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Topic: Little Sister needs a car... (Read 4737 times) previous topic - next topic

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #15
festiva

indestructible
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #16
Quote from: Romeo2k;306910
Well from a younger POV, A Taurus isnt all that stylin' when your cruisin to school at 16 (No offense to anyone).

At that age it seems like most kids are more concerned about how a car looks than anything else. (other than actually having a car)


I told her right away, it might not be pretty but it will be a good car. She just wants some freedom and she needs it.

What it comes down to is finding the right deal. I would be happy with a Fox, Taurus, or an Escort. Plus its one more Ford in the driveway:mullet:. I should be able to find one of them for a few hundred and then be able to do a few things to it so its more acceptable for a 16 yr old girl. Some pink pinstripes or emblems, wheels, stereo, something like that.
1986 Cougar LS

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #17
When their "cool Fords" are in storage, my daughter drives a 91 Taurus 3.0L and my son drives a 92 Sable 3.8L. Both cars have well over 200K on them and still run like watches. We did HGs on the Sable a few years ago. Other than that, they've both been rock solid reliable and get decent mileage too. My wife drives a 94 Bird 3.8L, but that's RWD and not the best in snow. It's tough to beat the Taurus/Sable line for comfort, quality, mileage and reliability.
1987 Turbo Coupe - Son's car
1987 Super Coupe - Son's project car
1934 Ford - My project car

 

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #18
i would go with something that would last even if the matanence was below perfect. A festeva taurus escort focus would be really good. I know the 3rd gen tauruses had trans issues but was it due to the matanence why it failed or what? know one knows. But i had one and it lasted through my abuse.
2001 Buick Regal LS (DD):hick:

Got that fox rash again!

-Resident smartass! :ies:

- Don't listen to the naysayers. For every person who actually helps with your project there will be 10 who will discourage you all the while thinking that they are helping. 99% of all people have good intentions. That doesn't make them right.- XR7 Dave - SCCOA.Com

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #19
Quote from: Romeo2k;306910
Well from a younger POV, A Taurus isnt all that stylin' when your cruisin to school at 16 (No offense to anyone).

At that age it seems like most kids are more concerned about how a car looks than anything else. (other than actually having a car)


While that may be, any car is almost better than no car at all. I would much rather ride in my own beat up ugly hooptie than have to ride a school bus with a bunch of morons.
FOXLESS!!

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII


Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #20
I had a Taurus as my first car.  Wrecked it.  Then I got a T-Bird, wrecked it.  Then another taurus, and another, and even a taurus wagon.  Then another T-bird.  Watch out for the 3.8L's they are notorious for tranny and headgaskets.
84 TC 302 -5.0L/t5/7.5 locking rear and a 3.45 gear, Edelbrock Intake, Aluminum Heads, Edlebrock 65mm Throttlebody, Edlebrock Cam, 24lb injectors & MAS Air Sensor calibrated via chip,  BBK headers, Catback H pipe, Magnaflow lers :evilgrin:
:pics-stfu:

 Project Thread with pics

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #21
Quote from: DVP;306867
What other cars would be as dependable and cheap maintain? Suggestion?

Price range is under $1000. Cheap is better, she is going to wreck it, it will get damaged, its a first car. I paid $400 for my car is amazing shape, I hope I can find another deal like that for her.


first, i hate that sigma of wrecking your first car. it happens because everyone is telling you itll happen.

find another fox tbird or cougar, they are usually decent for under a grand. not because this is the forum but because they are generally in decent shape and youll know what to look and look out for already. either that or some beater honda.
i like the tempo/topaz but they have issues and wouldnt recommend them for a 16 year old.
they dont check anything and seem to only care how clean it is and how loud the stereo gets.

i think youll be commiting financial suicide if you get her a taurus or sable.
i believe they(taurus/sable) were recalled for something inside of the trans. probly recalled for everything else too.
i had a 92 sable 3.0 a long time ago it had low miles, had decent heat, road nice and was comfy with power everything. i couldnt excape trans issues with it. could only drive it from 1-5 in the morning because i couldnt get stuck in traffic with it.
go to any used car lot and check the trans fluid on the tauruses and sables and they will either be brown and burned up or dark, slimy and grayish from all the no slip additives choked in there. and overfilled ofcourse.

i hate to tell you this but youll never get your money back no matter what car you get her :P
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible
2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 EcoBoost

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #22
Quote from: bhazard;306939
festiva

indestructible


I'm always on the lookout for a rust-free Festiva 'round these parts. I would jump on one in a heartbeat.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #23
We had an '04 Taurus and they are great cars! We would still have it if we hadn't needed a bigger vehicle because of adding the grandbaby.
We seriously never had any problems with it. I wish we could have kept it to give to the kids when they go to college this summer.
:cougarsmily:~Karen~

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #24
Oh yeah, the Festiva's are great little cars! I literally beat the snot out of mine, it even burned and leaked oil like a siv. Where I worked at at the time I used to get straight 30 weight oil and put a 2 liter bottle in it every time the oil light came on. It wouldn't die!!! I loved that car! I think it was the most fun car I ever had and it only had like 55hp!!

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #25
Quote from: dominator;306913
tempo/topaz,cheap, easy to fix, good on gas.
At her age she does not need power, on that note the tempo's go quite well anyhow.
Plus front wheel drive might be a bit easier for an inexperienced driver to manage in inclimate weather.
P.S. what does G.P.A. have to do with your ability to drive for a cheaper insurance rate,that's dumb and biased[/QUOTE

X2]
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #26
Quote from: Haystack;307041
Quote from: dominator;306913
tempo/topaz,cheap, easy to fix, good on gas.
At her age she does not need power, on that note the tempo's go quite well anyhow.
Plus front wheel drive might be a bit easier for an inexperienced driver to manage in inclimate weather.
P.S. what does G.P.A. have to do with your ability to drive for a cheaper insurance rate,that's dumb and biased[/QUOTE

X2]



It's most likely along the lines that someone that has enough head on their shoulders and does good in school will most likely be a more cautious driver and less likely to get in an accident. It is kinda a generalization but it makes sense.
FOXLESS!!

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII


Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #27
Ever gen Taurus has had shiznitty transmissions.  IT'shiznit or miss on them really.  I've had several and all were great.  I bought a 93 with a bad trans and put one in from the boneyard, and it lasted another 100K.  They really are great cars.  Nothing special about them.  Being you have an SHO, I'm sure you're plenty familiar with them.  I've also had good luck with 'bird's of all varieties. 

I just sold my DD of 3 years, a '95 V6 Mustang, and I really loved that car.  It was basic as all hell, but I put 27K miles on it and only changed the oil 3 times and it never gave me a problem.

Also look into an early to mid 90s GM with the 3800 series engine.  All GM 3.8s are pretty much bulletproof.  I've had good luck with those too.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #28
Adding aspire to my previous post. Same as a festiva just a newer body. Safer with airbags and such. Slower due to more weight. Cuter looking for girl appeal. Still dead reliable.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #29
I vote Gen III SHO, its auto, its cool, its safe, did I mention its an SHO?