BS: Help: Car info

Subject: Car info
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 May 02 - 10:43 PM

Sigh....when are the rest of the BB's out there gonna get as clever as Max? Think he might make a fortune organizing websites. Well, this ain't got NUTHIN' to do with music, but perhaps someone can point me in the right direction. After selling my beloved '68 Mustang, have decided on a 1997 Honda Odyssey EX. WHERE do i find out how long they are supposed to live? What they are engineered for? I keep getting stuck in loops. Oh yeah, this is partially a music thread...chose this vehicle because it can transport: 1 hammer dulcimer, 2 guitars, 2 mandolins, 1 bodhran, and 2 dogs. Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 May 02 - 10:49 PM

Rest assured it's a solid piece and Honda' engineering, quality, and reliability, are top notch. I'm sure you'll be happy with it and also that you'll find the odd pain in the rump too. But they are fine vehicles from a great company.

Now I need to discuss what screw you had loose to sell a '68 Stang?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 May 02 - 10:58 PM

Ever hear of petrol going for over 2$ gallon...STILL! And i can make money with the Odyssey, (farmers market) and spend it on the 'stang. I loved it, had it for 13 years, but just don't want to get a straight enough job to keep it on the road. Aside from which, it is foolish to have a love affair with a car when the ocean is only 1/4 mile away. sigh.....

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 28 May 02 - 11:57 PM

Petrol at over $2 a gallon.... My heart bleeds for you. Ours now at around 90 cents a litre ( say $4.00 Australian a gallon or near enough as makes no difference, with our dollar worth about 50 cents US and about 40 pence UK) and I bet the UK cats are presently going bananas as well..... just grateful my employer puts fuel in the car I drive... I'd hate to feed this 3.8 litre V6 out of my pocket, but it's a station wagon and holds 3 bodhrans, 2 mandolins, 1 bowed psaltery, 1 wife, 1 father-in-law and a partridge in a pear tree.....

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:07 AM

Yep, I do tend to have a chuckle at $2 a gallon being expensive but... back to the question. I don't know the model but the Honda should be reliable... Japanese engineering tends to be very good...

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:53 AM

HA! Tell that to the three garages that have had my Honda CB125 in for repair in the 10 months I've owned it!!

Or am I just chosing crap mechanics? Mind you, at around 200 miles per tank of petrol (less than £10 to fill it up, that's a total of 20p a mile, or 12 round trips to work and back) I'm quite happy!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 29 May 02 - 01:22 AM

By all accounts, the Honda Odyssey here in Downunderland is a pretty OK machine. I'm told it easily out-performs the major competitor, the Toyota Tarago (which wouldn't be hard) and offers superior ride and comfort to any other people mover currently available. Honda do have an enviable reputation for reliability, performance, finish and general all round excellence, but also higher prices. You pays your money, you gets your choice.

Hey Liz, Back in the long ago, I rode a Honda CB 250 briefly, (which was a great machine) and then had a 175. That 175 twin (with a little modification) used to hit 95mph . Peak torque 5000rpm, peak revs 6000rpm, red-line 6500rpm, no crank 7000rpm. For a lightweight tourer it was incredible - better power/weight ratio than the old HRD Vincent Shadows. And the only major trouble I ever had was when somebody tried to plant a car in the side of it.... didn't work out too well......

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 May 02 - 01:31 AM

What exactly seems to be the problem, Gypsy? I can have Sorchason and Mr. Sorcha talk to you. Spaw is also a "car person".......but you didn't say what your problem is.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: kendall
Date: 29 May 02 - 08:02 AM

Honda makes one of the best cars in the world. I suggest you go to a library and check out some old issues of Consumer reports. I'm sorely tempted to buy one of those hybrid rigs myself. Consider this all you folks who think we can save money by driving nothing but little cars. When we are ALL getting 50 miles to the gallon, do you see the oil companies keeping the price down? No way! they are going to gouge us for high profits just like they do in Europe. We will all be driving upholstered rollerskates and paying through the nose too.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: artbrooks
Date: 29 May 02 - 08:41 AM

Consider checking out the references at www.cars.com...I've never used it myself, but there seems to be some helpful stuff on there.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 May 02 - 11:19 AM

