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λόγος · Jul 16, 2007, 01:45 AM

I want to buy an automobile. Here are the constraints:

Budget: $3,200 maximum purchase price
MPG: don't care
Age: don't care
Make/Model: no pintos/gremlins/weird foreign cars
Running Condition: Must be reliable
Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

What would you buy given these constraints?

smacintush · Jul 16, 2007, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by λόγος

Budget: $3,200 maximum purchase price
MPG: don't care
Age: don't care
Make/Model: no pintos/gremlins/weird foreign cars
Running Condition: Must be reliable
Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

Chevy Cavalier.

Not real sexy (read: BORING) but a damn fine little car. Mine lasted 212,000 miles before I sold it. I never had ANY major trouble.

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by λόγος

I want to buy an automobile. Here are the constraints:

Budget: $3,200 maximum purchase price
MPG: don't care
Age: don't care
Make/Model: no pintos/gremlins/weird foreign cars
Running Condition: Must be reliable
Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

What would you buy given these constraints?

Jeep Cherokee. XJ 5-door version, 4.0, auto, 4x4.

Peter · Jul 16, 2007, 04:10 AM

why dont you care about the MPG?
Weird..

NobleMatt · Jul 16, 2007, 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

why dont you care about the MPG?
Weird..

maybe he doesnt do that much milage.

what is the normal MPG for the US with ur stupidly big engines that are killing us all?

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

what is the normal MPG for the US with ur stupidly big engines that are killing us all?

Take your ghey crap to the pol lounge.

NobleMatt · Jul 16, 2007, 06:15 AM

well answer my quiestion then what is the normal acceptable MPG for your typical american car?

my dad gets 30 MPG out of his 1.8L Merc C-Class and i get about 45 MPG out of my 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa

el chupacabra · Jul 16, 2007, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by λόγος

Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

I thought you wanted a reliable car?

Maybe a chevy prizm

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

well answer my quiestion then what is the normal acceptable MPG for your typical american car?

my dad gets 30 MPG out of his 1.8L Merc C-Class and i get about 45 MPG out of my 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa

Well, I get 32 MPG out of my Cherokee and 14 MPG out of my Grand Cherokee.

And both score way more chicks than your silly little Corsa does. And they're both faster, with the Grand being faster than your old man's Merc. And they're both way more fun. And they don't go tits-up in a few inches of rain.

The OP isn't interested in MPG. Your only line of questioning about MPG ends with "but you're killing the planet", thus you have a political motive. Thus any further discussion along those lines should be in the Pol Lounge.

scottiB · Jul 16, 2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Jeep Cherokee. XJ 5-door version, 4.0, auto, 4x4.

Concur.

PB2K · Jul 16, 2007, 10:44 AM

you want to buy a what ???

is it some sort of automated mobile phone ?? If so, this might be a nice te-le-phone for you

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by λόγος

I want to buy an automobile. Here are the constraints:

Budget: $3,200 maximum purchase price
MPG: don't care
Age: don't care
Make/Model: no pintos/gremlins/weird foreign cars
Running Condition: Must be reliable
Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

What would you buy given these constraints?

1997-1999 Dodge or Plymouth Neon. Reliable car once the MLS gasket was replaced (which it pretty much has to be if it's running at this point), gets over 40mpg highway, and has a LOT of torque and HP for such a small car, will easily beat cavaliers, civics, etc in the acceleration and handling department.

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Well, I get 32 MPG out of my Cherokee and 14 MPG out of my Grand Cherokee.

And both score way more chicks than your silly little Corsa does. And they're both faster, with the Grand being faster than your old man's Merc. And they're both way more fun. And they don't go tits-up in a few inches of rain.

The OP isn't interested in MPG. Your only line of questioning about MPG ends with "but you're killing the planet", thus you have a political motive. Thus any further discussion along those lines should be in the Pol Lounge.

And they both aren't sold here in the states with your magical diesel engine, which makes your suggestion moot.

