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Post by epaul on Apr 7, 2008 11:41:56 GMT -5
I just put 300,000 miles on my '96 Cavalier. In that time, all I have replaced is the water pump ($60), alternator ($70), and the starter ($105), two sets of plugs ($35) two serpentine belts ($200). That's it. All the work was accessible and easy and I did it myself.
I change oil every 6,000 miles or so. I have changed the tranny oil twice and flushed the radiator twice. And I have done the brakes three times.
After 12 years and 300,000 miles, the Cav only takes half a quart of oil every 3000 miles and the exterior paint and interior fabric looks about the same as it did the day I bought it. No rust. Amazing.
I also have a 2002 Prizm (Toyota Corolla) and the Cav is a nicer car. It has a quieter ride and a more stable ride. The Prizm does get better mileage, about 40 compared to the Cav’s rock solid 35. I fully expect the Prizm to go 300,000. Or 400,000.
The Cav is showing no signs at all of slowing down. If a deer doesn’t take it out, we are going for 400,000.
(And then I’ll drive it down to Idiot Jam and sell it Todd for $50.)
(Hell, in consideration of SteveO, I’ll give it to him.)
Paul
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Post by John B on Apr 7, 2008 12:03:58 GMT -5
I believe I've spent about $2K on my Mini this year. All told I have probably paid for a new Mini by now.
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Post by dradtke on Apr 7, 2008 12:13:41 GMT -5
So, John, you should have just bought two to start with.
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Post by Village Idiot on Apr 7, 2008 12:19:12 GMT -5
(And then I’ll drive it down to Idiot Jam and sell it Todd for $50.) (Hell, in consideration of SteveO, I’ll give it to him.) Paul The epaul family heads home after Idiotjam.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2008 12:20:47 GMT -5
Epaul, 300,000 miles is amazing. I got 217,000 miles on my '95 Mercury Tracer before I finally gave up and bought a new car. Interestingly enough, my Tracer got better gas milage than my new Hyundai.
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Post by billhammond on Apr 7, 2008 12:25:37 GMT -5
Hmph, some kind of friend you are. Threatening to give a Cavalier to a forumite.
Interesting historical footnote:
Cavaliers, those sharp-dressing and high-minded supporters of King Charles in the 1600s, got their name from Paul Tandberg's ancient car.
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Post by Cornflake on Apr 7, 2008 12:37:45 GMT -5
I love stories like this. My frugal side admires products that actually last a while.
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Post by billhammond on Apr 7, 2008 12:42:01 GMT -5
I love stories like this. My frugal side admires products that actually last a while.
It's stories like this that are causing our GNP to go down the toilet, pal!
Be a GOOD AMERICAN and buy a U.S.-built car every few years, whether you need one or not!
(Mine was built in Tennessee, for those of you scoring at home.) |
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Post by loopysanchez on Apr 7, 2008 12:52:41 GMT -5
Foolish me, I thought this thread was going to be about LeBron James.  |
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Post by millring on Apr 7, 2008 13:04:59 GMT -5
How does this compare mile-wise to your AMC Gremlin?
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Post by millring on Apr 7, 2008 13:08:19 GMT -5
Speaking of LeBron James...
Have basketball skills reached their zenith? Are they now in decline or at best static?
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Post by Cornflake on Apr 7, 2008 13:11:37 GMT -5
As nutrition improves and the size of the gene pool increases, we'll see ever greater skills. That's my confident prediction based on nothing much, really.
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Post by loopysanchez on Apr 7, 2008 13:26:16 GMT -5
I would tend to agree with 'Flake. The art of the game might suffer, but the actual skills of those playing it will tend to increase, as they would in any sport where size is an advantage. I'd say without question, when it comes to basketball, football, or baseball, the best team from today's era would destroy the best team from any other era, based on increases in size, specialized training, nutrition, steroids, er, I mean, "vitamin supplements", etc.
But back to the original topic: Congrats on the 300K+ with the Cavalier, Paul! Mary had one when we first met, and it made it to almost 200K before it started having big problems. Not bad at all for an economy car...
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Post by Fingerplucked on Apr 7, 2008 13:40:30 GMT -5
It took me 4 or 5 cars to get to 300k.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2008 13:41:12 GMT -5
I would tend to agree with 'Flake. The art of the game might suffer, but the actual skills of those playing it will tend to increase, as they would in any sport where size is an advantage. I'd say without question, when it comes to basketball, football, or baseball, the best team from today's era would destroy the best team from any other era, based on increases in size, specialized training, nutrition, steroids, er, I mean, "vitamin supplements", etc. I agree completely, Loopy. That's why one has to evaluate players from the past as to how they performed against their peers rather than against the bigger and faster athletes of today (not to mention better coaching and better training). |
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Post by Shannon on Apr 7, 2008 14:14:02 GMT -5
I would tend to agree with 'Flake. The art of the game might suffer, but the actual skills of those playing it will tend to increase, as they would in any sport where size is an advantage. I'd say without question, when it comes to basketball, football, or baseball, the best team from today's era would destroy the best team from any other era, based on increases in size, specialized training, nutrition, steroids, er, I mean, "vitamin supplements", etc. You're bound to be correct, but who in his right mind wouldn't take a team made up of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and I dunno, maybe Jerry West in their primes against any team today? I think they'd give at least as well as they'd get. |
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Post by t-bob on Apr 7, 2008 14:33:32 GMT -5
I would tend to agree with 'Flake. The art of the game might suffer, but the actual skills of those playing it will tend to increase, as they would in any sport where size is an advantage. I'd say without question, when it comes to basketball, football, or baseball, the best team from today's era would destroy the best team from any other era, based on increases in size, specialized training, nutrition, steroids, er, I mean, "vitamin supplements", etc. You're bound to be correct, but who in his right mind wouldn't take a team made up of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and I dunno, maybe Jerry West in their primes against any team today? I think they'd give at least as well as they'd get. How about Wilt instead of Jerry West? |
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Post by loopysanchez on Apr 7, 2008 14:34:08 GMT -5
You're kind of making my point in a way, Shannon. You'd probably have to hand-pick a team of great players from the 60's through the 80's (I consider Jordan part of the Modern era, as his career was 1984-2003) to match up against a championship team from any given year during the 90's or the 00's. The best players of any era would still be great today (Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Moses, Dr. J, Oscar, etc), but the size and quickness of today's "average" pro versus the average pro of yesteryear would be what makes the difference. Still great fun to speculate on all the "what ifs", though, innit?
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Post by millring on Apr 7, 2008 14:39:55 GMT -5
I agree that sports of priviledge (tennis, golf, skiing) and access (hockey, swimming) are FAR from peaking -- for the reasons stated.
But I think basketball has peaked. I wouldn't have to hand-pick a team (as Shannon). The Bird-led Celtics, the Johnson-led Lakers, the Thomas-led Pistons, the Jordan-led Bulls would all win today -- though they didn't cakewalk through their own eras.
There is now no physical advantage that can be added to a player that has not already been ubiquitous in the league for decades. A "specimen" -- a superman -- may come along an lead the league again -- but note: It has not been a "specimen" that has been the NBA MVP for four years now -- and it won't (or shouldn't) be one this year either.
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Post by Shannon on Apr 7, 2008 14:40:38 GMT -5
You're definitely right about the ability of the average player. Still, I think the championship Celtics of the Larry Bird era could stand up well even now. We'll never know.
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