WTB, car for my girls 16th B'day

[kikstand454]

Nice nova!

I always wanted one of those....jacked up a bit in the back and yellow. Those are great little sleeper muscle cars.

I agree though....too big and fast and comfortable for a daughter to own! :thumbsdown

[rockyg]

I had a wide front seat like that when I was 16. With that in mind I hope you can keep your daughter far away from one.

[onefishtwofish]

Check out the Equinox. Good safety ratings and my daughter loved hers. I wish I had seen this a couple of months ago as we traded it on my wife's new car and let my daughter keep my wife's older Murano. Autotrader is a great place to get an idea of what is out there in your price range. I bought a 96 Bronco and later sold it on there. Found the Equinox on there too. Sold my 69 Bronco because of no power steering and no A/C for my son's first. I did not care about the A/C, but wanted him to have more safety features. You are right to think later model./

[wevans]

Bought one yesterday, 2001 Dodge Stratus with 111000 miles for $800 We just gotta put a timing belt on it and pray that is all that's wrong with the motor!!

[Jumptrout51]

I was beginning to think she would turn 18 before you found a car.

[wevans]

Patience and $100 bills works every time

[Harmsway]

Suu-eet.

[fishinfool]

You probably already know this, but please be sure to replace the idler pulleys and the tensioner as well as the water pump. The change in the tension when the belt is replaced puts different loads on these components and can cause them to fail shortly after the belt has been replaced, requiring you to do the process all over again.
Dodge says this is an interference motor, meaning that the pistons can come in contact with the valves, bending them and requiring the head to be removed to replace them and possibly putting a hole in the piston, if the belt breaks while the engine is running. Changing all the associated components while you are doing the belt is cheap insurance.
We have seen quite a few of these engines where the belt has broken without doing any damage, but that is no guarantee that no damage will occur.
I hope she enjoys her new ride and if you need any information to do the job just ask.

[wevans]

Thanks FF We know that it's a risk with the valves but are playing the odds and yep, we do plan to replace everything that while in there