Best used car under 12000

[judasmachine]

I'm trying to help my brother find a good car. He has bad credit and could only get a loan for a maximum of 12000, and that has to cover TT&L.

Restrictions:
7500 to 12,000 dollars
'00 or newer
under 70000 miles
has to be from a franchised dealer

Any ideas? His zip is 79110.

He likes Civics like mine, but there just aren't any availible in his range. Gas mileage is his biggest concern.

 

[BatmanNate]

Can't help you out much with your dilemma, but the A Canticle for Leibowitz is a great book.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Can't help you out much with your dilemma, but the A Canticle for Leibowitz is a great book.

Yeah I just finished it, and loved it. Now I have to give it back to my friend.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

2002 Mazda Protege ES but of course I can't find any Proteges in your area for sale on Autotrader.

Civic EX for $12K Just bargain it down to $12K out the door.

He should take a drive to the Dallas area, much more cars in that area for better prices.


Lancer ES

 

[judasmachine]

yeah i know the dealer there at autopro (not personally but have dealt with him), so i could prolly get him to take it down some. mutt (my brother, don't ask) said he didn't trust bishis, so who knows about the lancer. but thanks, i'm running out of ideas for him.

what kind of rep does the lancer have?

 

[Aimster]

1997-1999 Nissan Maxima

or a new yaris or fit? I dont know if it is 12k but it should be around there.

 

[thomsbrain]

does someone with bad credit really need 12K in debt?

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: Aimster
1997-1999 Nissan Maxima

or a new yaris or fit? I dont know if it is 12k but it should be around there.

yaris stripped is about 13 IIRC. and the maxima is too old.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Aimster
1997-1999 Nissan Maxima

or a new yaris or fit? I dont know if it is 12k but it should be around there.

Make sure it has wheel locks though....

you wouldn't want someone to slash your tires and then steal your rims.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
does someone with bad credit really need 12K in debt?

I've been through this with him, but apparently he's rebuilding his credit. He only recently moved back to Amarillo, so I don't know much about his sitch, but he landed a decent IT job here, so I think he'll be ok.

 

[jagec]

why 2000 or newer? If he has bad credit, he'd be better off driving something under $2k and dead reliable.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: jagec
why 2000 or newer? If he has bad credit, he'd be better off driving something under $2k and dead reliable.

I think he got the loan from some online place, as from my experiance the banks here won't loan you money till you find a car.

edit: anyway my main point here is: what cheap cars have good reliable reputations? I know the corolla and the civic are little tanks, what else are good?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: jagec
why 2000 or newer? If he has bad credit, he'd be better off driving something under $2k and dead reliable.

I agree. no reason to add on an extra 12 grand to his debt.

 

[yhelothar]

01 miata

 

[judasmachine]

yeah i think i may just talk him into a cheap old civic or something, there are a few bargain dealers that have a couple of civics. he has a 10 yr old buick, but it's just about dead. i think he has a few grand in the bank, at least i hope so...

 

[fbrdphreak]

Subaru Legacy's are very reliable in those model years, but as far as gas mileage go aren't the best. Usually about 20-23MPG city, 25-28MPG HWY. But you get AWD and an overall very nice car.

My 97's about to hit 208K miles

 

[Horus]

Originally posted by: judasmachine

Originally posted by: jagec
why 2000 or newer? If he has bad credit, he'd be better off driving something under $2k and dead reliable.

I think he got the loan from some online place, as from my experiance the banks here won't loan you money till you find a car.

edit: anyway my main point here is: what cheap cars have good reliable reputations? I know the corolla and the civic are little tanks, what else are good?

Proteges are very good. Only problem that seems to happen is CV joint issues, and the clutches don't tend to be the strongest.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Subaru Legacy's are very reliable in those model years, but as far as gas mileage go aren't the best. Usually about 20-23MPG city, 25-28MPG HWY. But you get AWD and an overall very nice car.

My 97's about to hit 208K miles

You won't find a subaru from a franchized dealer in that price range with those requirements. Been there

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Subaru Legacy's are very reliable in those model years, but as far as gas mileage go aren't the best. Usually about 20-23MPG city, 25-28MPG HWY. But you get AWD and an overall very nice car.

My 97's about to hit 208K miles

You won't find a subaru from a franchized dealer in that price range with those requirements. Been there

Yeah we looked for a suburu, he loves em, but yeah...

I found out today that if the dealer can prove some reliability and talk to roadloans.com (who he got the loan from) they will deal with an independant dealer. Anyway, I'm about to go meet him for coffee, and I'll discuss the ideas presented here. Thanks guys.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Tell him to grab some beater for 3-4 thousand and save the rest...

Edit: Most probably wouldn't even call that a beater, just tell him to get something cheap that will work reliably.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Find a 1 or 2 year old Hyundai Elantra. Good mileage, reliable, and an absolute steal on the used car market.

ZV

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Find a 1 or 2 year old Hyundai Elantra. Good mileage, reliable, and an absolute steal on the used car market.

ZV

he doesn't like them but that is rapidly becoming irrelevent. and most of the ones we've seen still have warranties to boot.

anyone know if Suzukis are reliable?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: judasmachine

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Find a 1 or 2 year old Hyundai Elantra. Good mileage, reliable, and an absolute steal on the used car market.

ZV

he doesn't like them but that is rapidly becoming irrelevent. and most of the ones we've seen still have warranties to boot.

anyone know if Suzukis are reliable?

Of the two, the Hyundai is a better buy. Suzuki hasn't been able to get out of a niche market. Hyundai is rapidly gaining "prestige", at least, they are no longer being thought of as junk. This means that the Suzuki will have even worse resale value down the road. Also, Hyundai is receiving better reliability ratings. I would not consider a used Suzuki automobile. (Their motorcycles are another story.)

ZV