|
|
Post by jmarriott on Mar 7, 2008 19:46:34 GMT -5
I hate most small cars
but 3.50 - 4.00 a gallon is in the future and my astro van has 217.000 and counting. The fan blower went out and i get in and out of the passenger door cause the driver's side door needs welded where the hinge post attaches to the van. I think i'll keep her for a while.
Anyone own/recommend something I should look at new/Used ect.
Needs to seat 2 adults and 2 kids (3 and 8).
Like to get 35 but at least 30.
Drive about 300 to 350 miles a week. needs to be able to fit a treestands and a bow and Clothes/boot box with the back seat down.
I used to own a VW Jetta but don't like the new body style.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Mar 7, 2008 23:14:15 GMT -5
Toyota Camry. There's a billion of them out there.
I've had 3, starting with an 84 model- and I've yet to have any kind of breakdown except for the normal brake pads and stuff, on any of the 3.
Not sure they'll always get 30+ mpg, but they'll stay in the high 20's easily.
You and the family will fit easily, and so will the gear. The later models have a fold down split rear seat, but I can't recall if the older ones (like 80's) do. The 90's versions do. If you mean a ladder stand, you'll have to try that and see if it fits. If you mean a climber, I think that would fit with no problems.
BTW, when my current one dies (if it ever does) I'll go right out and get #4. Made in USA, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by srwshooter on Mar 9, 2008 8:15:32 GMT -5
jack, the camry made be made in america,but the profits still feed the wrong people.
buy a car built by a american based company.before its to late.
|
|
|
|
Post by jabba on Mar 9, 2008 9:40:09 GMT -5
jack, the camry made be made in america,but the profits still feed the wrong people. buy a car built by a american based company.before its to late. Man... Danger danger POLITICS!! I have been working as a consultant in the local Indianapolis Allisons Transmission plant. A solid UAW shop. Let me tell you my opinion... Those guys are TOTAL A$$holes. Almost ALL of them. They go WAY out of their way to do things the HARD way. To be difficult to deal with. To stop job progress so they can get paid to wait around. So they can get OT. The pay rate for construction TRADESMEN, electricians, carpenters, drywallers, and sheet metal guys is over $70/hr. I have SEEN the pay rate schedule. It's rediculous!! It's NO wonder they are losing all their car manufacturing jobs... Even Ford and GM are shipping their factories overseas, while Toyota and Honda are bringing it here. The Unions are killing this country. Maybe already have, and the UAW is the WORST of the WORST IMO.   Jabba |
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Mar 9, 2008 10:15:12 GMT -5
Yes, politics, so I'll be careful here, answer once and then be quiet.
Yes, I suppose the profits, or some of them, from an American Toyota plant do go back to Japan. However, the men and women who build Camrys and other models in those plants are Americans, taking their paychecks home to American families.
At a time when jobs are being exported in record numbers, I'll give Toyota credit for creating jobs here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Purebred Redneck on Mar 9, 2008 12:47:32 GMT -5
jack, the camry made be made in america,but the profits still feed the wrong people. buy a car built by a american based company.before its to late. Absolutly 100% true Let me add - make sure it's an american based company that builds the car in the US or Canada. Some of the Fords for instance are built in Mexico and I'm sure GM and Chrysler do the same. As far as the UAW Yeah, people go to the union hall and drink at lunch. Yeah people go out behind the dumpsters and smoke dope on break. But you know what, it's an assembly line job --- the forman stands behind you with a whip (figuratively) and makes sure you get your piece put on in time. It's certainly not an easy job. Granddad and dad did that for 60 years - for every druggy you have 10 busting his ass for his family. And you need a union (corrupt or not) when dealing with safety hazards and workers rights of tens of thousands of auto workers. Here's the stereotypical union basher - a mid level manager at a corporation making 30-50k who sits in a chair all day long trying to kill time by playing on the internet and scratching lotto tickets waiting for lunch so he can go out to the sports bar and have a couple beers. (I just described myself to a T). And all this time they criticize the union workers making 30-50k who are standing there in 100 degree heat working there asses off. The anti-union folks --- they don't have a clue at all as to what they are talking about. They say the slaves were freed by Lincoln. That's not true, the slaves were freed by Teddy and Taft. |
|
|
|
Post by klsm54 on Mar 9, 2008 15:08:11 GMT -5
Okay, back to the original topic.... I hate to lock a thread where a guy asked an honest, non-political, question.... I'll only list cars made in the USA in an attempt to stop further political commentary.... Geesh, even the guy who writes the rules..... New - Ford Escape Hybrid Used - Ford Escape, Pontiac Vibe, Ford Focus Wagon Here is a place to search by type of vehicle, mileage, make, etc. Kelley Blue Book Car Finder Link |
|
|
|
Post by Purebred Redneck on Mar 9, 2008 16:29:13 GMT -5
I don't see any politics.  I just see economics and the job market. Anyways, the Ford Focus would be a good car for under $15,000 |
|
|
|
Post by jabba on Mar 9, 2008 18:14:28 GMT -5
I apologize in advance for the continued union bashing.
