Comments on: What To Look For (And Maybe Avoid) In Your Next New Car http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/ News For Drivers Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:41:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: John http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3927 John Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:12:08 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3927 Someone is asleep at the wheel in this article with regards to safety issues. While I whole heartedly agree in avoiding necessary gadgetry like high-tech convenience features and many new models for the first six months or so, I cannot fathom that anyone with a conscience would advocate avoidance of cars because of antilock brakes, most of which also now include traction control. What next, avoid any thing with an airbag becasue it might cost a lot to repair? And avoiding overhead cam engines? Hmm, that leaves most of us driving 1982 Chevettes or 2 ton pick up trucks. What the author should be saying, is either look for an overhead cam engine that utilizes a timing chain rather than a timing belt, or research the used car models where a timing belt change is a $200 hit every 75,000 miles. They do exist. Someone is asleep at the wheel in this article with regards to safety issues. While I whole heartedly agree in avoiding necessary gadgetry like high-tech convenience features and many new models for the first six months or so, I cannot fathom that anyone with a conscience would advocate avoidance of cars because of antilock brakes, most of which also now include traction control. What next, avoid any thing with an airbag becasue it might cost a lot to repair? And avoiding overhead cam engines? Hmm, that leaves most of us driving 1982 Chevettes or 2 ton pick up trucks. What the author should be saying, is either look for an overhead cam engine that utilizes a timing chain rather than a timing belt, or research the used car models where a timing belt change is a $200 hit every 75,000 miles. They do exist.

]]> By: Chris http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3870 Chris Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:36:17 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3870 Folks, get a bicycle and pedal your way up to 2008. How can a motorist website suggest to buy a used car, or any car for that matter, without an ABS is beyond me. Failure of ABS pump is possibly the least probable of all the failures. I've only have experience with Mazdas, but even 10 years old the cars with 170,000+ miles have ABS in excellent condition. But of course, there are brands too... And avoiding DOHC engines? You can't be serious... It really looks like someone wants to sustain a constant flow of repair cash to Detroit... What about serious advice, such as check out the suspension as it may be worn out, check out the wear on the tyres - uneven suggesst suspension/braking/wheel alignment issues or even past crash. What about check the car for rust, check the oil, try the car under braking...., try to start the engine when cold and see what kind of smoke goes out of the exhaust. Any suspicious noises? And most importatnly, check the body and engine numbers as these may have been tampered with and the car may have been stolen, written off.... etc. Folks, get a bicycle and pedal your way up to 2008.

How can a motorist website suggest to buy a used car, or any car for that matter, without an ABS is beyond me. Failure of ABS pump is possibly the least probable of all the failures. I’ve only have experience with Mazdas, but even 10 years old the cars with 170,000+ miles have ABS in excellent condition. But of course, there are brands too…
And avoiding DOHC engines? You can’t be serious…

It really looks like someone wants to sustain a constant flow of repair cash to Detroit…

What about serious advice, such as check out the suspension as it may be worn out, check out the wear on the tyres – uneven suggesst suspension/braking/wheel alignment issues or even past crash. What about check the car for rust, check the oil, try the car under braking…., try to start the engine when cold and see what kind of smoke goes out of the exhaust. Any suspicious noises?
And most importatnly, check the body and engine numbers as these may have been tampered with and the car may have been stolen, written off…. etc.

]]> By: dave http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3750 dave Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:41:14 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3750 I think this article was written in 1982 lol I think this article was written in 1982 lol

]]> By: Steve http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3494 Steve Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:00:52 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3494 Avoid OHC's? You're joking, right? I thought this was an enthusiast's site. Gee, the only engine I've had go belly-up on me was an ancient-tech GM 2.5l 4-cyl (yes -- it was a HUGE mistake) that ate its timing gear. After I unloaded that pig, I've driven nothing but OHC-engined cars since and have had to replace one belt unexpectedly (did it myself on a Saturday). 50s/60s cars have a nostalgic appeal, but I don't think many folks today would put up with their need for constant tweaking, poor performance and spartan accommodations (old Coupe de Villes notwithstanding...) Avoid OHC’s? You’re joking, right? I thought this was an enthusiast’s site.
Gee, the only engine I’ve had go belly-up on me was an ancient-tech GM 2.5l 4-cyl (yes — it was a HUGE mistake) that ate its timing gear.
After I unloaded that pig, I’ve driven nothing but OHC-engined cars since and have had to replace one belt unexpectedly (did it myself on a Saturday).
50s/60s cars have a nostalgic appeal, but I don’t think many folks today would put up with their need for constant tweaking, poor performance and spartan accommodations (old Coupe de Villes notwithstanding…)

]]> By: George http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3396 George Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:13:09 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3396 A car without ABS has flat spotted tires. You can't avoid ABS. ABS is integral to EBD. and ABS is integral to stability control, whose mandate is coming pretty soon. A car without ABS has flat spotted tires.

You can’t avoid ABS. ABS is integral to EBD.
and ABS is integral to stability control, whose mandate is coming pretty soon.

]]> By: Douglas Guerra http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3348 Douglas Guerra Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:44:39 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3348 Avoid OverHead Cam motors and ABS? Sounds like this article was written by a North American auto executive. Maybe we should all be driving Ford Model T's. Avoid OverHead Cam motors and ABS? Sounds like this article was written by a North American auto executive. Maybe we should all be driving Ford Model T’s.

]]> By: Gareth http://blog.motorists.org/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3334 Gareth Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:29:32 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/helpful-information/what-to-look-for-and-maybe-avoid-in-your-next-new-car/#comment-3334 Having worked in the parts distribution centre (spare parts dep.t) of a major auto manufacturer, I agree wholeheartedly about avoiding 'first gen' new cars. I spent nearly 2 years shipping valve tappet sets worldwide after the company introduced a new engine. For the first 6 months of production the old design of tappet was built into every engine built - even though the company KNEW there was a problem and had a redesigned part already in production. It was deemed cheaper to replace the faulty part under warranty than it was to delay production to change the part during build. To give an idea of how large the problem was, the depot was shipping an average of 20,000 tappets a week for 2 years. Over half a million cars worldwide were affected... Having worked in the parts distribution centre (spare parts dep.t) of a major auto manufacturer, I agree wholeheartedly about avoiding ‘first gen’ new cars. I spent nearly 2 years shipping valve tappet sets worldwide after the company introduced a new engine. For the first 6 months of production the old design of tappet was built into every engine built – even though the company KNEW there was a problem and had a redesigned part already in production. It was deemed cheaper to replace the faulty part under warranty than it was to delay production to change the part during build.

To give an idea of how large the problem was, the depot was shipping an average of 20,000 tappets a week for 2 years. Over half a million cars worldwide were affected…

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