Tex06 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 ^^ Yup! New cars might look flashy, but you lose money as soon as it drives off the lot. I paid $3200 for my MJ and while yes I have put another $2000 into it, I had an offer for $5000 the other day on the street. And I've gotten 2 years of use nearly out of it! Same with my '86 K30. Sure it might only get 15 mpg....but insurance is only $106/year and it's still worth exactly what I paid for it 5 years ago. What's a 2011 Chevy 3500 Diesel worth today vs. new? Plus insurance payments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I'm with you on avoiding car payments. In the past 5 years, I have bought 4 daily drivers for a total of $5,300, sold 2 of those after a year each, got back $800. I still have my '97 ZJ and '89 MJ. No payments, no need for full coverage insurance. That's less than $1,000 per year, plus repairs, which have been minor. ^^ Yup! New cars might look flashy, but you lose money as soon as it drives off the lot. I paid $3200 for my MJ and while yes I have put another $2000 into it, I had an offer for $5000 the other day on the street. And I've gotten 2 years of use nearly out of it! Same with my '86 K30. Sure it might only get 15 mpg....but insurance is only $106/year and it's still worth exactly what I paid for it 5 years ago. What's a 2011 Chevy 3500 Diesel worth today vs. new? Plus insurance payments! Exactly. If you have the know how to work on them it's a no brainer. Once they are running up to par, maintenance tends to be cheaper and they are much easier to work on. Even taking them to a shop it is usually cheaper because the repair is quicker without all the stupid plastic covers and small parts. Why do you think mechanics tend to drive older cars?? Hint: it's not because they like "working" at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 You guys got to it before I did :D I'm 100% against car payments. I'm trying to get through life without ever having one. Being only 20 as of Thursday I would end up paying just as much for insurance as I would for a car payment. With full coverage on my Jeep and comprehension on my 2000 model Contour I only pay 130/month. I'm so good mechanically that I choose vehicles that I KNOW I could easily fix almost anything on. That's why I love my brothers Civic and my sisters Sentra. Those little 1.6l engines are easy to maneuver around. Plus I don't trust the reliability of new cars. I feel they're made to break down as soon as you're out of warranty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee21490 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I'm building a list of manual cars that I'm on the lookout for to buy if I see a good deal turn up (just as reliable gas savers). It now consists of Honda Civic Chevy Cobalt (friend has one that is SUPER sharp) Nissan Sentra Toyota Corolla Maybe a Ford Escort. The 2.0 engines just haven't impressed me with my Contour though. Cobalts are pretty legit, Buddy has one with 330hp+, He's owned 3-4 of them now :rotf: The interior is super cheaply made though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 The Cobalt SS was developed on the Nurburgring, and was posting lap times not far off entry-level Porsches. Pretty good for what it cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Hmm. My Cherokee and my Comanche are my daily drivers/gas savers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbreiter Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 '84-87 Honda Civic crxs are a lot of fun, and will net you some really good mpg. That plus they're really simple to work on. Even the hatchbacks are fun, although they're not nearly as light as the crx. My project I got last spring: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I'll agree that Cobalts are surprisingly fun to drive. Cheap, cheap interior though. They also made a stripped down "XFE" model that was made specifically for gas mileage. Apparently it's supposed to do high 30s on the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 don't forget about the Miata. They are good little cars, and easy to fix with solid mechanicals. I understand about the range in milage, they are so fun to drive that you want to push them all the time, thus ruining your milage. Conv tops are fairly easy to change if you have a bit of mechanical skill. And there isnt much in them to go wrong and theres tons of aftermarket support. I might be a little biased. Until my Dodge dealership lost