Car talk

[fbhjr]

On my way into work this morning, my driver’s side windshield wiper suddenly stopped working about 3 miles from work.
No cause was apparent. It had been going along and suddenly didn’t.
But, there was a nasty snapping type noise when the right side moved.
I shut off the wipers and drove the rest of the way to work with damp windows.

At work, I tired to adjust the nut holding the wipers and found it very solidly rusted.
And, trying the wipers again, neither worked.

This is a 17 year old car with more than 170,000 miles on it.
One headlight cover missing.
The trunk has to be released from the inside because the key lock is broken.
You have to push the door handles back in place to latch the door because the springs broke.
But, despite all of that, it had been running well. And, my mechanic says the motor was in good shape.

Not being able to clean my windshield is a major problem. And, given the car has been out of production for 15 years and the company that made it no longer in business, I’m not sure what it will take to fix it.

Therefore, I think it is time to think about a new one.

After work, I stopped at the Toyota dealership across the street from my company. After firmly insisting on what I was looking for, I got an answer that wasn’t too bad.
I didn’t laugh too hard when he suggested my trade in might be worth something. I made him promise not to charge me for towing it away.

I haven’t bought on yet, but I’ve started the process.
On the way home the coupe knew it and started giving me the finger.



Which, just proves it is broken if the wind can push it up like that.
We'll see how it works out.

Comments

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

I know you're looking at Toyotas, but I just gotta put in a plug to go look at Hondas too.

Honda Accord #1 went over 220,000 miles before it developed frame rust that I (then a poor college student) couldn't afford to fix. Traded it in, and two years later the Wasband spotted my bumperstickers still out there on the road.

Honda Accord #2 went 354,000 miles before I had to trade it in.

And Honda Accord #3 is Tripp, my current beast of burden. Whom I love very much.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

The current Saturn is 17 1/2 and almost 200k miles.
The Saturn before that I had for 247k.

I'd buy a Saturn if I could.

I'm looking at Toyotas because I've seen several sources say they have the best combination of MPG and reliability.
It doesn't hurt they're across the street from my workplace too...

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

The toyotas do have good quality record, but I gotta say, if you're looking at Corollas, that we weren't impressed with them. Oh, I'm sure that they probably are decent quality, but driving several of them left us with the impression that they were about the most boring, slow, uninspiring car we tried, and for some reason, we could never get comfortable in the seats.

I'd recommend maybe you try renting whatever car model - if possible - that you're seriously interested in for a few days of driving around the places you normally go - that's what made us reconsider our toyota choice 4 years ago. But, you may find things differently with a newer/different model.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

The toyotas do have good quality record

Toyotas used to have a good quality record, but the past couple of years they've had some real problems. Not sure what happened, but I bought a new car three years ago, and after all the articles I've read, I've been really glad that I didn't go with a Toyota.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Huh...Now that you mention it, the seats in the Corollas I've sat in haven't been that comfortable....Odd.

Good suggestion on renting if possible, and test driving.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Ugh, well you certainly put the Saturn through its paces.

Being a former Camry driver (from 1995 - 2011, a '94 and a '99 LE, both past 200,000), I'm more than happy to endorse them, they are excellent cars.
The '94 met it's final days in '03 when the distributor cap cracked and shorted out in an intersection during rush-hour, and also had a failed fuel filter that
was original. The '99 the worst damage I snapped the transmission cable, and when I gave it up for the Soob, the cost of a new Catalytic converter was almost the
trade value of the car, but by that time the engine had developed some quirks and had a shaky idle. But otherwise I loved that car)

A good friend from college got a Corolla in '01 I think and it still runs excellent.

A fellow reenactor just got a Corolla wagon I think is a '95 and it's got an amazing amount of room for the smaller Toyota model.

I only switched to Subaru as the Outback seemed a good value for a wagon.
The only downside is the not-as-great mileage with the AWD. (as you are aware w/ the Forester)

Honestly, if I had the chance at another pre-2002 Camry/Toyota, I'd have seriously considered it. There are times I really do miss my '99, but the Soob is nice too.
Oddly enough, the two different makes drive almost identically, there are times I forget I'm driving a Soob.

I'm not sure I'd "trust" post 2002 Toyota, beyond the gas-pedal fiasco a few years ago. Their quality in general has seemed to dwindle, although the newest
generation cars seems to be really promising.

I would also suggest Hyundai. Ladyhawk swears by them, and seem to be excellent for safety. Although she doesn't drive much, she's been able to get her
little Elantra up to the high 30's MPG consistently, and that's a late '90's model.

Honda has always been a good car, too :D Although I've personally never liked the handling and ride. (my Mom has one, and I've borrowed it when my cars have been in the shop)

I've also driven a Nissan (sister's Maxima) - that is a very sporty feel of a car. Touchy gas and a lot of zip. Feels more like a sportscar than a sedan. My brother's Sentra, not so much, but is reliable and rides similar to a Saturn)

Good luck!!

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

Wait... you have a Saturn?? Then I would place a money bet I know what went wrong with your wipers because it happened to me in our old Saturn. I used to joke that our Saturn had two settings: Running fantastic and dead.

I'm fond of Toyota and have a Corolla (04) that I'm still happy with.

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

I hope you find what you want! Buying a new car is always such an ordeal, even when it's "easy."

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

Good luck in the guy buying process. I hope the new one serves you as well as the Saturn.

What would be funny is if you brought your sword gear in along when you do a test drive-to see who well it fits- and see to see the look on the salesman's face =D

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I'm planning on all the sword stuff to stay in my wife's wagon.