UAW employees making $30 to $50K? Seriously? The guys I am talking about make $40/hr PLUS benefits! I saw the pay sheets! Total cost to GM for these guys was ALL over $70/hr. As a union basher, I'll tell you they go OUT of their way to screw the management and the Co. Doing everything they can to slow down a project, STOP work so they can get paid to sit on their worthless arses. Then, work OT at $60-$80/hr PAY rate to do what they SHOULD have already done. I have a good friends dad retire a few years ago from Navistar, as a run of the mill WORKER-Bee. He made $100K a year with all his OT. They demand the BEST of the BEST benefits, retirement and pay, then complain when their jobs get moved overseas. If they gave their BEST effort to the companies... I'd be a lot more sympathetic, but IF a guy TRIED to give his BEST effort for his day's ration, his union buddies would crucify him for setting the bar so high. I know... I have been in the UAW, the Teamsters, and the IBEW. They never did anything for me except take my dues and complain that I worked too hard.
Jabba
|
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Mar 9, 2008 22:43:11 GMT -5
I'm not even going to touch those politics guys. Been there done that.  I'm still working out what I should do with my Expidition. I'm still getting 20 mpg on the highway but only 13.5 around town. I park it and use the 95 ford pickup with the 302 to go back and forth to work. Was thinking of trading it but last week I had a grinding noise comming from the breaks. Working 10 hr days and 6 days a week most of the time lately I didn't have time to mess with it. SO I took it in and told the garage to fix it. $531 later I have new breaks and both front rotors. The flutter I heard in the exaust turned out to be two broken exaust manifold bolts and the swaying I was having going down the highway was a broken sway bar hanger. So now I have another pile of money in it and have 120,000 on it and still can't get myself to get rid of it and buy a butt hummer that gets 25 mpg and just about has room enough for the driver in it and forget about anything else. Dog and wife would have to walk. I think what I will do instead is get rid of the wifes Buick LaSaber and buy her something half the size that gets maybe 4 mpg more so we at least look like were doing our part. |
|
|
|
Post by deputydon on Mar 10, 2008 7:15:30 GMT -5
Walking to get my mail saves me about a 1/4 tank a week. Plus it gets me back in shape a little. darn ice and weather has slowed down the walking this year. But I'm trying to do my part.
|
|
|
|
Post by jimiowa on Mar 10, 2008 7:56:16 GMT -5
I'll only say having been UAW for 16 Yrs (5 on the executive committe) and a Company man for 22 yrs. There's two sides to every story and Niether one is totally correct. Shame they can't shed the advarsarial attitudes and work together for the benifit of all. If they keep fighting they will force all labor over seas.
As far as the Buy American, I wish it were that easy!
I recently read that China was buying up Traditional American Brand names(Like White Westinghouse) and selling their Chinese products as American brands.
A product only has to be 70% assembled in the US to qualify as American Made. And with American made Products made outside the US I'm totally confused. Ford engines are for the most part made in Windsor Cannada. Dodge Pickups are made in Mexico, and Chrysler Corp is owned by Damiler Benz. I'm sure there are many more examples. Toyota makes many of their vehicles here using American Labor, as does Volkswagon, Honda, Hyundi, etc
I will be needing to replace my s-10 in the next year or so, I think it will be a Toyota and I have no qualms or question I'll be buying an american made product. And supporting American Labor.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Mar 10, 2008 8:10:55 GMT -5
"A product only has to be 70% assembled in the US to qualify as American Made."
Good point, Jim.
I helped a friend of mine change the shocks on his Explorer a few years ago. The front shock bolts were traditional American 9/16th. The rears? 13 mm- the most common size you'll find in most European and Japanese cars. I very much doubt those 13mm bolts came out of an American plant.
|
|
|
|
Post by Purebred Redneck on Mar 10, 2008 8:53:39 GMT -5
UAW employees making $30 to $50K? Seriously? The guys I am talking about make $40/hr PLUS benefits! I saw the pay sheets! Total cost to GM for these guys was ALL over $70/hr. As a union basher, I'll tell you they go OUT of their way to screw the management and the Co. Doing everything they can to slow down a project, STOP work so they can get paid to sit on their worthless arses. Then, work OT at $60-$80/hr PAY rate to do what they SHOULD have already done. The starting wages were 11 dollars an hour for new employees. After 90 days you were bumped to something like 15 dollars. Ford maxed out their pay for assembly line workers, dock workers, etc at around $28 dollars an hour (first 40 hours). So without overtime the most anyone of those grossed was 58,000 and that's someone who's been there for 25-30 years. Saturdays and m-f overtime (sometimes optional and sometimes madatory were all 1 1/2 times pay). Sundays (optional) was 2 times pay. So yes, it is conceivable to make 100,000 a year by working 7 days a week. And not a week went by when someone at the St. Louis Ford plant didn't die right there on the line of a heart attack. As to 40 dollars an hour, you might be refering to an hourly engineer, welder, etc. A regular employee doesn't make that much in any plant (Ford, GM, etc) because all the contracts basically read the same. Now onto screwing the management and company. Yes, absolutly they do that. And there's two sides to everything. No one in the business industry sneaks out at 3pm on a friday? No one goes golfing on business meetings? Retail employees don't go out for a smoke break every 30 minutes? Retail employees don't hide in the stock room for an hour till the boss trys to find them? In the auto industry, you have the formans screaming and cursing all the time (yes they do that) so why shouldn't the workers get even every once in a while? And when that line stops, asses get kicked. If you stop that line you better have a really good reason for it because Ford loses 10,000 dollars a minute for every minute that line is stoped. No, you just don't stop the line because you want a break. You stop the line ONLY if rules are broken by management or you run out of parts. |
|
I just see economics and the job market. 
