5 years old and ready for scrap…

OnTheReel · September 16, 2023

Since I got the OK from my wife I’ve been looking for a company car/ winter car/ short trip vehicle to take the load off my truck. Saw this little Jeep and figured it would fit the bill. Simple, economical vehicle. New enough to be nice, old enough to be affordable. Looked OK in the low resolution pictures…but in person…DAMN this had to be the WORST 5 year old car I’ve ever seen. In fact it’s worse than any 15 year old cars I’ve owned. I knew within seconds I wasn’t gonna buy but I played along a bit just to amuse myself. I popped the hood and the first thing I see is the airbox not even screwed shut.

I quickly borrowed a screw driver to “repair” that for them and continued my look around. Things under hood didn’t get any better though. Crust, dirt and corrosion everywhere. We have salt up here in WI but I’ve never seen something corrode this bad this quickly. Clearly just abused, run on a dirt road and never cleaned.

Interior was equally filthy, scratched and just beat up. Obviously no effort was made to present it better either.

Don’t have any outside photos, didn’t wanna make it too obvious that I was only there to rip the thing apart after the first 10 second glance. But as you can imagine it wasn’t good. Deep scratches everywhere and embedded filth.

I did take it around the block. It ran fine, but the rotors felt extremely warped and the whole thing just seemed loose and tired. 81,000 miles and soon to be ready for the dump, IMO.

I’m keen on this model because it’s the perfect size for what I need and seems to have the makings of a good car. Simple, non-turbo, non-DI engine. Manual trans. All wheel drive for the snow. Minimal useless “tech features”. So I am looking at another on Monday. Same age, similar mileage. Should be interesting to see how different the two are. At least assuming this other one was owned by someone who gave a crap. Has good maintenance records so that’s a better start.

diyer2 · September 16, 2023

Amazes me how people just don't care, experienced the same with house's.

If you have money I get it.

Grumpy Bear · September 17, 2023

This is what I was talking about with Stan. I can tell on the walk up if the guy gives a hoot or not by what you are seeing with this one. Want to bet how many oil changes it's had? :crackup:

OnTheReel · September 17, 2023

13 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

This is what I was talking about with Stan. I can tell on the walk up if the guy gives a hoot or not by what you are seeing with this one. Want to bet how many oil changes it's had?

I assume it just received it’s first (and probably last) oil change because the oil was surprisingly clean. Or the rate of consumption just guarantees it doesn’t stay in the sump long enough to get dirty.

Either way in this situation I’d like to see at least a little brown in the oil. Clean oil makes me think “cover up” considering the state of the rest of the car.

KARNUT · September 17, 2023

As I mentioned before my brother in law gets around 300K miles out of his GM full sized vehicles. He maintains by the manual. They all still run when he’s finished. He just got back a Tahoe from his daughter used for college. He traded in his pickup at over 300K for her new car he’s driving the mentioned Tahoe for work. It has 280K. Those two were driving by his wife first. He bought the other daughter a two door pickup to go through college with over 100K miles. She did a 6 year degree. He liked it enough it parked next to his 69 Firebird. His future retirement truck. Both daughters finished college the same time. The second with a four year degree. They both were gifted vehicles as graduation presents. They both had full rides. I never seen his vehicles clean. And he is an enthusiast. There’s a good car wash a mile from his house. I use it every time I visit. I know every car wash location on my trips and use them. When I was growing up in Jersey rust was part of the trim package. Miles wasn’t the killer, time was. Car payments were 3 years. Usually when winter time drivers would trade in. Except the stay at home moms cars in the garage. No need to drive in bad weather. I never know how a vehicle is going to sit with me until about 6 months in. If it sits on the bad side it’s time is limited. I already knew the avalanche would sit well it’s my second. The CRV was annoying at first it grew on me. My daughter needed a low mileage easy driver for work. I excitedly switched for her Odyssey. It needed lots of maintenance, cleaning up. I think mini vans are the perfect vehicle. They can do anything. It’s moving to the dark side. I can’t explain it, it’s a feeling. It’s days could be numbered. I’m cruising the lots again, researching vehicles. I already warned the wife. She says she could feel it. No explanation, it’s a feeling. I guess let’s take the minivan is not inspiring excitement. It’s a shame it just pushes the wrong buttons. I’ll give it some time, it doesn’t look good.

