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Whats the Perfect Detecting Vehicle?:shrug:..discuss

Mud,
There are a gazillion Saturn parts out there in the auto world. IF and when I need brake pads, rotors, plugs, wires, gas filter, air & oil filter, starter... whatever it may be, I can go to my local Autozone, NAPA, CARQUEST etc and they have it in stock. Now for a hunt of a different kind. - Jim


mudpuppy said:
Great! Thanks everybody! I had no idea about the Saturns being a good little car...never occured to me...I'll check them out on CL...that Saturn wagon is about a perfect replacement for the Sube...twice as invisible too..:thumbup:..as long as theirs parts still available, and they dont have any real fatal flaws like the head gasket on the Sube...I'd like to do some extended running this coming year, a few bounce dives deep outside my home area like Ricks buddy does...
Mud..
Click to expand...
 
Try and find something with a hatch back, I use a Scion XB, get around 30 mpg hiway and can haul all my detecting stuff in it. Saturns are a very good car, I had the SL1 and drove the crap out of it, put a little over 200,000 on it when I got rear ended at a red light by a suburban.... Totaled it the saturn... Bent the front bumper tag on the suburban. :rolleyes:
 
I tend to put a lot of miles on worn out pieces of junk...I gentle them pretty good...put over 400k on my last Ranger (GeorgeSC:thumbup:)
I like to wring out every last mile if I can...I like a hatchback too...except it seems easier to get my gear out of a 4 door wagon real quick..there is a pretty little Focus 2 door hatch I'm looking at..though, now these Saturns have my interest! Keep them coming!
Mud
 
In 2009, I sold my pick up gas guzzling truck. I bought a 2010 Honda insight hybrid. I had my doubts on what i did. Can't take here off road. But man ,i fell in love with the car.Hwy mileage 50 to 55.
around town 40 to 45 mpg. I use it to go fly fishing. Surf fishing, Metal detecting.I find i can go further away to do these things, Use allot less gas,I can travel the 200 mile round trip to the beach to md or fish for about $12.00 to $15.00 worth of gas.With the seat down i can fit all my MD gear , Asurf cart, rods, folding chairs.I keep getting the bug to get a jeep, But when i look at the mileage, I drive home in my hybrid. good luck.
 
The question I have about the hybrids is what is one to do when the batteries need to be replaced and the cost is more than the value of the vehicle.
 
I don't have much of a choice because I pull a trailer full of tools when I'm working. I don't think it would be feasible to get a sipper and pay insurance etc, for another vehicle.....maybe it would, have to do the math.
So I have to pay for the gas a 3/4HD Chev uses...about 13 mpg (empty)..ug.

The tank is 36 gallons and @ $3.60 per, give or take, that's a big nut every month. I love the truck though, with the extended cab to put the detectors in. I also am use to riding high (in elevation) above most of the traffic, ya can see more of what's going on.

Not the best vehicle for running around that's for sure.....every time I look at the gas gauge, it has moved.
 
Hey Mud you can get a used Impala with less than 170K miles on it in that price range. I have a 2010 that I bought used less than a year old. I paid $11,500. I average 31-32 MPG in the summer with a mix of highway and city driving. In the winter cold the mileage goes down to about 28-29. It is a nice size car with a zippy V6, large back seat, and monsterous trunk. I am not a Chevy fan, but I love it. It had 45K miles on it when I bought it. It now has 190K and still runs great. A few minor sensor issues and a broken door latch and that's it. I get my gas mileage data from the dash readout and reset it every oil change. I drive with the instantaneous mileage display on and that has helped learn to drive to so that I increase the MPG. This is how I get 31-32 MPG. If i ignore this and drive like your normal jacka$$ my mileage in the summer will drop down to about 28 MPG.

I needed a car that could handle the high mileage well, that I could get parts for anywhere, could be fixed anywhere, was larger sized, and got good mileage. I asked all the local mechanics and auto parts stores and the majority of them said to get an Impala or Malibu. Even though I am not a Chevy fan, I listened, and am glad I did. Parts are readily available from any junk yard or parts store. The parts are also cheaper than foreign car parts.

Second choice would be a well used Toyota car or Honda car in your price range. With these though bear in mind parts availability and price. Not every junk yard has parts for these and when they do they charge you quite a bit for them.

