Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

I know I'll get flamed for this but here it goes: can he buy a new car? Like brand new? I know it's not possible for some people but if you can it's the best way to go. Here's my reasoning:

Yes you'll need a down payment and have a monthly payment for 4-5 years but you get a car that's new. If it has problems it will be under warranty and fixed for free. Plus if you buy it new you'll know the maintenance history of the car from day one. Now this only makes sense if you plan on buying the car and keeping it till the wheels fall off, which is what my family usually does (ie 10-15 years). If one keeps buying $4000 used cars every two years after 10 years they have spent $20000. Buy a $20000 car and after 10 years you've spent the same amount of money and put 5 years worth of payments in the bank (based on a 5 year loan) giving you a nice down payment on a new car or the ability to buy it for cash outright.

Of course this doesn't work in every situation but if he can swing buying a new car then I would go for it. A 20ish year old car is going to need work and not be the most reliable thing as a daily driver.

Overall, the newer cars are just too complicated. Too many systems, and subsystems to fail. Anyway, thats JMO...............thanks for the replies.

If complexity is scaring you away from newer cars, I'd recommend staying the hell away from a Mark VIII!!!

If you're looking for something dead-nuts reliable and still has a certain coolness factor to it, look for an 03-up Crown Vic or Grandma Marquis. They are tanks. Probably the most reliable, longest lasting car built by anyone in the past 30 years. I've seen many with over a million miles on 'em (taxi cabs), and they are built to take a beating (cop cars). Try to steer clear of an actual ex-cop-car though, as it will have lived a very hard life.

I wouldn't rule out a new car either. Yes, a new car is a horrible investment, but you are paying for peace of mind, not to mention modern amenities, fuel economy and safety gear. Plus it helps build credit, and there are plenty of options out there for under $200/month. Unless he puts a bunch of miles on, even a lease might make sense - he can walk away from it after three years, or he can hand in the keys, grab a brand new car, and drive away with the same payment...

Sure it wasn't a 03-04 Marauder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Marauder?

No Crown Victoria/Police Interceptor was ever produced with a 4.6 DOHC V8. They were all 4.6 SOHC engines. All Crown Victoria/Police Interceptors had aluminum driveshafts though. It's not a rare thing.

Some years ago...99, 2000 or so, I was at the local Ford dealer to get some parts I'd ordered. The parts counter is just inside the shop door, from there, one can see whatever is being worked on. I was pretty familiar with the people there, so when I saw the first County Sheriff's CVPI with it's hood up, I walked over to check it out.

It too had the DOHC 4.6. And right away, some mechanic I'd never seen before came up and told me I needed to walk away, that it was a prototype car and the public didn't need to know what it had.

But, as above, it was definitely a 4 cam 4.6 under the hood.

That was the first CV our sheriff's dept had...before that they used their own personal cars and the county reimbursed the deputies/sheriff for mileage, maintenance, etc.

Now the Sheriff drives some sort of chevy truck and it too has a not stock engine, and the chief deputy drives on of those bad-ass explorers..eco boost, or whatever. The city cops over in brookfield are running a couple of ex HP chargers now. Big times in Podunk, North Missouri.