Best selection is a "program" car

Your best bet is a low mileage used car, particularly a so-called program
car.

Make your selection and take it for a short road test, as the dealer
expects any prospect to do. If you like the car, then proceed:

Since its a used car, the dealer will not object to your taking it for an
extended road test. Offer to pay the gas in all fairness and tell him you
want to drive it a couple of HOURS or even a DAY. You need to put on about
100 miles to really know the car enough to lay down your cash and buy it.

The advantage of a long test run is to really check out the car. You will
learn if it consumes oil, overheats, loses coolant, has any vibrations at
high speed & check its handling, braking, steering, shifting when warm,
behavior on hills, etc., etc.

Think back. You don't know what you have until you've owned it a while.
An extended drive will wring out any problems that you will otherwise
unpleasantly find out if you don't. The dealer should not object, since
what's a hundred miles more on a car that already has maybe 15,000 miles?
If you offer to pay gas and he refuses you, go somewhere else where the
dealer has nothing to fear from potential defects being revealed.

In article <a8fb7b74cb12066bd2bfefabd044d50d (AT) mixmaster (DOT) it>,
George Orwell <nobody (AT) mixmaster (DOT) it> wrote:

Your best bet is a low mileage used car, particularly a so-called program
car.

Make your selection and take it for a short road test, as the dealer
expects any prospect to do. If you like the car, then proceed:

Since its a used car, the dealer will not object to your taking it for an
extended road test. Offer to pay the gas in all fairness and tell him you
want to drive it a couple of HOURS or even a DAY. You need to put on about
100 miles to really know the car enough to lay down your cash and buy it.

The advantage of a long test run is to really check out the car. You will
learn if it consumes oil, overheats, loses coolant, has any vibrations at
high speed & check its handling, braking, steering, shifting when warm,
behavior on hills, etc., etc.

Think back. You don't know what you have until you've owned it a while.
An extended drive will wring out any problems that you will otherwise
unpleasantly find out if you don't. The dealer should not object, since
what's a hundred miles more on a car that already has maybe 15,000 miles?
If you offer to pay gas and he refuses you, go somewhere else where the
dealer has nothing to fear from potential defects being revealed.
Good points.

I also suggest at least a one day trial for a new car.
My preference is a rental of several days.
It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

Be careful of "program" cars! Many dealers have a tendency to call ALL of
the vehicles they buy at Ford dealer auctions, "program" cars, they are NOT.

"Program" cars are vehicles that were previously owned by Ford Motor
Company. The are vehicles that were use by executives, reps and other
employs of Ford Motor Company and maintain by Ford Motor Company. Cars that
were owed by Ford Motor Company were never titled and displayed
"manufacturers" license plates when in use. True "program" vehicles will
display a label that says among other things, "The only owner of this
vehicle
was Ford Motor Company."

Off lease vehicles, rental and other 'buy backs,' repossessed vehicles and
other vehicles, that are also sold at Ford dealer auctions, were owned by
Ford Motor Credit, not Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Credit vehicles are
vehicles that were titled and thus used cars, like any you find on a dealers
used car lot. They will NOT display the label that says, "The only owner of
this vehicle was Ford Motor Company."

mike


"George Orwell" <nobody (AT) mixmaster (DOT) it> wrote

Your best bet is a low mileage used car, particularly a so-called program
car.

Make your selection and take it for a short road test, as the dealer
expects any prospect to do. If you like the car, then proceed:

Since its a used car, the dealer will not object to your taking it for an
extended road test. Offer to pay the gas in all fairness and tell him you
want to drive it a couple of HOURS or even a DAY. You need to put on
about
100 miles to really know the car enough to lay down your cash and buy it.

The advantage of a long test run is to really check out the car. You will
learn if it consumes oil, overheats, loses coolant, has any vibrations at
high speed & check its handling, braking, steering, shifting when warm,
behavior on hills, etc., etc.

