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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » What Car for Kid in Columbus, OH?

July 29, 2011 10:55 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

As that guy who knows cars and good deals, I just got a call from a friend. He is loosing the fight and has been told by the wife that they will be buying a car for the now 16 yr old daughter. He looks to me for some suggestions and I look to ya'll.

Budget: as high as $4k but like yourself, wants to spend less.

The car will spend two years driven by his daughter. After two years the daughter will be off to college but the two younger kinds (twins -boy/girl) will be driving. What he is looking for is a car that can get 4 years out of. It will not see high miles driven per year as the kids drive back and forth to practice and generally stay in the neighborhood.
Gas mileage is not his greatest concern since it seems foolish to pay higher dollar for a good mileage but not put on enough miles per year to get back the investment.
Stick shift is an option and he would like to see his kids learn.
Must have back seat since there are three kids in the family that will be riding back home from school together.

He is pretty smart about maint. and wants something that either has had the timing belt replaced or is priced so that he can have it done.
In his dream senerio he cares less about what kind of car it is and more about finding a car that will need the least maint over the next 4 years. This would typically be a car who's service has been kept up. Will pay more for good records.

Some of my early suggestions were: Nissan Sentra
Nissan Altima (small style)
Jeep Cherokee
Saturn till '02
etc.

I am looking less for theory answers and more for specific opportunities that you might know in metro Columbus; someone selling a great deal or a well cared for older car.
Buyer is located in Newark/Granville but travels the state and will likely buy before the school year starts.
July 29, 2011 11:12 a.m. Josh Dork

P71?
July 29, 2011 11:13 a.m. N Sperlo Dork

I like my escort and focus. Theres my input.

Easy maintenance and cheap tires. Parts are USUALLY relatively cheap.

Edit: or p71.
July 29, 2011 11:14 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Escort/Neon/Camry/Corolla/Protege
July 29, 2011 11:15 a.m. EvanB SuperDork

Or Impala SS, complete with spy shot from across the street.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/2519399430.html
July 29, 2011 11:17 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

I might send him this Volvo 240
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/2490763853.html
July 29, 2011 11:23 a.m. N Sperlo Dork

Evan:.B wrote:

Or Impala SS, complete with spy shot from across the street.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/2519399430.html

"Needs minor repairs." Because it's stolen? Friggen creeper.

Edit: The spy shot really makes the spray paint look great, doesn't it?
July 29, 2011 11:40 a.m. mtn SuperDork

Focus Escort Maxima Sentra Altima Taurus etc.
July 29, 2011 12:05 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

Josh wrote:

P71?

http://www.emergencyremarketing.com/

my goto plan for a DD if i wanted something other then my miata to replace my E30.
July 29, 2011 12:17 p.m. 1988RedT2 Dork

Volvo. I would consider nothing else.
July 29, 2011 12:24 p.m. YaNi Reader

1988RedT2 wrote:

Volvo. I would consider nothing else.

Didn't it win the Top Gear teenage challenge?
July 29, 2011 12:52 p.m. N Sperlo Dork

YaNi wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote:

Volvo. I would consider nothing else.

Didn't it win the Top Gear teenage challenge?

Without a back window.

TURBO!
July 29, 2011 12:54 p.m. failboat HalfDork

My sister has had a 1998 saturn sedan for the past 7 or 8 years. Around 30k miles when she got it, when she was high school. She drove it all through college and still drives it now, and it has around 90k miles on it. I seem to recall she had a waterpump installed at the dealership a few years ago.....surprisingly was cheaper than a local service station.

She and her husband still really like the little car even though they cant figure out where the oil is going? LOL they just keep it topped off. He is putting all new hoses and belts on it this weekend. He sold his camaro a few months ago and right now it is their only car, they live in the city and he takes the metro to work. They plan on keeping it and running it into the ground.
July 29, 2011 12:55 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Corolla

Dead simple, reliable, parts grow on trees, gets 30+ mpg even when you flog it, and had air bags back as far as 95.

/ thread
July 29, 2011 12:58 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

Earlier than that, my 93 at least had a driver side airbag.
July 29, 2011 1:14 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

What is the go to website for non-turbo Volvo 240 DIY repair?
I want to show my friend how much on-line support there is for keeping these cars running.
July 29, 2011 1:40 p.m. EvanB SuperDork

turbobricks.com has a good section for DIY maintenance for both turbo and non Volvos.
July 29, 2011 2:37 p.m. bigdaddylee82 New Reader
I don't think I've seen a Cherokee that wasn't rusted since I've been in Columbus (just almost a year now).

I'll echo the Volvo, but for maintenance, who's going to be driving it, and the climate I'd go newer '94+ N/A 850 or S70. Change the oil, and do a timing belt every ~100K miles, and there's really nothing else to do or worry about.

You can get a 5 speed M56 in sedan and wagon versions of both, though not nearly as common as the auto. I'd stay away from AWD unless you have all the service records, and have someone that knows them thoroughly check them out. Bevel gears are weak, things as simple as prolonged use of mix-matched/unevenly warn tires has been known to make them puke their guts out.

They're not as "boxy" especially the S/V70 so the kids won't balk at it as much about the looks.
- Lee
July 29, 2011 2:50 p.m. Josh Dork

Old Volvos are great if you're a nerd who appreciates driving something a little different that is built like a tank, or if you live in New England where there's a shop that knows them inside out around every corner, but for regular people out there in the middle of the country, doesn't a P71 tick all the boxes that an old 240 does, but with the bonus of every autozone basically having the entire car in stock for cheap, and every cheap independent mechanic having around 20 years experience working on hundreds of them?
July 29, 2011 2:51 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

I owned a 850 wagon w/ 5 speed myself. A great car other than the hard to reach AC Evaporator which can only be serviced by removing the entire dashboard and then some.
I do not think he really wants the kids to enjoy being seen in the car.
July 29, 2011 3:04 p.m. bigdaddylee82 New Reader
jrw1621 wrote:

I owned a 850 wagon w/ 5 speed myself. A great car other than the hard to reach AC Evaporator which can only be serviced by removing the entire dashboard and then some.
I do not think he really wants the kids to enjoy being seen in the car.

There's a cheap (<$30 for filter and mount) cabin filter kit, you can add, and latter models eventually started coming with them, to save the Evaporator.
- Lee
Aug. 2, 2011 11:11 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Still shopping if anyone knows of any specific good deals within Ohio.
Thanks, John
Aug. 2, 2011 3:58 p.m. Slyp_Dawg HalfDork

one of the E30 coupes (318i/is) perhaps?
Aug. 2, 2011 6:44 p.m. flountown Reader

I'd say Volvo, avoid SUV's as it turns the kid into the de facto driver of friends. Buy them a small car and the desire for distracting friends to drive with them anywhere lessens. The two most recent accidents involving teen fatalities around here were overloaded but smaller SUV's. Last time I checked, a 6th person couldn't have comfortably sat in the trunk of either of my early 90's Hondas that I drove back in high school.
Aug. 2, 2011 7:35 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Here in Ohio there is now a rule something like kids under 18 yrs old can only have one non-family member with them in the car. The intention is to cut down on what you mentioned above.

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