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helno
Aug 9, 2005, 5:54 PM
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I have a 98 Ford Explorer, def NOT the greatest on gas at a whopping 17 mpg and a 20 gal tank, and with gas prices at what they are, it IS NOT cheap to drive. Cost of ownership is not cheap either, I have to put new tires on it before winter comes and that's gonna cost $450. The only saving grace is i can put 5 people in it easy and all the gear for a weekend trip (plus the fact that my in-laws gave it to my wife and I dirt cheap).
A station wagon is a good choice, a buddy of mine has a Ford Escort wagon, but I would think MINI-VAN - YEAH!!! They may not be thought of as being very cool, but you could pick up a 96 thru 00 model for well under $3000 depending on milage and what 'extras' it comes with, decent gas milage, cheap tires, inexpensive to maintain. PLUS think of all the gear you can toss in it, seating for up to 7, pull the seats out and you have campfire seats, leave them out and sleep 2 or 3 in it, PLUS did I mention all the gear you can put in it. Oh, and I'm sure that insurance costs will be cheaper than some of the others cars out there.
anyways good luck finding that perfect car
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notch
Aug 9, 2005, 5:57 PM
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I just got a Honda Element 2 weeks ago. Sweet deal for about $16K. I used to be a Chevy mechanic, and I still think an AWD Astro Van is one of the best. Just make sure the power steering lines don't leak, they suck to fix. There must be a million Taurus wagons on the road, and to be honest they do seem to run for a good long time, even for an American car.
Your best bet is to get a girlfriend with a sweet ride though.
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mcgivney_nh
Aug 9, 2005, 6:02 PM
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In reply to: Your best bet is to get a girlfriend with a sweet ride though.
man, that was my plan but I need to get a good (and cheap) car for going to the crag just in case.
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csgambill
Aug 9, 2005, 6:10 PM
Post #29 of 89
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I think all climbers should have HUMMERS.
They're safe, reliable and can plow through forests, marshes, rives and over bambi.
You can get the new H3 for $28,000!!!
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epic_ed
Aug 9, 2005, 6:22 PM
Post #30 of 89
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:deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse:
Please do a search. We have this discussion about once a month, and several times recently.
http://www.rockclimbing.com/topic/51403
http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1037618#1037618
Ed
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bler
Aug 9, 2005, 6:25 PM
Post #31 of 89
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I didn't even have to read other posts.. ;)
UNDOUBTABLY, a VW vanagan..
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csgambill
Aug 9, 2005, 6:27 PM
Post #32 of 89
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In reply to: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: Please do a search. We have this discussion about once a month, and several times recently. http://www.rockclimbing.com/topic/51403 http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1037618#1037618 Ed
Hey stupid shit! New and better cars come out all the time!
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mcgivney_nh
Aug 9, 2005, 6:38 PM
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I couldn't run a search because my ISP is retarded (damn AOL :x ) So I just posted, sorry bro.
-Sean
hey! this is my 100th post (I think.)
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epic_ed
Aug 9, 2005, 6:45 PM
Post #34 of 89
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In reply to: Hey stupid s---! New and better cars come out all the time!
I've got a feeling that you're about to start a shoe thread.
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epic_ed
Aug 9, 2005, 6:50 PM
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In reply to: I couldn't run a search because my ISP is retarded (damn AOL :x ) So I just posted, sorry bro. -Sean hey! this is my 100th post (I think.)
I've been hanging out at this website waaaay too long. It seems there are some topics that get discussed ad nauseam, and the cycle for these discussions just keeps getting shorter. The threads I linked should give you some good info, and if AOL's web broswer really does block/obscure the "search" field in the upper right corner of our web page, then I'd be happy to dig up a couple of more for you. If not, then try using the search term "vehicle" to get some good results.
Ed
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davidji
Aug 9, 2005, 6:54 PM
Post #36 of 89
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Registered: Jan 30, 2003
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In reply to: I couldn't run a search because my ISP is retarded (damn AOL :x ) So I just posted, sorry bro. -Sean hey! this is my 100th post (I think.)
