We MAY be in the market for a newer used car this year and we haven't got a clue which one to buy to be y2k safest. I drive a Volvo 940 now and I've always loved my Volvos. Should i go with another Volvo but one with greater gas mileage? My concern is not being able to get replacement parts should I have problems, but I'm also concerned that if I don't buy it this year, I won't be able to afford one in the coming years. Should we go with a domestic car, something like a Taurus, that has lots of "sisters and brothers" with replacement parts, or if the parts aren't manufactured here in the US, at least the technology remains here? Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Jeannie

-- jhollander (hollander@ij.net), January 24, 1999

Answers

I wouldn't buy a Taurus. Everything I've heard about them says they're a load of bull.

-- Leo (lchampion@ozemail.com.au), January 24, 1999.

Consider a diesel powered car or truck. 4wd or AWD would also be a potential advantage. A Subaru Outback(gas)would be a good vehicle for someone who likes Volvo's (and a lot cheaper). Also, consider putting a trailer hitch on and buying a small trailer for extra cargo.

-- RD. ->H (drherr@erols.com), January 24, 1999.

I would purchase a Hummer. Stay away from Jeeps. Or purchase an earlier model Toyota 4x4 truck, preferably 1979 - 1986. They are not fuel injected but run on carbs.

-- JMHO (JMHO@Wheeler.com), January 24, 1999.

Save your dollars for something else - if it runs, keep it, regardless of status symbols or "latest features".

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 24, 1999.

None. They will be a hell of a lot cheaper when GM goes out of business (bankruptcy sale!). Also, think about gasoline. Get a vehicle that's either electrical or solar powered, so that you will have a self-sufficient way to produce the fuel without drilling for oil in your backyard.

-- (m.d.@web.com), January 24, 1999.

As all the yuppies discovered in recent snow in Chicago, their sports utility vehicles (SUs) didn't do much better than prole cars.

I don't know what cars have the most plentiful supplies of parts, but anything "pre-smog" is going to be easier to maintain and run if you can get parts. Old VW bugs anyone?

Of course, this all depends on gasoline supplies whether you need any car. :=)

Forget the frickin Volvo.

-- real (real@realcars.com), January 24, 1999.

See Gary North's site re: Cadillacs have problems:
http://www.eon2000.com/eimages/cadillac_1.jpg
The page is not copy-paste-able.

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 24, 1999.

I'm also in the market for a new, more Y2K practical car. I'm thinking seriously going with a Subaru Outback.

Advantages:(assuming fuel is available) low gas milage; popular car, parts should be available or at least to salvage; excellent in bad road conditions;safe handling; roomy enough for my needs;best bang for the buck, inexpansive and practical.

Here's the link for Kelly Blue Book where you can find used and new car pricing and car reviews. It's an excellent and free site.

Before now, I owned a Taurus SHO, and before that a Volvo 740. (Right now I have a Camaro z28, being a Quebecoise, I gave in to my teenage dream of owning one ;-))

Camaro: fun fun car to drive, but bad bad bad for anything else. Irrelevant since it wouldn't be considered for y2k ;-) Taurus SHO (1993): I loved it. Very good on all road conditions with 4 season tires, frontweel drive and ABS, roomy sedan with engine pep (220 hp). Never had mechanical trouble with it. Was my baby, reason I didn't get another one was because I hated the new radical design.

Volvo('89? not sure): I hated it. I had fell for it's safety features since I had young kids, but I always felt I was in an armored tank with as much pep, that was extremely poor on bad road conditions. Don't know about new ones, but that one was rearwheel drive. Had several mechanical troubles with it, although the dealer had impecable customer service (at the price, they'd better.) Considered it a big mistake and never wanted to even consider new ones.

I've looked into all SUV's, none compared to the Outback for price, practicality and fuel economy. Only draw back is its overall space compared to an SUV, but hubby already has a Dodge Durango which has all the room we need and handles ok in bad road conditions. So this week I'll go test-drive the Subaru Outback Wagon.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 25, 1999.

Consider car theft. Epidemic now, a plague post-Y2K? Perhaps buy a junker and have complete new innards put under the hood. It won't stop people stealing it but will cut down the chances, especially if you park it between two bright, shiny SUVs. . . Make sure it has a locking gas cap too, remember gas siphoning in the mid-70s? Other wise, buy several 2nd hand bicycles and parts. Mopeds wouldn't be a bad choice, either. Easier to secure in your living room than a car.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 25, 1999.

Mercedes-Benz UniCat SUV
Dwarfs a typical SUV like a SUV dwarfs a VW Bug.

* Turbo-charged diesel with 8-speed trans
* Four-foot wheels, each w/independent control
* 220 gallon gas tank (giving 3000 mile range between fill-ups)
* RV compartment holding enough water for about 10 days

Cost: $600,000 stripped; $1.5 million fully loaded 6-wheel version.

-- me (me@daddywarbuckswannabe.com), January 25, 1999.

Old Git you have a good point. Depends where you live. If I was staying here in the suburbs near a big city I'd go for a moped or bike, but considering where I'm going, I'm not so much afraid to have the car stolen. Thanks for reminding me about the gas cap lock, I'll make sure it has one.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 25, 1999.

Saturn claims to be Y2K compliant.

http://www.saturn.com/communication/faq.html#C12

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-- Sandy (prep4y2k@aol.com), January 27, 1999.

A Land Rover.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 27, 1999.

Jeannie,Chris noted of her 89 volvo was like a tank. You may even want to beef up the "armor" on a Volvo, add 'bullet proof' windows if you think Y2K will be really bad.

I'll keep my rusting 86 Volvo - will give it a new starter, water pump and maybe get a new set of those scandanavian ice racing tires. Never had winter handling problems that weren't my own stupidiy. (As long as I'm attentive and back off as soon as the wheels start to slip - drove 83 mile through an ice storm a while back without incident - cars in the ditch and spinning out all over the place.)

-- Another Lurker (112277.2114@compuserve.com), January 28, 1999.

I'll keep my old Saab, thank you. She's tried and true.

Have a back-up strategy that includes mountain bikes.

Fuel looks to be a real problem. Unless, of course, we can run the cars on water with slight modifications. I've heard stories ...

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 28, 1999.