Car Shoping for a Friend. 

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo) 01/03/2018 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

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One thing that never fails to excite me is helping a friend to buy a car. It’s almost as exciting as shoping for your own car. Except usually they don’t “weird” or “fun to drive” as they’re number one priority. Well a buddy of mine is looking right now. He currently drives a Chevy 2500 cargo van. He got it for free, but is tired of the hassle of driving a big van, and the 14mpg on a good day.

What he’s looking for is something that can comfortably carry 4-5 adults, something easy to work on/ cheap to maintain, and it has to be able to tow a small, single person camper trailer. And as always more MPGs are more better. Also he’s very welcome to the idea of a manual transmission, but currently doesn’t know how to drive one, I’ll be helping him with that soon.

My first suggestion was a VW TDI. But as we all no they still aren’t cheap if you want a good one, and he has little Creit history, so getting a loan on a 10-15 year old car will be hard. My second suggestion was a V6 Accord. I had found a nice 07 V6 Sedan with a manual trans, but the ad was taken down last night. Here’s my other suggestion it’s not the best but man is it cool. A very green 80 Electra Limited. It would sure be a nice place to sit on a cross country road trip.

It seems the most logical solution for him would be a V6 Camry, or Accord. Any FWD V6 won’t be easy to work on, but I wouldn’t want to tow anything with a non turbo 4 cylinder. Your average single person teardrop camper weights about 1100-1500lbs. Just about max capacity of your average unibody car,

itschrome > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:09

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Can Impala?

ranwhenparked > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:11

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The Electra was always my favorite out of GM’s downsized fullsizers.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > itschrome 01/03/2018 at 21:12

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As a human I can’t suggest any other humans drive, sit in, or even look at any Impala made between the B-body, and Epsilon II chassis.

All W bodies are junk.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:15

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I think you know the answer:

Cheap to buy, cheap to fix, and 20-22 MPG all day

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ranwhenparked 01/03/2018 at 21:15

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Same

itschrome > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:16

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:( your not wrong.. But ouch. I want out of mine. Sell it for 6k!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:16

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Any GMT360 with an Atlas. It’s comfortable, gets decent-ish gas mileage(we used to get 21-22 out of ours), seats 5, and tows at least 6k lbs.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 01/03/2018 at 21:16

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This was the thrid thing that came to my mind. I’ll, bring it up for sure. Helps you can get a really good one for less than 5 grand.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/03/2018 at 21:18

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Hmm. Idk how he feels about SUVs.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:22

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If I’m pulling anything, I want to be in something capable of pulling more. Source: Pull trailers for work.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/03/2018 at 21:29

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That’s why I pretty much immediately ruled out smaller cars. When he Frits asked my for help I said, Nissan Cube, or Honda Fit, not in that order

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:31

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Well, an Element can tow 1500, but I would aim for something that pulls at least 3k.

MM54 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:31

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Sounds like a perfect candidate for a crown vic! Comfortably seats 5, can tow pretty well, and will get you 20+ mpg on the highway, all while being repairable with a hammer and some zipties.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/03/2018 at 21:46

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Yeah, I would never suggest meeeting the tow rating you a car. Always over compensate. Especially in a case like his where he wants to take coast to coast trips.

Shift24 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 21:52

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Why not a 03 or newer TL? Or a CR-V, RAV-4, or Element? Any older Lexus or 4runner?

Jayvincent > Shift24 01/03/2018 at 22:25

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4Runner is the best suggestion so far!

Jayvincent > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 22:28

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4Runner is the best suggestion so far... but a cheap alternate is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac

can be had for $5-8k around here.

That Electra limited is gorgeous, but anything but light duty is a recipe for impromptu roadside camping because they will lose overdrive, then overheat, boil the brake fluid, breakdown, and refuse to restart the first time you take it on a 200 mile trip fully loaded with a trailer. It’s a nostalgia dream, though. I wish I had the spare $ and space for a weekend wrenching project just like it.

Good luck with your search: realistically you can’t go wrong with a honda / toyota cheap and reliable option.

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/03/2018 at 23:57

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Buy the Electra, sleep in the back seat.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/04/2018 at 01:54

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That Electra is so green, you’d lose it in a forest.