How does AOL block your ability to do a Google, Altavista or Yahoo search though?
Best climber car if you have little $$ to spend: used wagon, pickup, or van. If you can buy a well-maintained vehicle from the original owner it's a much safer bet than for example buying from an informal dealer who just picked up the vehicle at auction. If you buy a car with a salvage title, you shouldn't pay more than half of what you'd expect to pay for a vehicle with a clean title.
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csgambill
Aug 9, 2005, 6:56 PM
Post #37 of 89
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In reply to: In reply to: Hey stupid s---! New and better cars come out all the time! I've got a feeling that you're about to start a shoe thread.
Lol. Nope. Let's discuss why.
First. There are a lot more models of cars out there than shoes.
Second. Cars are a lot more complicated than shoes. None of my shoes have air conditioning, leather seats or GPS capability.
Third. If you buy a pair of shoes that suck, you can sell them and buy a new pair and you're out a couple of bucks. If you buy a car that sucks it's way more of a hastle to sell it and buy a new one. A car is a much larger investment than a pair of shoes.
So I think ongoing discussions about which cars work well for climbers are justified.
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mcgivney_nh
Aug 9, 2005, 6:57 PM
Post #38 of 89
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In reply to: In reply to: I couldn't run a search because my ISP is retarded (damn AOL :x ) So I just posted, sorry bro. -Sean hey! this is my 100th post (I think.) I've been hanging out at this website waaaay too long. It seems there are some topics that get discussed ad nauseam, and the cycle for these discussions just keeps getting shorter. The threads I linked should give you some good info, and if AOL's web broswer really does block/obscure the "search" field in the upper right corner of our web page, then I'd be happy to dig up a couple of more for you. If not, then try using the search term "vehicle" to get some good results. Ed
The search box works for me about 50% of the time, I dont think it is AOL< but it may be just because my computer is old or slow or just mesed up in general. However, today was just one of the days that the search wuldn't wotrk for me, I seriously tried "car" and then "vehicle" 7 times each. Sometimes it will work if you try it enough, but it wasn't cooperating today...
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gat
Aug 9, 2005, 6:59 PM
Post #39 of 89
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I second the mini-van idea. We have a 2003 Town & Country and it's great for road trips. It's blue book at 2 1/2 years old and 49,000 miles is only $8340. That means you can get an older version for much less.
You really have to decide if space is an issue. If you don't care about the ability to crash in the vehicle - go for reliability and price point. If you want space, go for the mini-van.
On a side note, a wise person once gave me the below advice. It makes a lot of sense...
Never put any stickers on your car that indicate your involvement in climbing, mtn biking or any other "alternative sport"; also avoid Phish and Grateful Dead stickers. You are only asking for a little "special attention" from our friends in uniform.
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mcgivney_nh
Aug 9, 2005, 7:02 PM
Post #40 of 89
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In reply to: They probably meant searching rockclimbing.com. The rockclimbing.com search function doesn't work very well though. Nothing wrong with posting your question. How does AOL block your ability to do a Google, Altavista or Yahoo search though?
I did try the rockclimbing.com search AOL doesn't block the search engines. the rockclimbing.com one doesn't work all the time for me though. I think it has something to do with my ISP or my comp being old and slow...
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epic_ed
Aug 9, 2005, 7:07 PM
Post #41 of 89
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In reply to: Lol. Nope. Let's discuss why... *snip*
Let's not.
You're hell-bent on having this enlightening discussion -- please continue. I'd love to listen to your broken record collection sometime, too.
Ed
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davidji
Aug 9, 2005, 7:21 PM
Post #42 of 89
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I guess I misunderstood the search thing. The site search used to suck, but I just tried it and it worked very well. I'll use it more in the future. Too bad it doesn't work for you. I used to find better rockclimbing.com results by doing a web search rather than a site search.
