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06-05-2008, 07:35 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Edison
Posts: 7,856
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Daily driver/ beater/ "first" car?!
Well Ive officially started looking into a beater for my daily use. I have 2 months till I get my license but I think that the 2 months I have might help me pick the most reliable and fuel efficient car Possible.
I need some help though. What cars should I be looking into? I need at least 30 MPG in the city and something cheap to insure(even though it wont be cheap  ) and some thing that can get hit by the morons at my school. Ive done some research and I have come up with a few cars.
1. Ford Festiva
2. Saturn sl
3. geo metro
What kind of cars should I be looking into? What should I look out for when searching for a "beater" they have to be cheap for some reason, but how can I find out if the car will be reliable. What are some things I should notice and immediately walk away from?
Please help me!!!!!!!!
-Matt
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1984 Firebird
2000 Z28
2023 Tacoma
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06-05-2008, 07:38 PM
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#2
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,082
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lmao @ a festiva, seriously...dont go there
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06-05-2008, 08:06 PM
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#3
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Fidget Lover
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: P-town, New Jersey
Posts: 1,890
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i had a 96 chevy beretta and i loved that car...3100 v6 in it it was a pretty quick little thing..
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-BaRb-
97 Z28- slightly modded....Back and Badder than ever!
90 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue...Out of my driveway but still in my heart...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy
Barb = fist pump extraordinaire
- Justin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubba428
just for the record...whos falus is lodged in your sfincter
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06-05-2008, 08:10 PM
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#4
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MIR
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 9,692
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no gas or insurance.
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06-05-2008, 08:24 PM
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#5
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Mr Fantastic
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Milford NJ
Posts: 7,917
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out of those 3...i'd go with the saturn. just check the oil once in a while and itll last. and its made of plastic
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Matt
B18B1 FTW
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06-05-2008, 08:30 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: unknown
Posts: 2,776
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2000 Pewter Trans am, M6, SLP Lid,LS6 intake,Kooks 1 7/8" Long tube header,Classic Chambered Powersticks, hurst,off road X-pipe, Strano springs & Koni's, Monster level 2 clutch, HPtuners wide band tuned and a homemade ram air box sealed off.
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06-05-2008, 08:53 PM
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#7
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,368
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i'd get a small sedan or coupe obviously. a little honda or toyota. early mid 90's. last quite awhile, easy to maintain, safe, good gas consumption, all that good stuff. on ur list though, the saturn is the only thing i would trust.
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06-05-2008, 08:57 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Piscataway, N.J.
Posts: 1,729
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I bought a 2001 Dodge Neon for my daughter back in 2004 with 31,000. It now has 81,000 and still runs great, The gas mileage is 32 highway, and it has never let me down. If you get the LX or the upgraded model, they come with cassette and CD radios, full instrument dash, power windows and mirrors plus dual air bags. Some even came with aluminum wheels and a rear spoiler. Just get the 2000 or newer model as a lot of improvements were made with the new design. 
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1991 FORMULA 350-GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1 of 1,197 with L98 Option/13.79@100 mph
1994 25th ANNIVERSARY TRANS AM GT -1 of ONLY 2,000 made/ Only 128 made with a HURST 6-Speed Manual and 91 with T-Tops and Compact Disc/ K & N Filtercharger/Magnaflow Performance Muffler/Air Foil- ORIGINAL MINT Arctic White Ultra Rare SURVIVOR. DAYTONA 500 PACE CAR Decal Kit!
SOLD: 1989 Turbo T/A in 1991 it ran 12:18@115 mph
Last edited by edpontiac91; 06-05-2008 at 08:59 PM.
