naru
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posted on July 14, 2001 01:10:21 PM
It with great sadness that I mark the passing of my taurus into the great junkyard beyond.
This carried me and many great finds for years. I am now wondering what sort of beast I should replace it with. New used, pick up truck? Just what is the perfect eBay car?
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tomwiii
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posted on July 14, 2001 01:14:38 PM
PT Cruiser! (hee!hee!)
Whoops! Wrong auction site! That was the...
AuctionSiteWhichDaresNotSpeakItsName
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loosecannon
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posted on July 14, 2001 01:48:19 PM
Interesting thread.
In my opinion, it's a mini pickup (4 cylinder) for economy, but you have that bed back there to haul your booty, and a substantial amount of booty if necessary. I've got a camper shell on mine for all-weather use, and I can remove it easily if I have to haul tall furniture. Get one with an extended cab if you can. I wish I had. The non-extended cab models do NOT have plenty of room behind the seat to stow things.
I've got a Ford Ranger and I have to say, it's been a pretty reliable pickup. But I do change the oil every 3000, and other maintenence.
Better than a mini van, IMO, because vans are often more difficult to work on (in the engine compartment department) and this can mean more hours to repair and more $$.
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glassperson
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posted on July 14, 2001 04:03:57 PM
CARAVAN with split seats! That way you can fit a 6 foot fence piece into your car jutting into the front. Seriously, my 1994 Caravan has carried me into 80,000 miles with 2 sets of tires, 2 batteries, one tuneup and oil change every 3000 miles. Love it as it is my 2nd one since 1987.! And if ever Dodge gets a reliable dealer nearby, I will buy another one when I hit 100,000 miles! Old reliable! BTW, I have used this van for many out of state antique shows and it never let me down. Loading it is an art with all boxes being the same size - tomato or peach. I once got 47 such boxes into it and still could see out the back!
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bitsandbobs
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posted on July 14, 2001 04:43:50 PM
Time to let the imagination run riot!
Probably the ideal vehicle is a king cab pickup with a security cage, on board computor for quick reference while out on the hunt, sat. nav system to find the garage sales quickly or prevent getting lost in the boonies, a good heater for winter and a/c for summer, and a car fridge to keep the beer cold!
Bob, Downunder but never down.
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sugar2912
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posted on July 14, 2001 04:59:55 PM
LOL Bob!
Actually though, my DH had the full size pickup truck and that was IMPOSSIBLE to maneuver through the crowded garage sale streets.
I'm with Glassperson, I love my mini van! You get the versatility to cary cargo or passengers with the flip of a seat, you get fairly good gas mileage, and you can park it fairly easily.
I did have a small pickup truck at one point, if you go that route, make sure you get one of those bars (or a 2X4) to keep your bounty from rolling around the bed, and the cover , as Loosecannon said, is a must for all weather use.
Actually Tomwii, a PT cruiser wouldn't be bad either. They seem to carry a lot of stuff with the seats folded up. Maybe it's time to trade the ol' Ponti in on a PT!!!
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glassperson
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posted on July 14, 2001 06:03:38 PM
Hello sugar! Actually, my Caravan does not flip seats! The back one has been sitting in my porch since I bought it - holding up an ebay slot machine!
I still have lots of room for boxes with the middle seat in!
The biggest prob I had with my mini is that the seats are HEAVY and awkward, and need 2 men to move out! But I think that is only for models '94 and '95. I believe the newer models slide forward and out! We shall see!
The main object of a minivan is that you sit HIGHER up than anyone else on the road and can see probs way ahead.
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naru
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posted on July 14, 2001 06:44:06 PM
Thanks! Common sense sez minivan, but vanity sez the PT. Is there such a thing as a vehicle large enough for stuff getting that is reasonable on gas or is this just another feverish dream of mine? (the trailer idea is good but makes me nervous as I have never driven anything hinged before)
Anybody have any good used car stories? Something they bought that didn't turn into a money pit?
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skeetypete
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posted on July 14, 2001 06:53:47 PM
Navigator Limo with hot tub in the rear......i never seem to getmuch stuff but i do seem to get asked for rides home quite a bit.
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loosecannon
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posted on July 14, 2001 07:22:51 PM
Already mentioned the Ford Ranger. A good vehicle that was not a money pit for me. Mine is a '94 with a standard tranny. The "good" years are from '94 on up--fewer problems.
If you decide to buy a used one that you don't know the history on, and if it has over 70,000 miles, spend around $100 to have the timing belt replaced. Cheap peace of mind. Cheap, because if the timing belt breaks from old age, your engine likely becomes a very expensive boat anchor. But the timing belt is a good idea for any used car with over 70,000 mi.
By the way, mine has 140,000 plus and is still ticking.
[ edited by loosecannon on Jul 14, 2001 07:27 PM ]
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rustybore
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posted on July 14, 2001 07:49:08 PM
1986 Toyota Tracel Station wagon --- buy it at a yard sale for somewhere around 650.00 - 800.00. It should have over 200,000 miles on it. Run it till the transmision breaks.
