I need to buy a car, and I'm digging out my CR used car guide right now, but my mother just forwarded something to me from the company classifieds:

1990 mitsubishi montero
Interior cloth is in very good condition, very clean.
Air conditioning
Like new Toyo Tires. only about 1 year old
Belts and major service done 1 1/2 ago.
Automatic
Alpine CD player.......XM ready radio.
Only 160k miles.

(I was already going to be getting XM )

they're asking $2900.

Is the market for SUVs that bad? I mean, damn.
that's only 10K mile a year. Makes me wonder about the car...waiting to hear the explanation on this one. Thoughts?

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 11:46 AM. Reason : Vthanks!]

The CR I have doesn't have much info for the 92 model, and doesn't cover the 90 model, and what it does have to say isn't raising my interest at all. I'm still very curious about the low mileage, though.

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 11:48 AM. Reason : ljk]

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 11:48 AM. Reason : lkja]

7/21/2006 11:43:19 AM

what make and model?

7/21/2006 11:44:33 AM

i put $48.88 of gas into my SUV the other day

which i do about every week and a half to 2 weeks

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 11:50 AM. Reason : ]

7/21/2006 11:50:05 AM

Some people just don't drive a lot, we have a 1987 Jeep, with extremely low miles because it was only used a few times, and always kept in service.

My old roomate drove a truck, that was a 1993, when she got it from her dad, it had like 21,000 miles on it, that was a year ago.

7/21/2006 11:50:50 AM

I don't want an SUV - I want either a truck, or a small car, but at that price, I seriously had to consider it. I wouldn't ahve to take out a loan.

gas is a small part of why I don't want an SUV

7/21/2006 11:51:19 AM

2k is not cheap for that vehicle, its rather expensive given the year.

7/21/2006 11:52:36 AM

The market that bad?

I wouldn't dream of paying more for such a truck.

Mitsus aren't the best thing to roll outta Japan, and the Montero is no exception. They aren't that bad, but the engines have a history of oil leaks and leaky valve stem seals.

I would only consider buying it if I could have a mechanic check it out THOROUGHLY. And I think it's worth paying a mechanic for an hour of his time to get a professional opinion. Of course, I do all my own checking, on account of the fact that I cut myself such a good deal...

I don't care who makes it, an automatic automatically (GROAN) throws up a red flag if it's got that many miles on it. If it were a domestic car or truck, that would damn near automatically disqualify it.

7/21/2006 11:52:40 AM

I wouldn't necessary call it a killer deal. It actually seems a couple hundred dollars too high for me.
Price it on Kelly Blue Book.

As for your question, I'm going to be lucky to get a 1500 trade-in on my 1996 Chevy Blazer.

7/21/2006 11:54:53 AM

Quote :

"2k is not cheap for that vehicle, its rather expensive given the year."

aware of this. Had I considered it seriously, there's no way in hell i'd have paid that.

^^heck, just based on CRs comments about its handling sharp turns, I told her I wasn't interested.

and as always, your comments are much appreciated

Quote :

"an automatic automatically (GROAN) "

somone should smack you

^not going to waste my time

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 11:57 AM. Reason : like i said...i was digging out CR l]

7/21/2006 11:57:15 AM

um, 16 years old AND 160k miles, but that just seems like a bad idea

i would only consider it if it was a toyota/honda

7/21/2006 11:57:49 AM

Depending upon how much you have to spend...don't know if you're looking to buy new...we just got an incredible deal on a dodge truck, and I hear their used trucks are being priced rather low also.

7/21/2006 11:59:01 AM

Quote :

"um, 16 years old AND 160k miles, but that just seems like a bad idea i would only consider it if it was a toyota/honda"

I'm not.

Mom's so funny:

Quote :

"one thing to consider is how much gas can you buy with what you will save on a car payment on the next 2-3 yrs"

I told her, ideally, I won't be considering this issue at all, because I'll be buying a smaller car
"look, honey, if you make [stupid decision], then you don't have to worry about [other stupid decision]!"


^I'm not buying new. Buying a new car while still in college is a STUPID idea.
My price range is <2K on up to ~4K.

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:01 PM. Reason : lkj]

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:01 PM. Reason : lj]

Quote :

"even if it's cheap, I'd never consider an SUV for myself. Those things are too big and slow for my taste...I don't mind renting one sometime or the other for vacation purposes, but driving a slow monster all days a week just isn't my thing."

that's part of it.



[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:03 PM. Reason : ljk]

7/21/2006 12:01:02 PM

even if it's cheap, I'd never consider an SUV for myself.

Those things are too big and slow for my taste...I don't mind renting one sometime or the other for vacation purposes, but driving a slow monster all days a week just isn't my thing.

