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Low cost, low maintenance vehicles that will carry your gear


pogo97

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My 2005 Dodge Caravan is getting expensive to maintain and it sucks gas. It's very flexible and actually more than I need. Turns out that my wife's Honda Civic will easily pack all my gear, including a piano with the front seat folded down. But no passengers. Something in between would be good.

 

We're talking used here, of course. Any recommendations?

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Low cost is relative- what kind of budget are you looking at? I drive a late-style Taurus and the trunk is gargantuan (the opening too). The Ford Five Hundred that came before it was admirable as well, though not with a particularly reliable by reputation I guess. For real cheap, look for one of those early 2000 Impalas. I don't know the dimensions of the piano as for how the trunk would work, but in general, full size sedans with large trunks don't get nearly the credit they deserve as haulers of cargo and people.

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I used to drive a Ford Ranger. I drove it for 12 years, 130K miles and it still didn't need a tune-up. Mostly it just needed the Brakes and Tires, and of course oil changes during that time. Great on gas and I could haul the PA and my guitar rig in it with ease. Would have been better with a cap on the back though.

 

Years back I used vans and of course station wagons. Wagons drive nicely loaded up. I always found vans tougher to park, and tougher on the wallet. You want to save money you want to be able to do some of the work yourself, including breaks and oil changes.

 

Last car I got was a 2013 Mustang. I can get an amp and guitars in the trunk but If I gig I borrow the wife's F150. That's been a really reliable truck too and has allot more power with a V6 then the Ranger. I don't gig much any more, mostly studio work and people come to the studio for that so I don't have to pack anything. Neither does anyone else because I have a full setup, drums, amps and PA in there.

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Strangely enough I presently have a '97 Grand Caravan with under 100K on it. As long as maintenance stays under $100 a month average (excluding tires and oil changes) I'm happy. Replacing it would run way more than that - but the rust daemons are gettin' the best of it, maybe a couple more years :( .

 

In the past I've had hatchbacks - even the tiny Geo Metro was able to carry my PA but no passenger room :( . I've been jonesin' on a Ford Transit Connect (or other EuroVan ?) but even used they are stoopid expensive IMO.

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I have a pal who goes by Fred Eaglesmiths's motto: "Better ten $500 cars than one $5000 car." But he puts a lot of time and energy into keeping them going and I'm not willing to do that.

 

The rust demons are getting my van, too. Maybe I should have done the rust-proofing (on a used car?) but, it's kind of a race as to whether the engine kills it or rust. My last car, the rear axle collapsed -- that would be rust -- when it had about 450,000 k on it and the engine was doing fine. Maybe I should look for another mid-80s Olds Ciera? But you're right, ongoing maintenance is still a lot less than getting another (and newer) vehicle. Maybe I should just get a hand truck and only play in town. smile.png

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I lost two vehicles due to rust in the last year. Well, the engine died in the 99 Escort wagon at 237,000 miles. For my solo gig I've owned a few station wagonsm mostly 4 cyl. Can't say that maintaining them was low, but they're better on gas than minivans or pick ups. Picked up a 2002 Mercury Villager last year for $2k and had to put another grand into it, but it's been a nice vehicle since. Just look for good deals on CL, vehicles with less the 100k miles at a price you can afford. I put 'rust free' in my search last year since I was tired of driving rust buckets!

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My 2002 Caravan died a couple of months ago - almost 200k miles on it. It had the 4 cylinder engine.

 

The one I had before that did a little over 200k and the Voyager I had before that one did just over 200k.

 

By accelerating slowly and anticipating braking (trying to use them as little as possible by slowing sooner) I can get 10 mpg more than the car is rated for.

 

I have a lot of gear to carry, if I could fit everything in a Prius, I'd probably go that way.

 

Notes

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I have a 2004 Chevy Silverado King cab with a fiberglass covered bed. Way more truck than I would have bought myself but I inherited it from my Dad with only 25,000 miles on it. Yes it's a bit of a gas hog and a bugger to park but it will haul anything and is a very comfortable ride. It's got 50k on it now and going strong. It should last me as a 2nd vehicle for a long time to come. We don't have rust issues in North Alabama.