RAILhead · Jul 16, 2007, 10:55 AM

Get one of them Segway thingies!!11!

macintologist · Jul 16, 2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by λόγος

Running Condition: Must be reliable
Other: I prefer to buy American-made products

iREZ · Jul 16, 2007, 11:07 AM

moped

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

And they both aren't sold here in the states with your magical diesel engine, which makes your suggestion moot.

I suggested he gets the 4.0 gas version, which most certainly *is* sold in the US.

As is my Grand Cherokee. With the 4.7 HO engine now used in the Dakota.

Oh and hi Rob! I was wondering if this nick was you. Now I know.

Peter · Jul 16, 2007, 11:15 AM

hm, I want a Jeep.
Wanna sell it?

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

hm, I want a Jeep.
Wanna sell it?

No. Doof never sells anything. Ever.

But there's loads around for the £1,500 mark - should be easy to find one. Just make sure it isn't from a dealer in Glasgow and a bit fire damaged.

Kerrigan · Jul 16, 2007, 05:39 PM

This is very environmentally friendly- uses the latest retrofitted technology resulting in virtually zero carbon emissions. Carries a little baggage from days when communism was thought to be the future, but today is quaint and quite familiar/predictable.

Uncle Skeleton · Jul 16, 2007, 06:15 PM

The methane emissions are killer though

Rumor · Jul 16, 2007, 06:23 PM

Nah, that's what children are for.

CreepDogg · Jul 16, 2007, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Peter

why dont you care about the MPG?
Weird..

Plenty of other forums to get into the 'killing the planet' discussion.

It does seem strange, though, to have a (relatively) limited budget for purchase and not care about MPG. Where I live, gas is $3.30/gal (so a fill-up assuming ~10 gal would be ~1% of the purchase price of the car). Unless the OP thinks gas prices are going to go down, or REALLY doesn't drive a lot, it seems inconsistent to be so concerned about purchase cost but not concerned about operating cost. To each his own....

I'd find the newest (year + miles + assessed wear & tear) Cavalier/Neon/Corolla/Civic in that price range if it were me. I know Corolla/Civic don't meet the 'Comes from the Big 3' criteria, but it's definitely where I'd lean.

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 07:56 PM

If his budget was 5k, I'd say get a Ford Contour SVT. 210hp v6, top speed of over 140mph, recaro buckets, tons of options, comfortable ride, great handling, and good mpg. I'm going to get one as a daily if something happens to one of the hondas.

PlacidTubs · Jul 16, 2007, 07:58 PM

I don't wish to Hijack the thread, but I didn't want to start one so similar.

I am too looking to start saving for a car, but this will be my first. I'm looking for something with good MPG (LPG in the UK). Bare in mind I live in the UK and am probably looking about £2500 max price. Any suggestions for something reliable and cheap to run?

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 08:00 PM

Honda civic. Done. Next?

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by PlacidTubs

I don't wish to Hijack the thread, but I didn't want to start one so similar.

I am too looking to start saving for a car, but this will be my first. I'm looking for something with good MPG (LPG in the UK). Bare in mind I live in the UK and am probably looking about £2500 max price. Any suggestions for something reliable and cheap to run?

Go with a diesel Ford. Doesn't get much cheaper to run (parts, fuel, etc..) than one of those.

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

Honda civic. Done. Next?

Nobody under 70 drives a Honda Civic in the UK. They're grannies' cars here.

Rumor · Jul 16, 2007, 08:20 PM

Funny. Nobody over 25 drives a Civic here.

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 08:27 PM

Top Gear 6x04

Main review: The guys hand over duties to their mothers to review a range of new small cars including the Renault Modus, Honda Jazz and Peugeot 1007. They're tested by seeing how much space there is, how fast they are (to which Hammond guesses May's mother is The Stig) and how easy they are to get into. Their mothers' decision is the Honda is the best, while the presenters favour the Renault.

