Car suggestions for a librarian

"Dogapult" (dogapult) 11/13/2015 at 15:08 • Filed to: None

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The local librarian here in Oxford asked me for help finding her a decent, reliable, inexpensive car. I found this:

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
What do you think?
A W123 with minimal rust seems like a decent commuter to me. not terrible amounts of mileage. What should she look out for on it, that I could advise her on?

duurtlang > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:20

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I’d get something more recent. A ‘78 diesel w123 with mismatched panels is only a great car to a certain demographic. A demographic your average librarian isn’t part of.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:29

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What’s her real budget? Inexpensive is variable.

Stick or Manual?

What style vehicle is she looking for? sedan, hatchback, coupe, wagon, SUV, Small Cross Over, Pickup truck?!

No info for us to help you out here pal.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:31

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Not to rag on an old MB, but for a commuter with a small budget, I would think you could do better than a 30 yo. diesel.

Steve in Manhattan > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:31

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Spent a winter in WI once ... she needs FWD or AWD.

coelacanthist > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:38

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I like the idea of a librarian. I like the idea of an old diesel merc. These statements are both based on fantasy.

Dogapult > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/13/2015 at 15:45

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Okay, Okay. She wanted under $2000. and she’s 5’10” and wanted something she comfortably fit in. sedan or wagon. I believe she knows how to drive a stick, but I don’t know for sure.

Dogapult > Steve in Manhattan 11/13/2015 at 15:46

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I dunno, I drive my G35 in winter...

Dogapult > duurtlang 11/13/2015 at 15:47

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I showed it to her and she liked it. She thinks it looks luxurious.

Sneaky Pete > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:47

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Decent, reliable, inexpensive. Tell her to pick 2, if her budget is 2k. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:54

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Librarian? Only option is Volvo.

Steve in Manhattan > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 15:55

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You’re a braver man than I ...

Dogapult > Steve in Manhattan 11/13/2015 at 15:58

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Decent set of dedicated winter tires and it generally does fine.

Dogapult > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/13/2015 at 15:59

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I looked. there’s no good Volvo choices on Madison craigslist that I could find under $2000.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 16:03

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2k?!

bro...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 16:07

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http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/5281387895…

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/5309218882…

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/5287385265…

These are the kinds of things you should be showing her.

These are solid options that don’t have expensive or hard to find parts.

Tohru > Steve in Manhattan 11/13/2015 at 17:06

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Bullshit. I’ve lived in WI my whole life and I’ve DD’d RWD cars and trucks through the winter.

Everyone says you can’t drive in the winter with RWD - yet people were doing it up through the 1980’s without any problem. Then the marketing people told everyone that FWD was the answer because it puts all the weight over the drive tires. Then Subaru’s marketing people said AWD is better because all the tires help to get you moving.

Getting moving is only one part of driving in winter. All the weight on the front wheels hurts the handling of FWD, and the added weight of AWD hurts stopping performance.

If you don’t drive with your head up your ass and your face buried in your smartphone screen, RWD is completely usable for winter driving.

Proof:

(Yeah, I drove my Ram 50 in the winter with Cooper Cobras on it, and it was just fine.)

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/13/2015 at 17:08

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This is a solid option as well for only $1200 that I’ve been trying to sell but jacksauce didn’t even mention it to her.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Dogapult 11/13/2015 at 17:38

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Are you calling me a Librarian??

Steve in Manhattan > Tohru 11/13/2015 at 19:23

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Wisconsin drivers generally aren’t flummoxed by snow, true. But a librarian might not be as skilled as you are?

boxrocket > Tohru 11/14/2015 at 10:41

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Preach! My Volvo 760 turbo wagon was my best car in the snow - including icy patches and accumulation of over 1’, and on all-seasons, no less!

The greatest differences in winter driving versus summer are the driver, and tires. In Wisconsin I’d probably actually use snow tires.

Tohru > Steve in Manhattan 11/14/2015 at 12:20

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She’s a Wisconsin native and in her 50’s, so she’s been doing winter driving since RWD and chunky bias-plies were the norm.

Steve in Manhattan > Tohru 11/14/2015 at 14:09

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I had no trouble when I was there, but that was a ‘97 SHO w/ FWD and all-seasons. And there’s always the tried-and-true method: stay home when it’s bad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 11/16/2015 at 09:42

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Harsh.

I’d always take an OPPO’s car over a rando on CL.

Know it was well taken care of then.