Topic: 1998 CRV - now a 2003

[johngenx]

FFS, 219K is worn out?  I guess my Subaru is nearly 50% past worn out.  I suppose I should be amazed that it made it out of the garage today.  I've driven a bunch of cars to 50%-100% past worn out without major repairs.

I agree that paying $7K for a 200K CR-V is crazy, but a 220K Impreza for $2500 or so?  (No way I'd pay $5K for one!)  If it's in good shape, 2-3 years of cheap driving can easily be had.

The problem as a seller of an older car is that it is usually worth more to you than to someone else.  We've been toying with replacing the Forester, but what to do with it?  Realistically, it's worth $1500.  But, it runs like a top, has no major (and almost no minor) problems and has a lot of kms left in it.  Cripes, for the low value, it makes sense to keep it.

[articsteve]

219K is worn out?

On a 2002 Impreza according to your list, ya that's worn out for purposes of buying a reliable cheap car @ asking $4600 uncertified.

Forget anything with a T=belt.  Head gasket !!!!!  Any hint of a traditional head gasket issue is just plain NO GO territory.   Leave all that BS to the next fool.

The young women is selling the car because it's turning into a money pit and someone has told her to get rid of it.

[stevek]

Well she didn't return my call or email so I guess the Impreza's gone anyway.

How about a 2000 Toyota Echo, 203,000km. Selling privately close by, certified. Anything particular to look for. This would be a true kids car, my wife would continue to drive her 02 Acura, with snow tires in winter.

[johngenx]

How about a 2000 Toyota Echo, 203,000km.

Indestructible unless you really try hard.  Like drain the oil and run it kinda trying hard.  Yeah, artic will swear that at 203K it's completely used up, needs $10K worth of timing belts and whatever, but those little Toyotas are ridiculously well made.  rrocket had one that had way more kms and no problems, as is the case with all Echo owners.  People don't sell them because they're worn out, they sell them because they're just tired of such a basic car.  Superb car for a kid.

[TopGun]

I looked at that CRV for $7400 ask @ nearly 200K km and it SUCKS.  No surprise.  THose CRVs have a good following and they are fishing for a SUCKER.

Is there anything specific that made you say it sucked other than the mileage, price and story of the a/c?  I'll admit it looked pretty good to me other than under the bonnet.

[No H2O]

It's a 3rd car for the kids, and I'd like to spend less if anything.

If that is the case, call your insurance company and see what is cheap to insure for a new driver. That would be step one. And if they are new drivers, chances are they might end up in a fender bender, so buying cheap and used is a good plan.

I have a 1999 CR-V that I bought new and have done all the maintenance on it myself. At 209K kms, it runs like new, same for the engine. I Krown it myself as well...no rust in 12 years. Don't let high mileage worry you if they have good maintenance records. I worry about the body first, because once rust sets in, its a waste of time. Mechanicals are easy to fix in comparison.

As for the A/C blowing cool, systems will lose freon over time (everything leaks in time). I've topped up mine and it is running cold again. Parts are cheap if you buy them stateside...I get all my Honda parts from a Honda dealer in the US at 30% off list and that is lower than our list.

[stevek]

2 boys in early 20s, not new drivers. I did call insurance re: the 03 CRV and it was a bit less than the former 3rd car, 03 Elantra which died in the spring.

Meanwhile, still mulling the Echo and CRV.

Here are 2 more cars I found on Kijiji:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2001-Subaru-Forester-S-Limited-SUV-W0QQAdIdZ310980132

2001 Forester, 2003 km, this description by owner:

Fully Loaded, Certified and E-tested, ready to go. AWD, excellent condition, super clean, all 407 commuting mileage, leather, woodgrain trim, heated seats, giant power moonroof with an extended opening, heated mirrors, fog lights, 16 inch alloy wheels, a rear wind deflector. New brakes and all season Yokohama tires this year. Includes 4 TOYO winter tires on rims. $3700 obo.

Do you just avoid all Subarus of that vintage for fear of the head gasket problem?
2003 Saturn Vue 215,000 km http://barrie.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2003-Saturn-VUE-SUV-W0QQAdIdZ307558525

Any comments? I know I'm all over the map here, I like the practicality of the Echo, but I like the idea of a small SUV also.

[kenm]

I like that Forester. I'm guessing that the Vue is a 4 cyl. My cousin had one, and it was a bit of a performance slug, but it worked OK and was relatively easy on fuel. An Echo is always a safe bet. The sedans are fugly, but the HB is kind of neat. The Echo is one of the very select few cars in which Consumers Reports were able to equal or exceed the old EPA fuel economy rating. The Echo HB's fetch ridiculous prices on the used market, so you would have to be patient.

[stevek]

Forgot to follow up here, but I did buy the CRV in this thread back in September. Against the advice of some here, 

So far so good, really enjoy driving it, and it feels very secure on snowy roads even without snow tires, not that there's been much snow this winter.