What i am looking for is how many miles they are engineered for. 150,000, 200,000, or what? The year i am looking at averages in the range of 60-70 thousand miles. What i want to know, is am i planning on purchasing something 20 thousand miles before it plans to die? Went to cars.com already, and while they are helpful, they don't get into life expectancy. Oh yeah, sorry for the bitching about gas prices....but on the other hand, i live in a minimum wage town. Fuel for the mustang ran about 10-15% of my weekly wage. Does that give a better perspective? This is why i want a four cylinder. I don't want to go back to the 60 hour work week.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 May 02 - 11:48 AM

We parked Karen's '86 Prelude with 300,000+ miles on it. It still goes but at this point needs struts, clutch, steering rack, etc. The struts were replaced once and the timing belt as well. 3 sets of front brakes, 1 rear. A couple of exhaust repairs and bateries and that's about it. It is the original clutch! The engine and trans are still just fine and have never been apart. Honda builds cars to last more than a day or two. If needed we can still drive the Prelude although it's value now is about nil as far as selling it...which is why it's still here!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: kendall
Date: 29 May 02 - 11:59 AM

No one can tell you how long a car will last. That's pretty much up to you, depending on how well you take care of it. Spaw is right, 300k is not unusual on a Honda. I once bought a Volvo with 215k on the clock.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: artbrooks
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:09 PM

My truck (1996 Chev. Blazer) has 108,000 miles on it and has had no repairs other than things that wear out (eg, brakes). I think that there has been a major shift over the last ten years or so away from the disposable car, and US-made cars have made a greater change than Japanese. (of, course, they also had a LOT farther to go). Chevrolet engines (or at least mine) are designed to have the first service at 100,000 miles. Depending on your needs to haul stuff, you may want to check out the Subaru models like the Outback and Forester. Also, Volvos last forever, and early 90s station wagons are readily available.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:36 PM

Subarus are like the energiser bunny, they just keep going and going...I highly recommend them, plus they are economical on gas.

Are you in the States, Gypsy? If so, I also would recommned spending the money at cars.com for a VIN check, I think is what they call it. It tells you the history of the car, how many owners, whether it's ever been in any collisions, where it has been, location-wise, etc. When we got ready to buy a mini-van, we looked up several there and were really glad we did, as one, which looked and sounded pretty good, had some major unseen problems, incluiding an audometer which had been tinkered with, as well as it had been totalled out by an insurance company, then cobbled together for resale!

Good luck,

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:41 PM

I was in the car business for fifteen years. The key to any vehicle lasting a long time is making sure that you follow the scheduled maintenance.

The Odyssey is a relatively new model, so it's tough to say how long it will last. Honda do build a wonderful product (I drive a Civic myself), but like any manufacturer, they have had the odd "dog". Anyone I know with an Odyssey is very satisfied with it.

I've heard sonme negative reports on the newer Volvo's

I don't think you can go wrong with Toyota, Honda or Subaru in terms of longevity, total cost of ownership and value for the money.

I agree that the North Americans are building much better vehicles than they did twenty years ago.

A '68 Mustang, that brings back memories. My best friend growing up had a '68 390GT Fastback that was identical to the one that McQueen Drove in Bullit. I spent a lot of time in that car, doing things that I'm lucky to have survived (e.g, running from the law at about 120 MPH with lights off at night).

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:49 PM

Call Car Talk. They are great.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: GUEST,Just Amy
Date: 29 May 02 - 01:10 PM

In '95 I sold my '69 VW Bug to buy a Saturn. I love my Saturn. I bought new tires for the first time last year. I got the extended maintenance and was glad I did. My car still gets great mileage. The only thing to remember is to get the oil changed every 3,000 miles or every 3 months whichever comes first. This is very important on any car from the mid to late 90's up to today.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: kendall
Date: 29 May 02 - 02:19 PM

I dont think thge newer Volvos are up to their standards, and, like every other car, they are over priced. As far as engines go, you can't beat the 240 series.

Subject: RE: Help: Car info
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 May 02 - 02:41 PM

85p a litre up here in God's own country: Scotland. £1:00, is 100p, and the pound is about $1.40. So make that 1.4 cents + 1p, that makes 1 litre $1.19, and 1 gallon UK costs about $5.43. Whaddya think o' them apples then transatlantic and antipodean friends? Shit aint it!!
Failte....Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: kendall
Date: 29 May 02 - 05:19 PM

And why is petrol so high in the UK?

