Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 11

Government in Action Page B-2 Students in the News Page B-3 Obituaries Page B-5 The Indiana, PA Gazette Sunday, April 3. 1994 Deals on wheels Area motorists break the mark El By WENDY SZAKELYHIDI Gazette Staff Writer In the past, motorists considered it a rare feat to drive a car beyond the mark. Not anymore. Clifford Griffith of Smicksburg RD 1 expects to get that much out of a vehicle. He owns a 1982 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limited with 187,000 miles, a 1977 GMC with 150,000, a 1984 Oldsmobile Delta Royal Brougham with 135,000 and a 1966 Cadillac with 103,000.

"A lot of it is an attitude," he said. "I don't think it's any problem to get a vehicle over 100,000 miles. You have to have an attitude about caring for it." Indeed, more drivers care for their cars longer these days. Mike Slavin, general manger of Indiana's Delaney Chevrolet Geo Buick Honda, said the average age for trade-ins has risen. "It was just two or three years ago that the average age was 4 or 5 years.

Now it's 6 or 7 years." Slavin said the price of new cars prompts drivers to keep their vehicles longer. He said the trend has forced car makers to offer more incentives to entice people to trade their vehicles. "Until it starts running poorly, they drive it," Slavin said. "They don't want another car payment." Herbert Pollock of Indiana can testify to that. He owns a 1986 Volkswagen Golf diesel with 221,000 miles.

He recently drove the car to a wedding in Fredericksburg, Va. Pollock loves the car because it's efficient and inexpensive to run. "There are lots of other cars that are good took, but I really like this one because it's economical," he said. He advises regular maintenance, including an oil and filter changes and agrease job every 7,500 miles. He said diesel engines may require special treatment.

The fuel filter, for example, must be changed every 15,000 miles. Also, winter weather necessitates the use of an additive to keep diesel fuel from freezing. Still, Pollock likes Volkswagens. "Before I drove Ford LTDs, but you only got 12 miles to the gallon," he said. "That's why I switched to a diesel.

I have gotten as high as 44 miles to the gallon." He said diesel cars have fewer electrical problems since the engine doesn't require a battery. Consequently, drivers don't have to worry about changing spark plugs. "It's a little more expensive engine, but if you service it right, it will last a lot longer than a gasoline engine' he said. He should know. Pollock has a history of high-mileage cars.

A retired Agway salesman, he traded in his first Volkswagen, a 1979 Dasher, in 1987 after it reached 268,000 miles. Mike Ziner, owner of Indiana's Import Auto, bought the Dasher to use for parts at his shop. He later sold it to an employee, who drove the car until 1989. "One of my employees drove it until the body rusted apart at 312,000 miles," Ziner said. He said another man bought the car and later put its engine in another Volkswagen.

Ziner said the man is still driving that vehicle today. "It's all in how you maintain your car," Ziner said. Paulette Marcoline of Indiana agrees with that. She owns a 1984 Honda Accord with 250,000 miles. She said the car runs "perfect" and has no major repairs on record.

'I kept the engine cleaner than the outside of my car," Marcoline said. "When something needed maintained I got it done without waiting. Why wait until becomes full scale?" Marcoline changes the transmission fluid and motor oil in her car every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. For other drivers, she advises keeping the engine maintained and using the parts recommended by a car's manufacturer. For driving, she warns against fast starts and suggests breaking intermittently, rather than forcefully- Her formula appears to work.

She said employees of a local car dealer described her Honda as one of the two highest-mileage vehicles they'd seen. In fact, she said she used to trade in cars every three years, but she kept her Accord because it ran so well. She trusts the car enough to give It to a nephew this year. "He's patiently waiting," she said. "I think I've been kind of babying the car for him.

I wouldn't be afraid to take it to California." Marcoline bought a used car, a which has 250,000 miles. (Gazette photo by Willis Bechtel) on their cars. She suggests offering someone in the neighborhood to change the oil. For parts, she -recommends junk yards or comparative shopping. "Cail around and find the place first," she said.

"There's a big price difference." She hunts for bargains in motor oil 1 as well. But, surprisingly, she insists on buying tires new, although she forgoes winter tires for all-seasons. She has no plans to sell the Fiesta and expects to put at least In fact, he expects to put another 100.000 miles on it. "It's a proven engine," he said. "It's been around a long time.

It's dependable." Carol Transue of Waterman plans to keep her 1979 Ford Fiesta as well. The car has 135,000 miles. "It still runs great." Transue recommends yearly tune-ups and oil changes every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. She also uses Slick 50, an engine additive, and checks fluid levels periodically. She said it's important to keep her "A lot of it is an attitude, I don't think it's any problem to get a vehicle over 100,000 miles.

