Help--Acura question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 02-01-2005, 09:07 PM

My youngest daughter is now licensed

I am looking for a good, reliable, used car for her. In addition to the usual Benz models, we are looking at Hondas, Toyotas or Acuras. These cars would all be in the 1995 to 2000 range.

Any recommendations?

Any horror stories?

Any help that you can offer will be appreciated. I know Benzes and I know Caddies, but I know not Japanese cars....

engatwork · #2 02-01-2005, 09:17 PM

Two door or four door?

You won't have the safety factor that you would in a 123, 124 or 126 but other than that you can't go wrong with a Honda Accord when it comes to dependability and easy to work on. I'm sure the Acuras are the same way but I imagine parts are a little more expensive than the Honda parts.

Botnst · #3 02-01-2005, 10:51 PM

Get her something that wont crumble like foil. Kids get in wrecks, even bright, careful kids. She needs steel and a lot of it. ABS. Good tires. Disconnect the radio. Make sure she can drive a standard. If she can drive a standard she can drive any road vehicle anywhere in the world.

After that, figure out if the car starts. Don't fix the radio until she's driven a couple of months. Don't let kids ride with her until she's driven with the radio for a couple of months. Never let her get away with anything. If she says she's going somewhere, let her know you'll check and then check sometimes. Bust her when she sneaks, by taking away the keys. Its a privilege, not a right. Impress that harshly.

I have taught four kids to drive (two younger sibs and two of my kids) and none of them have had a bad wreck and they rarely get tickets.

BENZ-LGB · #4 02-02-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Get her something that wont crumble like foil. Kids get in wrecks, even bright, careful kids. She needs steel and a lot of it. ABS. Good tires. Disconnect the radio. Make sure she can drive a standard. If she can drive a standard she can drive any road vehicle anywhere in the world.

After that, figure out if the car starts. Don't fix the radio until she's driven a couple of months. Don't let kids ride with her until she's driven with the radio for a couple of months. Never let her get away with anything. If she says she's going somewhere, let her know you'll check and then check sometimes. Bust her when she sneaks, by taking away the keys. Its a privilege, not a right. Impress that harshly.

I have taught four kids to drive (two younger sibs and two of my kids) and none of them have had a bad wreck and they rarely get tickets.

You are right, I was thinking of getting her a surplus California Highway Patrol car. the one with the "cow catcher" affixed to the front bumper.

But seriously, your advice makes a lot of sense. I taught my oldest daughter how to drive. Showed her to drive through fog and rain. I taught her how to meneuver in dangerous situations. I taught her how to change the oil in her car and replace a flat tire. I thought I had taught her right...and then she proceeded to rear end the car in front of her while driving on an L.A. freeway.

Lots of damage to the front of her 300TE. She was humbled by the experience. Now she DOES NOT tailgate.

Some lessons you just have to learn on your own.

I am still leaning towards a mid 80's 300SD.

Hatterasguy · #5 02-02-2005, 10:45 PM

My Aunt now owns my old Camry, so far 143k trouble free miles. So far she has only needed to replace the coil, not bad for a 12 year old car. The Integra's are a nice little car, I find them kind of small but fun to drive. Like a go cart compared to a W126.

I would think slow mid sized sedan, 4cy Acords and Camrys fit the bill. Maxima's are fast they will move if you get on them sweet V6, not a good first car

Southern · #6 02-02-2005, 10:58 PM

I recommend Honda Accord, my last one was a 1988 and lasted me 16 years and 180K miles without any major problems. It was by far the cheapest car to own/maintain.

I recommend staying away from 1999 to 2003 Acura TL. They have known problems with the transmissions. I am on my 2nd transmission on my 2001 Acura TL. Fortunately Acrua admitted to the problems and extended the warrentee to 100K miles.

I would also recommend a used RL (1996 to 2000). They are a "full" sized car with all the safety features and can be had relatively cheap since they redesigned the RL for this year. Since the engine is a 3.5L it is not the most fuel effecient car.

JCE · #7 02-03-2005, 01:54 AM

FWIW, my 88 Acura Legend coupe was the worst car I ever owned, and the parts were much more expensive than on my 87 300E. I believe blackmercedes had the same experiance with his Acura. For newer cars, the tech who works on my son's Celica says for 95 to 2000, probably Hondas first (but issues with brakes), and Toyota second. He doesn't care for the quality on any of the Japanese cars from 2000 up.

Jim has some great suggestions, especially about the radio (the champion driver Stirling Moss is reported to have said driving was too serious a proposition to have a radio in his cars). I would add that a couple of days ago researchers released a report that found the chances of a teen driver doubled when they had 1 other teen as a passenger, doubled again with a second teen, and went through the roof when 4 teens were in the car, so you might consider restrictions on passengers for a while. Also, if I had teen drivers again, I would love to have one of those (illegal) cell phone jammers, if possible wired so it jammed any phone calls while the car was moving, (except 911 outgoing calls)!

Hatterasguy · #8 02-03-2005, 11:06 AM

Currently I am looking into buying a cheap beater to take over the SDL's commuter job. I have been looking on Autotrader.com and you can get a lot of Nissan for under $4k. Altima's are nice cars, they are dirt cheap to own and a very decent package.

rdanz · #9 02-03-2005, 11:42 AM

Honda by far is your best choice. Older Altimas had a lot of problems thats why the whole car was redesigned.

Hatterasguy · #10 02-03-2005, 11:56 AM

Really? I didn't know that, I would think a late 90's Altima would be a pretty reliable car. The Maximas lasted forever.

Ashman · #11 02-03-2005, 11:58 AM

My GF has a 2001 Civic coupe, and has put 78k miles on it and the only thing she has done is regular oil changes, brakes, and one set of tires.

Good little car. She has also been rear ended 3 times and damage to the car was only the rear bumper.

I would vote for honda myself, can get them for a good price, reliable, and great gas mileage. My GF has been known to drive +/- 50 miles after the reserve light came on in the tank.

Alon

Veloce300DT · #12 02-03-2005, 01:33 PM

IIf you want japanese, I'll vote Accord! My mom had a 1993 AccordSE she bought in 94 for commuting, we owned it up to 1999 with just over 200K painless miles, although parts and service prices didnt seem to be much less than on any of the MBZ's we owned throughout the time we had the Accord.

If you prefer somthing bigger, yet Japannese, I personally would probably go for a mid 90's Legend/RL. Have a couple of friends with these cars and they dont complain too much, and they tend to drive their cars to the ground.

And of course, theres always Volvo, although not japanese, they can be had for great prices, and are reliable and strong. Maybe an earlier 850 model. Avoid 99-2000 model S70's, apparenntly they have had some problems that werent apparent in earlier S70/850 platforms.

Happy car hunting!

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