Thoughts?

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11) 03/27/2016 at 11:49 • Filed to: None

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I’m looking for my first car, Oppo. Well I have been for the past few months, but now that I have a job I have an excuse to get one. Jarod Rose prompted this one:

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It’s $2200 and been for sale for a while. My requirements for a car, in no particular order, are:

Fun

Brisk (0-60 under 9 seconds) with some exceptions (diesel Benz, to name one)

Reliable

Practical

Cheap

Safe

Interesting (so no Camry’s or Corolla’s)

The only category I can’t find answers easily for is reliability. It’s pretty easy to find ratings for the normal PT, but not the Turbo GT. So should I even consider it or is Mr. Rose leading me astray?

E92M3 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 11:52

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Scratch that off your list. You said you wanted a safe car.

Slant6 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 11:53

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My old Saab 9-5 fits that bill. I think the slowest one was 8.6 to 60. I bought mine for $400. They can be a bit troublesome to keep going but no worse than a Diesel Benz, cheaper parts. Pretty easy to work on. Never left me stranded in my 3 years of ownership.

Also the safest cars around when they first came out.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > E92M3 03/27/2016 at 11:54

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I checked the NHTSA or IIHS (can’t remember) ratings for the 2004. It got 4 or 5 stars in all tested categories.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 11:54

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My grandfather has one, it’s a pretty nice car as long as they’re well maintained...they’re cheap cars and tend to not hold up well when abused.

It’s also got a good engine. I had a 2.4 turbo in a Neon SRT4, and it makes impressive torque and sounds great.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Slant6 03/27/2016 at 11:55

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If you can find one locally for me, I applaud you.

Slant6 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 11:56

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Illinois?

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Slant6 03/27/2016 at 11:56

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Yes, Springfield.

Slant6 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 11:58

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https://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/5501449645…

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Slant6 03/27/2016 at 11:59

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Seen it. My budget is $2500 tho.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:03

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For a Corolla there is the XRS. Has 170hp, rev’s to 8000rpm. Same engine as the Lotus Elise.

Slant6 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:04

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You could negotiate that. Nobody buys theses things.

Nibby > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:05

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I’d suggest anything BUT a PT Cruiser.

shop-teacher > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:06

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Not sure on the reliable part. If you’re serious about it, check the forums and educate yourself on common problems and fixes.

Chasaboo > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:26

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I had a friend with one, it was a mechanical disaster. I’d pass.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:31

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Don’t get a PT. Front suspension is shit, everything electrical related to the engine is shit. I don’t recall the transmission being real good either, but I could be wrong. Just scanned your CL for Mercedes, you don’t have shit!

Frenchlicker > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:32

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It never hurts to try.

Spridget > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:43

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All I can say about my nominees are that I tried my hardest.

http://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/5476624166… (crapshoot candidate #1)

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/547756… (crapshoot candidate #2)

http://carbondale.craigslist.org/cto/5504540005… (crapshoot candidate #3)

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5490647719… (serious answer)

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5450137571… (serious-ish answer)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 12:56

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Find a manual Focus hatch with the 2.3L Duratec engine. Lots of fun and you can bolt on the SVT suspension.

Poache E (O)\===/(O) > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 13:15

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The pt cruiser is not your friend. Keep your eyes open for a 924 or a non us pickup truck if your looking for something reliable, fun and different. Maybe not the 924 if you want reliable!

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 03/27/2016 at 13:17

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Too expensive.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Slant6 03/27/2016 at 13:18

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Hmmmm...

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 03/27/2016 at 13:20

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Exactly. That is why I’m getting desperate.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Spridget 03/27/2016 at 13:23

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Many things are wrong with those:

Too far away on the serious cars, I’m no mechanic, it’d be parked on the street, and biggest of all, I can’t drive stick.

E92M3 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 14:58

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Someone died recently in one here. I guess with your budget nothing is really safe, as any pre-2009 car would fail todays crash tests.

Hiroku > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/27/2016 at 16:59

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Volvo 850 Turbo.

Fun - It’s a turbo 5-cylinder wagon. Torque steer and turbo lag for days. The only thing wrong with the ‘murican ones is that they’re auto only, sadly.

Brisk - 0-60 in ~7.0 seconds, depending on who you ask. Feels faster than that, though. I suppose the lack of traction in 1st gear makes the sprint slower than it should be.

Reliable - I’ll definitely call them “durable” - these engines will be standing alongside cockroaches and old diesel Mercedes when a nuclear holocaust destroys all life on Earth. But they are a bit finicky with ignition parts and rubber hoses and definitely don’t like cheap eBay parts.

I would say they are perfect if you do your own wrenching. You probably won’t have as trouble-free an experience as you’d get from a Corolla, but these are the easiest cars I’ve ever worked on and there’s a complete step-by-step tutorial online for absolutely everything. If you do the preventive maintenance on time with good parts, they will never leave you stranded or destroy your wallet.

Practical - 7 seats, cavernous trunk, can tow stuff, has all the comfort amenities one could wish for, the best seats in the business, etc.

Cheap - Can be had for less than a couple grand these days.

Safe - It’s a Volvo... You don’t get 10 airbags, but you don’t need them.

Interesting - Swedish turbo wagon, definitely interesting. Probably won’t get you a second look from the ladies, though.