american cars suk!!

[Skitterpop]

and used/new car warranties


There is good and bad stories for both foreign and American
but the stats show certain foreigns to rate considerably better on average. Toyota and Honda are tops but none is perfect. Read MikeCCs post...there you go.


I have bought them and will only buy ones from the manufacturer...NO 3rd Party ! And I`d only buy if planning on long term ownership. Its the year or mileage whichever comes first remember.
You figure your mileage and time and buy accordingly. Plus they have a cost and an MSRP which is negotiable.

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by Indanite

and used/new car warranties


There is good and bad stories for both foreign and American
but the stats show certain foreigns to rate considerably better on average. Toyota and Honda are tops but none is perfect. Read MikeCCs post...there you go.


I have bought them and will only buy ones from the manufacturer...NO 3rd Party ! And I`d only buy if planning on long term ownership. Its the year or mileage whichever comes first remember.
You figure your mileage and time and buy accordingly. Plus they have a cost and an MSRP which is negotiable.

Thanks Mike, good info.

[Raven]

sometimes you just have to know when to walk away from a project car....you know...the fix or repair daily's vehicles you've owned...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(expanding on FF's request to look for rust)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
one day at the junk yard where i had my 20 year old
"escape california van"
parked for maybe the last time... i walked around it several times thinking time to let her go....there's NO friggan way,,,,
as i stared at LONG gaping rust holes and rot.... EVERYWHERE
24" to 48" and 2 inches wide had rotted away....
and it was on all doors and side panels....ok ---
so much work it was mind boggling and way beyond repair
.....or SO it seemed......

then.....i started to formulate a plan involving a secret organization called HOME DEPOT.... 25 years of fabrication , a lust for tools,
FIXING anything and a sense of nostalgia began to emerge....
i can do this.... just .....imagine it... no dont....i need to do it...

suddenly the theme song to mission impossible started dancing
in my head
and i was off like a shot .....goin'
Dant DANT -dant dant dant dant, dant dant dant....dant.
badda DAHHH Badda Dahhh BADAH.... ZOOOOOOOOOM

at the domed heapo....
i bought several sheets of pre -bent galvanized duct work( sheet metal ) and several tubes of liguid nails, sand paper, fiberglass resin, fiberglass cloth, bondo and several boxes of self tapping hex head screws.
--------------------
i sand back the rust with coarse paper ,prime and slap on a bead of glue and then attach the pre fitted dry sheet metal with the self tapping screws til the next day.... then i back out the screws that show on the body...the ones underneath i leave in... and i grind
down the edge where the sheet metal overlaps the body....and apply a thin coat of hot pink (dry fast) bondo ...which is resin based...
and let that almost dry....where i criss cross score it with a blade.
after thats dry ...i mix up some fiber glass resin and paint it on top
of that seam and add a layer of cloth to cover it all....sometimes
two.... and soon - i had no more gaping rust holes anymore...!!!

i drove that sucka for a few more years....i love no car payments.

[mikecc]

Guys dont for get to figure the Insurance into the cost of ownership.
I looked at a Honda for the wife a year ago. Screw that we could not afford to insure the dam thing. Highest in theft rating & highest insurance rate for $$amount.

[Skitterpop]

Also to consider in cost of ownership:

Had four different models over the years
all over 130K miles (some more) and not one breakdown.


change the oil at 4K, tranny fluid at 30K, timing belts around 100K,
plus the usual wear and tear

[Joey G]

I had a 95 k1500 with 286 k great truck ,had to sell her for something with more room. Bought a new 03 xcab k1500 miss the 95 she was mint.

[capesams]

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by capesams

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

If hauling fishing rods, foul smelling fishing gear, and occasional dead fish around counts as work then yes.

[thefishingfreak]

work trucks are hino's and fuso's arround my way.

[Karl F]

hino? fuso?.. oh man.. new code..... wheres my decoder ring?, or do I need new one?



CS. I hauled a chit load of brush and wood with mine, after that big blow on Dec. 9.... got pine pitch ta prove it.....
most of the time tho, its just a go to dump, or go to beach, or that other place.. oh yeah... work ...

[capesams]

one's I see around here are all cab an no bed....bet I couldn't go out tommorrow and find a plain jane without leather seats,power windows, big woofer an boommer,free ad sticker's all over, a reel bumper,ac....dang yuppies.

[thefishingfreak]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

work trucks are hino's and fuso's arround my way.

mitsubisi hino and fuso or benz.
small diesel cab-over box trucks. no need for the trailer anymore. ladders on the roof.everything else inside.

[kevin d]

I'm kind of partial to the Buicks. My daughter has a 96 Regal with over 130,000 miles on it that hasn't required anything but basic maintainence and wear and tear stuff. The car has been in a wide spectrum of environments: the Arizona desert, New England, DC and now SC. I think the only state on the east coast that it hasn't been in is Maine. Well built car. Same platform as the Monte Carlos and Grand Prix but more comfortable and cheaper for insurance. We also own a 2002 Regal that is doing quite well.

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by capesams

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

I just bought a 1500 work truck 8 bed...no frills....and yes....for work!!...just brought home a load of firewood too....might even get to the dump soon ...and it will carry ladders
I dont get why people drive pick ups..unless for work...Id much rather drive a car...I make sure we take the wifes Accord when we go out...its a pleasure to drive after being in the truck all week

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Indanite

and used/new car warranties


There is good and bad stories for both foreign and American
but the stats show certain foreigns to rate considerably better on average. Toyota and Honda are tops but none is perfect. Read MikeCCs post...there you go.


I have bought them and will only buy ones from the manufacturer...NO 3rd Party ! And I`d only buy if planning on long term ownership. Its the year or mileage whichever comes first remember.
You figure your mileage and time and buy accordingly. Plus they have a cost and an MSRP which is negotiable.

You can often tell all you need to know by the cost of an extended warranty. They're cheap for a Toyota or Honda and expensive for most domestics.

[Swimmer]

YUGO never did come out with a 4 x 4 before the factory was bombed did they?