Think back. You don't know what you have until you've owned it a while.
An extended drive will wring out any problems that you will otherwise
unpleasantly find out if you don't. The dealer should not object, since
what's a hundred miles more on a car that already has maybe 15,000 miles?
If you offer to pay gas and he refuses you, go somewhere else where the
dealer has nothing to fear from potential defects being revealed.

It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

I agree. I had an Intrepid (10 years old) and I never had a more comfy
ride. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the 19 year old Grand
Marquis I drive daily now. I don't know what I'm gonna do after this.
I've been spoiled by the smooth ride and an engine compartment big
enough for even my fat fingers.

In article <04DQh.1521$yL1.366@trndny04>,
DJ <News@-NOSPAM-davewaugh.com> wrote:

It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

I agree. I had an Intrepid (10 years old) and I never had a more comfy
ride. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the 19 year old Grand
Marquis I drive daily now. I don't know what I'm gonna do after this.
I've been spoiled by the smooth ride and an engine compartment big
enough for even my fat fingers.

I was referring mainly to handling, but as you say ride and I'd like to
add quietness.
The newer Al engines just aren't as quiet as the cast iron ones.

Not sure about the "program car" stuff.... What I do know.... don't test
drive a car that is on the lot and then order one because "that" is the car
you want.... Mass production can yield two identical cars that can be worlds
apart... The only sure way is to drive the car you are going to buy and base
your decision on that expereince and only that experience....

If "that" particular car is not to your liking... and I am talking "feel" -
not appointments/colours/what-have-you.... If this car does not have the
"feel", don't buy it....

I don't know if I am different from other folks, if I am I don't know
how..... but if I drive a car, I get this "feeling" that this one is a good
one - and I'm never disappointed.... I get feelings that... well, I can't
say that "this is a bad one", but the feeling is that this is not the car
for me....

Like the Indian in one of the Poltergeist movies.... "this car is
unhappy...."...

"DJ" <News@-NOSPAM-davewaugh.com> wrote

It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

I agree. I had an Intrepid (10 years old) and I never had a more comfy
ride. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the 19 year old Grand
Marquis I drive daily now. I don't know what I'm gonna do after this.
I've been spoiled by the smooth ride and an engine compartment big enough
for even my fat fingers.

If you go on a diet and get some more exercise, the enginer compartment of
your next car will be big enough. ;-)

Jeff

Jeff wrote:

"DJ" <News@-NOSPAM-davewaugh.com> wrote in message
news:04DQh.1521$yL1.366 (AT) trndny04 (DOT) ..

It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

I agree. I had an Intrepid (10 years old) and I never had a more
comfy ride. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the 19 year old
Grand Marquis I drive daily now. I don't know what I'm gonna do after
this. I've been spoiled by the smooth ride and an engine compartment
big enough for even my fat fingers.

If you go on a diet and get some more exercise, the enginer compartment
of your next car will be big enough. ;-)

Jeff

I would be offended by that and probably sue you for defamation or
something, but my 12 step program has brought me past the "denial"
stage. "My name is DJ, and I'm a Twinkaholic."

Here's an image for you... A 260 pound 6 foot plus man lying upside
down on the drivers seat of a '96 Neon wiring up a remote starter under
the dash. I had steering wheel marks resembling a C-Section for a
week!!

"Some O" <SO (AT) nospam (DOT) net> wrote

It's amazing how many new cars don't drive as well as my 12 yr old
Chrysler LH car.

You can say that again! New cars are getting worse gas mileage as well, if
that sticker on the window means anything.

My mother-in-law owns a Florida 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis with 24K miles
that she only drives a few months a year. Send email if you want to make
her an offer!

My parents also owned a 1993 Marquis that they finally sold last year and I
agree that this was a smooth and quiet ride...

Bob


"DJ" <News@-NOSPAM-davewaugh.com> wrote

I agree. I had an Intrepid (10 years old) and I never had a more comfy
ride. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon the 19 year old Grand
Marquis I drive daily now. I don't know what I'm gonna do after this.
I've been spoiled by the smooth ride and an engine compartment big enough
for even my fat fingers.