I may be looking for a car - ideas?

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 11:20 am

I am looking at buying a car for a run I am doing and may keep that is from Omaha to Kansas City everyday.
I need, good fuel mileage, a 5 speed, I want a car that handles pretty well, is reasonably comfortable, reliable that isn't front wheel drive (I don't want to have to pull the engine or a whole transaxle if I need to put in a clutch) and really prefer it's not ricer stuff.
I also don't want a 5 year loan on a car I am going to run 2000 miles a week - I am sure you can see how much faster it will wear it out than I can pay it off.
A 87-88 T Bird Turbo Coupe or SVO Mustang would do well for this but they are hard to come by in good shape for a reasonable price. I also don't need to travel 1/2 way across the US to go buy a car for this run (there are NONE FS here).
I may consider a V6 5 speed Mustang too, late 98-03 but most of those are automatics and some of the dealers around here think the horse on the grill makes it worth $3000 more than it really is cause some kid will want it and can't afford a GT.
It seems that an early 90s 3 series BMW 2 door is decent shape is in my price range ($3500 - $4500). I know they are good cars that fit my other parameters but other than that generalization I don't know alot about them. I sent a PM to someone who can probably help on those.
Anybody have any other bright ideas?
Thanks, Greg

Hoofbeat Racer · Post by **Hoofbeat Racer** » October 24, 2009, 11:33 am

I was going to suggest a mid 90s Lincoln Mark VIII but I see you want a 5 spd.

36truck · Post by **36truck** » October 24, 2009, 11:37 am

Greg what about a Fusion or a Contour?

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » October 24, 2009, 11:39 am

Greg,
I have always heard that BMW stood for big money waster, seriously I would look at the price of BMW parts before I invested in a near twenty year old foreign made (read expensive) auto. Sounds like an old Capri might fit that need.

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 11:51 am

Tom, have a Fusion here V6 is only good for 28-29 MPG - a 4 cyl base model is still in the 8K range, about $3500 too much - 5 speeds very rare and it's still front drive. With the "right car" it is an option just not ideal.
Obsa, early Capris are harder to find than a T Coupe or SVO, lol. They only have a 4 speed anyway, no OD. I know where I can get a SVO driveline I could drop in a Capri (if I could find one) but I don't need to be building a car for this - need one already to go. I can look into that maybe next spring though.
Mark, if I could find a turbo diesel Lincoln MK VIII that may work.
LOL, already thought of all those guys (cept the Lincoln) but Thanks.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » October 24, 2009, 12:01 pm

man, i would so go with a mid nineties toyota corolla. even with an automatic they get around 30mpg highway and last forever.
i know it's not a ford, but business is business.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » October 24, 2009, 12:04 pm

Greg I know you don't want the rice but I am thinking some conventional drive line Toyota is gonna be your best bet.
Why a 5 speed? for the mileage? I thought you were moving towards auto's because of your shoulder, some time in the past...maybe that condition has got better.

BMW's are good cars but parts are a mint and most importantly, take forever to get here. That is why used Beamers the world over are cheap. I'd be looking for a six mustang, maybe a straight six Fox if you are serious about staying off the rice tho. Ford Turbo =GM aluminum 4 in my world so that is not where I would go. If I had that route, which I drove to your place last year, I might try a GOLF or Jetta TDI. My sister has one of those with over 400,000 on it and she still drives it to work. Good cars, last forever.

charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » October 24, 2009, 12:44 pm

Are you absolutely opposed to a GM product, Greg?

My 88 Firebird Formula with a 305 tends to get around 30mpg on the highway and it will do burnouts!. It's been as high as 32mpg and it's just going on 130K miles. City driving tends to be closer to 16mpg. It has a 5 spd, WS6 suspension package - higher rate springs, bigger rollbar, 16" wheels and wider tires. They can be found in excellent shape for about $3000. I've had mine since 90K miles and have had to do no major repairs. I drive the truck mostly but when I use the car, it starts and gets me where I need to go every time.

