An automobile for rural life.....

Duckhunter · Oct 25, 2001

Re: Sam\'s Club Buying

I agree on the Sam's Club buying. Puts you directly to the fleet sales department. Usually $100 to $500 over cost depending on model and availability. No hassle, same financing offers available.

njrqs · Oct 25, 2001

Dunno bird. We have had the falcon name from the mid sixties and it is still going. Looks a bit like some of the US cars I see.

It is a large family sedan. Weighs about 1400kg. Does this help?

Neil from OZ.

Gatorboy · Oct 26, 2001

Re: Sam\'s Club Buying

Why use Sam's Club? Just walk into the Auto dealership and say you want to buy the car/truck for $100 over invoice.

The most I have ever paid for a car/truck has been $250 over invoice. If they say NO, then just go to the next dealership. However, the sales guy will usually tackle you before you get into your car to leave and sell you the car for your offer.

The best time of the year is fast approaching too. Mid-to-late December the dealerships are dying for a sale.

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

DaRube · Oct 26, 2001

You guys rock!!!

Just a note of gratitude...in the 6 weeks I have been participating in this forum, it has become the first place I go to with my "adjustment" questions. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Not only is the info great, but a nice sense of comraderie as well.

My wife and I will visit the showrooms this weekend. On the list, thanks to you guys, are Subaru, Honda, Chevy, Dodge, & Ford....maybe Toyota.

The extended cabs have my interest. I can't wait to take a seat in one and see how it feels!

Another possibility is being discussed.....buying new a smaller vehicle such as the Subaru Outback or the Honda equivalent....and in the spring getting a larger truck, minimal features, with 3 or 4 years on it, for heavy but infrequent tasks.

Some of my questions so far......

1) Full time 4WD vs "2WD/4WD engaged automatically" vs "2WD/4WD switched manually".

2) Are there laws regarding negotiating around dealer invoice? My suspicious nature wonders if a surreptitious dealer would show me a "doctored" document. What additional charges are legit for inclusion...on the invoice...or in addition to invoice?

Gatorboy · Oct 26, 2001

Just go to Edmunds.com. They show you the invoice price on autos and options.

The dealer will show you the invoice -- and it won't be doctored. Just be aware that the dealer gets a "kickback" on average of 3% of the MSRP.

So, if you negotiate a price of $100 over invoice on a $25,000 MSRP vehicle, the dealer will make $100 + 3% of $25,000 ($750) for a total of $850. No need to feel pity on the dealer. My word of advice -- STAND YOUR GROUND. Do your research, and know the prices in advance.

The one charge you will most likely have to pay is their advertising fee -- about $300 or so on top of invoice.

Don't pay for rust-proofing, clearcoating, etc. You want the car without dealer added junk!

Just my 2 cents

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

ChrisR · Oct 26, 2001

Hi DaRube

last monday I picked up a Year old Toyoto 3ltr diesel Hilux Dual cab (same as Neils but with a pick-up back) I spent quite a while reviewing various makes and models, but at the end of the day, the hilux is regarded as one of the toughest and most reliable of all the dual cab types, most of the big mining companies out here use them, and while the ride is a little harder than a saloon, my wife (whom the car is for) is quite happy with it as are the kids.

Regards

Chris

Bird · Oct 26, 2001

I thought the body style of that Falcon looked similar to the Focus (which replaced the Escort), but it obviously isn't the same because the Focus is a smaller car; probably less than 1150 kg. (we have a '99 Escort that's 1134 kg.) Your Falcon may be more in line with our Taurus.

Bird

s1120 · Oct 26, 2001

This is the best car I got for use on the land, and beating around, and driving back and forth to work.

I know you were looking for new, but the best thing with this is it was free! 4 cyl, so gets OK mpg. Banged up a bit so I don't care if it gets scrached. Lots or room in the back for all the stuff I have to carry.

jyoutz · Oct 27, 2001

We have 3 vehicles, one of which is a 4x4 truck (which I could never be without), but if you want an all-around car-type vehicle, I would highly recommend a Jeep. We have a Jeep Cherokee that is the best built, most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Lots of dirt road and highway. 75,000 miles and not one squeak, rattle or repair. The straight 6 cylinder engine has more power than many V-8's I've driven but it still gets 20 MPG. Most SUV-type vehicles are terrible on fuel mileage, but not this vehicle. The new Jeep Liberty which replaced the Cherokee this year has the same motor and is still priced less than most other SUVs. The only complaint I would have with this vehicle is that it isn't as roomy as some other SUVs, but if the size suits you, I would get one.

njrqs · Oct 27, 2001

Gee Chris

The only two Aussies on the TBN and we both drive Hiluxes !

