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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 22, 2008 - 08:03pm PT
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Take anything you're seriously considering buying for an inspection by a competent independent mechanic. Make sure that mechanic knows you WON'T be using him/her for any needed repairs.
If you do buy the vehicle, assume you'll need to immediately spend something on repairs and maintenance. With the likely vintage and type of the vehicle, perhaps a significant amount. Likely to save money or grief in the long run.
And if you're serious about using it in the Rockies in winter, make sure it has a block heater, or have one installed.
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TradIsGood
Chalkless climber
the Gunks end of the country
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May 22, 2008 - 08:06pm PT
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Snow performance is overrated for being a dirtbag.
If it snows, stay where you are until roads are plowed dry.
If you are really into ice, and have to be in those areas, leave your car where you are staying and ride in your partner's vehicle.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 22, 2008 - 08:13pm PT
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RE:
" am just learning to drive these days,"
well, having gone through the used climber dirt bag vehicle thing in full, more than once, here's my comments.
1) agree w/ mechanic paid vehicle inspection, yes.
2) agree w/ all vehicles suggested, used to love the
trunk in my '72 Duster, all my gear, clothes, camping stuff
food, cooler and my bike - locked up in the trunk of a vehicle
almost no one would break in to.
But that was a hi-desert so-cal car.
3) getting a used Subaru might be the most practical
safest and most fun thing you could do. Under reported
a lot is what happens in the winter, when you CAN
afford a good set of snow tires - the things are
a blast in the snow and are really good on those
dirt road going out to so many of the campgrounds
you'll visit.
That said, a basic pickup truck is hard to beat, too.
You may find a sedate looking used Subaru Impreza,
bone stock with dorky hub caps etc. There are
tons of 'em out here and the owners will tell ya:
great car.
Bummer, bigger anything is cars is almost
always more $$$ in the long run.
so I'll hope for a beautiful Subie wagon -
a 2.2 liter one owner cream-puff that will be YOUR cragger-mobile for many moons - in your future.
One more note: craigslist = good research tool, regional
favorites, prices etc.
also: A Toyota van, like a first generation Sienna,
or a Previa (if U can find one) would be
an awesome hang-out mobile. Nothing like
having a van to dive into to fire up a cup
of joe, hang w/ friends, and wait out a thunder shower.
There's a million older Siennas around here and
w/ snow tires they bomb around in the winter no problem
NOTHING like a Subie, tho...
BUT vans are SO MUCH better if you're gonna hang...
have fun!
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 22, 2008 - 08:17pm PT
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Good idea on the van thing and the subie. I forgot about vans. I like to be able to go places that require the clearance of a truck. But vans are great for camping. Black out the windows and stealth camp.
Block heater is also important for Canada. Though not if you are camping. Who would camp in canada in the winter? yikes.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 22, 2008 - 08:27pm PT
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disagree about the air filter.
in my truck: air filter + balanced tires + new spark plug wires = better gas mileage
esp if you're like me and often on roads that arn't paved - air filter get dirty fast- a dirty air filter will bring down your mileage. i change mine every oil change
you might want to look into replacing the oxygen sensor too
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WBraun
climber
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May 22, 2008 - 09:34pm PT
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Rocky
That was an awesome write up on that mini van.
I wish every used car on the market had details like yours.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 22, 2008 - 09:41pm PT
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just b careful with the older subies they blow head gaskets
subooboos :(
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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May 22, 2008 - 11:52pm PT
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Rokjox, I thought you had a broken arm. How can you type and retype a 1000 word post with 5 fingers? lrl
Please reply in 50 words or less and no coupons.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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May 23, 2008 - 12:06am PT
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Rokjox, I am impressed! You did it in 50 words exactly! lrl
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 23, 2008 - 12:09am PT
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the subie head gasket thing is old news, has to do w/
Maintenance -
coolant flush, coolant gotta be to spec to work
subie is Aluminum intake/block - that H4 is a marvelous little mill...
just change the coolant out like every 30k
the poor coolant gets WASTED in there...
it Cannot do it's job of conducting heat away
from the metal in the engine when it's contaminated.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 23, 2008 - 12:11am PT
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bet it's not old news for a new buyer. thanks for clarifying what the prob actually is with those. hopefully that will be helpful for her if she gets one.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 23, 2008 - 12:19am PT
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nice bright GREEN coolant!
just think!
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 23, 2008 - 12:23am PT
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i don't know much about subies. i like working on toyota trucks. there's more money working in german cars tho. i am trying to get into the regional occupation program for AMT.
i strongly suggest people check their parts because the guy in my class who works the parts counter at the shop i bought my belts from gave the wrong belt twice. the first time i caught it before i left the store, the second time, i didn't realize. so i got to class and couldn't finish changing all the drive belts.
went in the next morning (tuesday) at 7am and did the last belt, the power steering pump belt, did it 100% independently and got the tension right on the first try, just had my prof check my work before (and after) i turned it on. at the beginning of the semester i didn't even know what any of the tools were.
i would say definetely the most important thing i learned this semester, and in years, is what a big diff the plug wires can make.
khanom i agree with you about the mechanics, but girls get taken advantage at car shops even more than the average joe. someone i know just graduated from UTI and concurs.
by the way do you need a hand getting that thing back on the road? i wanna come climb in the meadows. and if you get it fixed and on the road you should come to my party this weekend.
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 23, 2008 - 12:27am PT
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Not an old problem if you are buying an old subie. She only wants to spend about 2500. That means early 90s, when those problems occurred.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 23, 2008 - 12:32am PT
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word. i would not buy one of those subies, even tho i think they're cute.
and stay away from 4runners from like 95-99 i think it is? maybe it's 94-99. there was a big problem with that engine - anyone know more about that?
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 23, 2008 - 12:34am PT
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rebuilding a transmission? on an 11 year old american POS? hell no.
do you really want to? do you really have all the tools for that? is it an auto or a manual?
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 23, 2008 - 12:38am PT
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RE:
"i am trying to get into the regional occupation program for AMT."
cool!
by old "news" I mean the data is on the streets,
it's understood now, I don't think the "problem"
has actually gone away, just better care, better
awareness.
I might be partly wrong tho, since Subaru
continually tweaks the H4, now with
electronic valve timing - up about 10hp
on the open road (pedal down passing power)
so, hey maybe they tweaked the cooling too?
seems like the things that kill subies kill all cars, right??
here's the full dope:
http://www.cars101.com/
in the $2500 range?
find a nice Brighton wagon in white...
sub 150k, take the hub caps off and
touch up the black steel wheels w/ some 409 and a sponge,
put those "Hawaiian" seat covers on,
bam - dirt bag climber car from hell!
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John Moosie
climber
Suckage California
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May 23, 2008 - 12:54am PT
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Oops, I get it now Ray, thanks for explaining.
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
the secret life of T*R
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May 23, 2008 - 12:59am PT
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that's what i'm sayin'.
even more difficult than truck stop trannies :)
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