Find me a car, win $5.

[bhanson]

In about 8 hours I will have been 1 year car-free and I've enjoyed the freedom, not to mention the thousands of dollars I've saved.

I am completely okay with not owning a car and part of me even does not want one, unfortunately I had an incident yesterday that has prompted me to likely get something. I had a lapse in judgement concerning picking an appropriate person to car pool with. They were late which caused me to be late for the first time in a very, very long time. I am a punctual person, and although I love the benefits of carpooling I am not willing to risk damaging my reputation further by relying on anyone other than myself.

I don't know much technically about cars, but I do know I want a beater. I don't have a lot of free time to go looking so I am likely to buy the first thing that is a good deal at my criteria. One of you has to be bored enough to find me a car for $5. If I pick your car you get $5 via PayPal.

Must Haves:

• Somewhat reliable
• Working AC
• I don't have to do anything (eg. I wouldn't be able to change a carburetor)
• <$2000 preferentially (I drove my old $1800 car for 6 years and it would have lasted a lot longer if it didn't get totaled), but if it's more and the cost can be justified (and it is a VALUE) I can probably afford it
• Around San Antonio, TX

Preferences:

• White
• Somewhat modern looking
• Clean interior
• Reasonable mileage

1995 Mercury Mystique - This was the last car that I owned. I paid $1800 cash for it and it had 52000 miles. I was 100% content with this.

I will not be driving very far or very much and am primarily looking to get from point A to point B during the 100 degree summers without arriving in sweat.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Try these:

Grandpa mobile, but it wont break, or is easy to fix.
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2298391599.html

Fairly reliable choice, easy to fix
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2298086117.html

I dont like corollas
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297841008.html

I would probably get this
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297699130.html

Add this in as well, a bit of body damage though

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297237639.html

 

[Eli]

I'd go with the Grand Marquis, honestly.

All good choices, though. You could look at all of them and try to determine which has been maintained the best.

 

[bhanson]

I wonder how much he's asking for the Nissan.

@Eli: The problem is, without a car and without an excess of free time I'm not really able to go out looking, hence this post.

I am considering just buying the Grandpa car and running with it.

 

[IcePickFreak]

You really can't got wrong with the grandpa car. Just be sure to only play the radio at just under the volume you can actually understand a word they're saying. God, I hated that shit.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The grandpa car will not break, and if it does its ridiculously easy and cheap to fix

 

[Doppel]

Try these:

Grandpa mobile, but it wont break, or is easy to fix.
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2298391599.html

Fairly reliable choice, easy to fix
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2298086117.html

I dont like corollas
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297841008.html

I would probably get this
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297699130.html

Add this in as well, a bit of body damage though

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2297237639.html

One of those " a/c just needs freeon". Well, if it just needs freon, put it in. In truth I'm sure it does just need freon--and a repair to whatever keeps making it leak out.

Anyway, that same car the Corolla. By hell what's with used car prices? I bought an eight year old econobox with less miles than that for that price some years back. Now, more miles, 15 years old PLUS body damage PLUS AC doesn't work and they want $2300? Is that overpriced or is the market really that much of a joke now?

Taurus looks good except for "IT HAS A NOISE WHEN U PRESS THE GAS". Whatever that is!

Agree about grand marquis. Cars in this price range are a crap shoot so might as well go with the cheapest one and bank the difference for repairs.

 

[alkemyst]

At <$2000 there is no way a forum like AT can help you...you will have to work more locally.

 

[Lotheron]

One of those " a/c just needs freeon". Well, if it just needs freon, put it in. In truth I'm sure it does just need freon--and a repair to whatever keeps making it leak out.

Unfortunately in South Texas you do not want to play around with A/C. You want it in good working condition. There are days it's not an option.

Anyway, that same car the Corolla. By hell what's with used car prices? I bought an eight year old econobox with less miles than that for that price some years back. Now, more miles, 15 years old PLUS body damage PLUS AC doesn't work and they want $2300? Is that overpriced or is the market really that much of a joke now?

Clash for Clunkers happened.

 

[desy]

A Buick or old Lumina w the 3800 engine

 

[bryanW1995]

yeah, prices are a bit higher on older stuff these days than they used to be. after the japan quake, prices on newer used cars are going up as well, too, so you're pretty much screwed either way. I just looked at our inventory, I don't even have any fresh trades that I own for under $2k. I pm'd you my contact info, call me if you want details on a few units for ~ $3k however.

 

[ElFenix]

early 2000s taurus had largely worked out the issues with transmission and such. the 3.0 OHV engine (not the DOHC duratec) was bulletproof (duratec was probably very good as well, but i have personal experience with the other).

same car as your contour but 2 doors:
edit: nm not white (why white?)
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2273298654.html

 

[bryanW1995]

I had a 96 taurus for several years (bought it in 97) and loved it. Well, at least until all my buddies started asking me what I was going to drive when I got old... funny thing is, I traded that on the cobra, but I started dating the woman who would become my wife 2 mos before buying the cobra. Should have just kept the taurus I guess.