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margaretc
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posted on July 14, 2001 08:00:24 PM
1986 VW Golf GTI! Great handling little car. Easy on gas, but fun to drive and you can put a totally amazing amount of stuff in it.
Rear seats fold down and then forward -- and you don't have to fold down both sides, either! You get a lot of extra room by folding down the big side and still can have the grandchild sitting in the little side.
Long things like skis will to right through to between the front buckets.
Sell it all! I SAID SELL IT ALL!
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naru
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posted on July 14, 2001 09:14:44 PM
Thank you all. I now know what I am looking for:
A $200 Golf with a hot tub on board that has a hover capability for dropping tar and feathers on NPB's.
Cheers,
Not NARU on eBay
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ubiedaman
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posted on July 15, 2001 12:29:14 AM
A "YUGO with rear window defrost to keep your hands warm while you push it.
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
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jadejim
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posted on July 15, 2001 07:43:26 AM
The extra long Caravan with back doors on both sides--never can remember what they call it. With both sets of back seats out you can get a hoosier in there. Add a covered trailer and you can shop for two days without unloading so it is good for weekend shopping trips.
Of course you have to unload all that stuff when you get back home and find somewhere to put it. Maybe I should trade it for that PT cruiser that I love and I could get part of my house back!
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naru
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posted on July 15, 2001 08:56:40 AM
jadejim
You have addressed my fear. Limited to what I could haul in the Taurus was a safety valve for my already overflowing basement. God help me if I could fit a hoosier into my vehicle.
I am leaning towards the PT although it is more than I want to spend , it is one of the only cars around with some character!
I love thise old Studebaker trucks but that would probably be crazy on gas and maintenance.
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texmontana
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posted on July 15, 2001 04:05:01 PM
1971 Olds Vista Cruiser: 455 engine = 4 MPG
That's Miss Tex to you!
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edhdsn
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posted on July 15, 2001 05:26:27 PM
I am a auction junkie, purchased my 1990 Plymouth 6 Grand Caravan 3 years ago at auction, removed the back seat, and I have a great yard sale, auction, estate sale auto. Good gas milage, and great cargo hauling. Ed
edhdsn
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jadejim
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posted on July 15, 2001 05:29:25 PM
naru--you are much smarter than I am! I sure wish I couldn't fit so much stuff in my car--now I am going to have a RL auction just to get some space back for the winter! I do like to park in the garage when the weather is bad!
I do agree that the PT has character--have wanted one since the day I saw my first one but keep rationalizing that I can't haul anything in it!
Wow would that be a good thing!
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meltdown891
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posted on July 15, 2001 07:42:05 PM
Minivans are always nice. How's about a Honda Accord station wagon? They stopped making them in 1996 but you can still find nice used ones if you look hard enough. I get 30 mpg out of mine even after 120,000 miles.
Of course, if I could afford something new I would probably end up with a Honda Oddysey.
JMHO
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naru
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posted on July 15, 2001 08:35:57 PM
New wrinkle on the PT cruiser. Someone told me it has a VERY low safety rating. Hard to keep listing when your dead. eBay would probably still find a way to charge me fees.
Fab deal on the Suzuki GL.7. I could haul so much I would have to move out.
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deco100
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posted on July 16, 2001 04:47:46 AM
For some years we've used an old Dodge Van , the 13 passenger size with the seats removed. This is great for moving households and delivering furniture or setting up at flea markets but a bit unwieldy for yard sales and hard on gas if your yard sales are spaced far apart.
Then my son sold me his Dodge minivan. Just the right size for yard sales and cheap on gas. I guess it's the mini-mini but still holds a lot.
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IBStitchin
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posted on July 16, 2001 09:40:42 AM
Gee, I'll gladly sell you my Taurus! It's got a new tranny, redone heads, new power steering pump, new water pump, and tons of other repairs. Can't wait to get rid of it!! My next car will be a Subaru Outback. Good on gas, holds lots of stuff, and won't fall apart on my 20 miles of dirt/sand/rock road to town.
Lora
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naru
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posted on July 16, 2001 10:43:26 AM
Lara,
Sounds like a nightmare (the Taurus) just out of morbid curiosity what year was it?
I had the 94 and it bit the dust at 240,000 kilometers (sorry can't do the math to miles at the moment). Except the air conditioning which went a year ago it required no major repairs . What I liked best about the beast was how it handled in snow, a major consideration here in Canada.
From what I read in the reviews the Taurus really had some bad model years starting in 97
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godfatherstoys
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posted on July 16, 2001 03:10:16 PM
I use a Ford F-150 full size pick-up but on rainy auction days I use a Explorer sport. Went to a paper auction this summer and told the wife "just getting some postcards and photos so I'll take the car" No one showed and I picked up stuff cheap cheap. Well I squated the Jaguar down w/so much I nearly bottomed out coming home. PT cruiser? Avoid it like the plague. Best buddy works as a parts mgr at a Chrysler dealership. The PT is built on Neon frame (I think that's the name, compact car he said) and the PT's are working him overtime w/lunched transmissions and rearends. He calls them a Yugo Crusier.
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