21st May 2010, 19:50

The Autoparts store that delivers parts to the repair shop I work for uses nothing but imports. When delivering smaller parts they use a Nissan Versa. For larger, heavier parts deliveries, they use 2WD Toyota Tacoma's.

22nd May 2010, 08:53

I wrote the post on the Toyota trucks... I think I can tell the difference between personal and construction use since I was one of the guys driving around jobsites with these trucks. Remember this was over 20 years ago... We overloaded these trucks so they had virtually no play in the rear ends and just pounded them day after day. They were amazing vehicles. Did I wish we had a 3/4 ton 4X4 instead? Of course. These trucks were too small and really tough to navigate serious mud with as they were only 2WD. It's what we were provided with so we had to make due. At least they never broke down. An 80's Ford Ranger would have folded after about an hour of that kind of abuse!

22nd May 2010, 08:59

See, now this is what I mean about no such thing as no repairs. The AC is a major repair, whether you care about it or not. I would want to have AC so I'd have to fix it for probably over $1,000. You also said other things don't work. Plus ignoring a transmission rebuild doesn't mean your car is trouble free. I can only imagine most owners who claim their cars have needed NO REPAIRS, are just living without things the car originally had, so they don't have to spend lots of money on their old cars.

22nd May 2010, 13:44

In some cases, buying new with small payments is wise with a warranty. I had a Legend; no issues, cost 24k, then anyone buying it used at 100000 miles from me would face bad heater core, bad sunroof and broken AC. Cheap to buy, but high to fix at 100000 miles.

22nd May 2010, 14:46

You make it out like he was putting up with a slipping transmission and no AC for 20 years. If everything worked until 270,000 miles, but quit working "the last couple of years" until 300,000 miles, why would you spend money fixing things on a super high mileage car nearing the end of its life? And you don't know that it would cost a thousand dollars to fix the AC. Probably more like a $12 can of refrigerant with a recharge kit. And probably $50 for a new filter and fluid change to fix the slipping transmission. But I agree that it would cost a thousand dollars to fix the AC on a new Toyota.

23rd May 2010, 05:35

Actually I disagree about having to have A/C. It may be uncomfortable at times, but few cars even had it long ago, and people made it to work anyway. If a car is just a simple daily commuter vehicle, and as long as the safety equipment on it works, brakes and tires are good and it starts every time, it serves the purpose.

I had a car with a slipping trans that lasted another 50,000 miles, and I sold it that way. I was always really light on the throttle and it was fine. It was a 1968 Olds Cutlass 2 door and ran great. It was 20 years old and a $900 car. Nice car with great paint and interior.

If I had it in 2010, I would fix the A/C and the trans as it has appreciated. But then there better opportunities to grab great vehicles. When I sold it I was far ahead. I also bought a 1969 SS Camaro weekend car for $3500 in 1986 (same time frame); another GM that I was glad I bought at the time vs. $30,000 for one identical today.

23rd May 2010, 13:31

Yes, but again the point is you needed major repairs. Just because they don't make the car unusable and you can live with them in disrepair, doesn't make the car completely repair free. Anyone can make that claim if they really wanted to. I don't care how long the car lasted, this person claimed it was repair free when it needed repairs. False claims are false claims, no matter how you want to skew the facts to make your case. Also, babying your car so you won't send the transmission to the junk yard is no testament to quality... sorry.

Also, I have heard of so many people who can easily live without their AC. Yeah, so why do you waste money on it from the start then? To me driving in 95 degree humid weather in stop and go traffic while dressed for work is not an option. Nothing more fun than sitting at your desk looking like you just came from the gym!

I had a good laugh at the guy thinking a can of freon and a transmission fluid change would fix everything. Give me a break. If it were that simple, why would this person be so eager to live without AC and to drive around with a slipping tranny? Yeah, they wouldn't now would they?

24th May 2010, 11:42

Wow, reading some of these comments, you'd think nobody ever survived driving to work without AC. Maybe not everybody thinks it's a necessity.

For instance, I live in a mild climate, and there are less than a handful of days in the year when I would be sweating behind the wheel with the windows open. I sure wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars to fix something I barely use, especially on a used car.

Whether the AC works or not, it doesn't affect the car's ability to reliably get where it's going. And also keep in mind, what is simple to some, for instance removing the trans pan to change the filter and refill the fluid, would be very difficult to someone else. It may only be a $50 repair to change the fluid, but for someone with no mechanical background, no equipment, and only a parking spot on the street, that is a repair that is never going to be done, and so they'll live with the slipping as long as they can.

24th May 2010, 17:42

Sitting in a broken down Acura TL with no trans at 28000 miles was not hilarious. Black car, black seats in mid summer waiting for road service. Way to go Honda. Not being able to move at all is not as nice as a slipping 100000 mile car trans that works at least. 28000 miles trans is a joke.

25th May 2010, 03:33

The '84 Chev Caprice Classic had a leaking compressor, which is a common failure on such high mileage cars, since the A/C refrigerant is under high pressure and even a tiny leak will make the A/C go sour.

The slipping trans was due to it being worn. It was serviced regularly with new filters and oil change every 50,000 miles, which is what was recommended on these transmissions unless the car is used for towing.

Still, I'd say these were minor things, and I had a fully working car all the time. I never really needed an A/C since I drive a motorbike to work in the summers, but the A/C came with the car. As I said, it was fully loaded, and I don't think you even could order a Caprice Classic without A/C installed.