The General Car Thread - The Facelift.

[Major-Tom]

I'm gonna be shopping for a car starting today. I'm so anxious about it and don't have a clue what to do. All of my previous cars were picked out for me, and I'm so so scared I'll make the wrong choice and accidentally buy a bad car.

Do your research and you should be alright. Reliability is always king in my book, but with the internet at our hands now, we don't have to blindly guess what makes and models are the best bangs for our bucks.

[Auzkhia]

Finally got around to buying myself a winter car. Hopefully that will mean the 'rolla can be relegated to summer only car. Here's to hoping the 250k Jeep will last me a few years or more.

I'd love to have snow tires, especially since my car is rwd with an open diff.

I'm gonna be shopping for a car starting today. I'm so anxious about it and don't have a clue what to do. All of my previous cars were picked out for me, and I'm so so scared I'll make the wrong choice and accidentally buy a bad car.

It depends on where you live. Usually I look through ads or classifieds and see what speaks best for me, though usually I have specific models in mind.

[Stagnant Axon Terminal]

Right, I know that much. But I don't know how to look at all of the billion and a half sedans out there and choose one.

What factors are you looking for in a car? Fuel effiecny? Reliability? Ease of repair?
Are you looking to buy used or new? There are a ton of used Honda and Toyota sedans floating around out there for cheap. Both companies make reliable cars, and you can’t really go wrong with either. Just start browsing listings on the internet, see what’s in your price range.

So, I'm looking for whatever sort of averages out to be the best of reliability and cost/ease to repair. But ofc since I'm buying outright I kind of have a stricter budget of about 10K. So used obv. In my local area, it seems like there are practically no hondas at all, but lots of Hyundai and Nissan, some Toyotas... but a lot of my nervousness comes not from make and model but like what are "red flags" to look for in an individual car. Does previous accidents or a rebuilt title mean the car is more likely to break?

[Pax Nerdvana]

What factors are you looking for in a car? Fuel effiecny? Reliability? Ease of repair?
Are you looking to buy used or new? There are a ton of used Honda and Toyota sedans floating around out there for cheap. Both companies make reliable cars, and you can’t really go wrong with either. Just start browsing listings on the internet, see what’s in your price range.

So, I'm looking for whatever sort of averages out to be the best of reliability and cost/ease to repair. But ofc since I'm buying outright I kind of have a stricter budget of about 10K. So used obv. In my local area, it seems like there are practically no hondas at all, but lots of Hyundai and Nissan, some Toyotas... but a lot of my nervousness comes not from make and model but like what are "red flags" to look for in an individual car. Does previous accidents or a rebuilt title mean the car is more likely to break?

Toyotas, especially a lot of the older ones, can be run into the ground and still work.
I’d be hesitant to buy a car that was totaled, and then rebuilt. Sometimes they’re fine, but more often then not, they’re not particularly trustworthy.
If you can, inspect the car before you decide to buy it. Look at it’s condition; is it well maintained? Is there rust on the undercarriage? If you’re in the northern US, most cars you’ll run across will have a rusted undercarriage because of how they salt the roads. If you’re elsewhere, that could be a bad sign. Mileage is also something to look at. An older, high mileage car will likely have more issues.
Also, look at the seller. If you’re buying it from an older person, chances are it will be in good shape, and have fairly low mileage. If you’re buying it from a younger person, it’s more likely to have been driven hard, and not taken care of.
Pop the hood, and look at the engine as well. Make sure all of the fittings are tight, make sure nothing is obviously broken. If possible, have a mechanic take a look at it before you buy it.

I hope that helps you.

[Ethel mermania]

What factors are you looking for in a car? Fuel effiecny? Reliability? Ease of repair?
Are you looking to buy used or new? There are a ton of used Honda and Toyota sedans floating around out there for cheap. Both companies make reliable cars, and you can’t really go wrong with either. Just start browsing listings on the internet, see what’s in your price range.

So, I'm looking for whatever sort of averages out to be the best of reliability and cost/ease to repair. But ofc since I'm buying outright I kind of have a stricter budget of about 10K. So used obv. In my local area, it seems like there are practically no hondas at all, but lots of Hyundai and Nissan, some Toyotas... but a lot of my nervousness comes not from make and model but like what are "red flags" to look for in an individual car. Does previous accidents or a rebuilt title mean the car is more likely to break?

Yes

[Elwher]

https://www.facebook.com/100007086403715/videos/2972399056339612/

One I had never seen

[The Two Jerseys]

https://www.facebook.com/100007086403715/videos/2972399056339612/

One I had never seen

Didn't know Daimler Darts had hardtops.

[Ellbonnia]

https://www.facebook.com/100007086403715/videos/2972399056339612/

One I had never seen

I'm conflicted as to whether or not I actually like the front end of that thing.

