Car help
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poorboy said:
That's a very good reminder especially for older models. However the trend with newer cars is going back to chains. I believe most if not all Nissans are now chain driven.
The chain is usually supposed to last the life of the car under normal use and with good maintenance. But as noted before, it is cooled and lubricated by the engine oil so keeping strong, clean oil and a clean free-lowing filter on your car is very imprtant.
*****
Mismatched tires are never a good idea. For one, each tire brand and model has it's own dimensions which differ slightly form the sidewall spec.
If you take two different models of tire, they may both say 205/60/R15, but once mounted they may in fact vary by up to 10mm in width and/or a few mm in height. They might also have their ideal contact patch at different inflation pressures.
I'd recommend keeping all for the same, even if you have to buy a slightly used set of 4 to save money. Especially on late model cars loaded with sensors to pick up all kinds of speed and traction data to feed into the computer, mismatched tires could easily spoof your ride & traction control, transmission and other computerized systems.
The way I see it, it all comes down to how much you want to spend. For X amount of money, you can either go with a newer more basic car with lower repair/maints/operating costs, or for the same money get an older car with more status/image but would have higher repair/maints/operating costs.
If you want the lowest cost, some models I'd suggest are:
Toyota Tercel, Echo, Corolla
Honda Civic/Acura EL
Mazda Protege
Nissan Sentra
For more bling without breaking the bank:
Mercury Grand Marquis
Lincoln Town Car (more expensive to repair than the Mercury due to the air suspension)
Nissan Maxima/Infinity I30
Toyota Camry/Lexus ES300
Honda Accord
Acura Legend
Acura TL
If you want the lowest cost, some models I'd suggest are:
Toyota Tercel, Echo, Corolla
Honda Civic/Acura EL
Mazda Protege
Nissan Sentra
For more bling without breaking the bank:
Mercury Grand Marquis
Lincoln Town Car (more expensive to repair than the Mercury due to the air suspension)
Nissan Maxima/Infinity I30
Toyota Camry/Lexus ES300
Honda Accord
Acura Legend
Acura TL
Hard Idle said:
HI: not saying it isn't true because stranger things have happened but I find it extremely hard to believe anyone would design an engine where you'd have a steel rotating part resting directly onto anything aluminum. Oil or not the aluminum casing would wear away in no time....
Do you have a link to any technical drawing to prove this?
742,000 kms on my 2001 Rav4.
the toyotas built in Japan, rather than Canada or the US are much, much more reliable.
the 2006 Corolla XRS is a finely tuned car with the same engine that's in my Rav4... I'd expect it to last pretty damn near forever. plus, it is an undercover gem... looks like the average compact car, but outperforms and handles better than many cars in the sports sedan segment. ie, it's even faster than a Eclipse GS Turbo.
i wouldn't buy the XRS because it's speed and handling. but, it is a NICE package for under $30,000... the reliability is what blows all other cars away.
also, people are forgetting to mention that HYUANDAI has ranked very high on late model reliability tests. On par with Toyota and ahead of Honda. they are an even more affordable option.
the toyotas built in Japan, rather than Canada or the US are much, much more reliable.
the 2006 Corolla XRS is a finely tuned car with the same engine that's in my Rav4... I'd expect it to last pretty damn near forever. plus, it is an undercover gem... looks like the average compact car, but outperforms and handles better than many cars in the sports sedan segment. ie, it's even faster than a Eclipse GS Turbo.
i wouldn't buy the XRS because it's speed and handling. but, it is a NICE package for under $30,000... the reliability is what blows all other cars away.
also, people are forgetting to mention that HYUANDAI has ranked very high on late model reliability tests. On par with Toyota and ahead of Honda. they are an even more affordable option.
21pro said:
Dude, that 2057 KMS a DAY.....
at that rate, when do you sleep? Even if you average 120 kph that only leaves 7 hrs to shit, eat, sleep.....
Mileage can be misleading weather it is hiway miles or city how well the person maintained the vehicle how ruff were they on it was it used to tow heavy trailers etc. buying used is a gamble but if you get it for a low price the odd repair is not really a big deal unless the down time is .
tboy said:
No drawings, but that is an almost direct quote form a factory trained guy who worked in the plant. I'm sure there must be some sort device to mitigate the friction somewhat. Applies only to 1.9's. I'll try to look it up, I'm somewhat curious myself.
I am not in a car/repair trade, but Toyota Tercel, and Echos--made in Japan--seem lasting long. (had 1 Tercel, 11 yrs old, 200 K miles(not km) still ok, using Echo, bought 60K mile, almost doubled it, runs ok.
Trusting less US/Canada made "Japanese" models. I like the letter "J" in the beginning of the VIN number.
Trusting less US/Canada made "Japanese" models. I like the letter "J" in the beginning of the VIN number.
NEW2GAME mentioned he's "partial to the Big 3 for his own reasons". By the Big 3 does he mean Toyota, Honda and Hyundai? 
Lets face it, the traditional "Big 3", GM, Ford and Chrysler couldn't build a decent vehicle if there live's depended on it, not in North America at any rate. Ya, Benz helped out Chrysler somewhat, but finally saw the light and unloaded it. Those 3 manufacturers are now paying for years of knowingly producing crap and the consumer has finally figured it out.
My daughter/hubby live in the Dom Rep and drive a Corolla, built in Cambridge. It's no coincidence that the most popular car in the Dom Rep is a Corolla. They have pot holes in the roads that we would almost call sink holes. Those Corolla's "take a licking and keep on ticking" as the old Timex ad noted.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Lets face it, the traditional "Big 3", GM, Ford and Chrysler couldn't build a decent vehicle if there live's depended on it, not in North America at any rate. Ya, Benz helped out Chrysler somewhat, but finally saw the light and unloaded it. Those 3 manufacturers are now paying for years of knowingly producing crap and the consumer has finally figured it out. My daughter/hubby live in the Dom Rep and drive a Corolla, built in Cambridge. It's no coincidence that the most popular car in the Dom Rep is a Corolla. They have pot holes in the roads that we would almost call sink holes. Those Corolla's "take a licking and keep on ticking" as the old Timex ad noted.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Hard Idle said:
As far as I know, pre 1999 Saturn 1.9L mostly have trouble with pistons and pre-1996 with the timing chain tensioner.
The oil drains in the piston ring lands were too small and would get coked up. That would lead to high oil consumption (1 qt per 1000Km), although the engine would otherwise be fine compression wise. Look for a oil bottle in the trunk as a tell tale sign. BTW, quite a few other engines have similar problems to this - Ford 5L and BMW 6 cyl.
Same thing with the timing chain tensioner - the oil lubrication holes were too small would clog and the tensioner guides would wear out. It causes a very distinctive "mechanical" whizzing noise at startup.
any info on .........
I was looking at a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT Sedan. 75,000 km on it, asking price $8995.
Already certified and E-tested. In very nice shape, rode nice. Anything I should be concerned about, I don't know these cars. I checked out similar cars, same year and model and price seems to be in the ballpark.
I was looking at a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT Sedan. 75,000 km on it, asking price $8995.
Already certified and E-tested. In very nice shape, rode nice. Anything I should be concerned about, I don't know these cars. I checked out similar cars, same year and model and price seems to be in the ballpark.
