Need help with car decision : General > General Car Discussion

#2828676

Lvl 6

Junior61205 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by Shor

I love my dodge ram 1500 slt, it's a 98 with just over 100k miles on it, no major work has ever been done to it, I keep the oil changed every 3-3.5k miles, and have a mechanic either at work or next door to where I work give it a once over once a year to check for any unusual wear & tear.. I've only had to have it towed once and that was due to the catalytic converter getting stopped up. Once we fixed that issue it's been as good as new.

As to which is the better deal have you checked out the price on kelly blue book or some other site? www.kbb.com

You could check insurance online as well with esurance or some other site...

Right now im driving a 1999 Dodge Dakota Sport and its done good so far has 66,000 miles on it

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828677

Lvl 12

ozracn2 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by Junior61205

[reply=ozracn2]
A quick opinion from a mechanic.

Grand AM....Junk...I have not seen too many of them hold up and be worth anything past 100,000 mi. All types of problems... a good note...since it's the 4 banger you wont have the intake leak all the 3.x cars have with coolant... The bad news...get the coolant flushed to the GREEN ASAP...seen way too many GM's cooling systems clogged from dex cool....

Stratus....Junk also....I have not seen many Chrysler's hold up ever....They seem to have more problems than any other car company...trans issues, electrical issues, hell even engine issuses.... A good note....the car is not yours yet.... A bad note...on the V6 models, the flex pipe is also part of the catalytic converters, when the flex pipe goes and it will, the pipe is very expensive and sometimes impossible to find.

overall i would recommend a toyota or honda...I have seen them in the shop the least for problems....mostly they come in for maint. maybe an alternator or something simple like a battery...but very rare to get anything more...if so then the owners really beat on the car and don't take car of it at all....

As far as insurance...I do not know...it really depends on ur company...i think they may cost more, just because they stand out more to cops...but a fact...i do not know.

the stick...see if the clutcch has been replaced...if it hasn't...run fast and run hard....anything else?

I would go imported, but parts cost too much rather than american made parts, and I dont feel like paying alot of money for parts. My friend has a camry and he said parts for him is expensive.
[/reply]

Yea.. when you have to buy them parts are more expensive...but you have to buy them less on the average...so overall...the cost is less..think of it this way....the parts are cheap for a reason...they are made out of cheap material by cheap labor hence cheap parts...the original car is made out of cheap material with cheap labor....it just ends up being cheap....

I am a ford guy...love fords....but even i can't deny toyota makes a better car...overall i would go with something reliable that maybe more expensive to fix...but has to be fixed alot less.

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828678

Lvl 6

VeraLynn 18 years ago

My Miata parts aren't expensive. Car's got 131K miles on it now and running GREAT. Very reliable. Have had to put in a new clutch. Slave cylinder for clutch died a couple years ago, was inexpensive to replace...

....especially when your significant other is a mechanic. :-D

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828679

Lvl 6

Junior61205 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by ozracn2

[reply=Junior61205]
[reply=ozracn2]
A quick opinion from a mechanic.

Grand AM....Junk...I have not seen too many of them hold up and be worth anything past 100,000 mi. All types of problems... a good note...since it's the 4 banger you wont have the intake leak all the 3.x cars have with coolant... The bad news...get the coolant flushed to the GREEN ASAP...seen way too many GM's cooling systems clogged from dex cool....

Stratus....Junk also....I have not seen many Chrysler's hold up ever....They seem to have more problems than any other car company...trans issues, electrical issues, hell even engine issuses.... A good note....the car is not yours yet.... A bad note...on the V6 models, the flex pipe is also part of the catalytic converters, when the flex pipe goes and it will, the pipe is very expensive and sometimes impossible to find.

overall i would recommend a toyota or honda...I have seen them in the shop the least for problems....mostly they come in for maint. maybe an alternator or something simple like a battery...but very rare to get anything more...if so then the owners really beat on the car and don't take car of it at all....

As far as insurance...I do not know...it really depends on ur company...i think they may cost more, just because they stand out more to cops...but a fact...i do not know.

the stick...see if the clutcch has been replaced...if it hasn't...run fast and run hard....anything else?

I would go imported, but parts cost too much rather than american made parts, and I dont feel like paying alot of money for parts. My friend has a camry and he said parts for him is expensive.
[/reply]

Yea.. when you have to buy them parts are more expensive...but you have to buy them less on the average...so overall...the cost is less..think of it this way....the parts are cheap for a reason...they are made out of cheap material by cheap labor hence cheap parts...the original car is made out of cheap material with cheap labor....it just ends up being cheap....

