Find Used Cars Online

Q.I'm in the Austin TX area and I need a little information. Will a pre-Ford model be more reliable than a post-Ford model? One camp in the household thinks we should spend upwards of $30k to get a late-model dealer certified car with some portion of the original warranty remaining. The other camp in the household thinks an older, pre-Ford model will in the long run be more reliable, if perhaps not so posh or shiny; plus it'll save us as much as $20k! Comments? Diatribe?

A.Getting a qualified pre-purchase inspection on an out of town car will depend on your friend/family in Houston/Dallas (i.e., someone you already trust to line up someone who is already qualified). That's what will make an online (ebay, etc.) purchase very viable. If it doesn't pass a trustworthy inspection, pass on the deal. Annual regular maint less than $1,000 average includes new timing belt every 60,000, new tires about every 50,000 - 60,000, fuel filter about every 2 - 3 yrs (stinky job you may want mechanic to handle), sparks and wires and rotor and cap, air filter, either learn to clean the throttle body and crankcase screen every 6 months or pay someone. Brake master cylinder around 5 yrs. Air mass meter once or twice over car life. Battery every 3 - 5 yrs. New muffler, catalytic converter around 7 yrs. A water pump maybe sometime (best done at same time as timing belt replacement). New shocks around 7 - 8 yrs., new suspension bushings and steering tie rods and ball joints around 9 - 10 yrs, new A/C compressor and drier/accumulator and refrigerant around 10 yrs., new hoses and belts around 7 yrs. If the original radiator with weak plastic neck has not been replace with a stronger metal neck, this will go for around $300 - $400 with parts,labor, fluid. May or may not need to replace wiring harnesses with crumbling insulation on the wires. I recommend sticking with 1988 or newer models, as I've heard this was improved that year. These are all basis wear and tear items common to just about all cars, but are fairly durable on a Volvo 240 if the car maintenance is being kept up-to-date. $1,000/yr average is very little, over the life of a car after it's 3 yrs old. If you can find another car with less average maint cost than all the above, please post to this frugal group - we are wanting to know. And, the mother of all repairs on the 240, the $120 interior fan (blows heater air, refrigerated air to the passenger cabin). Experienced repair estimators would rather total the car than pay for this job. It is the worst bonehead design on the whole car for a cheap part replacement. It's easier to get a divorce and marry a new mate but beware you'll need to do it again in about 10 yrs.

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