Ok, after you've stopped laughing. Bear with me on this one.
Back in late 2000 I bought a brand new Silverado 4WD pickup. I was still working at the time and used it as my daily commuter. After a few years I noticed the mileage racking up quicker than expected, and decided it might be prudent to get a small/cheap/economical commuter to shuttle me back and forth to work. Save some gas, preserve the pickup, etc...
So in 2006, enter the 99 Cavalier. Was previously owned by my daycare provider's adult son who no longer had any use for it. I'd noticed it was sitting in the driveway idle. Inquired about it and was told not for sale, but after a few months the story changed.
Unexpectedly one day, they offered it up for $1500 cash. Car had 78k on the odometer, and frankly looked a mess. Was parked under a cherry tree and had baked on cherries on windshield and hood. A few small scrapes and dents here and there. Carpet inside was brown down low like someone had dumped a coke or coffee down there. However they assured me the car was solid and ran very well.
The price wasn't horrible, I'd never owned a front wheel drive car, so I figured at $1500 was worth taking a chance for a cheap commuter. Tossed a new battery in the car, drove it a couple miles to my house and got to work. Wife and I shampooed and vacuumed the interior, scrubbed the cherry mess off the exterior (tough job) and I got temp tags. Performed the usual oil and filter change, and checked all fluids. Car flew through Maryland state inspection with no problems..... and I was officially on the road.
Once I'd spent a little time behind the wheel I discovered I actually liked driving this thing. NOT a super fast car, but has reasonable handling and acceleration, comfortable cloth seats, generous room in the trunk. The car has been super reliable, economy ranges from 27-35 mpg on 87 octane, and surprisingly it gobbles up interstate miles at 70-80mph comfortably. The few repair parts it's needed have been universally inexpensive.
So this thing got me back and forth to work for many years, has been the vehicle used for all four of my kids learning to drive, gone to college with two of them, taken me on trips to Ohio and back countless times.
Last Friday the odometer clicked over to 200k miles. Not a big deal in this day and age I know, but it's the first car I've personally owned to achieve that. (Something I didn't realize when I bought it but Cavaliers are capable of 300k, even 400k miles if maintained properly)
Unfortunately I think we're nearing the end of the line with this car. Maryland rust has taken it's toll on the unibody structure underneath. And most recently I noticed a gasoline smell when filling the tank over half. I think the tank needs to be dropped to fix it, and with the rust underneath (including rusty fuel and vent lines) I think it's economically not worth sinking the money into this car. A shame because it drives as good now as it ever did.
Dollar for dollar spent this is the most reliable and best value vehicle I've ever owned. I'm gonna' miss it.
Back in late 2000 I bought a brand new Silverado 4WD pickup. I was still working at the time and used it as my daily commuter. After a few years I noticed the mileage racking up quicker than expected, and decided it might be prudent to get a small/cheap/economical commuter to shuttle me back and forth to work. Save some gas, preserve the pickup, etc...
So in 2006, enter the 99 Cavalier. Was previously owned by my daycare provider's adult son who no longer had any use for it. I'd noticed it was sitting in the driveway idle. Inquired about it and was told not for sale, but after a few months the story changed.
Unexpectedly one day, they offered it up for $1500 cash. Car had 78k on the odometer, and frankly looked a mess. Was parked under a cherry tree and had baked on cherries on windshield and hood. A few small scrapes and dents here and there. Carpet inside was brown down low like someone had dumped a coke or coffee down there. However they assured me the car was solid and ran very well.
The price wasn't horrible, I'd never owned a front wheel drive car, so I figured at $1500 was worth taking a chance for a cheap commuter. Tossed a new battery in the car, drove it a couple miles to my house and got to work. Wife and I shampooed and vacuumed the interior, scrubbed the cherry mess off the exterior (tough job) and I got temp tags. Performed the usual oil and filter change, and checked all fluids. Car flew through Maryland state inspection with no problems..... and I was officially on the road.
Once I'd spent a little time behind the wheel I discovered I actually liked driving this thing. NOT a super fast car, but has reasonable handling and acceleration, comfortable cloth seats, generous room in the trunk. The car has been super reliable, economy ranges from 27-35 mpg on 87 octane, and surprisingly it gobbles up interstate miles at 70-80mph comfortably. The few repair parts it's needed have been universally inexpensive.
So this thing got me back and forth to work for many years, has been the vehicle used for all four of my kids learning to drive, gone to college with two of them, taken me on trips to Ohio and back countless times.
Last Friday the odometer clicked over to 200k miles. Not a big deal in this day and age I know, but it's the first car I've personally owned to achieve that. (Something I didn't realize when I bought it but Cavaliers are capable of 300k, even 400k miles if maintained properly)
Unfortunately I think we're nearing the end of the line with this car. Maryland rust has taken it's toll on the unibody structure underneath. And most recently I noticed a gasoline smell when filling the tank over half. I think the tank needs to be dropped to fix it, and with the rust underneath (including rusty fuel and vent lines) I think it's economically not worth sinking the money into this car. A shame because it drives as good now as it ever did.
Dollar for dollar spent this is the most reliable and best value vehicle I've ever owned. I'm gonna' miss it.
