![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 27. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
My car was totaled in a recent accident and now I have to replace it. I've got about two weeks to work with, but since I was hardly anticipating or ready for this, all I know is I'm going to get a used mid to full-size 4-door sedan.
Any thoughts on your favorite or least favorite cars?
I won't hold you responsible for anything until it breaks down, okay?
Posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 17:09:20
In reply to Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
I read that with all the new cars being priced lower there is a surplus of used cars. You should be able to find a good deal.
In St. Louis there is an auction place that usually sells to dealers only that now lets the public in on certain days. You have to send in a $500 deposit in advance but get it back if you don't buy a car.
Good luck! I detest car shopping!
crazy t
Posted by Damos on August 29, 2005, at 17:33:05
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars? » All Done, posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 17:09:20
All I can say is that I have a V6 Camry sedan and it's been great. Reliable, comfortable, safe, cheap to insure, service and repair. Had a Honda before and while it was beautiful to drive it cost a fortune to service and repair.
Posted by Phil on August 29, 2005, at 17:40:46
In reply to Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
I would personally stick with Japanese made cars-even if they're made here or wherever. Honda Accord comes to mind. Toyota Camry. Nissan Altima.
There's a reason the big 3 are giving their cars away.
That's my 2 cents.Phil
Posted by ghost on August 29, 2005, at 19:14:58
In reply to Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
i HIGHLY recommend hyundais. they have great warranties and rarely break down and are a great deal for the price. i've had two and haven't been disappointed. their sonata and elantra are great models, too. alternately, the kia has all hyundai parts, so that'd be a reliable one, too.
i DONT recommend fords, as everyone i know (including me) who has had a ford car (not a truck) has had nothing but problems.
just my $0.02
ghost
Posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 19:38:11
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by Phil on August 29, 2005, at 17:40:46
My husband's work car is a red '94 Toyota which is now partially faded to a pinkish color in some places. It has over 265,000 miles on it and still gets 35 miles to the gallon! It looks bad, smells bad and runs great! It's also fun to drive; you can whip it around and zip in and out of traffic like a fiend. ;~}
Posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 19:42:27
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by ghost on August 29, 2005, at 19:14:58
When I was in high school, my best friend dated a guy with a car out of the mid 60's (a Fairlane?). It was light blue and we called it the blue ghost because she floated right down the highway! She was sweet. Seeing your name in association with talk of cars reminded me of her. LOL! I think we had 15 or 16 people in it at once...
Posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2005, at 23:41:00
In reply to Hey ghost!, posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 19:42:27
Definitely love mine! I bought it new, and like ghost said, you can't beat the warranty. And JD Powers (or lord, I sound like a commercial) rates it very high on reliability.
I'm sure there are great late model used Hyundai's available. I tend to buy new cars, since I feel more secure with a warranty. Mine was really very very affordable.
Good luck. I'm glad I had my hubby to do all the research for me at the time I had my car totalled. It was nice to just walk in somewhere and drive what he recommended.
Also, I did have an 11 year old Ford Escort, which was a very very good car (surprised the heck out of me!) until it got squashed through no fault of its own. But I doubt I would look at Fords now. My hubby's had some great Honda's and Toyota's which have been super reliable.
gg
Posted by sunny10 on August 30, 2005, at 8:25:16
In reply to Hyundai!, posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2005, at 23:41:00
Subaru.
He says that it is good on the first engine for 200,000 miles and then when re-built (cleaned, et cetera) is good for another 100,000 or more.
You can find a cheap used one with less than 100,000 miles and it will still last you a good long time.
Bring your mechanic with you if possible when buying, or drive it to him/her as the test drive! Your mechanic should know the worth of whatever used car ou look at before you buy it...
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 30, 2005, at 10:14:34
In reply to Hyundai!, posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2005, at 23:41:00
Posted by Racer on August 30, 2005, at 13:54:50
In reply to Re: My SO is a mechanic and swears by, posted by sunny10 on August 30, 2005, at 8:25:16
Posted by Sarah T. on August 30, 2005, at 19:43:30
In reply to Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
Hi.
