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irene+
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 22, 2008 - 01:55pm PT
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Hello everyone,
I am hoping that some of the kind and generous spirits in here could help me with some car buying advice. I am looking to take a year off or so between grad school (which I'm almost finishing) and work, to climb full time across the USA and possibly Canada as well.
I am just learning to drive these days, after having lived in big cities for years. (and after miraculously getting to climbing destinations without having a personal vehicle)
I will be looking to get smth from a private seller, that would cost, say no more than 2500$, and that would run smoothly for a year and would fare well in very cold temperatures (Canadian Rockies in winter) and off-road.
Any makes/models that you would recommend looking after or that you've had good experiences with, on extended road trips?
I've seen some great car frugality tips on the forum in the past (especially by Rokjox), please share some with me! It will be very appreciated, as I have no experience with cars at all.
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 22, 2008 - 02:02pm PT
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Late 1980s toyota 4 wheel drive pickup with 4 cylinder engine. They are very dependable and can be had in decent condition for about 2500. You might need to buy better tires for about another 400, but even after the year is up, you could sell it for close to what you have in it. Great on rough roads, you can live in the back of it if you put a shell on it.
Get a jump starter rechargable battery for help with cold starts.
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 22, 2008 - 02:12pm PT
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Hahaha....I love that story. It is worth reading again. I hope Russ writes a book some day. He has a great sense of humor.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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May 22, 2008 - 02:14pm PT
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Does it have to be something you can sleep in? I agree that the older toy trucks (or 4-runners) are great, but even the 4 banger sucks a fair bit of gas, and if you're going on an extended road trip, you'll spend more on gas than the price of the ride. Don't get the 3 liter trucks or 4 runner, they have barely more power than the 2 liter 4's and suck more gas, I've had both. A toyota, honda, nissan sedan with a 1.8 to 2 liter engine will get 30+ mpg on the freeway vs barely over 20 for the toy truck. If you don't have much driving experience, you really don't need an offroad vehicle.
I had a nissan 200 a few years back that I'm kicking myself for having given away. At the time it's fuel savings over my truck was the same as what it cost to insure, and I couldn't see having an extra car in the driveway if it wasn't saving me $.
The challenge in buying a ~$2k beater is finding one that has life left in it vs. one that is going to need major engine and or transmission work and the current knows it isn't worth putting that work into the rig so they are selling it.
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NFB
Mountain climber
SLC UT
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May 22, 2008 - 02:20pm PT
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Irene+,
Check out anything honda. I had a honda accord in college that made it to 200+K. These cars last forever. Japanese know what they are doing...
I used to put cheap chains on the front tires in winter and could climb 12% grades with lots of snow.
Accords without oil leaks would be your best bet. Accord station wagon even better...
Good luck with the dirtbagging
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 22, 2008 - 02:34pm PT
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If you don't go with 4 wheel drive, and he is correct, experience helps, then the two wheel drive 4 cylinder 80s toyota truck will get close to 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Get the extended cab for more room in the cab.
Here are some examples.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/car/682467889.html
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/car/685281857.html
do not buy something that has been modified, such as lifted, unless you are very familiar with modifications or have someone who is familiar with modifications look at it.
Here is an example in California of the 2 wheel drive version.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/689809210.html
these vehicles usually have high miles, but if it has been taken care of and not abused, or has had work done on it, then this is usually not a problem. I wouldn't be afraid of something that has 200,000 miles on it if it has been maintained. At least if you are looking at something for only 2500 dollars. Have a mechanic look at it. You will need to know how to drive a stick shift, the automatics with 2 wheel drive and 4 cyclinder don't get as good of mileage, and are slow.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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May 22, 2008 - 02:37pm PT
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The most important component to a dirtbag car is a lot of free time. As in you have three days to chill in a random town while some chucklehead orders parts and fixes your rig.
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scooter
climber
fist clamp
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May 22, 2008 - 02:43pm PT
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I would say 4cyl Toyota 2wd or 4x4. The ground clearence even of the 2wd is better than almost any car. The utility of a truck is really hard to beat. PLUS, while you are dirt baggin' if it is for real and you need some emergency money you can always put up a sign in what ever town your at or at the senior center. CHEAP HAULING Call (###)###-####. Hope that helps.
Patrick
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 22, 2008 - 05:07pm PT
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i am so bummed i just typed out a huge post and lost it. here are the main points:
* since you're new to driving remember this one super important thing: when driving in winter conditions, go like 3x slower even in a 4wd. don't let the people who speed get to you. tons of people are always spinning out because they're in 4X4s but don't have a lot of experience driving them but still get cocky and drive fast anyway - don't be one of them.