Mine is a 94 model 2.8 but has a Safari turbo. Goes OK but the wind resistance from that big canopy slows it down a bit.

Built the canopy to sleep in and high enough to sit up in, hence the height.

Cheers !!

Neil from OZ.

njrqs · Oct 27, 2001

Yes bird, we had your Taurus here new for a while but it sold like a dud so hence it is no more. Falcon probably a bit bigger.

Sorry but that Taurus was ugly. But maybe you guys get used to it I suppose. It was like a lot of the cars I see on the X-Files (One of the only shows (US) I watch).

Even the falcon takes a lot of styling cues from the US.

I hear it may be one of the last purely Aussie designed Falcons, and we may source one direct from the US.

Hope not, we need at least 1 unique Aussie Car.

(We only have a few locally built models, all our other vehicles are imported or assembled from imported parts)

Neil from OZ.

s1120 · Oct 27, 2001

jyoutz,
Talk about reliable. That beat up Cherokee in the pic has 220k miles on it. Runs like a dream. About 3 weeks ago gave it a tune up, and just for the hell of it gave it a copression check. All cyl's over 120psi. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Burns no oil, gets about 20mpg. And thats filled with about 1000lbs of tools and outher stuff, big tires, and a 2"lift. Oh ya, I'm happy with it.

PaulinSD · Oct 27, 2001

I had a 1998 Z-71, my wife drove a Monte Carlo. One day she came home and found a '95 C-3500 one ton dump truck in the driveway. Said that was the last time I could stay home alone! Anyway, we traded the Monte and the Z-71 in on a 4x4 Tahoe, which she drives, and I drive the dump truck. This has worked out very well for us, and she has said the the dump was a very good purchase. The Tahoe has worked well, good for traveling, pulling the pontoon boat and around town. Although it gets about 16 mpg, we like the quality. The dump, with a 454 and a auto, gets about 10 mpg, but hauling the tractors and material to our new property, works well.

Paul

HarveyM · Oct 27, 2001

Just throwing in my two cents. I bought a Dodge Dakota (4x4 extended cab with the V8 and a 6.5 ft bed) a few years ago and have loved it other than the fact that the rear transaxle will make a grinding noise on hard turns after a period at highway speed. My wife is driving a minivan right now, but I keep looking at the Subaru as a third vehicle for her as a runabout.

FYI...Hartman Dodge in Harrisonurg, VA has been great to work with.

Bird · Oct 27, 2001

Neil, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif When the Taurus first came out, I thought that was just about the ugliest car I'd ever seen, but I think they claimed to be the number one seller in the US for a few years. I think the newer ones look a little better (oldest daughter bought one last month). And of course, I don't really care much what a car or truck looks like; I'm just interested in performance, comfort, cost, and safety. And the only Taurus I ever drove felt just fine to me./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

jdkid · Oct 27, 2001

Hi ya Neil
ya downunder mates also have hiluxes we have a 99-00 SR5 3.o L turbo and also a 98 land crusier flat deck 4.2 .and also like ya i did the ford thing had a XB ute with a worked 302W (fact is it was a ex sprint boat motor)now bout good rural car hard call if ya going to cart heaps of stuff and use it for hualing ya going to need some thing bigger ,if wanting to tow once in a while but main thing is MPG and good to drive have a look at subarus i had 2 of there utes years ago and only rocks (big rocks!!) stop them they will take on all comers and win handle like a car ie lack of body roll, good top speed, other one i'd look at is (oh yea im 6foot 2 and bout 240 Lb so i like room)is the new Rav 4 ,3 door ..i took one for a drive be fore we got a new hilux and i did like it good handling and running 16 inch tires good under body clearence .only prob with both of these is towing
catch ya
JD Kid

njrqs · Oct 27, 2001

jdkid

Sounds like you guys get all the same cars & 4x4's that we do over here.

Cheers !!

Neil from OZ.

jdkid · Oct 27, 2001

Hi ya
Yep much the same maybe a few more 2Nd hand japers as i seem to recall the importing is tougher in Oz but fords and that other car made over there (dick johnson for king!!!!)ya do find the odd chev ,ford and other USA pickups but not many jeep would be the only USA truck ya can buy off the rack here but there was word that ford was bringing in the f150-250
catch ya
JD Kid

njrqs · Oct 28, 2001

Go dicky ! - I am a dicky fan from way back. I though you'd be a Radisich fan?? - The V8's are heading your way this week too.

Yep we can now buy a F series

Neil from OZ.

jyoutz · Oct 29, 2001

Sounds like ours has about 145,000 miles to go to catch up with yours. Seriously though, the reliability of these things is amazing. I really wasn't even a Jeep fan when I bought. I just bought based on the price.