What's in your driveway?

mtfallsmikey

Speaking of the Accord diesel

Asked my local dealer about it awhile back, answer was "huh?"..also Honda was supposed to introduce an AWD Accord too. What are the specs on the Honda diesel? I commute approx. 150 mi./day, Honda reliability unmatched by any other. 216K on my 97 Accord, just keeps rollin'.

Jeff Lawrence_25

Down South

Well, the bride has a Jeep Liberty CRD (common Rail Diesel) and loves it. Six thousand miles between oil changes and no emissions inspections. She's had it about a year and a half. There's been a couple of warranty issues that were easily taken care of. She's nearly doubled her fuel mileage from the Dodge Durango. The only real issue she has is finding diesel sometimes.

My work truck is a 1995 Ford E250 with a 6 cylinder engine. It's probably at the top end of the weight, so my mileage (11.5 mpg avg) isn't that great. With nearly 250K miles, it's never given me much trouble. I change the oil every 3K, tires and brakes as needed, and tune ups. I did blow a radiator 2 years ago and changed it myself along with the heater core. The only time it's been in the shop was for 2 transmission rebuilds (the second was at a discount because the tranny fluid pump self-destructed) and for a $1600 repair bill that probably was a top-end rebuild. Sorry guy's, but I have no clue why so many people are down on American vehicles, since we don't have that many problems with ours....

My 'fun' truck is a 1985 F150 called Blue, because of the paint color. It's been wrecked, pooped in by a pet dog (disgusting!), and overall abused, but it's still running. I did have the engine replaced at 215K, not because it was burning oil, but leaking it at about a quart every hundred miles! Rear seal, oil pan, timing chain cover, and the valve covers. I could have paid slightly more than half to get all the gaskets replaced (along with the oil pump) but Linda and I felt that replacing the engine was a better choice...

The daughter has a 1989 S-10 my Dad gave me. It was in poor mechanical condition when we got it and she helped my wife's brother-in-law get it road ready (picture 007). As we were driving it to get the tag transferred to us, we were involved in a fender bender. We're in the process of getting it fixed up right now.

For around the house fun, I have an 18HP diesel Mitsubishi tractor. I use it for the heavy yard work that the lawn tractor can't handle.

My on the road fun is a 2003 RV. Some people call RV camping 'not really camping' but we are hardly inside when we are using it. We sleep in it, occasionally cook in it, but mostly we use it for storing the outside stuff. The other 2 pictures attached are from the first trip we took in it, to Florida.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it....

Boilerpro_5

You guys are pretty smart

Nearly all the vehicles are 90's or older models. From my experience stick with them.

I have a 2002 Ford E250 that so far has racked up about $4500 in major repairs chiefly due to manufacturers defects (transmission, shocks, improper alignment), low quality materials (brake discs) and just plain manufacturer stupidity and/or cheapness (plugs installed in the grease fittings for balls joints, for example) in less than 50,000 miles. It is immaculately maintained right down to pint chips touched up and 3 coats of wax. Ford has refused to do anything about it. Also gets the same mileage as our 74 Dodge Maxivan and less than our 78 Chevy van. I just switched to synthetic blend oil and added a K&N filter and appeared to have picked up about a mile per gallon (14 to 15mpg, highway). Also the rear load floor is pretty weak. We discovered this when moving some landscape rocks for our gardens and the floor bellied downward about an inch and a half under the weight.

Our 2001 VW Jetta VR-6 five speed wagon (52,000 miles)has faired much better, with only hung up rear brakes (a long known bad design) and a new computer....both replaced under warranty. Probably about the only station wagon made with a top speed of about 140MPH.

Our best vehicle is our 1993 Ford Escort. If you remember these pre 1996 Escorts were all Mazda. Purchased it at 100,000 miles with the previous owner only changing oil, tires and recent brakes. Now with 225,000 miles on it besides normal wear and tear items, brakes, tires, etc, we have only replaced 3 parts, an alternator and fuel pump (recent) and a radiator. Hoses and exhaust are still original (had to reweld a flange on one exhaust pipe) and rather recently replaced the first set of rear drums. Original struts lasted 150,000 miles (oem's were Tokicos, a top company). It now gets about 33 mpg, and only uses about 1/2 qt per 5,000 mile oil change. However, the frame is just about gone, so its probably good bye within the next year.
Mom is driving a 1993 Mercury Tracer, (Mercury's Escort) we just picked up with only 17,000 miles on it, since our Escort did so well. Highway mileage appears to be pushing 40mpg with auto trans and it drives exceptionally quiet and comfortable (much, much quieter than the Escort). Replace a 1996 Plymouth minivan which gobbled gas and oil and constantly needed repairs since it was new....transmission, heads rebuilt, new A/C condensor (a second one later) defective sway bars and on and on before 60,000. This one was driven in Chicago, however.

I'm hoping for Diesels in my next vehicles. There really doesn't seem to be any logical choices for American trucks. Mileage continues to get worse and worse as they continue to "improve". I'll probably shoot for the early Ford 7.4 litre diesel, since everyone I know who has one gets 20 to 22 mpg while pulling heavy loads or empty. The most recent models get about 14 or so.... doesn't make much sense.

Yes, I am quite down on American vehicles, they were great in the 90's, but its seem quality is once again back like it was in the 70s, at least at Ford.

Boilerpro

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[Deleted User]

vehicles

I have an 05' E350 diesel van, great on fuel not on brakes,and the other van is an 02'E250 great on brakes not on fuel. The wife drives an 02'mustang gt convertable in the summer and a 97 toyota pickuo for the winter months. Those toyotas are indestructable and great on gas. I wish she drove that one more often than the mustang.

Boilerpro_5

Say Mike....

what kind of mileage are you getting on the deisel. I've heard they are in the 14 mpg range highway , whereas the old 7.4 typicaly runs 21 to 22 highway, even when pulling 15,000 to 17,000 lbs. The Dodge Cummins, I've never heard above 14 usually around 12, The GM...don't know.

Boilerpro

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Maine Ken

Duramax around 19 freighted

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Paul Pollets

I wish...

...my daughter wouldn't mind a little grease and dirt!!

Kudos to Rachael.

Paul

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