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06-05-2008, 09:15 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 7,108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GP99GT
out of those 3...i'd go with the saturn. just check the oil once in a while and itll last. and its made of plastic
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2018 Camaro 2SS Redline package, ESC Novi 1500 tuned by EFX, Might Mouse wild catch can, GM STB, smoked ZL1 3rd brake light, Xpel XR Black 35% tint all around, Street Scene front splitter, C7 Carbon ZL1 side skirts, Drake Muscle Car Wickerbill spoiler
2010 Infiniti G37x-Moonlight White w/Graphite interior. Stock...for now. Xpel XR Black tint(hey it's a mod lol)
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06-05-2008, 09:18 PM
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#10
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: clarksburg
Posts: 151
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FIERO!! like me
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06-05-2008, 09:53 PM
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#11
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Point Pleasant
Posts: 1,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Firebird
FIERO!! like me
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Not a bad idea.
May want to think about the fact that sacrificing a few MPG's for a little bit of a bigger car will give you a little insurance of not getting completely mauled if you ever get into an accident.
Any late 80's to mid 90's 4cyl/5speed nissan or toyota easily fits the bill for MPG's though.
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-Vinnie
94 2wd SBSC Gmt400. 330CI LSX, Fast 102, Trickflow 205s, close ratio nv3500, 4.30/trutrac.
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06-05-2008, 10:25 PM
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#12
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13 Second Club
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ewing/Galloway, NJ
Posts: 3,904
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mk2 dub...just sayin
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EB
99 Riviera, Bone stock, 14.34 @ 96 "Walking 5.0's in luxury" RIP
95 Cherokee, Bone stock 16.2 @ 83 "Treeing your 3rd gen and beating it to the line despite trapping less....and looking better"
93 TA, Bone stock, 13.8 @ 100 "Beating ****** drivers in ****** LS1's"
https://www.facebook.com/groups/285090241699967/
R.I.P. Tia
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06-05-2008, 10:55 PM
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#13
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston/North
Posts: 9,214
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frosty
Quote:
Originally Posted by GP99GT
out of those 3...i'd go with the saturn. just check the oil once in a while and itll last. and its made of plastic
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the neon is also a good idea
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen
dumbass.
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06-06-2008, 12:02 AM
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#14
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12 Second Club
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Milford
Posts: 8,373
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get a 96+ cavy Z24 5speed! i always wanted one for a beater, if i had to commute somewhere
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88 Camaro
95 Impala SS
97 Trans Am WS6
98 Blazer ZR2
00 Corvette
04 CTS-V
04 Grand Cherokee
06 GMC Sierra
07 Sublime Charger Daytona
12 Tahoe LT
17 Malibu LT
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06-06-2008, 12:26 AM
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#15
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Resident Camera Guy
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 10,971
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Chevy S10, gets good mileage, and can haul all the crap for your other car!
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06-06-2008, 07:10 AM
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#16
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,623
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GP99GT
out of those 3...i'd go with the saturn. just check the oil once in a while and itll last. and its made of plastic
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no no....plastic isn't good, he'd find a way to light it on fire...
get a geo....that way when you blow it up nobody will care, and theres already 4,000 of them in every junk yard so parts can be cheap. and 3cyl sip gas
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2000 Tahoe Z71 5.7
1982 Z28 Pacecar 305
1999 S10 
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06-06-2008, 08:38 AM
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#17
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Hippy Mod, Bergermeister Meisterberger, Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ewing
Posts: 6,216
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One thing to think about when getting a cheap beater with higher miles is the maintenance required. I know the older Toyota pickups and 4Runners are great vehicles but the 4cyl engines need to have the timing chain and timing chain guides replaced every so often.
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69 Z28 JL8 4 wheel disc brakes - being restored
09 Silverado Z71
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06-06-2008, 08:58 AM
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#18
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hillsborough, NJ
Posts: 3,200
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Add these to your research list. Look at the older cars of the mid 90's that are still in decent condition, which you can pick up for a small amount of cash. They should last until the end of your Freshman year of college, then pick up a part time job and get something a little newer, or start driving your Trans Am as a DD.
Chevy Cavalier
Pontiac Grand Am
Ford Taurus
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I USED TO HAVE an 85 Camaro 305 4bbl, 90 Firebird V6, 97 Firebird V6 (10 speakers!). Despite the two family vehicles, 3 kids, wife and mortgage, I can finally realize the dream - 88 TA almost all stock... for now.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/untameddave
Wanted this -  , but ended up with this -  for free. Can't argue with free.