its Mazda franchise early last year I was their only Mazda Master tech. Luckily I'm a CDJR Master tech too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 If I could find a good CRX around here then I would jump on it. Sadly they've all been ruined by the ridiculous number of ricer groups around here... and Miatas definitely not out of the game. In the end it is VERY high on my list of cars I want to own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Ford Focus. Mileage, reliability, easy to work on, parts are cheap and easy to find. Lots of reasons. I'm on the tall side, wife is on the short side. We both fit comfortably by adjusting the seat and tilt/telescoping wheel. I still like driving them after all these years. Every year has a pro and a con. Best bang for buck is 05 to 07 in my opinion. 05 they did away with timing belt and went with chain (no longer a maintenance item). You want one that's more fun to drive get an SVT focus (factory hot rod). I've had a couple of them, they are fun to drive and still get decent mileage. Or find one that has the 2.3 instead of the 2.0. they are "rare" but do have more get up and go. Probably hurts fuel mileage, but I really don't know. I like a lot of things about the 08 to 2011 Focus but lots of electronics compared to previous years. Also, body parts are still a lot more expensive than previous generations if you need to do any body work... 2012 Ford ruined the Focus though. Did away with every reason to own one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 ^This... all of it. My wife's daily driver is an '07 Focus SES four door hatchback. Her's has the DOHC four cylinder, it's got plenty of pep, and it's good on gas. Plenty of creature comforts too! It's a fun little car and it's been very good to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadinator Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 bought a 2010 focus new. Put 135K on it. Nothing but tires and oil. Sold it to my daughter. She is driving it now. Got 30-35mpg and was a 5sp. Mine was a 2 dr SES. More rare, but a bit more sporty. They are not sports cars, but are decent to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 Shoot I would love the 2.0 in my Contour if it wasn't an interference engine that will pretty much self destruct if it jumps time... I've always loved SVT Hatch's. I like hatch's in general :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I should note that you don't want the single overhead cam engine that was in earlier models. Head problems, stay away! As far as the dual overhead cam, I thought they were not interference engines. I don't know. For what it's worth, I have a customer who bought a focus new back in 2002, it was used it as a delivery vehicle for his business and everybody beat the crap out of it. He never changed the timing belt and the belt went just shy of 300,000 miles. He was tempted to have a new belt put on and keep running it since it was not using any oil and still had been running/driving great. But the body was rusty enough by this point he chose to give up on it and just buy another focus instead (a low mileage 2006 from me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Shoot I would love the 2.0 in my Contour if it wasn't an interference engine that will pretty much self destruct if it jumps time... I've always loved SVT Hatch's. I like hatch's in general :DToo bad you're not a little closer. I'm looking to get rid of my '08 Mazdaspeed 3. Is hatchcar, Zoom-zoom! Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 I should note that you don't want the single overhead cam engine that was in earlier models. Head problems, stay away! As far as the dual overhead cam, I thought they were not interference engines. I don't know. For what it's worth, I have a customer who bought a focus new back in 2002, it was used it as a delivery vehicle for his business and everybody beat the crap out of it. He never changed the timing belt and the belt went just shy of 300,000 miles. He was tempted to have a new belt put on and keep running it since it was not using any oil and still had been running/driving great. But the body was rusty enough by this point he chose to give up on it and just buy another focus instead (a low mileage 2006 from me). thanks for letting me know about the engine. I just did some research and my old mechanic was wrong. The engine is non-interference. So I definitely will be keeping this car for a bit longer. Still getting the belt replaced when I get back from Tennessee next week but at least I don't have to worry as much about a new engine if the belt decided to pop. And gosh, too bad you aren't closer. Those are nice :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Shoot I would love the 2.0 in my Contour if it wasn't an interference engine that will pretty much self destruct if it jumps time... I've always loved SVT Hatch's. I like hatch's in general :DToo bad you're not a little closer. I'm looking to get rid of my '08 Mazdaspeed 3. Is hatchcar, Zoom-zoom! Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk Is that Mazdaspeed 3 a turbo engine? Or was that a couple of years later? Heard those turbo engines were really hot and easy to goose up for even more Zoom-Zoom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Shoot I would love the 2.0 in my Contour if it wasn't an interference engine that will pretty much self destruct if it jumps time... I've always loved SVT Hatch's. I like hatch's in general :DToo bad you're not a little closer. I'm looking to get rid of my '08 Mazdaspeed 3. Is hatchcar, Zoom-zoom! Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk Is that Mazdaspeed 3 a turbo engine? Or was that a couple of years later? Heard those turbo engines were really hot and easy to goose up for even more Zoom-Zoom! I'm too lazy to actually do research, buy yes I believe that mazda models with speed in them were turbo, or at least the miatas were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Shoot I would love the 2.0 in my Contour if it wasn't an interference engine that will pretty much self destruct if it jumps time... I've always loved SVT Hatch's. I like hatch's in general :DToo bad you're not a little closer. I'm looking to get rid of my '08 Mazdaspeed 3. Is hatchcar, Zoom-zoom! Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk Is that Mazdaspeed 3 a turbo engine? Or was that a couple of years later? Heard those turbo engines were really hot and easy to goose up for even more Zoom-Zoom!Oh yeah. Turbocharged 2.3 L good for about 275/275 from the factory. Easy to hit 300hp with just a tune, start throwing parts on it and you can be in the 550+ hp range real quick. I've embarrassed many a new 5.0 'stang with my little hatch... Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 I had a bike with a built Rotax motorcycle engine destroyed when it lost the timing belt while riding it, and it nearly destroyed me. I said never again will I have a bike with an interference engine. With four wheels you probably won't crash and burn if it happens, but I was curious which cars have interference engines. I was surprised at how many there are. This list was gleaned from the internet, and it should be fairly accurate: Audi• 1.8L 1.9L Interference• 2.8L V6 90 100 Quattro A4 A6 InterferenceBMW• 2.5L 325I 525I Interference• 4.0L 740I InterferenceAcura• All except SLX Interference• SLX Non InterferenceChrysler• 1.4L, 1.5L & 1.6L Interference• 1.8L Interference• 2.0L DOHC Interference• 2.0L SOHC Interference• 2.2L DOHC Interference• 2.22L SOHC Interference• 2.3L Diesel Interference• 2.4L SOHC Interference• 2.5L V6 Interference2.7L Interference• 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference• 3.0L DOHC Interference• 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference• 3.2L Interference3.3L Interference• 3.5L Interference•3.8L Interference• 4.0L Interference•5.7 Hemi IntereferenceFiat• 1.3L 128 Series Interference• 1.5L Stranda Interference• 1.6L 124 Series Interference• 1.8L 124 Series Interference• 1.8L 131 Series, Brava Interference• 2.0L Brava, Spider InterferenceFord• 1.6L SOHC Interference• 2.0L DOHC (Probe) Interference• 2.0L Diesel Interference• 2.2L Interference• 2.3L Diesel Interference• 2.4L Diesel Interference• 3.0L SOHC Interference• 3.3L InterferenceGM and Saturn• 1.0L Interference• 1.3L Interference• 1.5L Interference• 1.6L (Tracker 16 Valve) Interference• 1.6L DOHC (Aveo) Interference• 1.8L Diesel Interference•1.9L Ecotec SOHC Intereference•1.9L Ecotec DOHC Intereference• 2.2L Diesel Interference• 3.0L Interference• 3.2L Interference3.6L IntereferenceGEO• 1.0L Interference• 1.3L Interference• 1.5L Interference• 1.6L DOHC (1989-97 Prizm Except 1989-92 GSI) Interference• 1.6L DOHC (Storm) Interference• 1.6L SOHC 16 Valve Engine (Tracker) Interference• 1.8L DOHC (Prizm) Interference• 1.8L DOHC (Storm) InterferenceHonda• All Honda engines are interference except 3.0L & 3.2 which are