So I need to do something about my lack of wheels. I went looking at vehicles tonight. Here are my options as they are currently manifesting themselves:
- Fix the Vagabond. Rebuild the engine. Have a running 2×4 ’92 GMC Jimmy. 130,000 miles but a rebuilt engine so that’s pretty good. Color: Red. SLE configuration. Still, its a lot of work for a vehicle that’s worth about $2400. Approx cost of engine rebuild: $2500
- Buy a ’94 Ford Explorer. 120,000 miles. Sounds pretty good. Color: Green. XLT configuration. Thing is, It doesn’t so much sing to me as a vehicle I really WANT, just that I need one and I can afford it. I like it, ok, especially with me having the thing for trucks that I have. I dunno. I’d like it, I’m sure. Maybe its just that I’m not into green. Cost: $4995
- Buy a ‘94 Honda Civic del Sol. 140,000 miles, but it purrs like a kitten. I mean it – like a kitten. Color: Black. Ok, so clearly I really want this car. But its impractical in so many ways. Only 2 seats. Its a convertible, Its not a truck. But its so pretty. Cost: $3995
Ok, so clearly I want the convertible. On a good note, its a 4 cyl. engine, and its not 4 wheel drive. And its a lot lighter than the truck. Its going to use a lot less gas and its going to be cheaper to insure than the truck would be. On a bad note, it only has two seats, so I can’t give people rides anywhere. It doesn’t have the kind of cargo hauling capability that an SUV would have. Of course, beststephi has a van now, so if we ever needed the extra space, we have it.
So opinions? What should the Vagabond be? Jimmy, Explorer or del Sol?
Okay. So, if it were me, I’d buy the convertible. It’s more fun, it uses less gas (fight the evil Saddam! Save the whales!). I’m a bit leary of the high mileage though. The less-romantic part of me says, just fix the old truck. Wouldn’t a new engine pretty much reset its age? And it’s the cheapest option.
I can’t imagine why you would buy another truck with a lot of miles on it. I doubt it would be any better than fixing the old one, and it might be worse, and it would be more expensive.
But you know, I know nothing about cars. You should get‘s opinion.
The biggest win of buying a new truck instead of fixing the old one is the 4WD. Which although more expensive a gas option would just be really nice in some circumstances. A rebuilt engine won’t be “as good as new” but it will be good. The ’94 Explorer is also simply a better ride than the ’92 Jimmy. Better suspension, better lots of stuff.
The del Sol of course is simply choice. High miles, but really the engine did somund nice. I’m going to have to do a VIN report on them both later.
del sol!!
i _seriously_ considered getting a del sol also about a year ago when i did my own car shopping.
i drove a cute 97. it was lovely, but i felt that while it was a beautiful convertible (and affordable) it wasn’t a see-the-whole-world kinda convertible. perhaps it’s because i’m a little shorter than some, but i felt very low in the car and had to look up rather high to see the beautiful sky that day.
i’d still support getting one, but do you like driving people around?
i chose a honda civic ex (my last was a civic si – it had some pickup, let me tell you). i still occasionally think about that little del sol, but today i took 3 others to lunch in my car and that’s a big draw for me.
Re: del sol!!
I did drive people around a lot, but I guess I don’t really have to. If I’m ever going somewhere with a whole bunch of people is almost certainly one of them, and there is no reason we can’t take her minivan instead. The hugest win of the old Vagabond was basiclly that it was such a prime rafting vehicle. Also, and I had delusions of having some tailgate parties that we never got around to.
Get the Del Sol as your like “commuter car” to drive out to southeast nowheresville for work. Take your chica’s van rafing or whatever.
I kind of wish I’d had a convertible I could drive around before I got dogs (which require a backseat) and engaged (which will likely mean children in a few years) so I’m pretty much stuck with station wagons. Get the Del Sol, Mav, for me.
that’s probably the best rationale I have heard so far.
If those are your options, get the Japanese car. If you buy American, your engine will just die again. Americans can’t build engines.
In my experience (with Subarus, not Hondas), a Japanese-built engine will by far outlast the body of the car, especially in a snowy place with road salt and all. I had 2 of them with well over 120,000 miles and no engine problems whatsoever.
On the other hand, you already have a girlfriend so you don’t really need a convertable.
On the other hand, given the amount of snow and such (plus my penchant for rafting when its warm), the 4×4 makes a lot of sense.
Yeah though, convertibles aren’t about need. They are clearly about want.
i have a friend with a ford exploder and in the past year he’s bought a new engine and transmission. unless that one has a new transmission and engine you’re begging to have another expensive to fix dud… i say go german. heh heh
I can’t tell if you are arguing I should get the del Sol or that I should fix the Jimmy. Ok, I guess you’re really arguing I should buy a german car, but barring that…
well, i was arguing against the exploder. since fixing the jimmy is equivalent to buying another jimmy cost-wise and buying another jimmy isn’t on your list, i guess i’m arguing for the del sol. but what you (and everyone else) really needs is a yellow awd car. yellow = most visible to other drivers, awd = best handling in bad driving conditions => safest car you can get.
Get the Del Sol. Riding in a convertible with the top down is so therapeutic. I guess being in DC makes me overly concerned with traffic, but there’s something almost okay about being stuck in traffic when it’s 75 and sunny and the top’s down. And the drive to pgh on a nice day is great.
Sumner
yeah, it should be awesome on those 57 sunshiny days that pittsburgh has. And its a hardtop convertible, so I’m not terriby worried about it being cold in the summer. Or springing a leak or anything like that.
yes, and if you’re driving from DC to Pittsburgh on a nice sunny day with the top down, you can give the truckers a thrill by doing it topless. although i guess that works better if you’re a girl. not that i would know any of this from experience.
p.s. always make sure to take preventive measures regarding sunburn and windburn.
I’m sure Mav has lots of trouble with sunburn. Or are you confusing me and Mav now? (Yes, this does happen.)
They say that FORD stands for Fix Or Repair Daily. hmmmmmm
– Mom
The Honda is at mid-life; the trucks have one tire in the grave
There is no question. You want the del Sol. At 140,000 miles you still have years of useful life ahead of you; at 120-140,000 miles neither of those trucks is anything to trust for anything more than commuting.
Mom was being kind – it really stands for “Fucked-up Overhauled Rebuilt Dodge.”
-ben, who drove a Mustang, not a Ford
PS
If you do get it, and you can’t get proof that the timing belt has been changed recently, you absolutely must do that. It’s important on used Hondas.
And for the love of all that is good, promise me you’re not going to take it to Pep Boys to get it done – or for anything other than self-installed parts, ever.
Duh, get the Del Sol
And be nice to Steph, so she lets you use the van. You win (cool & reliable car, lower gas prices), Steph wins (you suck up to her).
Epinions – Del Sol wins!
Del Sol – 5 stars
Explorer – 4 stars
Jimmy – 4 stars
Del Sol. Live a little.