λόγος · Jul 16, 2007, 10:39 PM

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

I decided on a 1968 Ford F250 with a big 360 in it. The person who's selling it says it averages 6-7 MPG. But that's good enough for me. I love big American automobiles.

OldManMac · Jul 16, 2007, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by λόγος

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

I decided on a 1968 Ford F250 with a big 360 in it. The person who's selling it says it averages 6-7 MPG. But that's good enough for me. I love big American automobiles.

I don't get the joke.

Lateralus · Jul 16, 2007, 11:37 PM

A mid 90's Buick Park Avenue or LeSabre. V6 3800 FTW.

If your ego is too big for a granny mobile, look into an early production Olds Intrigue or late 90's Buick Regal.

KisforKennedy · Jul 17, 2007, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

I don't get the joke.

Me neither. I see a well fueled stack of logs, but it isn't ablaze as to the original poster's intentions. A flamefest gone wrong.

Railroader · Jul 18, 2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lateralus

A mid 90's Buick Park Avenue or LeSabre. V6 3800 FTW.

If your ego is too big for a granny mobile, look into an early production Olds Intrigue or late 90's Buick Regal.

Excellent suggestion.

Also, a late 90's Pontiac Bonneville, or Grand Prix with a 3800 engine. Extremely reliable, powerful, smooth ride, and about 22-28 mpg.

sek929 · Jul 18, 2007, 12:59 PM

A 3800 would purr like a kitten even if all that is left of the car is a steering wheel.

KisforKennedy · Jul 18, 2007, 02:20 PM

And a 3800.

sek929 · Jul 18, 2007, 02:21 PM

well, of course

KisforKennedy · Jul 18, 2007, 02:29 PM

I was just reading a thread where someone was completing my idea: They bought a wrecked SVX, and shoved the Eg33 into an old 1970s 911. More power, more torque, a LOT more reliability, better mpg, and it's still a flat six so it sounds just like a porsche. Awesome.

Doofy · Jul 18, 2007, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

I was just reading a thread where someone was completing my idea: They bought a wrecked SVX, and shoved the Eg33 into an old 1970s 911. More power, more torque, a LOT more reliability, better mpg, and it's still a flat six so it sounds just like a porsche. Awesome.

And they'll kill themselves (rightly so, the philistines) 'coz 70's 911s are supremely sensitive to weight distribution.

KisforKennedy · Jul 18, 2007, 05:24 PM

Um.... the SVX engine is aluminum. It's within 50lbs of the 911 engine. A few people have swapped without any problems whatsoever.

Doofy · Jul 18, 2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

Um.... the SVX engine is aluminum. It's within 50lbs of the 911 engine. A few people have swapped without any problems whatsoever.

50 lbs is a lot when a 70's 911 is sideways.

But I forgot. You don't do handling over there, so it doesn't matter.

Railroader · Jul 18, 2007, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Excellent suggestion.

Also, a late 90's Pontiac Bonneville, or Grand Prix with a 3800 engine. Extremely reliable, powerful, smooth ride, and about 22-28 mpg.

I forgot to add a Buick Regal as well.

KisforKennedy · Jul 19, 2007, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

50 lbs is a lot when a 70's 911 is sideways.

But I forgot. You don't do handling over there, so it doesn't matter.

It's less than the difference between a full tank of gas and an empty tank. It doesn't really matter. Even porsche purists don't notice a difference, according to other forums, so you're really just pretending to know what you're talking about. The difference in tires and wheels would make more of a difference than this.

Doofy · Jul 19, 2007, 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

It's less than the difference between a full tank of gas and an empty tank.

Yeah. That's why old 911s are a bit of a nightmare on an empty tank. Even something as new as a 993, you need to brim it if you're going to push the handling.

Originally Posted by KisforKennedy

Even porsche purists don't notice a difference, according to other forums, so you're really just pretending to know what you're talking about. The difference in tires and wheels would make more of a difference than this.

Show me these forums.