Whatever you do, have your mechanic thoroughly check out the used car before you buy it. If your mechanic is the one selling the car to you, then have another mechanic (at another shop) examine it. Get the vehicle identification number of the car you're interested in buying, and you can easily get a vehicle history on it to see how many previous owners the car had and whether it's been in any major accidents, etc. I strongly urge you NOT to buy a car that's been in a major accident. I did that once, and the car had chronic problems with alignment, suspension. I had to replace the struts and several other expensive parts several times. The alignment was never right because of that previous accident. Also, log onto the Kelly Blue Book web site AND the Edmonds.com website. Both will not only tell you how much money a particular used car should cost, but they also have many links to other helpful articles on how to shop for a used car.
I prefer Japanese cars like Toyotas and Hondas, but as others have said, the parts and repairs can be more expensive. On the other hand, those cars can go several hundred thousand miles before you have to give up on them.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide!
Posted by ghost on August 31, 2005, at 15:57:56
In reply to Hey ghost!, posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 19:42:27
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:33:27
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars? » All Done, posted by crazy teresa on August 29, 2005, at 17:09:20
Thanks, teresa! I hadn't even thought about an auction. I'm going to check it out.
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:35:08
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars? » crazy teresa, posted by Damos on August 29, 2005, at 17:33:05
A lot of people are recommending Toyotas. My sister has a Camry and is really happy. I've never actually driven one, though, so I'll have to put that on my list of test drives.
I hear good stuff about Hondas, too. They last forever, I think.
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:40:41
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by Phil on August 29, 2005, at 17:40:46
My husband currently drives a Nissan Maxima and we love it. Part of me wants to add it to my list to check out, but part of me thinks it would be dorky to have the same car. He is planning to get rid of it in nine months, or so, though.
I've had people tell me to go with a new car because the incentives are so great, but I've hesitated to go that route because I've wondered how and why they've been offering such discounted prices.
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:45:11
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by ghost on August 29, 2005, at 19:14:58
I was driving a Ford Taurus and although it never gave me any real problems, I just wasn't quite thrilled with it.
I'll add the Hyundai Sonata to my list. Thanks!
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:48:01
In reply to Hyundai!, posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2005, at 23:41:00
I'm thinking of looking for a certified used and that way, I might still have warranty life left on the car.
Although my neighbor just got a new Camry for a really good price. Sigh...I'm getting so confused. Someone just put a car that I will like in my driveway for me, k? Maybe I could borrow your husband for a day? You can have mine. I'll tell him to behave ;).
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:51:52
In reply to Re: My SO is a mechanic and swears by, posted by sunny10 on August 30, 2005, at 8:25:16
Oh, dear. You guys are assuming I have a mechanic, huh? I've had nothing but trouble with the mechanics I've chosen. We actually had to sue one because he charged us for parts and labor that he didn't actually use or do.
I'll tell gg I don't need her husband, if I can borrow your SO instead. (No offense, gg. Your hubby's really cute and all, but... ;) )
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:52:39
In reply to Hyundai!--I 2nd that! GG, we are so much alike! (nm), posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 30, 2005, at 10:14:34
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:53:58
In reply to Toyota! But get it checked by a mechanic (nm), posted by Racer on August 30, 2005, at 13:54:50
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:57:09
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars? » All Done, posted by Sarah T. on August 30, 2005, at 19:43:30
Thanks, Sarah! I just got a subscription for carfax.com today. I wish that was around when I purchased my last car. Mine must have been in an accident, too, becuase I think the alignment was never exactly right. That's one of the reasons I wasn't thrilled.
I'll let you guys know how this turns out.
Posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:57:29
In reply to Anyone wanna talk cars?, posted by All Done on August 29, 2005, at 16:59:09
Posted by Dominique on August 31, 2005, at 21:09:51
In reply to Hyundai!, posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2005, at 23:41:00
Toyota Corollas and Hondas are great... if you can afford them.
I bought a new '99 Hyundai; owned it for 2 years and felt as though I were driving a plastic roller skate. I felt very unsafe in it.... I went to open the driver's side door after work one day and the darn handle literally came off in my hand.... BIG LAUGH!!!!! My husband put a cardboard box on the trunk, took it off, and scratch marks laid covering the trunk. Also, someone (my neighbor's stupid boyfriend) got mad at me (for respectfully standing up for myself) and he used his own fingertails to scratch up and down the hood of my car... and oh, yes... it was obvious. So... I really don't recommend Hyundais; but I have been told that the models built after the '99s are better.... Your decision.
Smiles
Dom
Posted by ghost on August 31, 2005, at 21:32:42
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna talk cars? » ghost, posted by All Done on August 31, 2005, at 16:45:11
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.