Vehicle for Paper Route - Guidance Requested

[EvanADV]

I'm officially next in line to get a paper route for the Charlotte Observer, which may not sound too glamorous, but I'm looking forward to it. Easy money, and doesn't interfere with my existing schedule.

Anyway, I realize I am likely going to need to purchase a vehicle in the near future to use for the route. My buddy who got me the gig has an older Mercury Sable (like a Taurus) that he uses exclusively for the route. Lots of wear and tear on the brakes from all the stop and go, which I don't want to do to our brand new Camry. The 64 'C10 isn't reliable enough, no power steering, no power brakes, and no automatic transmission (i have to bag each paper as I drive, so a 3 speed on the column probably wouldn't be best).

So, with all that said, here are the requirements...

• $2500 range
• Ample room for me (6'4") and a 3-4' stack of newspapers - could possibly remove the passenger side bucket (if applicable) and stack papers directly on the floorboard, or stack on bench seat.
• Automatic (so I can bag papers as I drive without needing to shift)
• Reliable
• Cheap and easy to work on
• Decent on gas mileage (i'll drive ~50 miles a night, I buy the gas, the more mileage the more i make)

Suggestions?

[GreaseMonkey]

Try this:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2627146755.html


From here:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/sear...00&maxAsk=2500

[GreaseMonkey]

You can copy your buddy too:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2645902815.html

[EvanADV]

Thanks for your input. No offense, but I'm aware of how to do a Craigslist search.

I was mainly looking for suggestions on vehicles people have owned that meet the criteria (reliability, easy and cheap to work on, etc...based on personal experience).

Something like "A Jeep Cherokee 6cyl would be great for that, but avoid this year model due to tranny failures"...you get the idea.

[GreaseMonkey]

The problem with approach that is when you only have a limited amount of cash you are more in a situation where you can't be that picky. At the price point you are at, virtually nothing is going to be less than 10 years old so it becomes more an issue of judging each individual vehicle on its merits rather than some sort of consumer guide to 10+ year old vehicles.

[stainlesscycle]

in rural wv, all the postal carriers supply their own vehicles. many sub forresters and jeep wagoneers....
subaru's are pretty indestructible..and if you're not in wv, they're cheap. here they're expensive...

[shu]

90's Honda Accord 4 door.

These things easily go 200-300,000 miles. Get one with about 150,000, it'll last fine. My experience with 2 of them (one was my wife's, the other my daughter's) is they rarely need anything and they get 30+ MPG.

None of us are 6'4", so you'll have to try one to see if you fit.

..........shu

[Maggot12]

At you price I'd recommend getting whatever you can get the best deal on for the condition/mileage of the car.

Oh, and throw in an older hatchback civic.

[P B G]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

Easy money, and doesn't interfere with my existing schedule.

Not to be a downer, but have you priced plates and insurance for a vehicle?

If this is supposed to be easy money putting out 2,500 + plates and ongoing insurance costs, plus the fuel you'll be using you need to make sure than your plan works out.

First off, how long will you need to do the route to pay off the 2500 and plate fee? How much profit is there in this for you?

I can see it if this is a full time gig with 40 hours a week, pulling in a couple grand a month, in which case 1st and 2nd months pay off a years worth of the gig.

But if this is a couple hundred a week, <800 month, and you end up going several months to pull even on the vehicle then no sir'eee bob.

Also your truck sounds like it would creep along nicely in 1 or 2 and you could bag and toss...

If you dont' also need to drive 10 miles between subscribers you may be in like flynn.

[gogogordy]

Any Japanese I-4 would be my recommend; Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Civic, Accord, etc. as stated above, even with 100-150k well maintained miles, it's a pretty safe bet.

At your budget, you'll be shopping late '90's to early 2000's years.

[EvanADV]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I don't have details on the route yet, as a spot has not opened up. I'm just next in line. My buddy makes $300-400 per week, takes him about 2.5hrs on weekdays and 3-4 hrs on saturday/sunday. I'm hoping for something comparable.