I know three people with impala's that have over 300K miles on them. One was at 350K this last summer and still going strong. I change my own oil and use Mobil 1. Basic maintenance and you are good to go. I want to get over 350K miles on mine, just for principal. Next time you go out for spin, count how many Impala's you see on the road. Tons of them. They will always make after market parts for them and the junk yard will always have it's share of them from crashes.

I also know people that swear by Saturn's. In my opinion though, parts will eventually become scarce, and when that happens the price of the parts will go up.

Just my 2 cents worth!
 
Batts are guaranteed for 100K, or 8 yrs,But batts will go 150k to 200k.I be leave the cost on my modle is about $1500. to $2000. I'll run her into the ground. I have never had a problem with the car.I have other cars for family traveling. The toyota preius has been out longer than the honda. I have seen them with over 100k on them.buying one there's nothing to worry about, i wouldn't buy a domestic hybrid.
 
i love my chevy s 10 pickup trick. appropriately painted in camouflage with a small camper shell attatched to it so i can camp out if needed, and load my gear in without it getting wet..a big plus, plus i can lock my tronics behind the seat out of sight, from dynomite, as there are a lot of thefts from vehicles due to the increase of criminal activity in the southern us a and no hope for economic upturns in the immediate future.. as far as gas mileage goes, 29 highway is nothing to sneeze at.. mine is a 2002 regular size s 10 and i keep it in good shape, tires, tuneup.. etc.. so it pays to make the right choice in vehicles for hunting, treasure or bambi...
 
My Honda Accord works perfectly. Put a WeatherTech trunk liner in to catch all the dirt, sand and wet wetsuits. 28-30 mpg for long excursions is decent mileage.
 
Thanks everybody! I'm still in the market, surfing craigslist,...the snow is so deep here, I havn't needed it anyway...but I will soon!:beers:
Mud
 
Hands down, my favorite vehicle of all time was the Subaru DL, GL and Loyale with 4wd on demand. Great gas mileage, will climb anything you can get the wheels on. Been looking for another one for years. Never sold one with less than 200K miles!

Phenomenal vehicles for this hobby!
 
Most of the time I take my Toyota corolla. Great on gas averages out to mid 30s. I put weathertech mats front and back with it and Toyota makes a great trunk liner with a good sized lip that runs around the outside so any spills, melted snow, etc stays in the liner. The car is easy to drive, great turning radius super reliable, plenty of room in trunk and back seats fold down if you've got something long to put in(sometimes I use a long handled scoop for water hunting.)
Ive seen plenty of them with well over 200,000 miles on them so you can get a high mileage one pretty cheap and feel confident if its running great it will probably keep running great.
 
I enjoyed this thread. I have an AWD Toyota Matrix. 30 mpg but I cannot take it off road because it sets to low. Also I cannot sleep in it. I saw a AWD Volvo wagon going down the road the other day that looked perfect. I might go that direction on my next vehicle.
 
I use a 07 Kawasaki KLR 650. I go to parks and in the woods with this thing.
 
this is pretty economical and you already have parts ;)

lLPelP9.jpg
 
For that money you could get an older van gas mileage isn't super great 15 to 18 mpg depending and you can sleep in it and keep all your detecting supplies dry and safe. You set up high so it is easier to look over places as you drive by to. Nobody would steal an old van that is why I like them. I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 it is dependable but the door are to same for me. Wish I hadn't sold my Ford full sized van. Same mpg and bigger doors (I am 6'2" 215) so not fat. I like a van they are rugged my Ford had the clearance it was easy to get under to change oil and all that. The Dodge isn't in that respect. After having a van all these years I could never drive a pickup to easy for someone to walk by and take things out of the back. JMO.
 
Yeah, I've been looking at those minivans too..they would make for a good vehicle for extended overnight travel..would fit right in parked at a soccerfield! I'm leaning towards a small wagon if a guy has to sleep in it..that little sube was just about perfect!
or a ford focus wagon...that saturn wagon would be great, or a VW wagon of some sort...all the little hatchbacks would be better mileage, but too small to sleep in unless a fellow modded it by removing the passenger and rear seat, which I did on the sube...pound for pound, those minivans give a guy a lot of room for the money....timing wise I will be a buyer in about a month if I get any tax money back. keep your ideal hunting vehicle picks coming!:please:
Mud
 
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