[97 3.5 Intrepid]

Matt, it depends on what you want out of a car. If you want fuel economy go with the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GL TDI (recycler): 51,270: $5000; however, if it is an automatic then avoid it because Volkswagen has some serious transmission problems. The next one I would go with is the Neon (espically if it is a manual). Neon's are very fuel efficient and cheap to fix. My grandfather who was an autobody man told me a valueable lesson. If a luxury car is on sale, then don't buy it because there is something wrong with it. My aunt didn't take this advise and she got stuck with two pieces of garbage, a 1993 Jaguar XJ6 and a 1999 Mercedes SL500. The Jaguar was in the shop more than it was on the road, and the Mercedes cost a fortune to put tires on it (and they kept blowing out) and repair things. Luxury cars are for people who have money to burn.

As for the question about a Ford lasting over 160,000 miles, my extended family has put 325,000 miles on an ugly-as-sin 1985 Ford LTD Crown Vic station wagon, 230,000 on a 1994 Mercury Grand Marquie, over 160,000 and still running 1998 Taurus, and these all have the orginal engine and transmission. As for our Chrysler products, 270,000 on a 3.3L powered- 1991 Grand Caravan traded in(and it was still running) had to have a couple transmission put in but that is what happens when you use Dexron in an A604/41TE, 212,000 miles on a Plymouth Acclaim and was still running only major repair was a blowed head (they let a head gasket go too long without repair at 175,000 miles), 1995 Dodge Spirit over 160,000 and still being used, and many friends with various 3.3L powered Chrysler products with well over 200,000 miles.

As for my experience with japanese cars. A friend put well over 200,000 miles on a 1991 Cavalier (I still can't believe it) before it was totaled in an accident. The friend replaced it with a 1991 Camry. It had 137,000 miles when the engine locked-up. My aunt had 80,000 miles on her 1999 Toyota Solara when the oil was sludging. There are some other stories that escape me. The reason why japanese cars have a better reputation is because of the maintenance guide. They have you do more maintenance, more frequently. For example, on my Intrepid I am supposed to replace the timing belt and water pump at 105,000 miles. Most people end up replacing them at 75,000 miles because they tend to be shot by then. A friend of mine who had a 1999 Camry I4, was supposed to replace the timing belt every 45,000 miles. Now because it was replace more frequently, it was less likely to break and cause less problems. Japanese are not superior in my mind and neither are the Europeans. Find out which one is the cheapest to maintain and go with that one. I'll recommend you stay away from the Cavaliers because they have a tendency to blow head gaskets and the engines self-destruct from this.