# A certified tree hugger's advice for buying clunkers😆 **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195 "2026-09-04T14:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/42 "2026-11-09T19:19:34Z")
While I agree with you overall, in regard to… > [@bing](#): > > Life is too short to have to wade through a two page letter to try to figure out what they want. **They dont teach that in English class** … I have to say that we _were_ taught that technique in English class. I think that was in 11th grade. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/43 "2026-11-09T19:28:12Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > a 2000 or so model year Taurus demanding $10,000, as long as the odometer resides below 100,000 miles Because it appears that everyone realizes just how bizarre that claim actually is, I have a possible explanation. Chris now resides in the Philippines, and he was undoubtedly pricing those Tauruses in PH Pesos. 10,000 PH Pesos equals ~$160, at the current exchange rate, and $160 is probably much more realistic for an “average” (non-classic) American car that is more than 25 years old. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/44 "2026-11-09T19:56:46Z")
It is possible: ![IMG_2548](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/1/f1667bebaf2304090e57a5b93edddb26ff508adc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/45 "2026-11-09T19:58:47Z")
Like I said, they can ask anything they want. And that’s the SHO high-performance model, not simple, not what you were talking about. I listed all the actual SALES prices on Taurus cars on Ebay. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/46 "2026-11-09T20:03:46Z")
No “Car Play”, no infotainment screen, no stock cameras for backing up, no blindspot detection or lane-keep assist. _Simple._ ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/47 "2026-11-09T20:22:39Z")
> [@texases](#): > > the SHO high-performance model, not simple, not what you were talking about. +1 The SHO model is actually somewhat rare at this point, so it would command a significantly higher price than a garden-variety Taurus. That being said, I doubt that the seller would be able to get $9,900 for it. KBB says that a 1994 Taurus SHO has a _current resale value of $1,261_ _and trade-in value of $497._ ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/48 "2026-11-09T21:39:09Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > No “Car Play”, no infotainment screen, no stock cameras for backing up, no blindspot detection or lane-keep assist. None of which has anything to do with the price being asked. It’s more of a collector’s car. Find some ‘regular’ ones and see what they actually sold for. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/49 "2026-11-09T21:39:10Z")
KBB is not a good source for collectible car values. This is from an insurance company for collectible cars: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/0/0042076accf7d4acf77111afd0f4903fedf0c415.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/c/bc7fe7630be7c6365ee0d8e7cd371863eff856e7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/50 "2026-11-09T21:48:56Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > KBB is not a good source for collectible car values. It should be because KBB and NADA are the standards used by banks to determine loan values. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/51 "2026-11-09T21:50:55Z")
Here’s what various year SHO models have sold for on Bring a Trailer: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/3/43a69e61f9a398fb9cc8da83055903f06a5ccce9.png) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/52 "2026-11-09T21:53:47Z")
Dont know what you were taught but in college in 1966 it was the Harbrace Handbook. The blue one. The next year was the yellow edition. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/53 "2026-11-09T22:06:09Z")
Back-up cameras and blind spot detection have no value for you at all? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/54 "2026-11-09T22:10:13Z")
Exactly. Cars like that Taurus, along with Accords and Camrys from Turn-of-century 1998-2004, are easier to service, maintain. Just check the suspensions, tire-em-up, oil-em-up, gas-up and go! Simple stereos and climate controls populate the dash. Put in a newer deck if you must have carplay, otherwise just purchase a bluetooth cassette deck adaptor and ride off into the sunset _yyyyippie kayo - kayayyy_! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/55 "2026-11-09T22:19:34Z")
Nobody’s cross shopping that SHO with an Accord or Camry. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/56 "2026-11-09T22:42:21Z")
You get the point though: Demand for (relative) automotive simplicity some times drives up prices for pre-post-Millennium model year cars, especially if the mileage is low and mechanicals are in better than average shape. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/57 "2026-11-09T23:07:43Z")
My nephew had a Nissan rogue and I told him the cvt trans were not reliable. He got $500 as trade in. I think it’s worth more as it had no issues. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/58 "2026-11-10T00:55:59Z")
@ChrisTheTireWhisperer You’re obviously not living in the real world Even Camrys and Accords from the late 90s and early 2000s need repairs and regular maintenance And it can really add up for older vehicles Your idea of just airing up tires and filling up are completely in error If I had such a car, I might keep it going But I’m certainly NOT buying some stranger’s late 1990s family sedan The devil you know . . . ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/59 "2026-11-10T01:23:27Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > > [@Nevada\_545](#): > > > > KBB is not a good source for collectible car values. > > It should be because KBB and NADA are the standards used by banks to determine loan values. I didn’t think it was common for banks to finance auto collections. > [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > Demand for (relative) automotive simplicity some times drives up prices for pre-post-Millennium model year cars, especially if the mileage is low and mechanicals are in better than average shape. The examples of older Taurus I found are priced like any basic drivable car: $800 - $4000. The Taurus SHO is an exception; performance engine and suspension. The engine was manufactured by Yamaha Motors. > [@Cavell](#): > > My nephew had a Nissan rogue and I told him the cvt trans were not reliable. Replace the transmission every 100,000 miles, consider it to be maintenance. > [@Cavell](#): > > He got $500 as trade in For some reason he lost confidence in the vehicle. Was it something you said? A new Rogue starts at $31,265, that is a sound way to avoid a transmission replacement. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/60 "2026-11-10T01:28:24Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > Simple. Simple? There’s nothing simple about the car you listed. That was a $25,000 car when it was new in 1994. My housemate back then was selling Fords, brought an SHO home once, and it was a screamer (for that time anyway). A DOHC 24 valve V-6 Yamaha engine with a short-throw 5-speed manual transmission. Heavy duty suspension and larger wheels. I had the pleasure (?) of working on a few of those, a nightmare under the hood compared to most models of the day, and of today as well. I had a customer who had one of those, kept it well maintained, driving through a deep puddle he ingested water in the engine and threw some connecting rods out the oil pan. Insurance totaled the car because parts weren’t available, even though the car was only 10 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195/61 "2026-11-10T01:48:53Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > parts weren’t available, even though the car was only 10 years old. The Dodge Spirit R/T had a unique Lotus designed cylinder head, owners claimed there were no replacement head gaskets available after 10 years. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-certified-tree-huggers-advice-for-buying-clunkers/206195.md?page=4)