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 5:12 pm

charliemccraney wrote:Are you absolutely opposed to a GM product, Greg?

LOL, ah no - my 2 vans are both Chevy Astros. I don't like the smaller FWD cars GM makes though. I didn't think you would get that kind of mileage from a Firebird/Camaro - a V6 5 speed would be even better. I will add them to my potential list after I go drive one and see if I find it comfortable.
JC, 1 for the mileage and 2 a clutch is cheaper than an auto tranny rebuild and I can do it here and can't the tranny.
If I were to use it in town I may stick with an auto to save on my joints, this car will go 3 miles and get on the interstate, go 10 miles and get off to go 1 block, 1 block back to the interstate, OD on cruise for 210 miles, 2 miles each way in KC, and back on the interstate to Bellevue, 3 miles to home to swap out for my van. I think I can deal with that, lol.
One other thing, the cargo is about the size of a bread box. It needs to be 1 meter from the driver during transport - it's radioactive. so the car has to be big enough to maintain that too.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » October 24, 2009, 5:38 pm

One word of caution about those Gen 3 Firebirds/Camaros is they are nasty tail end light. I'd be skeered to drive one in the highway in the winter after having seen dozens of them in the ditch before. You might also want to invest in a lead box to keep the Krypton in!

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 5:42 pm

The "Krypton" (actually it's usually tc 99m) is packaged in lead. The 1 meter rule is an added safety factor for time/exposure for people who haul it daily.
I grew up driving RWD cars and have had them almost exclusively for so long I have not been "spoiled" by FWD - they drive just fine for those of us who remember how. I am probably not as safe in a FWD just due to what I am used to.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » October 24, 2009, 5:45 pm

oops meant kryptonite

. But you got it anyway LOL . Yes I realize that about RWD cars, you and I are from the same generation (I think they called it the Pepsi Generation on TV) but those cars were real bad. Worse, almost, than pickups

Hoofbeat Racer · Post by **Hoofbeat Racer** » October 24, 2009, 6:26 pm

Charlie is right. I had an 86 Trans Am with a 305 5 spd. It routinely got in the high 20s and was very comfortable to drive. I drove reluctantly in the winter and never had any major issues. Unfortunately mine would not squack the tires on demand but it was a ton of fun to drive

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 24, 2009, 6:34 pm

Greg, this is it:

http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/1398687295.html

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 24, 2009, 6:36 pm

on the other hand, original engines are nice too
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/1407778846.html

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 24, 2009, 6:38 pm

but this would be one sweet delivery vehicle

http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/1413259030.html

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 6:55 pm

That would be cool Brian. Ultimate plan would be to maybe "build" a car to run this. Not anything out of control just a few specific mods to improve efficiency and durability.

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » October 24, 2009, 7:02 pm

The second one Brian listed would be nice just add a T-5 behind that little six But maybe not that particular one that price was

. The owner must have been watching BJ auctions

Post by **Greg D** » October 24, 2009, 7:30 pm

A 64/65 Falcon Sedan Delivery with a 3,8 V6 and a T-5 would be cool too.

charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » October 24, 2009, 8:20 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote:One word of caution about those Gen 3 Firebirds/Camaros is they are nasty tail end light. I'd be skeered to drive one in the highway in the winter after having seen dozens of them in the ditch before. You might also want to invest in a lead box to keep the Krypton in!

From what I've read, the spoiler that came on the Formulas, and the TA is functional. The one that came on the others was not. And I think some did not even have a spoiler. I can make it go sideways almost on command. At highway speeds it's pretty stable. I've had to avoid a few things. For something that is 21 years old, the handling of the WS6 is excellent. Plus there is a huge aftermarket.

I had a friend who had a 90 model Firebird, 6 cyl that she rolled and totaled. It had over 180kmiles. It was winter, on an icy road. It still ran and drove after it was totaled. They are good cars. Surprisingly, the 6cyl did not get better mileage.