Hey Bird the best value in a used car

Jeff396 · Nov 9, 2001

Love the car!!!! My buddy growing up had a '69 Ford XL convertible we used to cruise up and down Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Man that was fun times. By the way, what's the extra door back by your fuel door for?

Jeff

Alan L. · Nov 10, 2001

A few years ago I wanted something cheap for my 100 mile round trip to work every day so I made a deal on a clean '91 Crown Victoria (55K miles) for $4000. Drove it home, my wife pitched a fit about how ugly it was and so I took it back to avoid a divorce.

Back in February I found a '95 Ford F150 XLT extended cab that I traded an old high-mileage Dodge minivan and $7,000 for. It only had 66K miles (now 85K) and runs great. The only problem is the 15 mpg (302 V8) compared to the 16 I got with the 4 X 4 suburban and the 18 - 20 mpg the new '01 Yukon XL (5.3 V8) gets.

Alan L., TX

billboe · Nov 10, 2001

With a commute like that, I was going to suggest a hybrid (~50mpg)... But, then, I read "Texas" in your profile... Never mind... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif {Is that enough smileys?!?}

Billboe

Bird · Nov 10, 2001

And has everyone seen the recent news stories (another one in The Dallas Morning News today) about the falling values of used vehicles as a result of the manufacturers flooding the market with new ones at 0% financing? The sales gimmick is working for them to sell new ones, but that makes the one you now have worth a lot less than you expect.

s1120 · Nov 10, 2001

Hillbilly,
That’s a 72 LTD. The last year for the Ford fullsize convertible. There was just over 4000 made in that year. She needs a little work, but slowly its coming around.[ Its hard to restore a car when you are still driving it around.

Jeff,
That door was for the filler for the propane. Yes, it used to run on propane. From what I have heard, a school had it for a fleet car in the mid 70’s. They changed it to propane powered for research purposes. She is fun to drive around on a nice day. Nothing like the feel of the open road, V8 thumping, top down, sun beating down on you.

oops,/w3tcompact/icons/blush.giflooks like the pic was a bit big. I really need to learn to crop./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

cowboydoc · Nov 10, 2001

Boy you're right there Bird. Buying a new car has got to be the worst financial move a person can make. Five years down the road you're lucky to get half of what you have in it. If you're in business and can expense them out you recoup that 50% loss in tax savings so it's a wash but for the private individual who can't claim it as a business expense I feel sorry for them.

Jeff396 · Nov 10, 2001

its hard to restore a car when you are still driving it around.

Especially when you live in NY with the salt monsters!!
I'm currently trying to restore a '64 T-bird convertible. 17 ft long and 4900 lbs.!!!!

Jeff

Edited by Jeff396 on 11/10/01 07:28 AM (server time).

s1120 · Nov 10, 2001

You got that right Jeff. She's parked now for the winter, don't want it to get worse.

cowboydoc · Nov 10, 2001

Speaking of T-birds have you seen the new ones by Ford? They are supposed to look like the old ones except they are about half the size. I think they dropped the ball on it as it looks like some sort of space vehicle and not a car.