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Having been without a car for over 8 months now, it's starting to really suck when it's cold and snowy and dark out. There's a Ford Focus in my area that's in my price range. I just need something to get around town (max: 30 miles/week) when the weather is poor or it's dark out.
Any experience with Ford Focus?
I'd go for this Honda Civic that's nearby but it's double my price range unfortunately.
take the taurus on a test drive to places not in your area to test drive the car you really want. I don't have any real advice.
Call around to some of the shops around and see if you can get someone to take a mechanical peek at it. They'll know the trouble spots on certain cars.
If I test drive this I plan to take it to my mechanic who said I can stop by any time to get it checked out. They'll have to run a $40 diagnostic test though. Is that standard? I have no real mechanic friends.
It is pretty normal for then to charge for labor to look at it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shan
Unless you're leasing it, I would not buy a Ford. My wife had a 1999 ford focus back in her college days, it lasted until 80k miles, then it totally died, the block cracked, trans went out. After dumping huge amounts of money into it, we eventually gave up and towed it into the honda dealership and they gave us $500 bucks for it. Total bargain at that point. I never seen a bigger POS than that car. Not saying all Fords are bad just going by my personal experience. I think the market for fords might be cheaper though because other people feel the same.
I've owned 2 Honda Civics and had no problems at all. Great resale value is key, for instance I bought my current one used for 9k and am going to put it on the market for 2k in the next week or so. So considering I've owned it for 13 years, that really is less than $50/mo (13x12/7000). It's never broken. The battery did die and I had to replace the cv joints at 100k miles as preventative maintenance, but nothing serious. Less than 500 in repairs the whole time I've owned it. So stuff like that is good to calculate I think. Plus breaking down and being stranded really sucks.
Good luck to ya! You didn't say what year, so I just pulled up 2 consumer reviews on the 2000 ford focus, and honda civic. Notice in reliability the honda civic has a perfect 10? But you can change the year to whatever you're getting and form your own opinion. i just owned a jetta that broke a lot and vowed I would never own a "get stranded" car again.
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2...merreview.html
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/focus/20...merreview.html
My Taurus has lasted about 4 years, it's up to 149K miles. It runs OK, definitely not as good as it used to, but it gets us around.
The most important part for us was the room in the cab. I'm a taller guy and I like to stretch my legs out on road trips, which this car has taken many of.
But I will agree that the Detroit autos have lower quality than the foreign cars.
Agree................all about the Honda-Toyota and anything non-Detroit made. I wouldn't own a Ford and would pay the extra whatever it is to own a foreign vehicle. Regarding the Jetta...they get a bad rap b/c they are so darn expensive to maintain and fix. So far my Jetta has been a great car besides leaving me stranded out in Granary Springs. But then again, maybe that was the stupidity of the driver to think her VW could plow through red sand? :ne_nau: :lol8: :lol8: :lol8:Quote:
Originally Posted by deathcricket
My advice- pay the extra and get a Honda Civic. Forget the Focus. :2thumbs:
It's a 2002 Ford Focus LX with 113k miles. The dealer is asking $2400 which is in my price range. I've noticed these cars don't have good resale value, but that's not the issue at the moment. I need something in my price range.
The Honda is a 1999 Honda Civic LX sedan with 138k miles, but he's asking $4499.
Unfortunately I only have X amount of cash to work with and the civic is way over that amount even though obviously the better car. The civic has been on the market for a while, I thought of offering him cash (but way low) on the spot but he may laugh in my face.
Unless someone wants to lend me $2000.
Too bad you are in St. George!Quote:
Originally Posted by deathcricket
I know!! I would even give ya a Bogley discount and drop it down to $1500. Shucks. It's a 1995 and 155k miles, so I fear even though it has never broken, gets a little scary driving my 120 mile weekly commute to Vegas. There is nothing on that strip of desert besides Mesquite. *shudder*
Anyways... For the prices you are stating I would definitely go ford too. Just treat it as a disposable car and don't drive far. For your 30 miles a week in town like you said, no biggie. The only thing would be that the LX (I think) is the fully loaded model with all the bells and whistles. You could find a DX, CX, or maybe even a VX like mine for more reasonable but no way for $2400. So if those are your 2 choices, go Ford I say. I would just hate to hear you bought a $2400 dollar car then get "nickle and dimed" to death from repair bills. With my wifes car it was ever 3 months or so. replacing gaskets, struts, fuel filters, powersteering, transmission. When the head cracked it was beyond my skill level to fix. If you see a "milky" fluid in the radiator water, don't buy it. The good news is I learned a lot about cars and got quite the collection of tools/wrenches. They are pretty easy to work on, I will say that.
