Time for a new daily driver!

Topic: Time for a new daily driver! (Read 2452 times) previous topic - next topic

Time for a new daily driver!

April 10, 2011, 11:25:28 PM

As much as I like my truck, I think it is time for a new daily driver. I have had it for a little over a year and have only driven a little over 3000 miles in it. I have only used the bed a few times and have never towed anything, so with gas at $3.85, I just can't justify driving it anymore.

I am leaning towards getting a late 80s/early 90s small GM car such as a Cavalier Z24, Beretta Z26, or Lumina Z34. Hopefully something semi-sporty and reliable. I would really like a Z26 with a HO Quad 4, but those are hard to come by and I'm still unsure of how reliable they are. I haven't looked into the Ford side of things yet, but what comparable cars did Ford have to the ones I listed?

Anyway, here are a few parting pics of my truck. People stop by my house and ask if I want to sell it all the time and I just put it on craigslist, so I'm thinking it will sell fairly quick.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #1 – April 11, 2011, 08:14:41 AM

We had a new Barreta GT years ago. It had the V-6 and 5 speed. Nice car, every option available, and just cool...........for a front drive GM product. It was black with a multi colored metal flake. It was called Raven black. Nice car though.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #2 – April 11, 2011, 09:07:19 AM

That truck looks new. Somebody will snap it up.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #3 – April 11, 2011, 10:41:10 AM

It is in very good shape for having 176k on it. It does have some fading paint on the top and hood, but its overall clean.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #4 – April 11, 2011, 01:11:36 PM

Well that didn't take long. I put the truck on craigslist last night and its already sold!

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #5 – April 11, 2011, 02:26:11 PM

Stay away from the Lumina Z34!!!!!

That 3.4 "Twin dual cam" engine is absolute POISON. The 2.8 and 3.1 found in the Z24's and Berettas have some issues as well (intake gaskets and head gaskets) but they're easy enough to work on. The Z34 is absolute garbage. Trash. ola.

If you're looking for a Ford equivalent, check out the 99+ Cougar. They can be bought cheap enough and work pretty good with the 2.5 and a 5-speed. Myself, if I were looking for a late 80's to early 90's 2-door econopoopster I'd try to find the "son of Thunderbird" 2-door, V6, 5-speed Tempaz. Far superior to any Cavalier or Beretta, rarer, and cooler looking to boot. Another possibility would be a Probe GT with the V6, though these can be expensive for parts due to their Mazda roots. I'd also think about a turbocharged LeBaron, which looks quite a bit like a 7/8ths scale 87-88 T-Bird.

If you wanna have fun, get a Beretta with bad rear shocks, pull on the e-brake, put it into reverse, and start pumping the gas pedal in a rythmic motion to get the rear end bouncing. You'll get the car standing up soon, and if you time your shots of the gas pedal right you'll have the back end bouncing right off the ground. Better yet, get a buddy with another one doing the same thing and you can race 'em backwards and bouncing across an empty parking lot. Always good for a laugh (don't ask me how I know this)...

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #6 – April 11, 2011, 03:27:54 PM

I second your nomination for the tempo. I had one a 4dr auto with the vulcan V6. Wouldn't leave me stranded and with a 5spd it would have great hwy mpg too (3spd auto was my only complaint). Gave it to my father when he needed a car otherwise I'd still probably have it.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #7 – April 11, 2011, 06:13:12 PM

