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First of all, I realize that a topic like this will probably yield as many different responses as the "What tuba to buy?" topic, but I am compeled to pose the question anyway.

I need a reliable *USED* car for graduate school next year. My requirements:

Must be able to hold 1-2 tubas plus more than one person at a time. Space for luggage in addition would also be nice.

If it is a car, I would prefer a 5-speed manual.

Gas mileage is a concern. I would prefer 20+ mpg.

Price range is under ten grand, hopefully around five.

Any suggestions for reliable vehicles would be welcomed. If you have horror stories about a particular model, I would welcome those too.

Thanks guys

For a used car for haulin' people and tubas, it's hard to beat a brick.

Chuck(G) wrote:For a used car for haulin' people and tubas, it's hard to beat a brick.

Find one that is still bolted together in one piece for five grand--that's the trick. They've gone up-market, too, and parts and service for them is as expensive as it is for Mercedes or Audi.

I just checked Carmax's database, and could not find a Volvo wagon of any vintage or location for under $16,000. Granted, they didn't have many old ones available.

Rick "thinking Volvo ain't what it used to be" Denney

Ford Focus wagon, Volkswagen Jetta wagon, or Saturn L series wagon

adam0408 wrote:Gas mileage is a concern. I would prefer 20+ mpg.

Price range is under ten grand, hopefully around five.

Any suggestions for reliable vehicles would be welcomed. If you have horror stories about a particular model, I would welcome those too.

I would suggest a Ford Taurus station wagon. It will beat 20 mpg (and much better on the highway), and will be quite inexpensive with still relatively few miles on it.

And any mechanic will work on it.

Rick "who thinks used cars are overpriced these days" Denney

If you can find an old Accord wagon, that will do you well too.

Rick Denney wrote:Find one that is still bolted together in one piece for five grand--that's the trick. They've gone up-market, too, and parts and service for them is as expensive as it is for Mercedes or Audi.

The trick is to find a shop that is run by a Volvo fanatic. We have one such around here and he takes good care of our brick for less than it costs us to keep the F150 going. But then, there are a lot of bricks out here--I think they're less common in red states.

I'm a big fan of my subaru wagon. Good mileage, lots of space. I can fit my large walt johnson case in the back without even folding down the seats. It works for me.

Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, no contest. Toyota reliability, excellent fuel economy, and huge storage space. If you fold down the back seat there's plenty of room for tubas.

schlepporello wrote:Wayne (who's Prizm does good to get 31 MPG because I cain't keep my foot out of it) Wiley

WAAAY off-topic:

Hey Wayne, did you see the trucker who's done five million miles without an accident?

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/ ... cityregion

That's a lot of coffee!

schlepporello wrote: It's not always the other guy you've gotta watch out for, sometimes it's you and your over-confidence (I'm talking about myself of course).

I resemble that on the ski slopes, or I used to. Now that I'm older I am less interested in breaking or bending parts of myself. I'm also lucky that I have genetically really good knees. Other people with lesser splats have been in sorry shape.

MA

Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, no contest. Toyota reliability, excellent fuel economy, and huge storage space. If you fold down the back seat there's plenty of room for tubas.

Until the air conditioner craps oput at 46000 and needs $1100 in repair- that's from my reliable mechanic too, not the delaership! (warranty ends at 36000)

I would have recommended a manual shift Geo Prizm (Toyota Corolla, except less resale value - thus a lower price), but I wasn't sure if that (sedan-style only) trunk and back seat would have satisfied the needs outlined in the inquiry.

My '95 Prizm holds my York Monster Eb in the trunk (no case, of course)- the second tuba could go in the back seat. 95000 miles and the air conditioner still works! All 3 of my kids learned to drive stick in this thing (yes, I didi have to buy a clutch at 90000), it's been totalled by the insurance co. because of expensive sheet metal damage, but is still mechanically sound and takes us wherever we want to go.

Funny you should mention it- I'm headed to the Black Hills in 2 weeks- won't be driving the Prizm though. No cruise control and I can only stand 4 hours in those seats. It's a 17 hour drive from here, so it'll likely be the Vibe unless gas comes down enough to allow the F150.

schlepporello wrote:

davet wrote:95000 miles and the air conditioner still works!

Your compressor probably won't crap out until you have 160,000 miles on it and are on your way back home from the Black Hills of South Dakota on a 103 degree day. That's when mine went out.

Seems like the older Toys are still better....my 93 truck with 140+ k on it still has a servicible air conditioner ("servicible" in Tucson means I don't die in there when it is 112 out) and burns no oil. I'm only driving it occasionally now since I got the Forester, but it is still the vehicle of choice to take to the dump and the airport. The tuba fits fine in the Roo, and I can even hide it underneath that cover thingy.

MA

hey thanks for all the information guys. What I have found is that it is very difficult to find a specific car in the 5000 dollar price range, and I am already sick of the entire process.


all the used car dealers I have gone to have had one of two options (so it would appear)

1. pay about 5 grand more and get what I want more or less

or...

2. Buy a junker for about 1500-3000 and get dubious quality and much higher miles.