*cheers*
:five:
shoot, driving to st. george is worth the 5 hunny... make a vacation out of it. :2thumbs:
Fly to Vegas, better party atmosphere and it sits in the airport parking lot sun-thurs.Quote:
Originally Posted by CarpeyBiggs
:2thumbs:
I am a Toyota fan but Honda's are just the same. I will always pay the extra for a more reliable (Japanese mostly) vehicle where you see FAR less days with the hood in the air. Mechanic fees are one thing, but what drives me crazy is the hassle of taking it in. Pain in the ass. Personally I wouldn't touch a ford with 6 digits on the clock. Well, unless you have some tannerite laying around. :lol8: *see the hunting thread.
I just saw your tag. Classic! :roflol: :roflol:Quote:
Originally Posted by deathcricket
I'm not sure of the Focus but the Escort that preceded it had a Mazda engine.
I used a 1993 Escort for 7 years and 150K miles, it served me very well! The only expense was changing the timing belt.
I think you'd be better off checking KSL Classifieds for a private sale. There is no way I trust dealerships when it comes to used cars!
Win
I do check KSL often, but I have to keep it local - remember I don't even have transportation to see other cars outside the valley.Quote:
Originally Posted by Win
Speaking of KSL, there is also a 1998 Saturn SL with 168k for $2195. One owner, excellent interior condition. (I have owned a 1994 SC2 before and it was a great car.) I considered this one too.
So if I go a dealer route, and I get a CarFAX report plus inspected by my mechanic - then what does it matter where it comes from? A dealer can lie just as well as a private party, but the facts lie in the report and mechanic's diagnostic test, right?
So just for fun, I calculated a trip to Las Vegas and back all for one day 12/21/08:
$42.00 - one way airport shuttle to SLC
$79.50 - one way ticket on Southwest
$23.56 - gas money for 508 drive @ $1.623/gal
--------
$145.06 TOTAL travel costs
$1500.00 car
--------
$1645.06 TOTAL plus a whole Sunday
Hmm, it would be a little bold/silly to buy a car sight unseen.
A dealer is going to ask more for the same car. The dealer probably doesn't know the history of the car, in fact, I'm surprised a dealer will let you take the car to a mechanic. Was the car in a rental fleet? I really don't know anything about Carfax.
Does the dealer offer a warranty? Remember, you're probably paying the dealer a premium.
How about if you try a "Wanted to Buy" , maybe someone trading in a car will give you chance to buy it outright. Doesn't hurt to ask. It's the holidays, just might find a good Samaritan!
Good luck,
Win
Well I ditched the Ford and got a Saturn yesterday from a private party! It's the second Saturn I've ever owned. Very good condition for a 98.
My 8 month car-free streak is over.
Sweet! Although the car free streak sounds like a noble cause. Having a car in for winter weather is justifiably practical in my opinion.
Logan without a car is definitely doable most of the time, but winter was getting tough.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxx
My car-free streak was mainly because I got a divorce and my ex took the Jeep 8 months ago.
sorry to hear that. Sounds like you landed on your feet though :2thumbs: :five:Quote:
Originally Posted by Shan
Congratulations! Good luck with new wheels.
Win
Congrats. :2thumbs:
Take it off any sweet jumps?
Oh hey congrats! I'm not sure how reliable Saturns are and have never owned one. But anything is better than a Ford IMO. I think you made a great decision.
You did make one small miscalculation in your trip planner though. $10 on red #5 = $350. So all you would have to do is gamble and you'd be ahead.
:lol8:
Kidding kidding! In no way do I suggest gambling to cover cost expenses unless you're super lucky.