What to get for reliable cheap commuter

[P man]

Is your trans currently out? There's no way I’d put $5,500 into a car worth less than the repair. If your trans is out, I’d look for one at a salvage yard with a guarantee program. Most will offer 90 days. Slide one in and find a replacement vehicle. Otherwise, if it's still going, I'd just start looking for my next one.

Also, why so much to rebuild? My truck trans cost $3,500 turn-key 3 years ago from a shop with a 36 month/50,000 mile warranty.

The car is still going but randomly won't shift into high gear so it limits the speed to about 40mph without over reving the engine.

I dont think the transmission is rebuildable or maybe not cost effective? They quoted me a new transmission and made it seem like that was all they had available.

I will look into used but I hate not knowing what I am getting and the thought of doing it twice frightens me lol

 

[BlueC]

I dont think the transmission is rebuildable or maybe not cost effective?

I'd definitely check around. The transmission shop I used quoted two different CVT rebuilds while I was in their shop, which is where/when I got the 80K info. One of those was a Nissan, but I don't know the other.

 

[TNHEADDUCK]

I have had good luck out of any manual shifted transmission Geo or Chevy trackers, the lower mileage ones are getting harder to find. My last one was a tow vehicle behind a motorhome that a retired couple owned, had around 150,000 miles on the clock but half of those were being towed.

 

[JPHikr]

Get a Merc Marquis same as a Crown Vic but owned by old folks.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/lynnwood-1997-mercury-grand-marquis-low/7686052371.html
https://bellingham.craigslist.org/ctd/d/bellingham-2001-mercury-grand-marquis/7690586552.html

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[ColoJeep]

Get a Merc Marquis same as a Crown Vic but owned by old folks.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/lynnwood-1997-mercury-grand-marquis-low/7686052371.html
https://bellingham.craigslist.org/ctd/d/bellingham-2001-mercury-grand-marquis/7690586552.html

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Get some Panther love !

 

[Squatch]

Get some Panther love !

Stay away from the '03 model year. Lots of potential issues, from soft axle shafts to radio reception (ask me how I know). Also, the 2002 and earlier had power window mechanisms that were prone to failure (cable issues). I still have a box of brand new units to repair our '94 that never got used (tranny went out before I got the new units installed). Still, great ol' cars.

My '03 Town Car

 

[CreepinDeth]

I'm wondering what people are doing in my situation? Are people paying $5500 for a transmission for a car worth $2500? Or sell the car cheap and move on? I always thought Nissan to be up there with honda/Toyota but ill never own another one after this fiasco.

Per the mechanics at my brothers shop he runs, they are some of the most difficult to diagnose these days

I was shopping new Rogues for a work commuter and they tood me to avoid Nissan altogether

20 years ago Nissan was pretty good and reliable

 

[CreepinDeth]

It seems like it, at least the low-power smaller vehicles are.



I don't have much personal experience with them, but I’ve never heard anything bad about Honda's current CVT. Basically, they seem to be just as reliable and unnoticed as their traditional automatic. My dads' is rocking on fine, which is the highest mileage one I know of personally. A cousin has had 2 now, but she doesn't rack up miles like my dad and I do. Honda put some CVTs out back in the early 90s that I think people said were "jerky". I know CVTs went away for a while, but all automatic Civics '15 and newer are CVT, and I think some Accords and Acuras are too.

We had a 12th gen Accord Sport bought new for the wife and ran it to 102,000 without a single issue. CVT was smooth and fine and was actually my only concern

 

[CreepinDeth]

I'm wondering what people are doing in my situation? Are people paying $5500 for a transmission for a car worth $2500? Or sell the car cheap and move on? I always thought Nissan to be up there with honda/Toyota but ill never own another one after this fiasco.

I would shop around for more quotes.
Price out the transmission yourself and do the repair with a buddy

The cost factor ahouldnt be made against current market value, it should be made against REPLACEMENT car costs.

Is it cheaper to repair or to buy another high mileage car with unknown problems about to arise. Unless youre buying NEW it makes sense most often to repair

 

[B00mb00m]

Get a Merc Marquis same as a Crown Vic but owned by old folks.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/lynnwood-1997-mercury-grand-marquis-low/7686052371.html
https://bellingham.craigslist.org/ctd/d/bellingham-2001-mercury-grand-marquis/7690586552.html

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That was a great video!

 

[BlueC]

That was a great video!

If you're considering one, they seem to be good cars. I have considered one, or a Vic, but ultimately passed due to MPG. My grandpaw bought a Mercury new in '06-07. It stayed around for probably 80K and the only issue I remember was the HVAC controls going out. That was something like a $1,200 dealer repair around '09.

 

[MeanGreen86]

I was lucky enough to buy my dads 2013 ford edge with 185,XXX miles a few years back. He had it for almost 10 years so I knew I was getting a well maintained vehicle. I still have it today with 216,XXX miles on it and it runs like a top. I don't plan to look for another vehicle until the motor explodes.....literally

 

[B00mb00m]

@psrivats was a huge help in my search. thank you so much for the searching help and opinions while I scoured the interwebs.

I ended up getting a 2000 GS300 sedan with 120k miles, it was single family owned from new, garaged all its life, serviced at Lexus dealer. So far its a great commuter. Hopefully it'll keep on ticking for a long time. Cost me $6500.