Run FAR FAR away

[VQpwrdSE-R]

I forgot to suggest a 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Try to find an XLS AWD, should give you most of what your brother wants.

A friend in college had one and it was the biggest lemon. It blew a headgasket and had transmission problems all with less than 100,000 miles. She was always sinking money into that. Not sure if this speaks for all outlanders because I can't tell you the last time I have seen one on the road.

How are 2000ish Lancers?

Every time I think that gen I am reminded of the OZ edition lancers with big bird yellow paint scheme and their aftermarket 12in wheels!


I feel Mitsubishi has had few successes in the last years other than designing cars that attract va&!n@s. (namely the eclipse; excluding GS-T) And the fact that they have discontinued the EVO.

/end mitsu rant.

[Jesda]

The used market BLOWS. Stuff that was $2000 in 2010 is now fetching almost double.



Checked out an older CRV today. It was a nice-driving, spacious wagon, but it had that annoying Honda rust spot in the corner. Fortunately, those rust spots tend to stay where they are without spreading. 1997 with 139k, asking $3200. It wasn't sparkling clean but it was reasonable and drove quite well.

So far, it seems like the 1.6/1.8 Sentra and 1.8 Geo/Chevy Prizm is the best combination of dependability and reasonably low resale. Corollas are out there but seem to cost more due to the Toyota brand name.

Proteges are nice too but I don't know anything about their automatic gearboxes. Mazda's earlier autos tend to be a mixed bag while their manuals are stellar.

[nissangirl74]

Your brother needs less PRNDL in his life. Does he suck at driving or is he just too lazy to learn how to drive? Is he not teachable?

[Jesda]

Driving enjoyment is a very low priority against cost and convenience.

[Bubba1]

The used market BLOWS. Stuff that was $2000 in 2010 is now fetching almost double.

The market does suck for small, cheap, used, fuel efficient, well made vehicles, like Corollas, civics, etc. But you still can get a Town Truck..er Navigator pretty cheaply.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

What about a 2001-ish Altima? Something pre-QR25 time bomb?

[frapjap]

For that kind of money the engine in the prelude could be replaced with a reman unit.

[Rex]

I forgot to suggest a 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Try to find an XLS AWD, should give you most of what your brother wants.

A friend in college had one and it was the biggest lemon. It blew a headgasket and had transmission problems all with less than 100,000 miles. She was always sinking money into that. Not sure if this speaks for all outlanders because I can't tell you the last time I have seen one on the road.

The 2003's had a problem with the engine (valve cover gaskets) & cooling systems (fans, etc), but I believe that was resolved by 2004. I don't have enough "first hand experience" to say for sure, but I trust Jesdas used car shopping prowess.

I think the XLS is kind of slick looking (lets see if either of these images support hotlinking

[Jesda]

For that kind of money the engine in the prelude could be replaced with a reman unit.

The Prelude is gone.



Drove a 98 Accord and a 98 Maxima today. The Accord felt nice for a 4-cylinder coupe. The Maxima was a hoot to throw around corners. Both of them had some issues.

The CRV is a strong contender so far, and we're looking at an 01 Camry tonight.

[OriginalWheelman]

Mazda Protege Wagon?

[Jesda]

Mazda Protege Wagon?

Tough to find. I know nothing about the dependability of their automatics. Last P5 I drove was a manual, and it was excellent.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I forgot to suggest a 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Try to find an XLS AWD, should give you most of what your brother wants.

How are 2000ish Lancers?

TERRIBLE HORRIBLE UNRELIABLE CHEAP POORLY BUILT PILES OF s*** WRAPPED IN s*** ENCASED IN s***.

I can't think of a worse car. I'd rather have a Cavalier. Or a Tempo. Or a 1986 Hyundai Excel (and I have firsthand experience with their unique brand of terrible)
They're SO terrible. It's astounding. I can't believe Mitsu tried to pass them off as the fun, sporty compact. They drive like crap, sound like crap, look like crap, hold up like crap, and attract douchebags who think Evos are cool but can't afford them because they dropped out of high school and work at mcdonalds like crap.

They're so cheap they might as well have been made of cardboard.
They're not reliable or well put together, and they won't reward you with effortless long life like a Corolla or a Mazda might.

There is nothing on earth that could get me to purchase a Lancer. I'd rather walk.

I feel Mitsubishi has had few successes in the last years other than designing cars that attract va&!n@s. (namely the eclipse; excluding GS-T) And the fact that they have discontinued the EVO.

