JoeCool Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I think I may have found my daughter a car! It isn't a Datsun, or even a Nissan, but whatever, I can't afford to blow a lot of money fixing up ANOTHER old car, and really don't have the time. She is getting ready to turn 18 in May and go off to college, and needs her own car. Found her an 02 Ford Escort in great condition, it looks almost new! Only 96,000 miles. Went to look at it today, They want $2900, I am going to see if I can talk them down. I worked at a Ford dealer as a technician for 10 years, Escorts were pretty much problem free. https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4372197177.html 1 Quote Link to comment
Z-train Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Have you schooled her in maintenance? Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Oh yeah. She knows a lot about cars. I taught her well. Quote Link to comment
OneFastRat Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Pics of the daughter? I'm not a 40yo creep I'm just an 18yo loner :sleep: Quote Link to comment
Janksun Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Pics of the daughter? I'm not a 40yo creep I'm just an 18yo loner :sleep: Lol Quote Link to comment
Ratwagon1600 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Pics of the daughter? I'm not a 40yo creep I'm just an 18yo wanker without a Datsun:sleep: FIFY 1 Quote Link to comment
Rocket Dog Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Good call. It probably has air bags? Quote Link to comment
67411sss Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 New paint? I know red fades but it could be hiding something. Are 90's ford escort known as good cars? What about a Camry http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4317182960.html Quote Link to comment
hotvwnut Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 make sure you replace timing belt and check pcv hose assembly--usually leaks--gets hot in a cylinder, drops valve seats , burns valve due to cheapo hose vaccum leak Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Pics of the daughter? I'm not a 40yo creep I'm just an 18yo loner :sleep: Well, here ya go: She's been going through some body issues lately. But I am still proud of my little girl! Before dieting: and after: 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 New paint? I know red fades but it could be hiding something. Are 90's ford escort known as good cars? What about a Camry http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4317182960.html I am wondering about the new paint too. Before I get ANY car I have a couple of friends who are still mechanics I will have lift it up in the air and we will check it out good. Besides, me being a former mechanic and doing certified pre-owned I know what to look for on a test drive. etc. I feel for people who sell me vehicles and think they are going to pull the wool over my eyes! And yes, 90's Escorts are known for being good, RELIABLE cars. I saw very few problems with them as a Ford tech. And that Camry looks rough, and has a lot of miles, which I am trying to avoid. But It may be an option...Camry is a reliable car. Quote Link to comment
OneFastRat Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I like the after :D Quote Link to comment
GRpufnstuf Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Don't forget about all the dropped exhaust seats on the 1.9 engines! I think that '02 has a 2.0? But I've seen MANY escorts getting new heads at 70-80k miles Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Buy Japanese. 1 Quote Link to comment
Rocket Dog Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Buy Japanese. +1 Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Why buy Japanese? Or do you believe the myth that Japanese cars are better? Quote Link to comment
floyd17 Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Why buy Japanese? Or do you believe the myth that Japanese cars are better? As a general rule (especially when referring to old cars and reliability) I certainly do. 1 Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Why buy Japanese? Or do you believe the myth that Japanese cars are better? LMFAO, is that a real question? Be time period specific, lol, by decade, then I could answer you, otherwise its not an actual question/statement. 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted April 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 WELL, have to update on this. That guy sold the car out from under me, no biggie. Been looking at a lot of cars in the past couple of months. Just bought her a nice domestic/Japanese combo... a Saturn! A 2000 Saturn SL1. Purple with black cloth interior. 128,000 miles. Real good condition, but filthy and needs tires, a battery (DONE TODAY), and fluids changed. Car has sit in the same spot for over a year. Bought it for his twenty something year old daughter who lost her license. He couldn't figure out why it ran rough and wouldn't stay running. Sold it to me for $1000. Problem... old gas gone bad. Drained tank, filled with fresh gas and runs great! only cosmetic problem is she had a minor wreck with it, small hole in front bumper cover about 1/2", crack in plastic fender directly above it about 1". I think I did OK! Have one picture I will upload later of how it looks now, will upload more once we clean it up. 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted April 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Well, finally got Photofuckit and my iPhone to cooperate. Got some tires today as old ones were dryrotted and low on tread, Alignment, serpentine belt, a tie-rod, and a state inspection. Then to the DMV for tags. Tonight we hit up the car wash. And as promised, here is a picture... Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I got one of those for free in 05. Never died on me. Ate as much oil as gas. The seat auto reclined, meaning I needed to prop it forward with a milk crate wedged in the back. Seemed like everything that could go wrong did. But! I must reiterate. It never left me stranded. That part was amazing. 1 Quote Link to comment
Komeuppance Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 I would have bought much differently, especially for giving it to someone who is not mechanically able. Hopefully it works out well for her. -Robert 1 Quote Link to comment
Z-train Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Do the timing belt....NOW. 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted April 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 Sheesh, some of you are negative as hell... So, thanks for nothing! :P And by the way,as for the "not mechanically abled" comment, I am a mechanic by trade. I know what to look for when buying a used car. And I have worked on cars long enough to know which ones are and are not reliable. I am not going to hand my precious little girl a piece of :poop: gimme a break! :rolleyes: A Saturn SL is a reliable car. A buddy of mine who works at a Chevy dealer just recently posted a picture of the odometer on a Saturn he was working on with 787,000 miles, original engine, and still going strong! Car had been well serviced and maintained since day one, customer had documentation. A lot of what people view as bad cars is the owner's fault for not taking care of them. Any old car like say... a DATSUN is proof. There are old Fords, GM's, and Chryslers still running too. How many fully restored Ford Model A's have you seen driving around? Fact is, your ultra supreme,high and mighty Japanese cars have problems as well. Matter of fact, I looked at a marvelous and stupendous and indestructible 2002 Honduh last Saturday with 141,000 miles with a connecting rod knock, damn thing needs an engine or at least a rebuild soon. But according to the used car salesman it was the perfect car for only $2999! Bottom line, the truth is, all car manufacturers have had their share of problems, even our beloved Nissan. EDIT: as for the replacing the timing belt, Saturn engines had a timing CHAIN. So no need. And I think that is awesome, chains are more reliable and less maintenance! 2 Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted April 13, 2014 Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 Roger that on the chain. 787000 miles!!! God damn! That car has gone the distance. My Saturn experience fits right into your comment. Whomever owner my car before me was no mechanic. Likely some first time car owner such as this. Anyway. People will do right by commenting how they really feel. Why give false props. I think you are doing right by your girl, and that deserves props. Take good care of it, and let's see if she picks up a habit or two towards taking care of her own cars. Good on ya Quote Link to comment
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