Non-interferenceHyundai• All InterferenceInfinity• 3.0L & 3.3L InterferenceIsuzu• 1.5L Interference• 1.6L DOHC Interference• 1.8L Diesel Interference• 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference• 2.0L Interference• 2.2L Diesel Interference• n2.2L Gasoline Interference• 2.3L Interference• 2.6L Interference• 3.2L InterferenceJeep• 2.1L Diesel Interference• 2.4L DOHC Interference• 2.8L Diesel InterferenceKia• 1.5L DOHC Interference• 1.6L DOHC Interference• 1.8L DOHC Interference• 2.0L DOHC Interference• 2.4L DOHC Interference• 2.5L DOHC Interference• 2.7L DOHC Interference• 3.5L DOHC InterferenceLexus• 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998-2006) Interference• 4.0L Interference• 4.3L Interference• 4.7L InterferenceMazda• 2.0L Diesel Interference• 2.2L Interference• 3.0L DOHC Interference• 3.0L SOHC InterferenceMitsubishi• 1.5L Interference• 1.6L DOHC Interference• 1.6L SOHC Interference• 1.8L Interference• 2.0L DOHC Interference• 2.0L SOHC Interference• 2.3L Diesel Interference• 2.4L DOHC Interference• 2.4L SOHC Interference• 3.0L DOHC Interference• 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference• 3.5L DOHC Interference• 3.5L SOHC Interference• 3.8L InterferenceNissan• All InterferencePorsche• 2.0L 924 Turbo Interference• 2.5L 944 Interference• 2.7L 944 Interference• 3.0L 944 Interference• 4.5L 928 Interference• 4.7L 928 Interference• 5.0L 928 Interference• 5.4L 928 InterferenceSubaru• DOHC InterferenceSuzuki• 1.3L DOHC Interference• 1.3L SOHC Interference• 1.6L 16 Valve Engine Interference• 2.0L DOHC InterferenceToyota• 1.5L (1A-C, 3A-C & 3E) Interference• 1.8L Diesel Interference• 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference• 2.2L Diesel Interference• 2.4L Diesel Interference• 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998 2JZ-GE) Interference• 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6 W/ V VTi – Interference• 4.7L InterferenceVolkswagen• 2.0L – 8 valve Non-Interference (However there have been instances of bent valves)• 16 valve diesels Interference• VR6 InterferenceVolvo• B200 (E, F, G, GT, FT) Interference• B204 (E, F, GT, FT) Interference• B230E (high-compression) Interference• B234 (F, G) Intereference• B5XXX five-cylinder inline engines -Interference• 6XXX six-cylinder engines Interference• The 16 Valve Volvo engines are all Interference• 850 Interference• 960 Interference• S40 Interference• S/V/C 70 Interference• S60 Interference• S80 Interference• XC90’s Interference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 I had a bike with a built Rotax motorcycle engine destroyed when it lost the timing belt while riding it, and it nearly destroyed me. I said never again will I have a bike with an interference engine. With four wheels you probably won't crash and burn if it happens, but I was curious which cars have interference engines. I was surprised at how many there are. This list was gleaned from the internet, and it should be fairly accurate: Audi • 1.8L 1.9L Interference • 2.8L V6 90 100 Quattro A4 A6 Interference BMW • 2.5L 325I 525I Interference • 4.0L 740I Interference Acura • All except SLX Interference • SLX Non Interference Chrysler • 1.4L, 1.5L & 1.6L Interference • 1.8L Interference • 2.0L DOHC Interference • 2.0L SOHC Interference • 2.2L DOHC Interference • 2.22L SOHC Interference • 2.3L Diesel Interference • 2.4L SOHC Interference • 2.5L V6 Interference 2.7L Interference • 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine Non-Interference • 3.0L DOHC Interference • 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference • 3.2L Interference 3.3L Interference • 3.5L Interference •3.8L Interference • 4.0L Interference •5.7 Hemi Intereference Fiat • 1.3L 128 Series Interference • 1.5L Stranda Interference • 1.6L 124 Series Interference • 1.8L 124 Series Interference • 1.8L 131 Series, Brava Interference • 2.0L Brava, Spider Interference Ford • 1.6L SOHC Interference • 2.0L DOHC (Probe) Interference • 2.0L Diesel Interference • 2.2L Interference • 2.3L Diesel Interference • 2.4L Diesel Interference • 3.0L SOHC Interference • 3.3L Interference GM and Saturn • 1.0L Interference • 1.3L Interference • 1.5L Interference • 1.6L (Tracker 16 Valve) Interference • 1.6L DOHC (Aveo) Interference • 1.8L Diesel Interference •1.9L Ecotec SOHC Intereference •1.9L Ecotec DOHC Intereference • 2.2L Diesel Interference • 3.0L Interference • 3.2L Interference 3.6L Intereference GEO • 1.0L Interference • 1.3L Interference • 1.5L