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We have 28 yr old gmc value van, old beast, have to buy parts on the internet nobody carries them any more! All SAE wrenches on that one! But it doesn't have lots of electronics on it and (ahem) no pollution stuff any more. But the V8 explorer, we once had to take off the hood to access at the proper angle part right up against the fire wall. Sheesh.
I've read most of this to DH and he says thanks for the wisdom.
Explorer was bought at an auction, it was 2 years old and had about 25,000 on it. We'd go something a bit smaller and definitely v4 or v8. I am used to driving something that sits me up higher because visibility is better, but really we had a Mercury Sable and that was ok...just had problematic transmission that we fixed and fixed and fixed (was their first year for an electronic transmission). Price, don't have much that's for sure. But we can't buy an old clunker either.
I think I'm just tired of being mechanics helper. 4 vehicles on the road and I help maintain all of them.
Really? I thought they were pricey. He'd heard that Mercedes were easy to work on but who can afford those?
Prius isn't too pricey. I drive 30K miles per year, and that's what I picked last year as the most cost-efficient medium-sized car I could find. I bought new for around $23K, and that was one of the higher trim standard-sized models with the moving map, upgraded stereo, etc. It's got just under 30K on it now, and the only problem I've had is a little rubber trim piece fall off in the wheel well. It cost around $20 to have it replaced.
The car looks very small, but there's quite a bit of room in the front and rear seats and in the trunk, and the rear seats lays down so the cargo capacity is fairly large. I'm a big guy and 70 years old, so I wanted something that had easy entry/exit and wasn't too cramped inside. The Prius has met my needs, been trouble-free so far, and has proven very economical with average mileage topping 45 mpg and oil changes only recommended every 10K miles. (I live just off I-90 in Wyoming where the speed limit is 80 mph and drive the speed limit; when I drive 65 mph (secondary roads) or around town I get 50 mpg.)
It's NOT a vehicle in which you sit up high above the traffic; quite the opposite, and I really have no idea how it would be to work on. I mention it only because it's already been suggested in this thread and you seemed to think it was expensive. It's not priced as an economy car, but I wouldn't call it pricey. You might want to take a look at one.
I did look at a couple used ones but thought they were overpriced compared to a new one.
Really? I thought they were pricey. He'd heard that Mercedes were easy to work on but who can afford those?
Quite, the opposite, Mercedes is one of the more difficult German brands to work on and many work requires a certified Mercedes tech to perform which is what they impose to force owners to bring to their overpriced shops. Many parts they use are not common equipment which is why it's luxury they are supposed to use high quality stuff.
Don't know where Husband got the info about Mercedes. Not surprised. Son in Law had a BMW and everything he had done on it was so pricey I couldn't believe it.
We're really not "luxury" people, anyhow. I don't have anything to prove to anybody these days. We bought the suv because it was the only one enclosed that would fit a whole sheet of plywood. Once we quit working, won't need to worry about those things any more. Come to think of it, we never did carry any plywood in it. We have trucks for that! I can't wait for the tires to wear a bit so we can take the old ugly tire wheel off the front and replace it with a better looking one. Just using up the tire stash around here.
1992-1995 honda civic W/ manual transmission. Trust this. I've seen em' all.....those civics have withstood the test of time and abuse.
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but who can afford those?