I don't even like the Evo or the Eclipse. The Eclipse is a chickmobile through-and-through, and the Evo's a douchetastic example of taking the cheapest pile of s*** you can find and tacking on more power. At least when the Americans had the philosophy of less car with more engine, they applied it to cars people wanted in the first place. Base model Novas and Falcons and Dusters were nice cars even with gutless V6s and no options. No model of Lancer is nice. They're s***.
And 3.8 liters should net better than 260hp and 19mpg combined. NINETEEN MILES PER GALLON from a relatively low-powered V6. HOW do you screw up that hard?! Oh, I know: by using the same crummy engine for 25 years without improving it. The 6G7 was s*** in 1988 and it sure as Hell didn't age like fine wine. When Nissan was building Maximas and Zs with the VG, Mitsubishi was trailling behind with the 6G7. And THEN Nissan joined the modern world with the VQ. Mitsu stuck with the 6G7. Even the VQ is showing its age, compared engines like the GM HF V6 and Ford's modernized Duratec35. Nissan and Chevy are making 330hp from 3.7 liters or less, and getting mid-20s while doing it. Mitsu? They're content with 260hp and 19mpg. With an iron block mounted in front of the front axle, sideways, powering the wrong wheels.

In case you can't tell, I really HATE Mitsubishi. Their cars are universally cheap-feeling in an outstanding kind of way. Not like base-model Civic cheap or slightly off-brand electronics cheap. We're talking "How can we cut more corners on this Cavalier" cheap. Mindblowingly cheap. Every aspect of their cars feels impaired by cheapness. The bodywork is shoddy, lazy, and poorly assembled. The interiors are rock-hard, boring, poorly laid-out, rattly, and poorly assembled. Their engines are at best average and at worst coarse, gutless, inefficient, heavy, and poorly assembled. Mitsubishi engineering is the special ed class of the automotive world. Their very best products are on par with the mid-range of other automakers. But they're affordable and have hood scoops so they sure do attract attentionwhore kids.

I hate VW for being hippiemobiles who attract weirdos who LOVE LOVE LOVE their mediocremobiles for reasons even THEY don't understand.
I hate Toyota for dragging down the common denominator for every segment of automobile in existence.
But Mitsubishi...that's a whole different kind of hatred. They make genuinely terrible products. So terrible they're killing them all off.

[Jesda]

We drove to the city to take a second look at a 97 CRV and in the lane next to us was the old Prelude! The guy had already swapped the motor. He paid my brother $1100 for the car then spent just $450 on labor and $500 on the engine (Craigslist). Together, he got a whole Prelude in great shape for $2050. He even polished it up, removed some dents, and made it pretty.

Its funny, as this black Prelude was pulling out my brother was like "Hey, that's a black one just like mine."

I said, "Yeah, looks really good too."

Then we saw the chrome Plaza Motors license plate frame that identified it as his old car.


We waved him down to pull over, chat, return some junk left in the trunk, and take a couple pics.


This 97 CRV was purchased from a private seller for $2900. 139k, automatic, AWD. Has some dings, faded bumpers, clogged cabin air filter, and a rust spot on the right rear wheel arch. Drives GREAT. Feels like it has more than 126hp. Has a new steering rack, new brakes, and new ignition cylinder (old one was apparently worn). The interior is much nicer than the body.

This also saves my brother the cost of renting an SUV/van to move his stuff back to St Louis.


So, I'm glad that's done. Shopping for econoboxes can be kind of boring.

[nissangirl74]

Hope it makes it another 100K. I've thought about going to test drive a new one or rent one for the weekend, just for s*** and giggles. I've never driven one. In other news, car rental rates are going through the roof. The days of renting ANY car for $20 / day are almost completely gone.

[Jesda]

Here in St Louis, I rented a Corolla for $10/day for the weekend. I had to use a suburban location though, and they picked me up.

I found the price through Google ("enterprise chesterfield") and saved an additional $4 with my Costco membership ID.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Just ask for a student discount, senior discount, SCCA discount, etc.

[driverdriver]

First gen MINI Coopers had issues with their CVT's failing and if equipped with sunroof-sunroof's that are prone to shattering from thermal shock.

[Jesda]

First gen MINI Coopers had issues with their CVT's failing and if equipped with sunroof-sunroof's that are prone to shattering from thermal shock.

Ick. Didnt realize they used a CVT.

[nissangirl74]

First gen MINI Coopers had issues with their CVT's failing and if equipped with sunroof-sunroof's that are prone to shattering from thermal shock.

Ick. Didnt realize they used a CVT.

Me either.