Book's vehicles thread: Now with Two Different Wheels-Post 339

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Take a look at more Escorts/ZX2s I reckon.

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I've always liked the look of them, and having owned a cheap Ford, albeit a European one for the past six years, I'm only too happy to recommend them. Reasonably comfortable, cheap to run, cheap to insure, decent fun to drive... And there must be loads of Escorts about, so don't be too put off by one single example not being in the best nick.

Oh, and no Chevy Cavaliers around? They're a decent looking small car too and probably offer similar to what the Escort can offer.

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RE: Chevrolet Cavalier

Its a very thin, narrow line for what is good and bad about those cars. While I'd argue that the model produced in the mid '90s was indeed a good-looking and otherwise moderately well-built car, ultimately it wasn't until GM adapted the use of the (then) new ECOTEC line that the cars had adequate power to be considered "good" against others out there in the day, but the car was still held back by decades of ignorance on behalf of GM, and ultimately, chassis design that was more than 20 years old by the end of its run.

Check out the 1995+ Z24 models, preferably. Not only did they get the better engines (1995 had the awesome Quad-4), they had a halfway decent chassis setup, and ultimately ended up looking rather good before the 2002 update. The J-Body is decent at the very least, but make no mistake: It is not a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla.
 
I don't need much advice on the Cavaliers, as I've spent six hours behind the wheel of one. 2002, 2.2L, automatic. Wasn't too horridly impressed with it.

I liked the Escort we looked at yesterday, so I'll keep those in mind.

List of buickgnx's vehicles and my impressions:
Lumina: Pass.
Taurus: Pass.
Prizm: Maybe.
Cavalier: I'm not completely ruling it out, but see above.
Capri: Won't be able to get it (it's not in perfect shape).
Tiburon: Doubt I could get it, but definitely wouldn't mind.

Update Part 2: My price range may have just opened way, way up in the form of a grandparental loan. I'll have to talk to then and see just how much they'll loan me (if they actually will), but I'm guessing $6-7k is what I'll have available total. With that, Dad showed me these vehicles:

2000 Toyota Celica GT, 128,713 miles: $5995
1994 BMW 318iS, "32,644 miles": $5920
2002 Dodge Stratus R/T, 98,776 miles: $6425
2002 Honda Civic LX, 84,830 miles: $6890 (you'll have to search the website for this one, unfortunately)

Well, whaddaya think?
 
The Celica isn't bad a bad choice, but if you've got $6000, there are a lot of really good options out there... So keep your eyes peeled.

Side note:

The 2001+ Civics are garbage, in my opinion. Although I have a moderate liking of the EP hatch (completely unexplainable), I'd rather go older.
 
You could buy 3 Buick Reattas with $6000, which is probably enough spare parts to have a single, drivable Buick Reatta.

Cavaliers are awful awful awful. If you are going to get a Cavalier, take a step back and buy a Neon or Escort instead. You could probably even swing a decent Escort.
 
I almost swung a decent Escort yesterday, but the knocking scared us off that particular one. Still haven't counted them out, though.
 
As a NUMMI owner, I wouldn't rule out a Prizm if it comes your way...Particularly if an AE92 GSi Model just happens to worm it's way out of the woodwork. 4A-GE power.

Remember, the Prizm is really a Corolla with a Chevy/Geo badge stuck on it, and five hundred to a grand off the sticker.
 
Looking, I wouldn't really mind one either. Unfortunately, the GSi model is the only one I'd really want out of the lineup, and there really aren't any to be had around here...
 
ty00123
I almost swung a decent Escort yesterday, but the knocking scared us off that particular one. Still haven't counted them out, though.
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Stick to the GT models. The other ones use some sketchy Ford made engine, I think 1.7 liter.

ty00123
Looking, I wouldn't really mind one either. Unfortunately, the GSi model is the only one I'd really want out of the lineup, and there really aren't any to be had around here...
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The GSi is fairly hard to track down. The Corolla GT-S coupe made in the early 90's uses the same engine and brakes, but they do tend to cost a little more, even if they are the FWD AE92.
 
Rotary Junkie
Hm?

I'm so wrong in the head...
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Heh, I wish... Too bad nobody (except me) wants to drive four hours for a car.

Azuremen
Stick to the GT models. The other ones use some sketchy Ford made engine, I think 1.7 liter.
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This one was a ZX2 (making it the "second-gen" GT), and it felt pretty nice. I like it.

The GSi is fairly hard to track down. The Corolla GT-S coupe made in the early 90's uses the same engine and brakes, but they do tend to cost a little more, even if they are the FWD AE92.
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If only I could find an AE86 that isn't overpriced/beat to crap... the RWD platform would have to make it more fun to drive. (Before you ask, no, I'm not.)
 
ty00123

2000 Toyota Celica GT, 128,713 miles: $5995

Well, whaddaya think?
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I think that with a Celica like that within my price range I wouldn't take many looks at anything else.

I also think that the BMW you listed hasn't got a hope in hell of having 36k miles on it at that age. Which is why I presume you put the quote marks around it. Even most BMWs of that age in the UK are showing 100k miles by now, so unless that one's been driven by an old lady to and from the shops for it's entire life I'd be very sceptical about the mileage indeed! That said, even if the mileage is a complete lie it's still probably a safe bet if it's mechanically sound.