7/21/2006 12:02:31 PM

You can bid on them at the government seized auctions....someone in my office bought their son a 2002 Corolla for 1350.

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:03 PM. Reason : ^ If you put your foot on the gas, I hear it isn't all that slow?!]

7/21/2006 12:02:41 PM

They're still slow...to counter all that weight.

For example, Hyundai Santa Fe is a mini-SUV based on the Sonata platform, and while the Sonata flies in the air upon pressing the gas, the Santa Fe just makes a lot of sound.

7/21/2006 12:05:44 PM

ive never had an issue getting one place to another at a reasonable speed.

7/21/2006 12:11:27 PM

I figure you've never driven a faster smaller car

7/21/2006 12:12:06 PM

Yea, me either really, I think unless you're racing it, speed shouldn't really be an issue. I know my spedometer goes to 120 just like everyone elses, and when I drive 80 its the same as if you drive 80 in your mustang.

7/21/2006 12:12:54 PM

except that 80 in an SUV is much more unstable
Try taking the Wade Avenue exit on I440S at 35mph

SUV feels like it's gonna roll

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:15 PM. Reason : .]

7/21/2006 12:15:12 PM

I work off Wade, I never have any issues

7/21/2006 12:15:52 PM

The Santa Fe is hardly a valid example to judge any SUV on.

7/21/2006 12:17:27 PM

The Santa Fe is like one of those minivans on steroids, right?

7/21/2006 12:18:10 PM

I just gave an example

Maybe I just don't like sitting behind at stop lights while fast cars march ahead.

7/21/2006 12:18:40 PM

^ I'd hope that fast cars, as well as everyone else would stop at stop lights.

^^actually, i suspect most minivans are more powerful.

[Edited on July 21, 2006 at 12:19 PM. Reason : ahg]

7/21/2006 12:18:55 PM

haha.

For those of us who drive real suv's esgargs, sitting behind at a light is never a true issue. Mine tends to keep up with the best of them.

7/21/2006 12:19:59 PM

Santa Fe was the best selling vehicle in its class in the US for 3 years straight.

7/21/2006 12:20:10 PM

Hyundai is the biggest piece of cheap shit. If you want to know WHY the Santa Fe was most widely sold, look at who it is sold TO...you have to think about the demographic of that vehicle price bracket...then get back to me...

7/21/2006 12:21:11 PM

I don't care...I don't own one.

All I am saying is that I prefer compact and fast.

But yea, I need a big screen TV moved...can you help me with your SUV?

7/21/2006 12:23:57 PM

The goddam thread ain't even about smaller faster cars. It's about ambrosia1231's looking at this specific Montero.

Who the fuck cares about your smaller, faster car?

The bottom line is, the Montero will move along just fine. The problem with most folks these days is that they've been spoiled by horsepower in abundance, when economy in motion is what's most prudent these days.

If you think a Montero will be slow, you should drive an Isuzu Trooper (one of the early four-cylinder ones like I had). You just have to plan ahead a little more.

It's my belief that cars that can fly through curves breed complacency in the majority of drivers. Trucks are a different beast altogether, and everything is a tradeoff. So what if the things flip over more easily than a car? Of course they do...they have a higher center of gravity. And in my not-so-humble opinion (that I am willing to admit; there's a little humility there fer ye), they do not pose an unreasonable threat IF driven with some sense. Even the lowly Suzuki Samurai, condemned as EXTREMELY roll-prone, does just fine if you don't drive it like you're a fucktard with no common sense.

The utility comes with a price. You've gotta decide if it's worth it to you. For most folks, it really isn't...not unless moving large objects or going into remote places is a daily occurrence or is part of your occupation...or a central part of your recreation (in which case, you ought to be able to afford the damn thing and not bitch about all the extra gas you burn or the higher maintenance costs, etc).

There's nothing like having a truck or a capable SUV when you need one. But it sure is nice to pull up to a gas pump these days and fill up for 30 or 35 dolla and have it last you all week or longer.

7/21/2006 12:50:04 PM

with the very breif search i did a 2k6 mustang has a similar 0-60 time as a 2k6 grand cherokee.

7/21/2006 1:34:11 PM

My dad has a 95 Dodge Ram that just passed 100k and that's the one they drove to Lake Gaston almost every weekend during the summer. He only had a 4 mile commute to work though, so he barely put any miles on it. I think my mom drives less than him. It's not that uncommon.

7/21/2006 1:36:04 PM

10k a year really isnt THAT few either.

7/21/2006 1:39:51 PM

THERE'S A FUCKING SECTION SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THIS SHIT.

7/21/2006 1:44:53 PM