I currently have a '94 Ford Ranger that I'm looking to sell and get a more gas efficent and pratical vehicle. I figured I can get ~$3.5k for the truck, so that my purchase and fix budget.

What I would like is at least 30 mpg city driving and seats for 4 ppl. I can deal with either 2 or 4 doors.

I've been looking into '94 Honda Accords/Civics and all I can find in my price range have +170k miles. Do these have too many miles to be a practical vehicle that'll last 3 or so years without having to get a new or major engine repair? Or is there a better alternative vehicle out there?

I also need reccomendations for good mechanics in the area who'll check the car out and give a ballpark on getting things fixed after the purchase.

Thanks in advance.

8/22/2005 7:00:07 PM

Its a little bigger and more "granny mobile" but we have a 97 Buick Lesabre that gets 30+ on the 3800 V6 engine. We only paid like $1200 for ours with about 105k miles on it and loaded out. Its got shit tons of room and is hella reliable.

But what kinda mileage your Ranger getting? I have a a 95 Ranger with a 4-Cylinder and 5 speed and probably get close to 30 miles a gallon with that. Just curious as mine is running strong at 190k miles.

8/22/2005 7:13:41 PM

Quote :

"I figured I can get ~$3.5k for the truck"

people in here are more than willing to look up the value of your vehicle and correct you (if indeed you are off base) if you provide all the information about what it is and how many miles are on it...

Quote :

"purchase and fix budget"

purchase and fix budgets are a bad idea- youre better off buying a ready to drive in your price range or finding a ready to drive vehicle in a slightly higher price range and talking the seller down

Quote :

"Do these have too many miles to be a practical vehicle that'll last 3 or so years without having to get a new or major engine repair?"

170k is high mileage on any car, but not excessively high on a honda or toyota.

8/22/2005 7:21:48 PM

As long as the timing belt has been changed close to schedule, and the car appears to have been well maintained in other respects, 170K probably isn't too scary on an Accord of that vintage. I know on the 2.2L in the '90-'93 Accords, the schedule calls for the timing belt to be replaced every 60K miles. On the '94 I think the engine was updated, so it might be 60K or 90K replacements. Do be forewarned that, either way, you'll probably be looking at a replacement fairly soon to the tune of $500.

Don't let that scare you though. They're really great cars reliability-wise. My dad has a '91 Accord that is almost at 190K and runs like a top. We bought it from the original owner, and as far as we can tell the car has NEVER required a major repair. Everything on the car has held up well except for the paint, and I'll take oxidizing clearcoat as the only major flaw on a 14 year old car.

8/22/2005 7:32:02 PM

Quote :

"I've been looking into '94 Honda Accords/Civics and all I can find in my price range have +170k miles. Do these have too many miles to be a practical vehicle that'll last 3 or so years without having to get a new or major engine repair?"

170k miles is just gettin started on a Honda. Where have you been the last 20 years?

8/23/2005 12:49:35 PM

I would focus on a Civic...basically any Honda, even at 170k, should be fairly reliable. Keep in mind that any repairs that you do have to make will undoubtedly be more expensive than for many other cars. Honda parts are just not that cheap.

Civics are reasonably cheap to service, though, and most shops have no problems working on them. My soon-to-be-ex-wife has one with around 208k miles. I've replaced a couple of the transmission bearings, the clutch, and the timing belt and water pump have been done twice.

8/23/2005 1:14:45 PM

Thanks for the feeedback on the high milage Hondas.

Quote :

"But what kinda mileage your Ranger getting? I have a a 95 Ranger with a 4-Cylinder and 5 speed and probably get close to 30 miles a gallon with that. Just curious as mine is running strong at 190k miles."

I get 18-20 mpg with the AC off when I did pizza delivery this summer, 20+ on the highway but I've never calculated it.

Here are the specs:

3.0L 165hp V6
XLT
Supercab
108900 miles
AC
Silding rear window
Power steering
Anti-lock breaks
2WD:-/
Toolbox
Cruise contol but I can't get it to work
Factory bed liner
I got it repainted to bright red since there were specs from what we think is sandblasting. The stock dull red still shows in the door jars b/c it wasn't work an extra $200 to get that painted
CD/AM/FM/MP3 Jensen deck (45Wx4)

The new owner would have to install new rear speakers as one of the stock Ford ones is dead and I'm keeping the Clarions I have in there now, and there are a few places that need to be repainted. It is in good shape otherwise.

When I priced it out, I got values anywhere from 2800 (NAPA loan value I think) to 4200 (KBB if in great shape)

8/23/2005 3:37:50 PM

you could look at a Corolla too, I love those things

8/23/2005 3:50:46 PM

Jeez, used honda prices must be going up, wonder if its the gas prices.

I was looking at selling my 1995 Civic EX Coupe with 135k for ~$3500 a few months ago. Looking on AutoTrader I'm seeing similar cars for $4200 and up even with more miles than I've got. (I'm looking at the private parties, not the dealers with the crazy $5k and up prices)

8/23/2005 4:07:18 PM

30+mpg buick my balls. get a honda or an old deisel rabbit

8/23/2005 5:00:26 PM

^And why not? Shit I'm 30 miles exactly from work, and I can fillup the damn thing up topping off, go home and back to work and not put in but like a gallon and three quarters at the max. But it is basically just highway driving where I set the cruise and roll about 60, so its about optimum speed.

8/23/2005 11:16:58 PM

hondas and toyotas are good and with 170k miles wouldnt have too many problems for cars that used. however both companies have high resale values, so they will be pretty pricey compared to other cars of that mileage. perhaps some sort of nissan? they arn't quite as dependable, but still get good mileage and would be cheaper.

8/23/2005 11:51:06 PM

Nissan Sentra - still the value leader!

8/23/2005 11:52:31 PM

I love my sentra as far reliability goes, but I wish the engine had more power.

8/24/2005 7:58:20 AM

get a honda

8/24/2005 11:10:27 AM

Bump, need a mechanic reccomendation both for my truck before I sell it and to check out whatever replacement car I'm looking at.

8/25/2005 7:52:23 PM

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Any reccomendations for local mechanics? I'd like to avoid chains like Firestone, etc due to their "well this little part is the problem, but we have to fix x,y, and z" bullshit.

And am I right about my truck's value?

9/19/2005 5:55:54 PM

if the ride is more fly, you must buy

9/19/2005 6:12:26 PM

Quote :

"if the ride is more fly, you must buy"

9/19/2005 6:37:53 PM

9/19/2005 9:53:00 PM

I'm a decent local mechanic, and I'm cheap. The big deal is working around my schedule. PM to follow...

9/20/2005 1:20:12 AM

Hey man I know someone very interested in buying it...pm sent.

9/21/2005 12:18:28 AM