Topic: second car for tall people

[246epa]

I am new (ish) to Canada, from the UK & we now need a second car, the main prob being I am 6ft 4" tall as is my 15 year old son.
I want to spend no more the 6 or 7k & having looked around am down to a Chev Impala.
What's the general opinion on these, had one as a hire car last year on holiday & everyone loved it, but that was brand new....
Our current car is a PT Cruiser, but luck has not been good with that & also I would like something a bit bigger without costing the earth to run.

Any other advice greatfully received.

[rrocket]

Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis are large and very reliable.  They do have a V8 though.  But if you're easy on them, they return surprisingly good mileage.  And when you need parts they are plentiful and cheap.

[Careener]

The Impala I test drove (MY04) had the most uncomfortable seats I have ever spent time in.
A Mazda 626 will probably work. I'm 6'4" as well. I also used to own a Protege which I fit in pretty well.

[Hank Horsey]

246epa, it so happens I posted this very question a couple years ago by way of a thread called "cheap cars for tall guys". You'll find it here: http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,52979.msg403248.html#msg403248

I don't mind the Impala either, though they aren't particularly reliable. Stay away from anything older than an 03--the reliability data is terrible before that.

I agree that the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis are good, reliable cars. Enormous. You still see lots around used as taxis, which should tell you something.

Buicks are generally reliable and a good buy. Buick Regals are cheap and (don't tell your son) generally driven by older drivers, meaning you should be able to find one that's been looked after. Same story for the LeSabre, which is basically a highway cruiser. These were upscale cars that offer a lot of features for the money on the used market. But be prepared for relentless grandpa jokes.

I bought an 01 Subaru Outback, which has been great (I'm 6'5"), but I had to shell out $8,500 for one with over 200,000 km (but this was 2 years ago). So, possibly not in your budget.

I eliminated a lot of cars just by going to a dealership and sitting in them.

Good luck!

[dr_spock]

Do you plan to put your tall as you son in the back seat?

[Erik]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

[rrocket]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

Indeed the 3800 is bullet proof.  Though doing the lower intake gaskets isn't exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon on a newly purchased car.

[Erik]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

Indeed the 3800 is bullet proof.  Though doing the lower intake gaskets isn't exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon on a newly purchased car.

Probably no more or less fun than doing a timing belt and water pump.

[rrocket]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

Indeed the 3800 is bullet proof.  Though doing the lower intake gaskets isn't exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon on a newly purchased car.

Probably no more or less fun than doing a timing belt and water pump.

Probably not..but that's another reason why I suggested the Crown Vic.  It has timing chains...

[Erik]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

Indeed the 3800 is bullet proof.  Though doing the lower intake gaskets isn't exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon on a newly purchased car.

Probably no more or less fun than doing a timing belt and water pump.

Probably not..but that's another reason why I suggested the Crown Vic.  It has timing chains...

And there are LOTS of performance parts available!

[rrocket]

Impala is a nice car for big guys (6'4 here also). Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. Just make sure that if it has a 3800, that you do the lower intake manifold gaskets. Other than that, the 3800 is bulletproof.

Indeed the 3800 is bullet proof.  Though doing the lower intake gaskets isn't exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon on a newly purchased car.

Probably no more or less fun than doing a timing belt and water pump.

Probably not..but that's another reason why I suggested the Crown Vic.  It has timing chains...

And there are LOTS of performance parts available!

Indeed. Tons of parts for the mod Ford engines.  I had a Lincoln Mark VIII with the DOHC engine.  I bolted on a bunch of Cobra parts to it. Ran mid 13's all day long.  Was a fun sleeper..

[mmorriso]

I am new (ish) to Canada, from the UK & we now need a second car, the main prob being I am 6ft 4" tall as is my 15 year old son.
I want to spend no more the 6 or 7k & having looked around am down to a Chev Impala.
What's the general opinion on these, had one as a hire car last year on holiday & everyone loved it, but that was brand new....
Our current car is a PT Cruiser, but luck has not been good with that & also I would like something a bit bigger without costing the earth to run.

Any other advice greatfully received.

you can buy a nice Buick for $7k.  also, if you really want to embrace the North American lifestyle then you must at least once in your life own a minivan...tons of Dodge Caravans out there to choose from in your price range.

[246epa]

Many thanks all.
Yes my son will be sitting in the back, which with a lot of cars is a prob with headroom.
I must admit searching the internet on the Impala it seems to have lots of problems with coolant & intake manifolds, but luckily I am told it has a timing chain on the 3.4 so 1 less thing to worry about.
I was rather put off the Buick by the 'old man' looks, but having visited dealers with the only choices currently the Impala, a Honda CRV or poss a Buick Rendevous, but that seems to have poor back seats & the same engine & hence presumably the same issues as the Implala & the CRV's as with most Japanese stuff is much older for the money.....
Problems, problems, problems.....

[246epa]

Forgot to mention, tried all available subaru's as that what I liked the look of, but space in the back for the little chap is far to limited.....

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Try the previous generation 2007 and prior Malibu or Malibu Maxx?

As boring as boring can be, but should be cheap and fairly roomy.

[Careener]

Maxx is a good suggestion.

[Hank Horsey]

The Rendezvous is not Buick at its finest--especially alongside the CRV which is a much better car. And bulletproof.