 

 

 

if I didn't have the Silverado I'd prob look for a small pickup like my old Ford Ranger. That was a great truck. 5 sp manual, long wheel base, camper shell, V6. It went 200k of gigs, everyday driving, camping, whatever I wanted to do and got upper 20s in mileage. After 15 yrs it started burning oil. I shoulda rebuilt the engine.

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Great video

 

Web, used to have a great video on joining the van. Couldn't find it, but this is a good too.

 

Webb should be more famous than he is, cause his music is really good. He might be a NashVegas celeb.

 

[video=youtube;DIM60aXieL4]

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you might be surprised at what one can fit into a prius...

 

I might, but I have a hard time fitting everything into a mini-van and still see out the windows. 1 sax, 2 guitars, 2 15" woofer PA cabs, 12 space rack, 2 wind synthesizers, 2 road cases full of gear, keyboard a-frame stand, 3 computers, and 6 mic or speaker stands. (oh and a flute, pedalboard for my wind synth, direct box/amp sim for each guitar, and 2 small monitors).

 

I often think about leaving things home, but when I get on the gig, I think about bringing the bass and keyboard too and them my brain shouts out "JUST STOP!" ;)

 

After all, they are all toys.

 

Insights and incites by Notes

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I spent some time thinking about this back in the spring, and wound up with a 2013 Nissan Rogue. Consumer reports liked it, and with the split rear seat, I have the ability to haul my full PA [2 powered cabs, the Fishstick, monitors, 3 mic stands, 2 speaker stands, three guitars, two amps, the gear bag, etc with room to spare, and can carry 2 passengers.with me. Time will tell, and the gas mileage, even with a four cylinder, is not spectacular...

 

That said, the expression 'low cost, low maintenance' seems to be an impossibility. I find minivans with small 3.0 v6 engines to be pretty reliable, I had a '88 Voyager I ran for 11 years [until my divorce], and aside from window regulator tracks and the occasional side mirror [and thankfully the 7/70 warranty] I had no major repairs on that vehicle. Our harp player who hauls the band's PA had a Aerostar for years, then a PT Cruiser...talk about amazing what you can fit in!

Then again they dubbed my Mazda RX-8 the 'clown car' because of all the stuff I could fit in it...2 amps, three guitars, mic stands, a bass cab and head, a bass, gear bag, banner, tip jar......

 

The new Prius is larger, with more cargo space, my daughter has one, and yeah, for a little hatchback, with the rear seats down, there is a lot of space, ...but I don't know if you could get 2 large 15" powered speakers, like Thumps, in there. Our keyboard player got a Ford C-Max...not big enough, then he got an Edge...and still can't haul his Hammond B3, Leslie, 2 Mackie 15" Thumps, 88key Nord and all that...I told him before he did it to look at the Flex [he apparently likes Fords], but he didn't...and he gave up his Expedition because it was a gas hog...he regrets it now...

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right now in the prius there are three gongs, 44", 40", and a 22" , all in cases, plus their stands, several,singing bowls, the largest is a 15". two 12x12x 30" mallet bags and a slightly smaller friction mallet bag, two 3' tall amethyst cathedrals @ about 80 lbs each, one smoky quartz @ 68 lbs, assorted stones and gear in a 12 x 12 x 24" case, meditation seat and base, 3 hammocks including lines, tarps and rigging, 4 led flat puck style lights and two small spots, an 18" and a 20" frame drums, tunable tambourine, three flutes, a 12 string craviola, countryman headset and wireless rig, 5 shure mics, 2 crown pzm's, 2 pencil condensers, a couple ldc's, cables, stands, etc, laptop, ipad, i pad mini, zoom q8 and tripod, two sets of stage clothes, two sets of dry comfortable clothes, bugout bag, and still have three seats empty...actually a 14 yr old and his sax and a 4 yr old in his road warrior car seat and me... without the kids i can shoehorn 2 qsc k 10's, 2 k 8's, a yammy 12 channel and a yorkville elite powered sub with poles... tonight, my gas mileage was at 49.6 when i parked it...

