How old is your car?

[sa meredith]

Wow. This thread. I could go on and on.
Been making my living in this industry for 22 years now. I'm lucky enough to have a company car, so I never have an auto with more than 6K on the odoeter. Seen the good times and the bad. Right now, bad would be an upgrade. Industry is truly in shambles. People that are buying, are not buying American...I can tell you that.
In the market for a truck or SUV???? Shop a bit, and you will not believe the deal you will find for yourself. 7,8,9,10K discounts very common.
But your trade in, if it is a 2 or 3 year old truck or SUV...leave it at home. There is no market for it. None.

[M/V_Bear_II]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

People that are buying, are not buying American...I can tell you that.

What would your guess be, as to the reason for this?

[Shore Driver]

98 VW Passat 5 sp with 240K and still going strong. A stick shift will always outlast a slush box.

2002 Toyota Sienna with just over 100K.

No plans to buy anything in the next 12 mos.

[WINNOCTURN]

I just retired my 95 Ford Explorer with 348,000 miles on it, was shooting for 500,000. They were basically all Highway miles back and forth to MA. It was averaging 23 mpg @ 70mph. Every thing in it was still functional. What made me retire it was a catastrophic failure of the transmission. The estimate to repair it was around $1800. My wife decided it was time to move up to a newer vehicle. Reluctantly I did. We found what appeared to be a very "CLEAN" looking 2003 Explorer at a local FORD dealership. We took a test ride, went home, talked it over and called our Credit Union on financing. We went back two days later and purchased it.

I have had the vehicle now for some six weeks. So far in that period of time we have had to replace a front wheel bearing and Hub, two Lower Ball Joints(should have been caught when State Inspection was done) and a complete re-build of the Rear End (Ring and Pinion). I think with the cost of these repairs I could have fixed the trany in my "95" and still be heading to the 500,000 mark.

Every thing is running well now the "2003" now but I am just waiting for some thing else to go wrong.

Oh one other problem is the no one recognizes me any more as the cars are of totally different colors.

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by WINNOCTURN

I just retired my 95 Ford Explorer with 348,000 miles on it, was shooting for 500,000. They were basically all Highway miles back and forth to MA. It was averaging 23 mpg @ 70mph. Every thing in it was still functional. What made me retire it was a catastrophic failure of the transmission. The estimate to repair it was around $1800. My wife decided it was time to move up to a newer vehicle. Reluctantly I did. We found what appeared to be a very "CLEAN" looking 2003 Explorer at a local FORD dealership. We took a test ride, went home, talked it over and called our Credit Union on financing. We went back two days later and purchased it.

I have had the vehicle now for some six weeks. So far in that period of time we have had to replace a front wheel bearing and Hub, two Lower Ball Joints(should have been caught when State Inspection was done) and a complete re-build of the Rear End (Ring and Pinion). I think with the cost of these repairs I could have fixed the trany in my "95" and still be heading to the 500,000 mark.

Every thing is running well now the "2003" now but I am just waiting for some thing else to go wrong.

Oh one other problem is the no one recognizes me any more as the cars are of totally different colors.

While I certainly would not question your post...I do find it interesting (and curious). I have driven back and forth from exit 1 to exit 23 hundreds of times in brand new 01,02,03,04,06,07, and 08 Explorers and just could never, ever, get better than 18 to 19 mile per. Never. Both 6 and 8 cyl. In fact, I have only driven Ford Explorers since 1997 (probably 20/22 of them...so a good sample) but could never break the 20 MPG. I finally caved this past July, and grabbed a 4cyl. Fusion...and saved my self close to $80 per week in gas. I just could not take it anymore.
You did well to get the 300,000 ++ on your 1995 Explorer. I seldom encounter a 94,95,96,97 that is nothing more than a nightmare. Most are just worthless, so you did well.
Question....why were the repairs made to your 03 not covered under dealer warranty? As you live in NH, I hope you did not waive your right to warrany, and buy As Is/ As Shown. In MA, the law does not permit the customer to waive that right. Dealer must provide warranty...no questions.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

2000 Volvo S70
2007 Volvo XC70

[gtxrider]

Originally Posted by M/V_Bear_II

What would your guess be, as to the reason for this?

My guess is that people listen to the hype that foreign cars are better. Not always true!

[M/V_Bear_II]

Originally Posted by gtxrider

My guess is that people listen to the hype that foreign cars are better. Not always true!

Not always, certainly. My entire family have been Chrysler owners since before the flood, but we have all been having major problems. We have had axle problems at 10k, transmissions needing to be replaced at 75k, and a host of other problems hitting right at the end of the warranty. We're all seriously replacing with foreign makes.

I was just wondering what someone in the industry might be hearing.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

In the market for a truck or SUV???? Shop a bit, and you will not believe the deal you will find for yourself. 7,8,9,10K discounts very common.
.

Yup.I just bought a new GMC Envoy Denali and got almost $13,000 off the MSRP.