I third the tempo/topaz. My parents bought a topaz with the 2.3 all the bells and whistles with 30k on it in 96 it finally died of a rusted strut tower in 2009 with over 300k on it. Only repairs that were done in that time were routine maintenance, wheel bearings every 2 years(not the same ones), transmission mount from my brother doing neutral drops, and well when I got the car in 2006 it was doing great till I forgot about a slight oil leak and ran it for quite sometime without oil. Didn't figure out why it was smoking till a wheel bearing went out(that I knew was going bad but didn't want to mess with at the time), after we changed the wheel bearing I started it up to test drive it and my dad spotted the smoke and thats when I realized I had been running with little to no oil. Rebuilt the bottom end and she lasted till 09. It was never stored in a garage from 96-09, and my parents maybe washed it 3 times a year. We were surprised it didn't rot out sooner, the rust was very minimal...except by the strut tower, which caused it's demise. If I could I'd buy another! Same goes for 91-96 escorts. My 95 wagon got great gas mileage, had plenty of room, handled like a dream after only a few mods(budget performance tires and aftermarket bushings). Only time my escort gave me trouble was from things either I neglected or previous owners neglected(they liked neutral drops). My wagons ultimate demise was me dropping in a 2.0l dohc zetec from a 2001 zx2....I did everything right except the fuel system...it ran...but very rich...washed out the bearings...thats when my parents gave me the topaz! lol

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #8 – April 11, 2011, 07:11:15 PM

I understand your frustration with gas (to a certain extent, OHV Explorers suck on gas too) but I've always admired those trucks, especially in as good a shape as yours.

Dare I suggest a civic here....? My dad has an '05 1.7 liter, and we've had literally NO issues with it in the 6 years we've owned it. Of course, I don't know how much you're looking to spend.. I will also suggest a 97-99 camry. These camrys get great mileage (they come in 5 speed as well) and they run amazing. We've got a ton of miles on my fiances, and it's held up amazing. Another friend of mine who has a 97 has 300K on hers (and she's a complete moron driver, forgets oil changes, runs it without oil, etc) and hers still runs good. G/L.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #9 – April 11, 2011, 07:28:48 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;357707

If you're looking for a Ford equivalent, check out the 99+ Cougar. They can be bought cheap enough and work pretty good with the 2.5 and a 5-speed.

And, it's still a Cougar (even if in name only)

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #10 – April 11, 2011, 08:03:46 PM

Thunder Chicken, are you saying not to get a Z34? Lol.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I got $2700 for the truck, but would like to not spend more than about $1500. I do like the early to mid 90s Escorts and will keep an eye out for one. Not too hot on the Tempo/Topaz though. The Hondas/Toyotas are probably a bit out my price range for a nicer one and not quite what I want. Anybody have any experience with the ZX2 Escorts or maybe Contour?

I am also considering another Fiero. I liked my last one a bunch and it was pretty fuel efficient.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Keep em coming if you have more.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #11 – April 11, 2011, 08:09:17 PM

I wouldn't mind having a ZX2 with a 5-speed.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #12 – April 11, 2011, 08:13:13 PM

Also considering a SHO and might even pay a little more for it.

The good part is, I just got an alignment done on the Cougar after picking my son up from school. It needed it because I installed a TC rack and spindles. It was scary (very) and we were praying we made it there. The car drives great now as is pretty fast, so I might have bought myself a little time to car shop.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #13 – April 11, 2011, 08:42:07 PM

The Cougar is on the road?! Action shot!

the ZX2 is cool, but they have an engine/trans mount issue that will leave you thinking they have a miss at idle. SHO's are also cool, but make sure it's been maintained. They need 60k Mile valve adjustments with timing belt and water pumps. The SHO V8's need their cams welded, otherwise they destroy themselves.

Time for a new daily driver!

Reply #14 – April 11, 2011, 10:20:21 PM

Quote from: Loaded87IROC;357752

Thunder Chicken, are you saying not to get a Z34? Lol.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I got $2700 for the truck, but would like to not spend more than about $1500. I do like the early to mid 90s Escorts and will keep an eye out for one. Not too hot on the Tempo/Topaz though. The Hondas/Toyotas are probably a bit out my price range for a nicer one and not quite what I want. Anybody have any experience with the ZX2 Escorts or maybe Contour?

I am also considering another Fiero. I liked my last one a bunch and it was pretty fuel efficient.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Keep em coming if you have more.

Wow, only $2700? That truck would've brought 3-4 here easy in that shape, even with those miles - trucks are like gold here, especially 4WD, but I guess the economy is driving the price of stuff down.

A late 80's Escort GT would probably be fun, as long as it wasn't an auto, great gas mileage too.