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  #16  
Old 12-23-2007, 01:08 PM
Jim B.'s Avatar
Who's flying this thing ?
 
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Location: N. California./ N. Nevada
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Quote:
Originally Posted by derburger View Post
I think I'll narrow the list down to a 3k 6cyl BMW, old Crown Vic, or the saturn/toyota/honda/etc car.

This car would be a riot. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1989-Ford-Crown-Victoria-Country-Squire-Station-Wagon_W0QQitemZ260193919588QQihZ016QQcategoryZ6227QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Claimed to be a southern car with no rust, good dash cap = garage kept, good color, has the Turbine wheels and optional bumper guards, those wagons were quite rare when new, tons of life at 92,000 miles.

It looks like the seller knows something about these, and picked this one out with care.


Considering the safety, room, comfort, and rock bottom dollar per mile to run, I would think the your search has ended. You should jump on this one.

Have someone at a Ford dealer run an "Oasis" check on the car. There was a factory recall for these on the ignition switch. If it was never fixed, the Ford dealer nearest to you would do it for free, for you.

$1,500 is a bargain for this car, Ohio is not far away. Looks like you just found your car.

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  #17  
Old 12-23-2007, 01:11 PM
bgkast's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim B. View Post
Looks like you just found your car.
Think of the room in the back too! Always a plus
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  #18  
Old 12-23-2007, 06:59 PM
TylerH860's Avatar
KHAAAAAAN-gress
 
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Try parking that in a college lot. (very narrow stalls) It is a very cool "wagon queen family truckster" but probably not practical for getting around in a college town. I think this one is a fantastic example though, you could live in it. You wouldn't have to take the girls back to the dorm room.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
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  #19  
Old 12-23-2007, 07:03 PM
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get a Toyota camry. You could get a 1987-1992 generation 2 body style for $1000 and it would be fine for college. 2-3k buys you the generation 3 type I have now. Super reliable.

I love my MB, but they need attention and time - which is short in school. I have driven my camry from 98k to 140k with minimal cost for repairs. I have had two other camrys that I have driven from 200-250k and only one breakdown (melted coil).

Its also nice not to have to find a vintage MB diesel shaman should you need to have someone fix it due to lack of time ( aka breaks during finals week)

dd
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car
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  #20  
Old 12-23-2007, 07:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dieseldan44 View Post
get a Toyota camry.

I don't know about buying Toyotas. We've had the wife's Sienna van for about 7-8 years, and today I had to replace a headlight! Geez the repairs on these things....... {that may be the first thing that has broken}
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  #21  
Old 12-23-2007, 07:51 PM
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Zero
 
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X2, my mistake was selling my 1993 Camry. I probably could have driven it for all of college with only a few minor repairs.

They are just about perfect college cars. Cheap, look decent, decent to drive, excellent fuel mileage, simple to fix so any shop can do repiars, and you can do a girl in the back.
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  #22  
Old 12-23-2007, 08:30 PM
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yawn

vs



A Camry may be effortless to drive and maintain, but has no personality.

Camrys are just point a to b cars, if that's what you want.... go for it.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
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  #23  
Old 12-23-2007, 10:38 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
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Yeah well in school when you are broke, you can't afford to drive something you want. You have to take what you can afford, not to mention a car should be a pretty low priority.

Unless your parents buy you something of course; the bank of parents can put you into a much better car than a part time job at college can. Since he seems to be looking at sub $3k cars I don't think the bank of parents is going to be buying him a car. If they are I recomend a lease on a C300, or 330, wonderfull cars.

That BMW is going to be shot after rotting on campus for 4 years. It will look like that for the first semester.
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  #24  
Old 12-23-2007, 11:23 PM
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Honda or Toyota....live forever, run cheap. In college cars should be all about A to B back to A. If it'll get you there and back, it's fine.

I ran with a Datsun (pre-Nissan) pick up truck. Great mileage, small, nimble, nothing ever broke AND you could haul all your crap back and forth. Heck, one semester I was so broke I bought a 40 dollar camper top to put on it, lived in it all spring, bathed in the river, and ate bean-n-weenies...we both made it through that year! In fact that little truck was still running like a top when I sold it with 320,000 miles.

Think small...smaller tires are cheaper, 4 spark plugs, better gas milage...save your money for the important stuff like bean-n-weenies and books!
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  #25  
Old 12-23-2007, 11:31 PM
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I don't have support from the Bank O' Parents for buying another car for college, I'm buying another car so I won't beat the crap out of/neglect my 300cd or have it rot on campus. I have time now to mess with my 300cd (which has probably been in shops longer than I have been driving it since I've owned it) but I don't think I'll have the time or patience for it in college with repairs and keeping it nice. A Camry or Crown Vic would be good because of their simplicity and reliability, cheap parts and anyone can work on one, and one that will last 100k plus miles can be had for 2-3k. That mint crown vic wagon went to 2.2k which isn't bad.

Here are some possibilities, but I won't buy for a few months.
1992 6cyl 5 Speed Camry $2k http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/510199286.html
1988 Camry 5 Speed AWD 221k Miles $1.6k http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/499770752.html
1993 Camry 4cyl 5 speed 1.7k 175k miles
1997 Camry 145k Miles Auto $3.3k http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/517242421.html

1988 Crown Vic 87k miles 1.8k http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/515540204.html
1992 Crown Vic LX 60k Miles 1.9k http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/510967563.html
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  #26  
Old 12-23-2007, 11:34 PM
Craig
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I had a VW bug (in the late 70s) that cost $500. Back then, there was a good supply of $50 junkyard engines that actually ran OK. I got to the point where I could swap engines in about half an hour. I went for months parking it on hills because the starter was dead.

Today I would probably just buy myself some generic ricer. I will get my kids something decent for college so they don't have to deal with unreliable cars and school at the same time.
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  #27  
Old 12-23-2007, 11:39 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
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You want the 4 cylinder Camry, the V6 is a PITA to work on.

I'll echo above and suggest a Saturn, they are pretty good little cars and parts are dirt cheap.

Having been in college for 4 years now, if I had to do it again I would pick a Camry, Accord, Saturn, or maybe a Buick for the school car. Running the 300SD was more trouble then it was worth.

Cool no, but they are good where you need them to be: Cheap to run, cheap to fuel, comfortable, good in the snow, easy to fix ect.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=235873250&dealer_id=57599477&car_year=1996&num_records=&model=&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=BUICK&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=06460&advanced=y&end_year=2003&transmission=&doors=&max_price=2500&cardist=287

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=234743095&dealer_id=54130778&car_year=1999&model=CAMRY&num_records=&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=TOYOTA&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=06460&advanced=y&end_year=2003&doors=&transmission=&max_price=3000&cardist=136
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  #28  
Old 12-24-2007, 12:48 AM
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For like $3k you should be able to pick up a late model Police Interceptor...they are all sorts of fun...and you can beat the living crap out of them on a daily basis and they won't even blink.
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  #29  
Old 12-24-2007, 02:02 AM
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If you are leaning camry you can get no more reliable platform than the 4 cylinder 2.2, 5 speed. The V6 is not nearly as reliable as the I4. My three have all been automatics with no problems - i dont view that as a liability on these cars.

Get a clean one with service records and you will own it for a long time and barely have to put a dime into it.

Okay, back to MB's (currently trying to learn about the ACC to fix it) for me...

dd
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-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car
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  #30  
Old 12-24-2007, 03:14 AM
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okay...I agree. I'm a bit too obsessed with cars, as you can tell. I'd vote the crown vic over the camry. Those pillow top seats are soooo comfortable, rides like butter.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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