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 May 02 - 05:31 PM

It's the pinko communist right wing facist bleeding heart liberal exteemist government, Kendall. Oh - and the one legged Bolivian unicyclists...

Well, maybe it's just tax and greed after all but why ruin a good story with the facts?

Back to cars. I am driving a 1986 Rover with 166K miles on the clock. Quite good for a British car. Mind you it was when Rover were partnered with Honda. And Honda did design it. And build the gearbox. And intall a French Peugeot diesel engine.

Hmmmm.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 May 02 - 05:32 PM

Whoops - sorry - That should have been 1996.

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 29 May 02 - 06:21 PM

Dave, I think the idea of cross-ownership car manufacturers is great... I once had a thing (and I use the term advisedly) they called the Chrysler Centura out here in Oz. It came out of the old Australian Valiant factory. I believe it started life as a Simca design and model. By the time it arrived here, the basic type had a different engine - albeit still a French design - coupled with a German transmission, Italian hydraulics (mostly identical with Fiat system parts). Oh yes, and American badges and hubcaps. Then the same shell was also available with an Aussie six cylinder engine and an American inspired Aussie built, V8.... And every spare part we had to buy (and we bought plenty!) cost twice as much as an ordinary Aussie Holden equivalent.... By the way, the model was dropped when Mitsubishi took the Valiant factory over and started building their Sigma model, also based on a French design.......

Think I'll get one of those Bolivian unicycles next time up........

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 May 02 - 07:46 PM

LMAO, DtG!!

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: Gypsy
Date: 30 May 02 - 11:07 PM

Thanks, guys. Plan on doing the carfax number, and definitely plan on maintenance. (Kat, we live in the northwest nowhere, where we have plenty floods during El Nino. You bet i'll check! too manyh deals with the mud under the dash!)Handsome mando player was a mechanic for 15 years. And i know that there are no guarantees. But hearing about 200 and 300 thousand miles is encouraging. My pretty pony car went away today....will be a teenage girls first car, she and her father will go thru and thru it for the next year, then she can drive it when she gets her liscense. Oh yeah, the reason why gas is so high in the UK is they don't have the gov artificially keeping the prices low like we do in the states.

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 May 02 - 05:49 AM

Gypsy: it's not the government failing to keep the price of fuel artificially low! it's the government taking too much in tax (approx 75% of the 'Pump Price'). We have been told over the years that this is to discourage car usage, encourage car sharing, thereby reducing pollution!
But whai it now comes down to is that with the 'Road Fund' (i.e the yearly tax on owning a car) The fuel tax, and the purchase tax on buying a car, the government is raking in far more than it ever spends on roads, or on the environment.
The government would now have a very hard job reducing fuel tax because they rely on the income.
The same is true of the governments half-hearted attempts to reduce tobacco use. Despite the claims for the amount of sickness and death smoking (supposedly) causes, The National Health Service funding can be more than covered by the duty charged on cigarettes. A pack of 20 costing £4-39 includes £3-47 in tax.
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: ozmacca
Date: 31 May 02 - 05:53 AM

Sounds like here.... Serve them right if we gave up fags and beer and petrol altogether..... Well, I'm two-thirds the way there.

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: kendall
Date: 31 May 02 - 10:25 AM

Someone has to pay for that "free" health care!

Subject: RE: BS: Help: Car info
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 May 02 - 02:43 PM

The oil companies will never let them raise the prices here as long as the oil companies keep getting subsidised by the government...esp. to the tune of such fiascos as Enron.

Gypsy, I knew that, I think!*bg* CRS strikes! Anyhow, glad to hear it. Remember you can't go wrong with a Subaru. We put well over 250,000 on our first one, which we hauled water with for several years, through all kinds of blizzards, etc. The other two, one was a ranch car I bought used...it was ahrd used and went over 200,000; The last one sits at our daughter's, still running fine and just ready to hit 200,000.

The Plymouth minivan I bought last fall has now gone over 100,00 and is running very well. We are really pleased with it and I din't think I'd ever say that about anything that wasn't a Subaru or Ford!*bg*