Situation: My fiancé is pregnant with our kid to come in mid November. This is the first kid for both of us and have been preparing since we found out. Currently we are riding around in a crappy 2-door ’94 Escort that I purchased a few years ago for near nothing. This car works great for me because I have to go to college at nights twice a week and this thing does awesome on MPG, anyways…she hates it and I don’t see putting a baby seat in it. My other ride is an ’89 Chevy K1500 pickup which I use only as a pickup, bad mileage, radiator leaks, and so on. She used to have a ’94 explorer which would have done fine, but she managed to pull out in front of someone and totaled it, thus she no longer has a vehicle.

Plan: Ever since we found out that she was pregnant, I planned on getting some kind of 4-door car that would be good on gas, have a reliable mechanically sound background (not a car that’s known for having issues), and she wants to have air-conditioning, and not bust my budget ($0-$2500 range). So, now it’s been a few months and I now have the cash that I was planning to have and am ready to pick up a car for her. I have test drove a few here and there to no avail, I’m mechanically inclined and can tell when I’m driving a wreck.

Reason I started this long *** thread: Advice…yes I want some advice from you guys on cars that you have had or have that fit in this criteria. I figure that most mid to late ‘90s cars fit in the area that I’m looking to buy. I have mainly been looking for 96-and up Ford Torus/Mercury whatever, Chevy Lumina/Malibu, Pontiac Bonneville/Grand Prix maybe Grand Am (I hate them), Olds Aleros, and Saturns. I’d really like to be getting a Subaru or Honda but their’s no way that my budget seems to fit in that area. I’ve looked away from Mopars because of how infamous they have become for weak trannys and the 2.8(?) engine failures. So without further to do, let me know what kind of car you would recommend and maybe what to watch for on that particular model.

 

I own a 2002 Ford Taurus SEL model with the 200HP Vulcan motor. Great car, I didn't think I'd like it all the much coming from my Firebird TA to a Taurus but its great. The motor is strong and super reliable and gets about 22mpg city, around 28mpg on the hwy. The trunk is HUGE! I have one 10in sub in mine and still have room to fit a ton a crap.

 

Buy any mid 90's honda or toyota. They are only a few grand and most of them are still in good shape and should run well for years.

 

I have rarely heard of anyone having trouble with a late model Chevy Malibu. Ours ran great until we traded it. I have also heard nothing but good things about the Hyundai Sonata, dependable, great MPG, and cheap.

 

Get a Civic and forget about it....done.

 

Keep an eye out on late 90's and into 2000+ malibu's... or any general motors vehicle with the 3.4 (3400) or the 3.6 (3600) engines. They're goog engines, but the intakes leak... and not just some, but eventually ALL of them will fail. I've replaced a TON of them myself (proffesional mechanic of 6 years), and most every one I've seen that comes in with 60K+ miles will show the tell-tail signs of a leak. General Motors implemented a poor gasket choice here, and that leads to it's failure. Great cars otherwise (I'm a much bigger GM fan than Ford[:'(]). Just keep an eye out for them. (Usual traces would be "fluid" (radiator, often the orange stuff) seeping out the front and back sides of the motor (remember, it's in sideways, so front and back is actually the sides facing the front tires). The easy one to see is usually located under the intake "boot" coming from the air box. Just look straight down from where the boot hooks into the engine/intake and right where the transmission is bolted up and meets the engine (the lower intake gasket is located basically here), there will be wet parts and fluid that pools up. Good luck!

 

I have the 3 door model but the 5 door model svt focus is a pretty slick little ride. 2.0 liter aluminium 4 cylinder with a 6 speed tranny and a bmw inspired suspension. They not made any more search for 03 or 04 model.

 

Thanks for the heads up, I'd like to find a GM with either the 3.1 or 3.8. I had a 3.8 in a Regal and that thing rocked! Never gave me any trouble and had all kinds of power. I think that the later 3.8s also had an issue with the intake gasket if I remember right. Something about the intake being plastic.
Anyway, thanks for the input guys! Keep it up.

 

I wouldnt recommend a newer 3.8 they are junk like you have heard. Not just cause I am a ford man they really are junk. Old ones a very respectable solid built good power and easy to fix if it does break

 

I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE that we bought before my son was born when we were first trying to start a family. It's been a a great car so far (with the exception of the coil packs), lots of power, comfort, even with 2 adults in the rear seat. My wife wants to sell it for a minivan though (Honda Odyssey). I guess she just wants more room for her yard sale ventures every weekend.