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Honestly, if the Prius didn't look like a shrunken Aztek*, I would like it more... ;)

If they would change the name to something less, I don't know, bleaghh sounding, I would like it even better!

The Brits pronounce it pry-uss...still not making me feel warm.

Too bad Toyota wasted the name Hi-Lux on their old pick-ups...Hylux would be a better name for the hybrid...

 

 

* Pontiac's biggest failure, and arguably the ugliest car out of Detroit since the AMC Pacer...

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The Aztek was famously ugly, but so many vehicles copped the general lines and shape that is pretty hard to call it a failure. Most modem SUVs look more like an Aztek than any other vehicle that existed when the Aztek was released. It was really just ahead of its time.

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the aztek was angular for no reason, the prius is an example of form following function... design based upon wind resistance instead of human whimsical input... of course it is notoriously bad in crosswinds, not unlike a van, so no real big deal if you can drive. btw, my tires were pretty low and im back into the mid 50's on mpg again... ive had two of them and the audio systems have been incredible in both, for stock systems. quiet... stealthy quiet... great for those just before dawn touchdowns on the home landing pad without waking up the critters...

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I think the C series Prius has a lower center of gravity. I've taken a couple of Prius cars for test drives, and I found no fault with the handling. Of course, I'm used to driving a mini-van, my sports car days are long gone.

 

When I could make a living as only a sax player, a nice sports car was my choice. Enough room to put a tenor, alto and flute in the trunk was all that mattered. The rest was for the joy of driving.

 

Fast forward to downsized from 7 pc bands to a duo and we haul the rig. Add that we're both multi-instrumentalists and and we're hauling the gear and PA of a quartet.

 

Although while playing, I'd rather be in a big band, I wouldn't go back. But that's another thread.

 

If I could afford 2 Bose with woofers, I might be able to fit everything in a Prius. But by the time my gas savings paid for the Bose systems, the car would probably be long gone ;)

 

I'm glad you fit, and a little jealous too.

 

Notes

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Pickup with a camper shell is great for musical equipment. In my part of the world, however, they hold value better than cars or SUVs. Especially since 4x4 is pretty much mandatory around here.

 

But if you're looking for something used to use primary as a gigging vehicle? Hard to go wrong with something like a Toyota Tacoma or a Nissan Frontier with a crew cab for extra folks. Those things will run forever.

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By accelerating slowly and anticipating braking (trying to use them as little as possible by slowing sooner) I can get 10 mpg more than the car is rated for.

 

I have a lot of gear to carry, if I could fit everything in a Prius, I'd probably go that way.

 

 

You probably should. My wife has a Prius (great little car) and there are entire forums devoted to the guys who have all sorts of hints and tricks for squeezing out a few extra MPG. Sounds like you probably enjoy that sort of stuff.

 

The Prius Vs have more room (but don't do as well on gas) Also, weight is a big reason why the gas mileage is so good. They make those cars EXTREMELY light and I imagine once you fill it up with musical gear, you're probably defeating the purpose.

 

Also, they cost quite a bit more out of the gate so you're paying for most of those gas savings up front. But since you like to run your cars past 200K, you'll pretty certainly come out ahead in the long run.

 

 

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I think the C series Prius has a lower center of gravity. I've taken a couple of Prius cars for test drives' date=' and I found no fault with the handling. Of course, I'm used to driving a mini-van, my sports car days are long gone. [/quote']

 

The C is just a little tiny thing. NO room behind the back seat. They don't get any better gas mileage than the regular Prius, but the smaller size makes them cheaper. But you're not going to get much gear into one of those.

 

They handle fine for what they are --- compact, lightweight, economy car. Anyone who thinks they are getting a sports car is buying the wrong car. Think Ford Escort.

 

 

 

 

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