*replace the timing belt b4 u hit the road - in an older car this is something you need to keep an eye out for - you want to be the one who chooses when you stop, not the car
*learn how to do basic maitenence stuff like changin the oil which is super simple - the 5 or 10 bucks you'll save by doing it yourself adds up when you're dirtbagging - make sure you keep an eye on fluid levels and such
*for better gas mileage be sure to change your air filter like clockwork - the engine needs to breathe well - and keep the tires balanced. if you get an older toyota i strongly recommend putting in brand new spark plug WIRES (and the spark plugs too) if they're not brand new and you don't know how old they are. i just replaced mine and it made a huge difference
*also make sure the drive belts are in good condition - if you need to replace them and you can only do one at first do the alternator belt and then the other ones ASAP
*if you need car parts don't let mechanics bully you into buying brand new ones - go to a junkyard and get your own - i just replaced the climate control assembly in my truck. the part is 112$ new and i went to my buddy at the auto recycler and got one out of an older toyo and paid THIRTY FIVE BUCKS for it! don't be scared going into those places and being the only female in sight but do watch your back
*seriously get a manual for your car- they can be a little vague but still very helpful- i'm lucky i that i was in a class this semester so i had a mechanic checking my work but i replaced a ton of stuff on my truck and saved over a grand in labor
you also learn to spit and cuss. viva greasebonics!
*if you decide you want to keep the car longer and you do put in some parts, don't cheap out. you save the money by doing the work yourself, not by putting pieces of sh*t under the hood
*when you do buy your own parts, check them before you leave the store to make sure they're not damaged in any way and are the correct size for your vehicle
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 22, 2008 - 05:12pm PT
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also, gas is so impure these days that everyone should, at least once a month, be pouring in a bottle of fuel injector / carb cleaner into their gas tank b4 they fill up
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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May 22, 2008 - 05:13pm PT
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I hope to qualify as a dirtbag by 9/1/08. We can go together and use my car. lrl
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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May 22, 2008 - 05:14pm PT
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Pay to have it checked out by a mechanic.
Everything else posted here comes second.
Every used car is on the market for a reason - someone is sick of it for a reason they won't disclose to you. Given your background, even the most unsophisticated seller is probably going to be able to hide problems from you. So take it to a mechanic and pay the 50-100 or whatever.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 22, 2008 - 05:17pm PT
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is there an auto club back east like TripleA, which has centers where you can take a car to get checked out before you buy it? the auto club out here even has lists of mechanics they endorse, and some even offer discounts to TripleA members. careful w/mechanics. girls get ripped off.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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May 22, 2008 - 05:54pm PT
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"I'm pretty convinced that mechanics are the biggest scam artists on the planet. I know of only two that I would trust"
I wasn't suggesting she actually get the car *worked on* by said mechanic - only looked at. Being able to find and describe the general area of a problem is a lot different than competently repairing it. The former is a lower standard.
So yes - go get the car looked at, otherwise you'll be dealing with a lot of idiots and repair bills.
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tooth
Mountain climber
B.C.
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May 22, 2008 - 06:01pm PT
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Find a snow-covered parking lot or back road, mess around. Do doughnuts, everything you can think of. Get yourself out of slides.
Do it as often as possible, in different snow conditions, at different speeds.
This will be the best way to get you to slow down in snow, you will know how easy it is to break traction, and then if you do accidentally loose it, you won't freak out.
I had some scary incidents on the road from Lake Louise to Golden when I was in college out there, rock face vs. semi. I was so glad that I had taken my dad's advice and spent a lot of time playing in snow as soon as I learned to drive.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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May 22, 2008 - 06:10pm PT
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Sadly I don't think most auto mechanics are smart enough to be con artists, they simply don't understand the fundamentals of how a car works, and if their plug in diagnostic tool doesn't tell them what part to swap out, they are clueless how to diagnose the problem. Little different then the snot nosed kid at the burger joint that can't figure out your change w/o the register telling them what it should be.
I bought a new truck 2 years ago, I discovered a coolant leak about a month after I bought it. I thought, I can crawl under the truck and find the problem, but nah, it's under warranty, I'll let them fix it. 3 trips, 11 days in the shop, over a 4 week period, to find the leak and get a replacement for the deffective hose clamp.
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maestro8
Trad climber
Sunnyvale, CA
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May 22, 2008 - 07:44pm PT
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for better gas mileage be sure to change your air filter like clockwork
This myth is uttered so often people are beginning to believe it.
The air filter isn't the bottleneck in the engine... it's the throttle.
Sure, a dirty air filter will make the engine work a little harder to pull in air, but the effect is so small it'll be tough to see any impact on your fuel efficiency.
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TradIsGood
Chalkless climber
the Gunks end of the country
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May 22, 2008 - 07:55pm PT
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If you can get a '62 Chevy from a neighbor for $100 paid $10/month...
I had that car for 18 months (1977). Sold it for $75 when it failed inspection because a front wheel was about to fall off. I was going to put seat belts in it, but the metal under the seats was too rusted out to anchor them. The buyers just wanted the engine. They towed it away themselves.
I replaced a water pump in the dead of winter and rebuilt a carburetor. So it probably cost me, net, about $4 / month, plus gas, oil and insurance.
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Pennsylenvy
Gym climber
Fannie's Crack
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May 22, 2008 - 08:01pm PT
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Bought a toyota corola for $2,000.00. 32+ miles per gallon. Not good off road. Can do winter with studded front tires. Two wheel drive pickups=no gud in snow. You can do it but it's a pain in the @$$. Four wheel drive pickups suck gas. As others earlier have led to I think these factors are the gist of your decision. I would personally go with the small sedan these days with gas prices. Most destination climbing areas are have easy access. The other one's you could team up with a local which is more fun anyways. There are lots of good runner toyota corolas out there in your price range. These cars run and run.
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