[Cannot think of a name]

(Image)

This one's a tank. Suspension is a wee bit clapped (the left front wheel sort of shows it) but the body is sold, interior is in good shape, starts and runs no questions asked.

...His name is Peter, my wife like the idea of "Peter Rabbit Pickup" and I had no ideas so shrug. He'll turn 39 this year, thinking I might try to get his birth certificate from Wolfsburg.

Oh man, I wish I had seen this when it was posted. I love Caddys for some reason. I keep thinking that if I get enough money to restore my Bus I'd buy a Caddy to get around in while that happens.

https://www.facebook.com/100007086403715/videos/2972399056339612/

One I had never seen

I dig Darts, but never even heard of that before. Kind of clever. That gap when the top is up is weird looking but clever.

[Fluvannia]

(Image)

This one's a tank. Suspension is a wee bit clapped (the left front wheel sort of shows it) but the body is sold, interior is in good shape, starts and runs no questions asked.

...His name is Peter, my wife like the idea of "Peter Rabbit Pickup" and I had no ideas so shrug. He'll turn 39 this year, thinking I might try to get his birth certificate from Wolfsburg.

Oh man, I wish I had seen this when it was posted. I love Caddys for some reason. I keep thinking that if I get enough money to restore my Bus I'd buy a Caddy to get around in while that happens.

As someone whose other ride is an '87 GTI, I cannot stress the terribleness of using a Volkswagen as a backup to a Volkswagen.

I did end up getting the "birth certificate" though, turns out the 2nd was actually the build date anniversary, so the countdown to the big 4-0 has begun lol

[Cannot think of a name]

Oh man, I wish I had seen this when it was posted. I love Caddys for some reason. I keep thinking that if I get enough money to restore my Bus I'd buy a Caddy to get around in while that happens.

As someone whose other ride is an '87 GTI, I cannot stress the terribleness of using a Volkswagen as a backup to a Volkswagen.

I did end up getting the "birth certificate" though, turns out the 2nd was actually the build date anniversary, so the countdown to the big 4-0 has begun lol

The Bus is 54 years old. I almost bought a '84 GTi mk.1, but it got sold out from underneath me. So I went with the junkyard Porsche 914. That had a small novella of problems.

[Fluvannia]

As someone whose other ride is an '87 GTI, I cannot stress the terribleness of using a Volkswagen as a backup to a Volkswagen.

I did end up getting the "birth certificate" though, turns out the 2nd was actually the build date anniversary, so the countdown to the big 4-0 has begun lol

The Bus is 54 years old. I almost bought a '84 GTi mk.1, but it got sold out from underneath me. So I went with the junkyard Porsche 914. That had a small novella of problems.

Ah, so you speak my language lol

I used to think the 914 was sort of ugly, it’s grown on me though.

[Cannot think of a name]

The Bus is 54 years old. I almost bought a '84 GTi mk.1, but it got sold out from underneath me. So I went with the junkyard Porsche 914. That had a small novella of problems.

Ah, so you speak my language lol

I used to think the 914 was sort of ugly, it’s grown on me though.

I've dug 'em since high school (I was more or less just out of high school when I bought that little yellow ball of trouble). Though I go in for the fuglier designs I guess. Like, I really want a Lotus Europa or S1 Espirit, though I guess the world has finally caught up with me on that because they're going up in price when they use to hover around juuuuuuuuust out of reach. (well, not 'juuuuuuuust' for me. Way. But juuuuuuuuust out of reach if I had an adults job.) I was actually just doing some window shopping for a pre-1975 car and found a 72 with flares and a five lug conversion for not insane amounts of money, which of course sent me looking for engine swaps to create a 914-6. There's actually a 914-6 engine on eBay for also not crazy money, but it's in pieces.

I don't know if I actually had a garage and second car money I'd do another 914. On one hand, I'll own so few cars in my life that repeating one seems like a waste, especially consdering how long I've stayed with my VW Bus. On the other hand, that little bastard (I know what i just did...) was never even 90%. There was something compromised on it at all times. Originally I was meant to buy it AND the GTI, drive the GTi and restore the Porsche.

But I was 18, not really making sound decisions.

I'd like to spend at least a little time with a Caddy as a mule or something. I also really want a MG B-GT. Preferably with BRG with wire wheels. Europa, like I said. Bug Eye Sprite. MG TD. In a fantasy world where my skills are what I wish they were and not what they are, taking some roller targa from the early 70s and turning it into an outlaw Speedster. 356s are looooong gone. Even if I could afford it, it's just too much. Kind of wish in high school I had pursued a Datsun 510. I liked the SCCA 510s that raced when I was a kid. They weren't expensive yet. I could have autocrossed in high school instead of just going out to the abandoned mobile home park and teaching myself Dukes of Hazzards moves. I meant to autocross the 914 but it was in too bad shape, then I got the Bus and I stopped. Bus values are bonkers, I could probably sell mine and get two off this list. But then I wouldn't have a Bus.