Do you drive the new car or the "clunker"

[christinadei]

I don't consider a 1999 with 110,000 miles on it a clunker. I assumed you meant an old run down car. That's what I think of as a clunker. Anyways, it seems to me that taking the newer car with a warranty is the best option, unless it's a lease and you are trying to keep miles down. BTW, I bought a 1997 dodge stratus, 1 year old and later found out that it too was a rental. I had nonstop problems from that car for a few years until I finally got rid of it. Never again....

Anyway, I hope your trip goes well and that you have no car trouble!

 

[Hillbeans]

True, it's really not a "clunker", but I guess by someone's definition it is with all of the past wear/tear and the history of being a rental car involved in a bad accident. It still looks great on the outside, and it rides well...it's just getting old.

When I think of clunker, I think of "Uncle Buck" with the car that kept backfiring in the driveway!

 

[tink2dw]

Hi! From NJ you could put your car on the Auto Train, sit back and let them drive you to Florida, save milage both ways and still have your car at WDW, and feel like you had a vacation!!!!

 

[VintageKnight]

my wifes ex husband had bought another new car a 1996 dodge stratus.( the main reason monitarily hes an ex now) i met her may 97, jan 98 the engine seized up, 64k. we drive hard down herebut even when she was with him they had done the correct maintenance...found out ithad been a rental also....

tho a true clunker when i got it, my grandfathers 79 datsun pickup finaly died at 310k 4years into my ownership 92-95. a very hard driven truck, most of the body panels were messed up and the front end looked like a baha racer front with all the damage.. but it ran till it could run no more....


DisneyVK

 

[Hillbeans]

Thank God for Carfax....i'll definitely use that if I ever buy a used car again. No way in heck would I ever buy a car that used to be a rental. There are just so many unknowns....

That being said, we're just about finished paying off this car and our hope is to get another good year out of it with no 2nd car payment. We've put quite a chunk of money into it for tires, repairs, new starter, etc. I must admit also that I like to drive our new car much better than this one.

I've also thought about the autotrain, but I just don't like trains very much. I honestly think i'd rather drive. I know this works for some people very well.

 

[Tigger1]

Local-Girl

Welcome to the over 200,000 were going to Disney fan club. Hondas are still in new condition at 200,000, of course DH would get upset. Mine died at 250,000 only because the rear end was smashed. The engine was still strong.

We have a GMC safari an that is over 200,000 also that has been to Disney 5 times since 1997. It does have a rebuilt engine so maybe it does not count.

Have a safe trip

tigger

 

[Robyn S]

We will be driving from Pa this summer, and we will be driving my "clunker" It has 140,000 miles on it. I have never had a flat, been broke down, or failed to start, even when it has been 30 degrees below 0!! The last 2 times I drove my BRAND NEW car, the people on International Drive-(too busy looking at everything except the road) Crashed and totalled it. Some how- my shiny vehicle was like a magnet, the clunker is avoided like the plague.

 

[Hillbeans]

I just remember when we drove this car back in 2000 on a long trip it really took alot out of the car. I had bug splatters all over this car, and the heat cooked them on, and I still didn't get all of these marks off. Add onto that all of the rock marks on the windshield and tire wear. The drive on 95 is very rough on a car, especially going 1000 miles.

Now this same car 4 years later is still reliable, and i'd just rather take it instead of our new car....even though our new car is a year old with 19,000 miles, it's still in great condition and smells new.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
I just remember when we drove this car back in 2000 on a long trip it really took alot out of the car. I had bug splatters all over this car, and the heat cooked them on, and I still didn't get all of these marks off. Add onto that all of the rock marks on the windshield and tire wear. The drive on 95 is very rough on a car, especially going 1000 miles.

Now this same car 4 years later is still reliable, and i'd just rather take it instead of our new car....even though our new car is a year old with 19,000 miles, it's still in great condition and smells new.

I have a different take on this than many other posters on the thread. As long as you make sure that you have done required maintenance and the tires, hoses and belts are in good condition, I would take the older car. Just remember that the age of the car does not make it a "clunker", the condition of the car makes it that. It does not matter that the car has 120,000 miles on it if it is in good maintenance shape. Remember that you are not going to put more than 2,500 miles on the car going round trip, are you?

Again, if it is in good shape, take it. If you want the car to smell new, just go to your local auto parts store, buy that new car spray for about $5.00 and have a ball. Your trip to WDW will be in a car that smells like new. And.........when you return, the newer car will still smell new also. It won't have an additional 2,500 miles on it either.

So, this is another viewpoint that you may consider.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Another vote for take the old one if it is mantained! I've taken my old suburban, last Aug. it had at least 210,000 miles on it and I had no problems at all. Now this year though it is being retired for long haul runs. You know your car and how you've maintained it. I would go with whichever car has more room for a long drive.