Interference • 1.6L DOHC (1989-97 Prizm Except 1989-92 GSI) Interference • 1.6L DOHC (Storm) Interference • 1.6L SOHC 16 Valve Engine (Tracker) Interference • 1.8L DOHC (Prizm) Interference • 1.8L DOHC (Storm) Interference Honda • All Honda engines are interference except 3.0L & 3.2 which are Non-interference Hyundai • All Interference Infinity • 3.0L & 3.3L Interference Isuzu • 1.5L Interference • 1.6L DOHC Interference • 1.8L Diesel Interference • 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference • 2.0L Interference • 2.2L Diesel Interference • n2.2L Gasoline Interference • 2.3L Interference • 2.6L Interference • 3.2L Interference Jeep • 2.1L Diesel Interference • 2.4L DOHC Interference • 2.8L Diesel Interference Kia • 1.5L DOHC Interference • 1.6L DOHC Interference • 1.8L DOHC Interference • 2.0L DOHC Interference • 2.4L DOHC Interference • 2.5L DOHC Interference • 2.7L DOHC Interference • 3.5L DOHC Interference Lexus • 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998-2006) Interference • 4.0L Interference • 4.3L Interference • 4.7L Interference Mazda • 2.0L Diesel Interference • 2.2L Interference • 3.0L DOHC Interference • 3.0L SOHC Interference Mitsubishi • 1.5L Interference • 1.6L DOHC Interference • 1.6L SOHC Interference • 1.8L Interference • 2.0L DOHC Interference • 2.0L SOHC Interference • 2.3L Diesel Interference • 2.4L DOHC Interference • 2.4L SOHC Interference • 3.0L DOHC Interference • 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine Interference • 3.5L DOHC Interference • 3.5L SOHC Interference • 3.8L Interference Nissan • All Interference Porsche • 2.0L 924 Turbo Interference • 2.5L 944 Interference • 2.7L 944 Interference • 3.0L 944 Interference • 4.5L 928 Interference • 4.7L 928 Interference • 5.0L 928 Interference • 5.4L 928 Interference Subaru • DOHC Interference Suzuki • 1.3L DOHC Interference • 1.3L SOHC Interference • 1.6L 16 Valve Engine Interference • 2.0L DOHC Interference Toyota • 1.5L (1A-C, 3A-C & 3E) Interference • 1.8L Diesel Interference • 1.8L DOHC Gasoline Interference • 2.2L Diesel Interference • 2.4L Diesel Interference • 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998 2JZ-GE) Interference • 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6 W/ V VTi – Interference • 4.7L Interference Volkswagen • 2.0L – 8 valve Non-Interference (However there have been instances of bent valves) • 16 valve diesels Interference • VR6 Interference Volvo • B200 (E, F, G, GT, FT) Interference • B204 (E, F, GT, FT) Interference • B230E (high-compression) Interference • B234 (F, G) Intereference • B5XXX five-cylinder inline engines -Interference • 6XXX six-cylinder engines Interference • The 16 Valve Volvo engines are all Interference • 850 Interference • 960 Interference • S40 Interference • S/V/C 70 Interference • S60 Interference • S80 Interference • XC90’s Interference The Nissan 1.6l in my sisters Sentra has a chain instead of a belt though. While interference, the fact that it's a chain makes it much more reliable in my opinion. Have a rubber piece that is so crucial to the engine staying alive just isn't a good idea too me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Knuckelhead97, Keeping the Contour a bit longer is a good decision! Run it till the wheels fall off or something like that requires a bunch of money. Save the tax refund so you have the cash on hand when you need another daily driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Knuckelhead97, Keeping the Contour a bit longer is a good decision! Run it till the wheels fall off or something like that requires a bunch of money. Save the tax refund so you have the cash on hand when you need another daily driver. that's the plan now since the engine is non-interference! Looking into getting the AC and heat fixed, putting a better subwoofer in the box I have, and cleaning up the whole car a little bit. Also got some oil leaks to take care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbreiter Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 If I could find a good CRX around here then I would jump on it. Sadly they've all been ruined by the ridiculous number of ricer groups around here... and Miatas definitely not out of the game. In the end it is VERY high on my list of cars I want to own. Check out redpepperracing.com on Facebook, there's lots of older ones listed that aren't "riced" out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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