imho, with apologies to the Tennesssee Cadillac People whom assembled my Fine Frontier.
Consider the Hyundai Elantra and/or Accent, especially when they're closing-out 2006 in late summer and fall/winter.
Possible 0 percent financing if you can't afford cash--there is seemingly a $2,000---$3,000 principal built-into the price for offering that terrific 0 percent.
They're no longer Yugo jokes as they were circa 1989.
Note: side air bags in Elantra (not sure about Accent).
Disadvantage: 30,000 and 60,000 mile timing belt service, approx $400--$900 at each mileage. Not great in re-sale value yet, except perhaps at an Hyundai dealer as trade-in.
Advantage: The new value-packed machine is covered 10 year/100,000 for transmission & drive train.
Vehicle is under-rated imho, perhaps because of image of 1988-9 when they first arrived in USA.
The Korean Hyundai vehicles have steadily increased in quality.
Nevertheless: You oughta also get their bumper to bumper coverage for AFTER the 3 year/36,000 mile that comes basically with new vehicle, approx price apparently is another $700--$1200.
p.s. Wait for Chinese export: They're probably gonna eat everybody's lunch including Korea's, but I betcha their quality will be their initial problem too.
Especially if you buy from an Hyundai dealer's used car stock:
So, obtain an extended service contract.
The vehicle was apparently traded-in: Why?
Because its owner wanted something newer.
Why?
Because s(he) got tired of it.
Why?
Anything, perhaps:
Tires are wearing down. Vehicle shimmies at 60mph--that was another car I owned. Upcoming scheduled service requires $500--$900 Noise Won lotto I dunno
Caveat Emptor in our political economy: A very similar extended service contract story also happened to me & my 1998 Daewoo Nubira: The warranty company went out of bidness: as did Daewoo North America ditto bankrupted.
Read this NY TIMES article because it's not an exaggeration-distortion, and explains why you should try to obtain an extended service contract from an established, reliable maker (not American Daewoo nor a Fools Gold/*Plated-Platinum Bullshiteski Warranty Co.).
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*Maybe plated-platinum is worth something when melted though I've never heard of it either.
I was just thinking that even tho the Taurus doesn't have quality control of the other brands..... that there is a TON of them out there and he could get one cheap as well as cheap parts
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