Reciprocating Bill
Posts: 4265 Joined: Oct. 2006
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Good car? Bad car? All depends on what you want from a car.
My current vehicle has gone 0 miles to 107,150 miles needing the following mechanical repairs:
- 1 tie rod (at 105,000 miles) - 1 ball joint/lower control arm (at 84,000 miles) - 1 tensioner pulley for serpentine belt; new belt. - 1 strap to suspend muffler ($16) - 1 battery (terminal broke, a rampant Delco problem). - 1 window crank handle ($9)
Wear items and maintenance:
- 2 brake refurbs - 1 set of tires (originals lasted 84,000 miles) - 2 sets of plugs, 1 coolant flush, timely tire rotations, oil changes every 3 - 4,000 miles, air filter from time to time, etc.
I get 39 mpg on highway, crisp handling, 0-60 in 8.4 seconds. Not a rocket, but it gets there obligingly. With the new set of plugs I just dropped in and recent tightening of the front end it runs and handles like new.
American car. 5-speed stick (which I prefer). The thing cost ~ $13,500 new.
('02 Saturn SL2. Our other vehicle is an '05 Honda CRV.)
-------------- Myth: Something that never was true, and always will be.
"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." - David Foster Wallace
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