Another dead car

[ezra76]

No, not my Prelude, thank goodness. It's running like a swiss watch. My girls Saturn, that's another story. What piece of garbage that engine is. She's maintained the thing to a T. Always changed the oil within 100 miles of 3K and followed the recommended maintainence. 109K on an 04 and the top end is toast. She had it towed to the dealer where they changed the plugs and ignition coil (not a "coil" like in a distributor setup, different coil, $219 part). Anyway, it's still all fecked up, like I knew it was and they are talking $2400 to do the top end. I figured it was pretty serious, thought it might have skipped the timing belt or something the way it was misfiring and unburned fuel getting into the catalytic converter.

We've been arguing about it on the phone this evening. She talked her mom into talking her dad into "lending" her $2400 to fix it and I said "no f-ing way". It's kind of a "grow up" type thing to me and also just a bad decision. The trans is slipping (auto) from the last time I drove it extensively last year and the front end is going to need CV's and the whole 9 soon as well. She still owes $900 but not a big deal. I say dump it, take whatever they'll give and get into a newer Civic, Accord, Corrolla... I was looking at a G35 with a 6spd., let her take the Prelude but that would be a bit much $$ wise.

If you've read all this... opinions?

[JEFF4i]

I'm with you, if you can afford the payment.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by ezra76

The trans is slipping (auto) from the last time I drove it extensively last year and the front end is going to need CV's and the whole 9 soon as well.


If you've read all this... opinions?

My opinion? She shouldn't let you drive her car ever again

Still owes $900 & needs another $2400 to fix it? Just dumping the car may not be a viable option since she will still need to pay off the $900 unless she can get at least that much for a trade in.

[ezra76]

Well, yeah, we'd trade it in to that dealer. They can do whatever they need to do with the paperwork to make it happen. She's paying $224 a month for it. So I think she had 4 payments left. I can't really do crap with it private sale anyway. If you figure $200/mo. payments, the repair bill is going to be a years worth of friggen payments anyway. Saturns have no resale anyway. Book on my car is 3X as much as hers and it's 5yrs. older. Not to mention I could get 90% book for mine in like 2 days while the Saturn is just a much less desireable car.

Looking at several cars used low mileage. Anyone have or have driven a Matrix or Scion TC. Never knew Scion was a Toyota drivetrain.

[JEFF4i]

SCions are decent, but really hard to go wrong with a Corolla.

[eclark53520]

Forget the G35...OK cars but way too expensive for what they are...

Stick with the Corolla or civic maybe a year or two old...theyre going to screw you on a brand new one with the way gas prices are. both really solid cars with great track records and fuel economy is on your side as well also, they keep their value qutie well...the Civic more than the corolla but they both hold value quite well.

Once the vehicle is past breakin period, switch to a nice synthetic oil like mobil 1 and dont worry about it for the next 10k...saves money as your skipping 3 oil changes but it saves tons of time changing the oil. the 3k oil change is WAY too often for 99% of drivers out there.

[JEFF4i]

I got my Corolla, new, for 14 even.

[footballking732]

Go for a recent Honda(civic or accord, i personally prefer the accord) or a Corolla.. Cant go wrong with either of those.

[warbirdlover]

What these guys said. And if you really want to rock the boat try a Hyundai. The best kept secret around. We've had two now and zero problems. Zero. Bought the daughter a 2003 used Sonata and it's a very, very nice car. V-6 etc.

You can get them reasonable too.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

I got my Corolla, new, for 14 even.

I should have one shipped up here then. They are $18500 for the LE and $21K for the S here.

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

What these guys said. And if you really want to rock the boat try a Hyundai. The best kept secret around. We've had two now and zero problems. Zero. Bought the daughter a 2003 used Sonata and it's a very, very nice car. V-6 etc.

You can get them reasonable too.

Thanks. Worth a look since they are very reasonably priced. Haven't driven one in a long, long time. Since a girl I dated over 10yrs. ago had an Excel. That was basically a $hitbox but ran good. Simple to work on.

[twofast2s]

not that i'm korean, but hyundai makes better cars now than they did before. the quality used to be junk, but i was actually surprised how nice it rides (sonata 07). hyundai have really nice warrenty as well.

i'll go w/ either honda (civic/accord) or nissan (altima/maxima).

[DouginGA]

1995 TOYOTA tacoma pickup here, 320,000 miles, looks like hell but stills runs decent. battery and ball joints are all I have had to do to it. I change the oil every so often( maybe twice a year?) cant beat the toyota brand (cept maybe izuzu diesels).

[warbirdlover]

Hyundai's quality is approaching Toyota's (which is their target). The reason they are reasonable is they are fighting the horrid reputation from many years ago just starting out. They have righted the ship big time. You might think Kia's are the same car and as far as the parts you're right but the main difference (and a big one) is Kia's are built by hand and Hyundai has a state-of-the-art automated assembly plant. The new Hyundai's (especially their luxury model) are as good a car as any on the road. I had my Elantra for 130,000 miles with nothing wrong. It could have gone another 130,000 (and probably is) but we traded it on the Sonata.

I like American cars because they are comfortable to drive BUT their quality isn't in the same league as Honda, Toyota, Nissan and also Hyundai. Not even close.

[JEFF4i]

Originally Posted by twofast2s

not that i'm korean, but hyundai makes better cars now than they did before. the quality used to be junk, but i was actually surprised how nice it rides (sonata 07). hyundai have really nice warrenty as well.

i'll go w/ either honda (civic/accord) or nissan (altima/maxima).

You're KOREAN!?

My Corolla is an S, but the deal was a couple day offer.

[twelvegage]

Definitely ditch the car. I would definitely suggest you keep your Prelude (I'm a Hondaholic myself) and put her up in a recent Honda, or Toyota, or possibly even Hyundai/Kia. The biggest problem you'll have with a Hyundai/Kia is they have ZERO resale value. I know that shouldn't be a determining factor, but a factor nonetheless. We got my wife a Toyota Yaris Sedan brand new back in 07 and she absolutely loves it. My dad drove it from Washington to Texas and got 39 miles to the gallon all the way. I think they can be had for not too much now too. Just a little on the small side, but very good car overall.