Posted on 05/01/2013 4:00:03 AM PDT by salamancaspain
99 Nissan small bed PU .. 200K
Both in the 23 mpg range
While I don’t have one now there was a time when I collected and rebuilt old Broncos, when I hit my 60’s I gave it up but I sure do miss them. My favorite was a stone stock 72 model, finding one that somebody hadn’t already cut the wheelwells out was tough. It was the last one I had and sold it to the owner of Bob Brock Ford.
Actually I like my 2011 Volkswagen Jetta & I missed my 1999 Chevrolete Cavalier after I sold that after 51,868 miles owning this car for 12 years, 1 month, 24 days. I liked my 1984 Porsche 944 (bought it for $6,500 in 1994 traded it in for $2,500 in 1999) but the problem again is that it’s so expensive to repair. The Chevrolet Chevette I had was a poor choice in that it consistently broke down.
With MOPAR (pony cars), the 2 which I liked were the 1971-1974 AMC Javelin & the 1971 to 1974 Charger. I was 4 years old in 1974. While the Dodge Challengers & Barracudas made those years have nice architecture, I’m not a big car person. I like cars which are small to midsize. But they should bring the cars with these years architecture-1971 Dodge Dart, 1971 to 74 Dodge Challenger & AMC Javelin along with the 1971 to 1973 Ford Mustang, only with technical advances that have happened since then such as better gas mileage, computers, etc. It’s good that American car companies work with Fiat, Daimler (past with Chrysler), etc. but keep the American architecture of cars.
Wife has a 1999 Camry. Far and away the best, most reliable car I have ever owned. The four-cylinder is a little underpowered, but gets over 30 mpg on the highway and around 25 around town. In over 10 years of ownership, other than regular maintenance, I have replaced a leaking water pump and a starter. With 115k miles on it, if we drive it until the wheels fall off, we will probably be willing it to one of our sons.
'06 Trailblazer for me. Like everything except the gas mileage. And a 2003 Altima for the 18-year old.
So, I guess I fit your 'Japanese car, American SUV' profile, although I have nothing against imported SUVs
81 VW rabbit truck unknown mile (odmeter stopped at 180,000)
91 f-150 250,000 miles
96 Mercury villager van 206,000 miles
Anything not built by the UAW.
Do the basics and keep the fluids clean and don’t beat ‘em up ... I’m convinced many (but I don’t think all) could go a half a mil.
Infiniti M37 built outside the US.
audi a4. probably my favourite car i’ve owned.
also have an 82 cj7, built up a bunch. no top. no doors.
Got a 02 yukon bought in 06 for good deal w 65k on clock. So far it has 185K with only ac compressor, alternator, and o2 sensor fails. Otherwise batteries, oil, coolant, trans fluid, brakes, tires and belts. Gets pretty good gas mileage for its age. Got a 96 previa L/E with 285K bought it off side of road with engine fail and rebuilt it. Did a lot of work on her as a project and for fun. She runs fine and does pretty well on gas also. I have 4 kids. No sports cars for me. Also live in N idaho and need 4wd most of the time.
I find the bodies of vehicles go way before the drive train if fluids are maintained. I live in Michigan where they salt the roads so that is a big autobody killer.
2002 Mazda Protoge5 289,000 miles.
Only had to replace a brake caliper. Best car I’ve ever owned.
I’ve owned lots of Chevys new and old, but I got tired of busting my knuckles on them all the time. My last Chevy had more Autozone parts in it than GM parts.
Best car I ever owned was a 1993 Honda Accord, 5 speed.
Infiniti owner here, too.
I ascribe to the approach that you find a low mileage, high line luxury sedan from the top imports (alphabetically; Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus, Merc)
I bought a 3 year old Q in 2005 for almost exactly half the original sticker. With only 17k miles on it, I was still under the orig warranty for a whole additional year. I did add a manufacturer extended, $0 deductible warranty to it, and I essentially had a bumper-to-bumper warranty for 5 years of ownership.
Long ago paid for, at about the same cost as a loaded Accord or Camry, I’ve enjoyed driving a car I don’t see often, and that performs so very well at so many things. It’s an ‘02, and has features on it that only now are making it to mid-line cars. Of course, those cars don’t have my 340 horsepower.
A gently used M37 would will certainly be one of the cars I would consider were I in the market.
Side note: Do you know about freshalloy.com? Nissan/Infiniti forum with lots of fellow owners. Great resource for commiserating about ownership experiences for these cars.
Is that a ‘65 Mercury with a 289?
I’ve always had GM and they have been great cars. I’ve got a 11 year old Tahoe with 179,000 miles on it...(and still running strong). I’ve shopped in case I suddenly need a new car. I won’t look at GM or Chrysler because I won’t support their unions. So I’m looking at the Toyota Sequoia. The Ford Navigator is my second choice, but their electronics don’t seem to be as reliable.
I think the E46 is considered the best M, aside from the oil issues that it had. I have an E39. It is truly a joy to drive. I’m actually in the middle of putting it up for sale, though. It’s time to move on...
bunch of mutts in the driveway lol
1. 1970 Opel GT. Made in Germany by an American company
2. 2003 Pontiac Vibe GT American made in conjunction with Toyota
3. 2011 Camaro SS2/SLP Canadian made by an American company.
Import or Domestic? You decide.
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