But yeah, much as I like the ZX2 that's been mentioned, if I could afford that Celica I'd be doing my best to drive away in it.
 
homeforsummer
I also think that the BMW you listed hasn't got a hope in hell of having 36k miles on it at that age. Which is why I presume you put the quote marks around it. Even most BMWs of that age in the UK are showing 100k miles by now, so unless that one's been driven by an old lady to and from the shops for it's entire life I'd be very sceptical about the mileage indeed! That said, even if the mileage is a complete lie it's still probably a safe bet if it's mechanically sound.
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In the description, it says that the odometer doesn't work right. Which brings up the question of being able to afford the repairs, and what else doesn't work.

And on the Celica, that's my first choice of the cars I would want. Here's hoping a) Dad will actually look at it, and b) I actually get that loan I need.
 
Regarding BMW repairs, having looked around at parts and servicing prices, (as I'm looking at a few BMWs to replace my car with in the near future) I haven't been scared off by them, and that's in comparison to my Ford. As long as you aren't daft enough to get it serviced by a main dealer then it might not be too bad. One that old might even be within the realms of home-servicing possibility.

Good luck with getting the loan for the Celica. I'm a big fan of that shape Celica, and they're supposed to be great fun to drive, and obviously Toyota reliability is a bonus.

Incidentally, if your budget doesn't end up quite as much as you'd like, there's always one of the older shape Celicas out there - they're getting cheap enough now that you can be quite choosy with condition, and probably get a lot for your money.

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I've considered those generations before, too, but a good opportunity just hasn't popped up yet for them.

And yes, that one I posted, I'm hoping for, big-time.
 
You could also get a 3 series for 6 grand. Hell, that is what I paid for my M3. Not sure how friendly insurance would be on that though.

For Celica's, I'd only look at the GT-S for the 7th generation. The GT has rear drum brakes and the 1ZZ-FED, which is basically a slightly nicer Corolla engine.

If Hondas didn't have such absurdly high resale, I'd recommend a Civic or Integra, but insurance probably wouldn't be nice on those nor theft rates.
 
Wait, has anyone said anything about a Ford Probe/Mazda MX6?

Probes will generally be cheaper, MX-6s will be better looked after. They're the same car though, so pick your body and go.

Personally I think this MX-6 looks like a damn nice deal and having been fooling with a Probe at school lately they are far from scary to work on sooo...

http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/1118942860.html

Edit: Oop, Indiana. Hm. Doubt it's four hours total trip time though :lol:
 
Rotary Junkie
Wait, has anyone said anything about a Ford Probe/Mazda MX6?

Probes will generally be cheaper, MX-6s will be better looked after. They're the same car though, so pick your body and go.
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A Ford Probe sparked off the car search this time, as of post 133.

Personally I think this MX-6 looks like a damn nice deal and having been fooling with a Probe at school lately they are far from scary to work on sooo...

http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/1118942860.html

Edit: Oop, Indiana. Hm. Doubt it's four hours total trip time though :lol:
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I live right on the Indiana/Michigan line, so Indiana isn't much of a problem. Actually, that one's only about an hour away from me. Hmmmm...
 
ty00123
I almost swung a decent Escort yesterday, but the knocking scared us off that particular one. Still haven't counted them out, though.
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Rather than saying Escort twice, what I meant to say was "swing a decent Contour." My apologies.
 
Well, it turns out that we weren't scared off by that particular Escort's knocking. Dad went back an looked at it one more time, and no problems.

My car search is finally over. I am now the owner of a 1998 Ford Escort ZX2, purchased for $3,000. Pics to come tomorrow, when it's daylight.
 
w00t ZX2! Is this the special sport edition (SXR?)? A friend of mine has one, was a decent car before he got his hands on it.
 
Nope, just a regular ZX2. I will need a thermostat for it, I think, as the "idiot light" came on, and the code said that a) it was low on antifreeze (doubtful, as it has a light to tell me that... I filled the coolant a bit though, just to be safe) or b) the thermostat was bad (more likely, as I haven't seen the temperature gauge move yet, either).

So far, from what I've driven of it, I really like this car. Nice, peppy little motor, handles pretty well (although I haven't pushed either of these yet), and from what I've heard, gets good gas mileage. It would be that much greater if this one was a stick (it's a slushbox, although not a half bad one).

EDIT: Front tires, too, are more than halfway to being gone. So, my next vehicle-related search: What should I do for tires? (I WILL get a set of four, and I will NOT skimp and get the el cheapo brand. I want a good quality tire, and I can nearly say to hell with the cost.)

EDIT 2: Here they are:

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Holy oval interior batman! Any ways looks good, you like it so far?
 
I like the way it drives a lot. Although there are a few things I'd like to do to it (i.e. put a decent sound system in, maybe a good exhaust system when it comes time, things like that), for now, it's pretty much the perfect car for me.
 
Looks good, and will look even better once it's been tidied up a bit 👍 Should be a bit of fun to drive too.
 
I think I've got the tidying up part covered, too. I bought these when I had The Tank, in the hopes of making her look halfway decent again. (It even sort of worked.)

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Too bad it's rained pretty much all week; I haven't had a chance to do anything to the body. It could use some of the ColorX shown, along with a bit of touch-up paint.
 

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