CNN Money says "Drive your car to death!"

[save4aFIREyday]

I am about to hit the 4 year mark on my 2003 Honda Element, at which time I will also hit 25K miles. I was originally planning to keep it for 10 years, but with the low mileage I am putting on there, I hope to keep it a lot longer than that. Still, my ~6k miles per year is nothing compared to some of you. 3k miles per year? That is impressive!

Also, my brother-in-law had a Nissan Pathfinder for about 15 years and finally sold it when it had about 200k-250k miles on it. It was still doing fine, but it was a 2-door, which didn't work so well with getting carseats in and out.

[TromboneAl]

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It's important for me... I can't use cell phones except for the text msgs and I don't think that will help me much in an emergency situation.

HLP IM BRKN DOWN AND I DNT NO WR THE FK I AM

[FinanceDude]

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Originally Posted by Sarah in SC And need I remind you that the 2007 Car of the Year is a Saturn.

I know........:confused:, we'll see how the 3-year reliability studies are for it, much like the Ford Fusin. My neighbor has a new Aura, and it's been in the shop 4 times in the first 12,000 miles........

Remember, both the Chysler Cirrus and Renault Alliance were cars of the year too.........that didn't end up well either............

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl HLP IM BRKN DOWN AND I DNT NO WR THE FK I AM

I don't know where you are either Al, but I sure hope help comes along soon so you can trade in that old junker on something dependable.

[FinanceDude]

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Originally Posted by save4aFIREyday I am about to hit the 4 year mark on my 2003 Honda Element, at which time I will also hit 25K miles. I was originally planning to keep it for 10 years, but with the low mileage I am putting on there, I hope to keep it a lot longer than that. Still, my ~6k miles per year is nothing compared to some of you. 3k miles per year? That is impressive! Also, my brother-in-law had a Nissan Pathfinder for about 15 years and finally sold it when it had about 200k-250k miles on it. It was still doing fine, but it was a 2-door, which didn't work so well with getting carseats in and out.

Imports, imports.........

[laurence]

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Originally Posted by mathjak107 my volvo was the worst car i ever owned. in fact i think in the 8 years i owned it the only thing i didnt replace was the glove compartment door. that car was the main reason i never wanted to own a vehicle more than 4 years. hope you have better luck than i did.

Sounds like you got a lemon. Like I did with my VW. Notice how many Volvo station wagons with college parking stickers on the back still frequent the roads? DW was driving one when I met her. It was well north of 200k and stupid me, I said let's get rid of it for a new car. Spent far more repairing that replacement than we ever did on the Volvo.

But most cars made today, if taken car of, will give you 200k easy. Even economy cars have air bags, anti-lock brakes, etc. Aren't you driving a BMW now? If that's the case, I would stick to your policy of trading in every 4 years, or whenever the warranty is about to expire. Aren't oil changes $100?

[Sarah in SC]

Don't make me have to drown you when we go out on the boat, FD!

I'm hopelessly buy American, comes from working on the family farm. Knee jerk reaction--don't get me started talking about imported shrimp!

Just because you couldn't keep your domestics running...

[bow-tie]

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Originally Posted by Sarah in SC ... Just because you couldn't keep your domestics running...

166k on the Bonnie... 200k should be here in a couple years...

The wife's LT1 Impy will see 200k easily...

[Gumby]

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Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Don't make me have to drown you when we go out on the boat, FD! I'm hopelessly buy American, comes from working on the family farm. Knee jerk reaction--don't get me started talking about imported shrimp! Just because you couldn't keep your domestics running...

But what does it mean to "Buy American" in the context of buying a car? The Honda Element is made in East Liberty, Ohio. Is it import or domestic? Similarly, the Pontiac Aztec is made in Mexico. Import or domestic? And Volvo is owned by Ford Motor Company (along with Land Rover and Jaguar). Am I really buying a Ford when I buy a Volvo?

[brewer12345]

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Originally Posted by Gumby But what does it mean to "Buy American" in the context of buying a car? The Honda Element is made in East Liberty, Ohio. Is it import or domestic? Similarly, the Pontiac Aztec is made in Mexico. Import or domestic? And Volvo is owned by Ford Motor Company (along with Land Rover and Jaguar). Am I really buying a Ford when I buy a Volvo?

My subaru was made in indiana and my honda was made in Canada. My old ford wagon was made in the us, but had a japanese transmission. Domestic vs. import is effectively meaningless, IMO.

[saluki9]

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Originally Posted by laurencewill Aren't you driving a BMW now? If that's the case, I would stick to your policy of trading in every 4 years, or whenever the warranty is about to expire. Aren't oil changes $100?

They're free the first 4 years!

So are brake pads, which when you drive like I do is worth some serious $$$

[Sarah in SC]

I'm just messing with FD. I know the "imports" are made here. All this talk for me is just nameplates, really, not actually made here versus made there.

But I just keep thinking--after I was lusting after a Ford Galaxie I saw in a parking lot the other day--will anyone ever feel this way about a Honda? FWIW, I still want a Pacer, so what does that tell you?

[HFWR]

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Originally Posted by Sarah in SC I still want a Pacer, so what does that tell you?

If you're gonna smoke that stuff, at least pass it around...

[haha]

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Originally Posted by brewer12345 My subaru was made in indiana and my honda was made in Canada. My old ford wagon was made in the us, but had a japanese transmission. Domestic vs. import is effectively meaningless, IMO.

I only want cars with a Japanese brand and a VIN that starts with a "J".

Ha

[Sarah in SC]

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Originally Posted by HFWR If you're gonna smoke that stuff, at least pass it around...

Oh, yeah and also from that article's sidebar on the 10 cars with bad reps, the ever memorable AMC Matador! Who wouldn't want one of those! Smokin' hot!

[Khan]

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Originally Posted by brewer12345 My subaru was made in indiana and my honda was made in Canada. My old ford wagon was made in the us, but had a japanese transmission. Domestic vs. import is effectively meaningless, IMO.

My previous vehicle was a Ford Festiva: it was a Mazda built in Korea.

[Texas Proud]

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Originally Posted by Sarah in SC And need I remind you that the 2007 Car of the Year is a Saturn.

Need I remind you that the VEGA was also the Car of the Year for 1971... and was one of the 10 worst cars ever made...


Worst cars ever made - AutoMotoPortal.com

[Texas Proud]

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Originally Posted by Gumby But what does it mean to "Buy American" in the context of buying a car? The Honda Element is made in East Liberty, Ohio. Is it import or domestic? Similarly, the Pontiac Aztec is made in Mexico. Import or domestic? And Volvo is owned by Ford Motor Company (along with Land Rover and Jaguar). Am I really buying a Ford when I buy a Volvo?

Yes... which is why I will not buy a Volvo

[brewer12345]

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Originally Posted by haha I only want cars with a Japanese brand and a VIN that starts with a "J". Ha

I only want a reasonably priced, highly reliable car with excellent crash test ratings, reasonable fuel economy, plenty of cargo space, and prefeably AWD/4WD. Don't care who makes it or where.

[WanderALot]

We are probably going to get rid of my 2-door car soon since we have a baby on the way. I actually feel a little bit guilty since its "only" 9 years old and has only 115k miles on it. I also rationalize a bit since my 2-door doesn't have ABS or side airbags.

Any opinions on a 2005/2006 Passat wagon with AWD (not the turbo diesel one) ? VW makes me a little bit nervous about reliability, but a friend is selling one and I know he takes good care of cars.