You have to have an attitude about caring for it." Clifford Griffith Smicksburg car running smoothly, since it's the only vehicle she and her husband, Paul Sweeney, own. "We're hoping it lives a little longer," she said. "It's been very good to us." Unlike many other drivers, Transue doesn't advocate buying a new car over 3 used one. She bought her Fiesta a year ago at 100,000 miles for $300. "We bought two cars that were over $1,000 and within a month everything went wrong," she said.

"The cars that were under $500 just needed a tuneup. You can still have problems with new cars and you've goL those payments every month." Bev Mastalski of Indiana paid $200 for a 1967 Chevrolet Malibu with 120,000 miles. Now she regrets selling the car at 197,000 miles five years ago. "We never had a problem with it," she said. "In fact, one Christmas it was really cold and no one in my family could get their cars started but us.

We had to take everyone to church." Transue advises drivers to find inexpensive ways to get work dune Paulette Marcoline, of Indiana, 1992 Chevrolet Corsica, to replace the Honda Accord she's giving to her nephew. "Some new cars are as expensive as homes," she said. Still, she recommends buying a new car over a used one when possible. So does Keith Conover of Penn Run. He and his wife, Lee Ann, own a 1987 Honda Accord with 221,000 miles and a 1982 Toyota Tercel with 120,000 miles, both bought new.

The two cars run well, with neither diesel that has 221,000 miles. (Gazette photo by Tom Peel) The car is like a part of my family. It's like another son or daughter." Kelly Clark of Homer City has a similar attitude toward her 1987 Ford EXP, which has 125,000 miles. She says she's very particular about keeping the car tuned up, especially since 1987 was the last year Ford made the EXP. "I never intend to sell the car," she said.

"People that own EXPs have a kind of cult." Donna Brubaker's attachment to her 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity goes even deeper. She calls the car a godsend. It has 147,000 miles. "It means everything right now," Brubaker said. "If we didn't have this vehicle I don't know what we'd do." Brubaker bought the Celebrity in 1987 at 33.000 miles.

Her three sons po.es in her 1984 Honda Acwd, requiring any major repairs. "The only repairs are routine maintenance," Conover said. "The cars are in for that kind of thing three or four times a year." He stressed the importance of finding a good mechanic to keep the car serviced. For those who don't know which shop to choose, he advised asking around. He also recommended changing a car's oil routinely and making sure fluids remain at proper levels and belts slay tightened.

He also advised drivers to check tire pressure and major parts. "Drive defensively," he said. "We try not to drive over the speed limit, and if ever we're going on a trip of any length, we get the cars in to the shop)." Conover said the price of new cars makes it worthwhile to keep a vehicle carefully maintained. He said he and his wife have considered buying new cars but aren't looking yet. 'We may end up getting historic plates on them before we trade them," he said.

Rudy Walls of Commodore RD 1 has 211,000 miles on his 1982 F150 Ford pickup and more than 100,000 miles on his 1988 Chrysler LeBaron for similar reasons. He said he used to trade in cars every six years, but times have changed. "I can't afford a new one. 1 have three kids in college." He credited maintenance for his cars' performance, including regular oil changes. And he swears py Pennzoil motor oil.

"I like the way it works," he said. "I think the truck and car speak for that. Filter and oil I always thought that was the wrong place to try to save money In the summer, Walls washes his vehicles at least once a week and waxes them every three months to help the bodies wear better. He plans to keep driving his truck. for cars used the car to leant to drive and Brubaker used it to run her Avon business.

Then her oldest son, Scott, had a stroke at age 16, which required the family to drive to Pittsburgh for hospital and doctor visits. Brubaker herself came down with chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome in 1991. The illness requires her to drive to Pittsburgh every week. In addition, her son Jason fell ill last summer. His condition also required long trips for doctor visits.

"The car has really served all of us," Brubaker said. "It means everything." She says the family would be hard pressed if the car broke down since they can't afford a new one. Her husband, Tom. has a Mazda pickup, but Brubaker insists she couldn't manage without the Celebrity. Having only one car would require her to drive her husband to work in Homer City.

"It would be too exhausting for me," she said. "The car has really been a blessing. There's only one conclusion I can come to for how it has served us so well the Lord wa? providing for our needs." Herbert Pollock, of Indiana, washes his 1986 Volkswagen Golf Owners admit deep affection miles on the car. "We're going to run, it until it dies and then look for' another $200 or $500 car." Joe Johnston of Homer City plans to keep his 1978 Ford. LTD as well, but for a different: reason.

In a few years, the car will be a classic. 'It's still in good shape." he said. "It just runs and; runs. A good car, if it's taken care of, can be maintained almost A retired machinist, Johnston' bought the car new and used authentic parts for repairs. He said of the four or five LTDs he owned in his' career, this one is the best.