Plan is to use the Camry for the first few weeks (hopefully not months) until I can save enough to buy the route car.

I'm in need of an additional vehicle as my wife drives the Camry and the c10 is more of a project. I'm mainly on the DR when I have to go somewhere alone, which sucks on a day like today when it's pouring, the wife has the car, and the truck has wiring problems....

[troidus]

A 3-4' stack doesn't sound like a lot of papers. That's almost a MC route, using canvas carriers, but you'd have to roll them all before getting under way. I knew guys back in the early 80s who ran 1200-house routes. They used full size vans.

[gofast1320]

Originally Posted by troidus

A 3-4' stack doesn't sound like a lot of papers. That's almost a MC route, using canvas carriers, but you'd have to roll them all before getting under way. I knew guys back in the early 80s who ran 1200-house routes. They used full size vans.

What he said. I threw a big route that way on a Honda 90, then a CB160, then a CB175. I used four canvas bags, rolled all my papers, stuffed bags and with one sitting in front, 1 behind and one on each side I was off.

[EvanADV]

Thanks for all that so far guys.

Like I said I don't know any specifics on the route yet, so the 3-4' stack was a guess. If it's doable, I'd definitely be up for going moto on dry days above freezing, but a lot of that is going to depend on the route size. I'm envisioning an all new purpose for that "dual sport trailer" i'm looking at buying as well...

With that said, fact remains I am still probably going to need a vehicle, not only for wet and freezing days, but for personal use as well.

Subaru sounds interesting, there are some good deals around here. AWD versions could be helpful in the rare occasion it snows or ices around here, butFWD is usually just as usable I guess.

I expected lots of small Toyota/Honda suggestions, doubtful I can fit in one. My grandparents have a Buick Century i've driven a few times that has a TON of room, bench seat would let me fit a ton of papers next to me. Something like that may work.

I'm going to keep an eye out for good deals.

Suggestions, however general or specific are still appreciated!

I'm thinking i'll post back here with some pics showing how I end up doing my route (why not?).

[ABHulgan]

I'm a rural letter carrier, kinda close to the same job maybe. A lot of folks use Jeep Cherokees and they're pretty reliable and have good suspension (driving onto and off pavement shoulders), not too hard on brakes, easy to load, etc. Some use Subaru Legacy's, but mainly because they produced a factory RHD. I would stay away from the Subaru's for a number of reasons-parts availability, mechanics (not all work on Subaru's around here), electrical issues. I don't know how much it snows in Charlotte, but a 2wd Cherokee will be cheaper than a 4x4. Get the I-6 4.0.

Since you don't need RHD, I would second the others here that recommend Accords, Corollas, etc. Maybe even a Camry wagon, so all your paper load could be in the cabin with you on rainy days. Another car to look at are the old 80's Chevy Celebrity's. Incredibly cheap, parts are cheap, and fairly reliable on the mail routes. Also available in a wagon body. I would think removing the front passenger seat would be helpful; you could build a little rack/basket to hold your papers and paraphernalia. Your height shouldn't be an issue in these cars????

Whatever you choose, living in the south, in this economy, you should be able to find a really decent car for 2500. Plus, it might replace your c-10 as a daily driver.

A piece of non-vehicle advice. Before getting all psyched up and blowing your roll on a car, make sure you like the job and can stand it. Quite a few people get rural postal jobs, buy a new RHD Wrangler, and quit for various reasons, and then have a vehicle that 99% of the population don't want. Try it for a week (carefully) in your wife's car, then get a route car. Me, I love the job-it's great to be out in the air (even cold and rainy) and not in a cubicle under your boss's eye. Good luck with the new employment.

I spy your IH 1310 in your sig. How bout posting up a pic of it. I had a Travelall, an 1110 4x4, and still deliver mail in an RHD Scout II.