[Tomko]

Eco models were all 1.4.

 

[Tomko]

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and I'm looking for a little info befor I make the 6 hour trip to buy 2012 cruze 1.4l. It's located in New Hampshire. It has 132xxx miles on it and it comes with a full list of service repairs. 47 to be exact. It was under a full service warranty and was serviced at the dealership that's selling the car now. It looks like it had a rough last 6 months with the previous owner based off the car fax and service records. It looks like me and the dealer are close to agreeing on a price of $6000. This will be my most expensive car purchase to date and want to make sure I'm making a good choice after reading some horror story's. My family is on a tight budget due to the cost of child care and can't afford to repair a car constantly. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

This is a matter of opinion. My opinion. It doesn't mean that it's your opinion or anyone else's. It also doesn't mean that it will work for you or anybody else. But it works for me.

Given that caveat I am hanging on the following: "...can't afford to repair a car constantly."

Then why are you considering a car with 132,000 miles? Especially one that: "...looks like it had a rough last 6 months with the previous owner..."

I know a lot about cars. An awful lot. An automobile is a consumable. Think of it like a tube of toothpaste. When new the tube toothpaste has a value. But everyday and every squeeze that tube becomes less and less valuable. Until that day when you're really squeezing to get the last bit out of it. And then it's worthless. It's trash for the landfill.

The absolute longest warranty GM has ever offered is 148,000 miles. That means that in a perfect world the car your considering only has 16,000 miles left in it. So after that point start thinking about repairs that will be necessary to extend that vehicles life. Adding more toothpaste back in the tube, if you will.

In my personal situation I have a wife who has a service dog and I can no longer drive. But I found a way to buy a Cruze that came with a 100,000 mile manufacturer's warranty. That way if anything goes wrong I don't pay to repair it. At all. No unexpected bills and the car starts every time. No anxiety about getting stranded or missing an appointment. Just one easy to plan for payment.

Maybe you want to find a way to afford something with more toothpaste left in the tube?

 

[Tomko]

Here is another angle. If you don't drive a lot and have decent credit. Leasing might be a decent alternative for a new car for a couple years. Sometimes on a base model those lease payments might be 150 for two years. I am personally not a big lease guy but given the right situation it might make great sense. The real benefit is no cost for repairs, maybe some windshield wipers, no brakes, no tires, no big repairs, a bit easier to budget if your money is tight.

This is some good thinking. There are all kinds of people trying to get out of a lease. These lease takeovers are excellent bargains and may present a better value proposition in your situation.

 

[Tomko]

Sometimes I buy older car with low miles, maybe from a widow. A couple years ago I bought a 2005 Cadillac Deville, was the base model with 53k miles, was a widow, it looked nearly new, drove like a dream, I payed less than 5k for the car, drove it for 13k miles and sold it. Wish I had the car back. It was very well cared for.

Great car diesel brother. I almost ordered a 2005 Deville in Green Silk back in the day. Still have the colour sample kicking around.

 

[Tomko]

Wow zombie - your risk tolerance is in a whole other planet than mine. God bless you for it.

 

[Tomko]

Iv owned 3 Hondas and all went well over 200k miles and all were bought 750 or less. 97 accord for 700, 91 accord for 700 and a 96 civic for 750

I'm currently driving a 01 xterra with 194k on it. I like but every year I find my self needing to invest 1000 into it. The only Japanese car iv owned that has been in and out the shop

At this point it's starting to sound like a lifestyle choice. A form of entertainment, if you will. See how low you can buy them and how long you can stretch them. You don't sound like the kind of guy to obsess over a burnt out glovebox lamp or a chip in the paint.

Most of us on here, as well as any other automobile web forum I've belonged to, are enthusiasts. It is our passion or hobby. It's just not a method of transportation. You've chosen to set priorities on other matters that carry greater importance to you. No harm in that at all.

 

[Tomko]

I'm a slave to what I can buy outright. The Hondas were when I was younger and all required very little work. Was hoping a newer model car would be something I could drive for several years worrie free even with 132xxx

Several years of worry free = manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty = much lower mileage than 132,000.

 

[Tomko]

I had a accord with over 200k on it when I bought it for 700. All I put into it over 3 years was a starter and a cv joint. This car at 132xxx would be the lowest iv owned.

Iv owned 3 Hondas and all went well over 200k miles and all were bought 750 or less. 97 accord for 700, 91 accord for 700 and a 96 civic for 750

I'm currently driving a 01 xterra with 194k on it.

After what I read I don't feel like it's a safe car and not something that I want my 2 year old riding in.

Not something I want to risk the safty of my son with and the safty of others.

I do not feel that your words on safety align very well with your past practice.

Best wishes to your son.

 

[Tomko]

Get off your high horse man. Just because I have owned cars with high miles and currently have a car with high miles doesn't mean that it's unsafe... I keep up with matinance on my cars. Currently the only thing wrong with my xterra is it has a small oil leak. Other then that there's nothing wrong with it. I just replaced the exhaust a month or 2 ago when it started going. New Cooper at3 tires with a new suspension system. My car is mechanicaly sound and the only reason why I want to replace it is cuz it's 1. Tax time so I can sell it easy, 2. I get 13 mpg and would like to get better gas milage, 3. I'm sick of getting my clothes dirty or wet pending weather when I put my son in his car seat, 4. It's still worth what I payed 3 years ago so might as well get purchase price back while I can. I make sure to take care of my cars so dont even start that with me. I'll take my high miles xterra of a car that hundreds of people have said there to scared to drive...... sorry if that hurts your feelings sense your a "enthusiasts" of a bottem teir chevy car that appears to nothing more then a shinny turd when you look at it closely

Doesn't hurt my feelings at all. Quite honestly I don't feel that you're a good candidate for a Cruze and I think you've made the right decision. But not necessarily for the reasons that you've cited.

If you look at my signature below you'll see that I also am an original owner of a Cadillac. I come from a Cadillac family with both my father and brother as owners. So I know what it's like to drive both spectrums. And quite frankly the model of Cruze that I have, and the way I equipped it, has never disappointed me.

They say that welders have one of the lowest life expectancies. Enjoy life with whatever you choose as your new ride.

 

[Tomko]

My hood has a built in respirator that feeds me fresh air. Wasn't cheap but was worth it in the long run. My employer payed for half so didn't hurt that much.

Good stuff broh.

One of my neighbours was a welder. My favorite neighbour to be truthful. He died in his 50s. He was a good man.

The father of one of my closest friends was a pipeline welder. He's had a brain tumour a few years back and has suffered some loss as a result. But he's still with us and is in his mid-70s.