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06-06-2008, 09:13 AM
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#19
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BadMod
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: hamilton, nj
Posts: 8,889
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matt,
i would drive the ta for your senior year of high school, it wont get that many miles put on it, and it will allow you time to save more money. if you decide to go to a school that you will be in a dorm, you wont be able to have a car freshman year anyway and that will give you another year to save. then you can spend a little more money on somthing even more reliable......
the last thing you want is to buy some 500 dollar pos and get stranded on the side of the road
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So much stupid, so little time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
It started before I drove your car. I just have to look at it the wrong way and your car poops parts.
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Mercerville MotorSports, LLC
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06-06-2008, 09:20 AM
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#20
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hillsborough, NJ
Posts: 3,200
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cbrrmike
matt,
i would drive the ta for your senior year of high school, it wont get that many miles put on it, and it will allow you time to save more money. if you decide to go to a school that you will be in a dorm, you wont be able to have a car freshman year anyway and that will give you another year to save. then you can spend a little more money on somthing even more reliable......
the last thing you want is to buy some 500 dollar pos and get stranded on the side of the road
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Good point Mike. But when I went to school I was in a different state, so the Freshman thing didn't apply - I was allowed to have a car, and did buy one. Also joined the Army Reserves my Freshman year so needed transportation anyway. My junior and senior year of High School I worked weeknights and weekends, so again, needed to drive myself.
So Matt, if you work during your senior year of school, and go away to college / tech school, you may need transportation. MPGs trump BHP in this economy.
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I USED TO HAVE an 85 Camaro 305 4bbl, 90 Firebird V6, 97 Firebird V6 (10 speakers!). Despite the two family vehicles, 3 kids, wife and mortgage, I can finally realize the dream - 88 TA almost all stock... for now.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/untameddave
Wanted this - , but ended up with this - for free. Can't argue with free.
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06-06-2008, 09:32 AM
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#21
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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4cyl Toyota Camry.
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06-06-2008, 09:40 AM
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#22
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: West Long Branch
Posts: 13,598
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3cyl XFi Metro's are going for a million dollars now, thanks to someone that foundo ut that they get 53mpg city. 42hp will do that.
Id agree with a bike...kill two birds with one stone on that one.
Ford Taurus with the Vulcan V6 3.0 in it. Make sure it has had it struts replaced, check the brakes, but cheap to run, good gas milage, and cheap to repair.
also, check transmission. You can run into a problem there.
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2/20/2013: They Day the ****s Stopped
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06-06-2008, 09:50 AM
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#23
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28
3cyl XFi Metro's are going for a million dollars now, thanks to someone that foundo ut that they get 53mpg city. 42hp will do that.
Id agree with a bike...kill two birds with one stone on that one.
Ford Taurus with the Vulcan V6 3.0 in it. Make sure it has had it struts replaced, check the brakes, but cheap to run, good gas milage, and cheap to repair.
also, check transmission. You can run into a problem there.
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Isn't the 3.0 Taurus the one with all the head gasket problems?
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06-06-2008, 09:51 AM
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#24
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Power Member / Load Driver
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 2,016
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i also vote for the saturn.... they are cheap cars and great on gas
my best beater choice would be a chevy cavalier..... but i am biased 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
yep. jenn loves teh leghumping.. so much so that most ppl dont realize her name belongs to a chick  |
I'd be unstoppable if not for law enforcement & physics
2011 Regal CXL TO2
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06-06-2008, 09:56 AM
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#25
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: West Long Branch
Posts: 13,598
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBillyT
Isn't the 3.0 Taurus the one with all the head gasket problems?
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166k miles driven, 2 transmissions, blown struts, shot brakes, bald tires, bad speedo, body damage to 3 sides, the engine didnt get its first tune up till 145k...the engine is the best part of that car.
The Ford 3.8 had the head gasket problems, especially the supercharged 3.8's in the Tbird/Cougar
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2/20/2013: They Day the ****s Stopped
Last edited by BigAls87Z28; 06-06-2008 at 09:57 AM.
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