Donstar · September 17, 2023

"Pretty as a picture" It amazes me the things a picture won't tell. Years ago I drove a very long distance to hopefully buy a car that was well researched with pictures and written descriptions. I was speechless when I saw the car of my dreams in person c/w a fresh baby blue paint job that was applied with a paint brush....

Grumpy Bear · September 17, 2023

45 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

It’s moving to the dark side. I can’t explain it, it’s a feeling. It’s days could be numbered.

This I get. Trust in a vehicle is a real thing and when it is damaged, like people, it's hard to get back. It IS a feeling.

It might be I walk away from some nice cars/trucks just on the poor presentation. It's okay, there are a lot to choose from.

Wife like the 4-Runner and says the 2021 is the industry darling. So, I looked at Carfax's selection of 900 of them. All but one, just one, was priced at or just under a 2024 NEW MSRP. A few were OVER!

Not today, not tomorrow, not ever would I be nutty enough to spend new money on vehicles with over 50K on the clock already. You have no idea how it was treated even with maintenance records. This is getting to be like the housing bubble. Except a race to be the last one to not own a E car.

Did people charge 3X market price for the last buggy whips with Henry started selling the Model T? :rollin:

KARNUT · September 17, 2023

3 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

This I get. Trust in a vehicle is a real thing and when it is damaged, like people, it's hard to get back. It IS a feeling.

It might be I walk away from some nice cars/trucks just on the poor presentation. It's okay, there are a lot to choose from.

Wife like the 4-Runner and says the 2021 is the industry darling. So, I looked at Carfax's selection of 900 of them. All but one, just one, was priced at or just under a 2024 NEW MSRP. A few were OVER!

Not today, not tomorrow, not ever would I be nutty enough to spend new money on vehicles with over 50K on the clock already. You have no idea how it was treated even with maintenance records. This is getting to be like the housing bubble. Except a race to be the last one to not own a E car.

Did people charge 3X market price for the last buggy whips with Henry started selling the Model T?

There’s the deterrence. I want to drive a Maverick. Now isn’t the time, I may hate it. Saturation is coming. I can wait. I don’t over pay. 4 runner is an excellent choice. Even over paying isn’t bad for people who keep them a long time. I can’t be tied down. So I have to buy right. With unloading in mind.

Grumpy Bear · September 17, 2023

We are seriously looking at a Mitsubishi Mirage runabout. No turbo, no GDI and not enough power to hurt the CVT.

KARNUT · September 17, 2023

20 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

We are seriously looking at a Mitsubishi Mirage runabout. No turbo, no GDI and not enough power to hurt the CVT.

On my list is a fully loaded Versa for a trip vehicle. I’m only looking at the maverick as a replacement for the trip vehicle and the avalanche. I couldn’t just have a car as my only vehicle.

OnTheReel · September 17, 2023

Get pretty good value with both the Versa and Mirage. Not sure I’d be in for a CVT though. Rented an Accord with one and it was pretty lousy. Not enjoyable at all.

KARNUT · September 17, 2023

32 minutes ago, OnTheReel said:

Get pretty good value with both the Versa and Mirage. Not sure I’d be in for a CVT though. Rented an Accord with one and it was pretty lousy. Not enjoyable at all.

It does take getting used to. They’re getting better at simulating shifts. My CRV a 2015 at part throttle actually shifted. At full throttle it’s nasty. Full drone.

Grumpy Bear · September 18, 2023

9 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

Get pretty good value with both the Versa and Mirage. Not sure I’d be in for a CVT though. Rented an Accord with one and it was pretty lousy. Not enjoyable at all.

We looked a Mirage today. I like Sunday shopping. Bare bones is an understatement. Tiny little tires LOL. I liked anyway. But given the prices the Versa may be a better buy dollar wise up front. Does it have GDI? Haven't looked that deep yet.

OnTheReel · September 18, 2023

Looks like the Versa has MPFI. Unfortunately no AWD and still a bit small for my needs, but definitely bigger than the Mirage and probably better to drive too.

I can’t imagine the Mitsu’s 3 cylinder and a CVT being a very pleasant drive but it’s sort of the Geo Metro reincarnate and kind of endearing for that reason.