Driving

[Gabriel013]

Cheers, it's a little underpowered compared to what I was originally looking for but it's also cheaper. I'll go and see it this weekend.

[Gabriel013]

Well, I'll be buying my car today and should have it delivered this evening.

A black 2001 Ford Escort 1.6 Finesse. Insurance is higher than I would like but it should be worth it for the spec of car. Currently has about 79k on the clock. With my usage I could run it for 4 years before I hit the 100k marker.

[Norrec]

My friend has a Civic Hatchback that's pretty old, and he beats the hell out of it, so I imagine a Civic for less rural use would run pretty decently for a while. Just watch the exhaust, I know his is crap, but again it could and most likely is attributed to how he treats it.

Somehow even as much as I've driven it between PA, VT, and NC my 2001 Saturn still is only at 50k miles. I don't really know if I expect it to see 100k as it was rebuilt from salvage but for now it runs pretty decently.

[Zapix]

haha, joined the 'first car is an escort' wagon! I think mine was a 1999. I got it shortly after the whole 9/11 thing, flew into Washington DC for it -.- >.>

Was a good car until I um, just couldn't make it turn on a wet road and had a dispute with a curb, sign, and some other challengers. After that I sold it as a down payment for a Subaru WRX.

As for "honda" and "exhaust" if you're talking about the 'lawnmower' noise, that's normal! LMAO

As for the lifespan on the Escort, anything can happen, but as long as you're good about maintenance and don't beat on it, it'll last you. I've known plenty of people who've pumped 150-200k miles on a Ford...

[Gabriel013]

Anybody know what a Saturn is here in the UK?

EDIT::

Forget I asked. I've just googled it and it's a Vauxhall Astra. Nice looking cars and could be my next trade up if I can save some cash.

[Norrec]

I wasn't aware til today that Saturn offered an Astra. Never knew what an Astra was til today either. My Saturn is a 01 SC2 though, little plastic beast.


That was a couple years back in Pennsylvania, now it also has a few more red decals for Nikon, Specialized, Dakine and stuff

[RickyP]

I was reading through this topic the other day thinking "Geez, I'm glad I don't have to deal with the hassle of buying a new car..."

And today my car officially died.

It was a 95' VW Jetta and has 218K on her.

I paid $1000 USD three years ago from a friend, so I can't be too upset.

However, I must now go through the above mentioned hassle of buying a new car...

[Gabriel013]

It can be painful Ricky,

That 01 SC2 is pretty cool. Do your rear doors open backward like the RX8?

I'll take a pic or two of my car when I get chance and it's been repaired. If I can get my sis to take the pic I might just get in on the shot too .


Car arrived yesterday and the steering seems to be screwed.

Straight road, steering wheel straight, going good. Next thing the car jinks to the right and you have to steer right to compensate the without warning it sets itself right and suddenly you have to switch back to the normal straight position. Does it at random.

Place I bought it from said to take it back and they'll get the people who MOT'd it to take another look as they should have picked up on something as serious as that. Pain in the ass but I'll keep my fingers crossed it can be fixed easily. Apart from that little issue it really is a pretty decent car and I can't fault clutch, gearbox, engine, brakes or the accelerator response.

[Norrec]

Yup. It's a 3 door though so the other side doesnt have the extra, but it opens backwards.

[HannibleL316]

My 1st car was a 1995 1.3 Escort, I bought it at 75k and I used to clock 200-250 miles a week in it (long distance girlfriend back then) and it ran suprisingly well for a small engine car on dual carriageways alot.

Anyways, it was still running absolutely fine at the 120k mark until some idiot boy racer came speeding into me at about 50mph down a country lane.
I was selling it the next day too!

My long winded point is, despite what alot of people say and my friends did back then an Escort will last a long time! Nice first car buy!