Would you take this car on a road trip?

[Anonymous]

Couple questions I think about:
-- How long is the trip? 500 miles roundtrip? OK, has the car broken down in the last 2x miles? (1000 miles in this example).
-- What would you do if it breaks down? Are you comfortable losing a day or two getting it fixed? Are you OK having it fixed by a random shop (I am, for instance)? Are you prepared for ditching the car (or trip) if the transmission blows up?

My "newer" car has 190k miles on it and my wife takes it on long interstate trips a couple times a year with the kids. It's fine (mostly)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we have a 2002 honda, and have started renting a car for road trips. More comfortable, and feels safer (more up-to-date safety features.)

But we've certainly taken many roadtrips in cars like yours, so go for it! (do you have kids? That's what made me more car-safety conscious. That and getting into an accident.)

This is the biggest factor, really.

A 1999 car isn't going to hold up as well in a wreck vs a 2017 or even a 2005 model.

My dad had a little 1991 Toyota that he drove around town. He never took it on any long trips; just used it as his knock around car in town once he retired. Before that he used it to drive himself to the commuter lot to catch the bus into DC for work (half a mile from their house). He had no need for a new car since he didn't drive to work and on the weekends if they wanted to go somewhere further away, they took my mom's nice car. One day he took my mom to work and kept her car to run errands because his was getting new brakes in the shop. He got T-boned in the small town where he lives by a car going 45 mph (in a 25) and if he'd been in his old car instead of my mom's newer, bigger car, he'd have been killed... the damage was that extensive. Crazy! He was too scared to ever drive his beloved 1991 Toyota after that and sold it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldnt take that junk car to the corner store. Are you poor?

Yes, I am thank you. And it goes to the grocery store very well.

Skip the road trip. Save the money towards the new car you need.

This reminds me of a post I just saw on a Facebook yard sale group last night.

A young woman posted that her 18 year old, 250k mile car had died unexpectedly out of the blue. She wanted to know if anyone had any cars they wanted to sell for under $2k because that's all she had and she needed a car to get to her job that was an hour commute each way.

A 18 years old with 250k miles dying isn't exactly "unexpected" nor "out of the blue." That car had a hell of a run!

I flipped through her public FB photos and maaaaaybe if she hadn't spent so much money on designer purses and shoes, she wouldn't be begging on FB for a cheap car. If you need a car to get to your job 1 hour away, you prioritize a car over luxuries like purses and shoes.

[Anonymous]

The weather has not been good lately. I would be most concerned about breaking down in the winter, more specifically in below freezing temps. Better rent a car. It ican be very cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're asking the wrong people. Post it in Fairfax Underground and you might get a different answer.

Exactly. Most people on this forum literally have ZERO understanding of how anything mechanical works. They are Eloi. They understand things like "feelings" and being triggered and hating republicans. All that stuff is right in their wheelhouse. How cars work? Not so much. Most couldn't change a tire at gunpoint.


Actual answer: in all likelihood the car will be fine on that trip if it runs as well as you say it does. The cats needing replacement maybe throw a check engine light, but it'll keep going. Other stuff should be checked too though:

Engine oil level
Transmission fluid level, and check the fluid itself. It should be pinkish and sweet smelling, not brownish and burned smelling.
Coolant level
Battery (look for and clean any corrosion around the terminals. Soda can actually be used to do this if you don't have terminal cleaner)
Check the serpentine belt! Look for any cracks or fraying that run the length of the belt. Small tiny cracks that go across the belt are fine, btw.
Tires. Make sure they have at least 3/16" tread and are at correct pressure.
Brake fluid level
Power steering fluid level
Top off washer fluid reservoir


All this can be done in less than 10 minutes, and if you do every item on this list you'll not only detect any obvious issues that would cause you trouble on this trip, but you'll also be in literally the top 1% of people here who know anything about cars afterwards.

+1
And with a '99 camry, the above mentioned is so easy to do. It's not like today's cars where it's impossible to change the oil yourself, everything is computerized, etc.

[Anonymous]

I just sold my 99 Camry. Ran great. I miss it.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely I would drive it. We have a Toyota at 350+K and that thing runs like a champ. I feel better in that car than in our other two cars that are at 80K and 65K. The only things I would do would be to drive during the day, on major interstates, and belong to AAA. I also wouldn't do any long road trips with little kids, though.

I agree with others, though, that you might find it a better option to rent a car and save yourself the wear and tear on your Toyota.

[Anonymous]

Highway miles are pretty easy on a car. The engine runs at a constant speed, which is what engines like to do best. Plenty of airflow for the radiator, keeps it cool. Water pump runs at a steady speed, helping cooling efficiency. Oil pressure maintained at a high level due to cruise speed rpm.

Cars can run almost forever at highway speed. Stop and go traffic is what creates all the wear.