Oh, and I stand by my earlier answer: used wagon, pickup or van from original owner. Of course it helps if the mileage isn't too high, and it's in good shape...
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dirtme
Aug 9, 2005, 9:57 PM
Post #43 of 89
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Registered: Feb 6, 2003
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I think it depends on what you can afford at 16. Are your parents buying the car? Do you have to pay for your own gas? Are they going to let you road trip with friends overnight?
By the way, the CRV is my wife's and my nemesis. Whenever we get stuck behind a SLOW row of cars, it's always a CRV at the front of the line. We call it the Crappy Recreational Vehicle.
:lol:
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eastvillage
Aug 9, 2005, 10:24 PM
Post #44 of 89
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A key thing about used cars is that the condition and miles of each specific car really matters, at least as much as what kind of car. A car may be generally more or less reliable, but any specific car can go against those odds.
Oil just hit $65 a barrel today, so mileage matters.
OR:
Try getting a car for free. Check with family members, etc. Sometimes, you might get an old station wagon or even a full size pick up truck, and if it was free, the mileage is much less of a concern.
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davidji
Aug 9, 2005, 10:30 PM
Post #45 of 89
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In reply to: We call it the Crappy Recreational Vehicle. :lol:
I drive a Forester which is faster, better handling, and has a better AWD system and a better sunroof. Less back seat room though (as if I sit back there). May have less cargo room too, but it has enough.
Personally I can't imagine paying extra (in $$ and fuel economy) for AWD, and getting a wagon with a cheap part-time system, and FWD handling. Many buyers have only a vague idea what their AWD system actually does, and I think some of the car companies prefer it like that. Anyway there was a guy in NJ who posted online about how twice this past winter his CRV wouldn't make it up his icy driveway, but his Forester would.
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clayman
Aug 9, 2005, 10:49 PM
Post #46 of 89
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Registered: Apr 20, 2004
Posts: 296
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chevy chevette, circa 81-84
http://home.att.net/~planetgarp1/cars/chevette.jpg
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tattooed_climber
Aug 10, 2005, 1:59 AM
Post #48 of 89
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Posts: 4838
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hummers and jeeps are for pussies.........and both are some of the worst vehicles on gas...and what the hell does a winch have anything to do with climbing....
and if your going to rant and go, you need a big 4x4....NO!...
get either a van if your into road trips......cheap to run car or truck otherwise......if you're into ice, than a 4x4 with GOOD tires...
die hard, toyota....circa 80's
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e_wire
Aug 10, 2005, 2:07 AM
Post #49 of 89
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Posts: 263
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In reply to: hummers and jeeps are for sissies.........and both are some of the worst vehicles on gas...and what the hell does a winch have anything to do with climbing....
WORD
In reply to: if you're into ice, than a 4x4 with GOOD tires...
That's bull... I live in Canada and did more then 30 days of ice climbing last year. Got to all the crags with an old Volks Golf 95 without geting stuck once.
Comon, no need for big cars, with big engins, and big everything... Car is just a friggin mode of transportation. Drop the SUVs go for small cars that use less gas and polute less... and maybe, one day, you'll have less SMOG alerts and cleaner air.
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phile
Aug 10, 2005, 2:37 AM
Post #50 of 89
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Registered: Aug 5, 2004
Posts: 114
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'99 Miata with hardtop. You can fit 2 people, a trad rack, and backpacking gear if you get creative. Not much else--and it helps if you're short. But the driving is more fun than any other car mentioned, they're not fragile, and they run forever and are easy to fix. Plus you can park it anywhere. 28 mpg at 80 mph--not the best, but not bad.
Of course, that's just for my specific situation--parking in my SF neighborhood is the crux move of any climbing trip I take. A Mini would be more practical to park and holds way more gear, but they're pricey and of questionable reliability.
If you're looking for a $1000 beater, old Toyotas and Hondas are the most indestructible.
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