He also owns a 1978 Chevrolet'" truck with 132,000 miles. To maintain the two vehicles, Johnston changes the oil and whenever the oil begins to look dirty. "I don't go by the speedometer," he said. "I watch the oil." He plans lo keep the cars. "They're in such good shape.

The" Ford I think it'll go for a classic or. an antique before I'm through with it." 108,000. Bev Mastalski, Indiana 1986 Mazda 323. 121,000. Glenn Campbell.

Indiana 1987 Ford Taurus, 189,000. Rich Croce, Creekside RD 11986 Chevrolet Cavalier station wagon, 149.200. -Betty Roberts. Indiana 1981 Buick Skylark, 142,000. Jean Blystone, Shelocta area 1987 Mercury Sable, 149,000.

Don Jenkins. Indiana 1989 Toyota Camry station wagon, 135,000. Gene Schurman, Clymer 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier, 186.000. Esther and Paul St. Clair, Indiana 1989 Chevrolet Caprice.

114,000. Carl Hvozda, Homer City 1989 Volkswagen Golf, 137.000. Mark Kwartnik, Rlairsville 1984 Buick Regal, 146.000. Ruth and Harold Pears. Indiana RD 6 1988 Dodge Caravan minivan, 227.000.

Don Hinton, Perm Run 1387 Ford Crown Victoria, 1 15,000. Brian Schulli. Nolo area 1986 Mercury Sable, 161,000. JoAnn Bond, Rochester Mills 198S Toyota pickup. 152,500, and a 1974 Chevrolet Vega.

138.000. toe Adams, Homer City 1986 Buick Park Avenue. 159,000. Bill Kirk-land, Clymer area 1988 Pontiac Grand Am, 100.500, and a IS86 Jeep Cherokee, 116,000. These cars keep going, and going "Some people get a dog or a cat and they get so attached to it.

It's the same way with me. The car is like a part of my family. It's like another son or daughter." Merle Ruffner Indiana By WENDY SZAKELYHIDI Gazette Staff Writer Drivers who keep their cars longer get more attached to their vehicles. Just ask Nedra Nastase of Indiana. She calls her 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet convertible a part of the family.

The car, bought new, has 106,000 miles. "I don't know how to explain it," Nastase said. "We know this is our only vehicle and it has to last and we talk to it. We say, 'Good job'." Nastase said her car breaks generational barriers because it's a convertible. She and her three children love it.

In fact, even her children's friends like to ride in it. "I'm a teacher and my students find out I have a convertible and they say, 'Wow'," said Nastase, who teaches reading at Indiana Junior High School. "My kids and I were known for this car. People always say, 'I saw you with the top down'." Tracey Shankel of Plumville laughs when she recalls mishaps she has had in her 1987 Ford Escort, which has 101,000 miles. She remembers hitting a turkey, three deer and apig- "It was a stray pig on Route 56," The Indiana Gazette asked to hear from drivers who have more than 100.000 miles on their cars.

Here is a list of the people who responded whose stories do not not appear elsewhere on this page: Edward Barr. Diamondville 1981 Dodge Ham B150 pickup, 123.000. Boo Mogle. Marion Center 1994 Chrysler New Yorker, 111,000. and a 1978 Chevrolet pickup, 140,000.

Robin Yurky, Indiana 1984 Chrysler Laser, 140,000. Charles and Darla Zelensky. Homer City 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier, 122,000. Andy and Denise Rusko-Slarford 1988 Pontiac 6000. 133,000, and a 1986 Mazda pickup.

124,000. Marie Barenick, Indiana 1985 Volkswagen Jetta, 160,000. Jim Sisitki, Robinson 1988 Pontiac Sunbird, 143,000. Karen Rcmpel, Indiana Honda Civic station wagon, 112.500. Raphael Marzilli, Indiana 1987 Lincoln Towncar, 158,000.

David Phillips, Penn Run 1986 Plymouth Colt. 139,000. Kelly Clark. Homer City 1985 Dodge Mini Ram, 118,000. William and Frances McCoy.

Commodore RD I 1986 Dodge Arcs. Shankel said. "I stopped and asked and it turned out to be some guy's pet. I called the police and they thought it was a prank call. I couldn't go to the house because there was a chain link fence and Doberman around it." She said the pig survived the incident.

Merle Ruffner of Indiana said his canary yellow 1982 Cadillac is his passion. He changes the oil and filter every 3,000 miles, transmission fluid every 25,000 miles and spark plugs every 20.000 miles. He washes the undercarriage of the car to keep it from rusting and sticks to the same brand of gasoline. The Cadillac has 130,000 miles. "Some people get a dog or a cat and they get so attached to it," he said.

"It's the same way with me..