I am a ford guy...love fords....but even i can't deny toyota makes a better car...overall i would go with something reliable that maybe more expensive to fix...but has to be fixed alot less.
[/reply]

Yeah you have a point there. But I'm thinking about getting the grand am, because i wont be driving it much anyways, but my next car after this will def be a Mazda or something like that

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828680

Lvl 16

Thargor99 18 years ago

The Stratus

I owned one and its a much better car then the Grand Am

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828681

Lvl 12

ozracn2 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by Junior61205

[reply=ozracn2]
[reply=Junior61205]
[reply=ozracn2]
A quick opinion from a mechanic.

Grand AM....Junk...I have not seen too many of them hold up and be worth anything past 100,000 mi. All types of problems... a good note...since it's the 4 banger you wont have the intake leak all the 3.x cars have with coolant... The bad news...get the coolant flushed to the GREEN ASAP...seen way too many GM's cooling systems clogged from dex cool....

Stratus....Junk also....I have not seen many Chrysler's hold up ever....They seem to have more problems than any other car company...trans issues, electrical issues, hell even engine issuses.... A good note....the car is not yours yet.... A bad note...on the V6 models, the flex pipe is also part of the catalytic converters, when the flex pipe goes and it will, the pipe is very expensive and sometimes impossible to find.

overall i would recommend a toyota or honda...I have seen them in the shop the least for problems....mostly they come in for maint. maybe an alternator or something simple like a battery...but very rare to get anything more...if so then the owners really beat on the car and don't take car of it at all....

As far as insurance...I do not know...it really depends on ur company...i think they may cost more, just because they stand out more to cops...but a fact...i do not know.

the stick...see if the clutcch has been replaced...if it hasn't...run fast and run hard....anything else?

I would go imported, but parts cost too much rather than american made parts, and I dont feel like paying alot of money for parts. My friend has a camry and he said parts for him is expensive.
[/reply]

Yea.. when you have to buy them parts are more expensive...but you have to buy them less on the average...so overall...the cost is less..think of it this way....the parts are cheap for a reason...they are made out of cheap material by cheap labor hence cheap parts...the original car is made out of cheap material with cheap labor....it just ends up being cheap....

I am a ford guy...love fords....but even i can't deny toyota makes a better car...overall i would go with something reliable that maybe more expensive to fix...but has to be fixed alot less.
[/reply]

Yeah you have a point there. But I'm thinking about getting the grand am, because i wont be driving it much anyways, but my next car after this will def be a Mazda or something like that
[/reply]

cool man...hope it works out for you....oh and don't hit any curbs ( i think that's what this guy hit) just got a grand am...i think 01..maybe...anyway...hit a curb pretty hard and broke his steering knuckle...among other things...VERY VERY expensive accident....

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828682

Lvl 9

jboogie 18 years ago

Buy the Stratus!! Your crazy if you buy the grand am. Tell them to sell you the stratus for 5200!!

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828683

Lvl 10

franklin 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by Ascaris

[reply=franklin]
[reply=Ascaris]
Buy that 2.2 liter version. It probably makes less pollution and prevents the global warming.

Oil prices are falling---SUV's are cheap right now!
[/reply]

I hate that way of thinking.

Those suv's take something like 30 liters/100km.

Everyone should have honda, they're powerful and less polluting.

[/reply]

4 wheel drive and clearance is a must for me.

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828684

[Deleted] 18 years ago

Quote:
Originally posted by patubergods

[reply=Junior61205]I would go imported, but parts cost too much rather than american made parts, and I dont feel like paying alot of money for parts. My friend has a camry and he said parts for him is expensive.

Complete BS. The internet is your friend, any parts you need can be found for a VERY reasonable price. Especially if you get something like a civic.
[/reply]

exactly..

but is it that bad that the US doesnt make parts for imported cars locally?

i know here in oz, you can buy most parts for imported cars like toyotas/mazda and some hondas locally, not from factory..aftermarket parts..

plus a car like a honda wont break down on you alot, if much at all...
so even if it costs you more to pay for it...it will last longer and balance out... IMO

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828685

Lvl 14

we_the_people 18 years ago

alot of honda parts are cheaper then american cars because they happen to be a very popular car in the states. also whats wrong with owning an SUV?! you have the space you need 4 wheel drive and i think thats a must in wisconsin in winter!and enough power to tow trailers boats and what ever you want. you dont expect me to tow my boat with a honda right? lol. ive always been a fan of the toyota though i had a car that lasted 290,000 miles with nothing major happening to it. but sadly my girlfreind wrecked it. it was nothing special just somthing to get me from point a to point b.

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

#2828686

Lvl 20

J-Swiss 18 years ago

the stratus over the grand am for sure.

* This post has been modified : 18 years ago

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