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Fun to drive four door sedan / hatchback for $5k or less?

P

PCMarine

Diamond Member
So the other day a suburban decided that my trusty 2000 taurus needed totaling 🙁, so I'm in the market for a used car.

I'm a college senior and not really wanting to buy a nice car right now in life. I was planning on driving my taurus another 2-3 years before upgrading to something nice, so the same goes for a used car I pick out.

What I'd like:

Four door sedan or hatchback (no wagons though)
Fun to drive (preferably manual trans, but will accept a good auto)
Reasonable/good fuel economy
Somewhat modern interior (so late 90s, early 2000s)
Reasonably reliable
No GM or chrysler, all other brands (including ford) okay


I know this is a tall order, and I'm not sure if it's possible to get all of those things for around $5k or less (I can spend more than $5k if it's a great find).

I've been looking around and have found some late 90s saab 9-3s and vw jetta vr6's, but they all have 100-120k miles... and I'm hesitant to trust those brands with that kind of mileage.

Thanks
 
Focus ZX5 (that's the 5 door hatch) should be in the mix. '03's and up had most of the kinks worked out of them and they were pretty reliable after that.

Should be some out there in your price range.
 
I think for your price range and build date requirements, the Ford Focus will be one of your only options. It will be tough to find any late 90's Hondas for $5000 that aren't all torn up.
 
any civic that meets your budget.

great reliability, that engine will last forever as long as you take care of it.
light weight and fun to drive
great on gas
4 doors easy to find, as with all civics so take your pick on one of the many
will have all the modern essentials on the interior that you'll expect (am/fm/cd/ac/power windows&locks)
cheap and easy to find parts to replace
 
HOLY HOT DAMN!!!

Nissan Maxima!

I have a 2000 Maxima SE and its private party value is now around 4500 or so at the most with 120k miles (I bet you could get one for less, especially if you found a GXE although there are VERY FEW manual tranny GXEs in this generation). It still drives like a champ and outpulls most brand new family sedans. It doesn't look bad and is quite roomy. Reliability, not just for me but others, is solid. I'd really consider one. Go with a manual tranny 2000 or 2001. I doubt 2002 will be buyable with it having lots of miles.

Fuel economy is not bad. It prefers premium but I get about 22-24 MPG combined city and I honest to God can get 27-28 on the highway, which I think is pretty fair.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
HOLY HOT DAMN!!!

Nissan Maxima!

I have a 2000 Maxima SE and its private party value is now around 4500 or so at the most with 120k miles (I bet you could get one for less, especially if you found a GXE although there are VERY FEW manual tranny GXEs in this generation). It still drives like a champ and outpulls most brand new family sedans. It doesn't look bad and is quite roomy. Reliability, not just for me but others, is solid. I'd really consider one. Go with a manual tranny 2000 or 2001. I doubt 2002 will be buyable with it having lots of miles.

Fuel economy is not bad. It prefers premium but I get about 22-24 MPG combined city and I honest to God can get 27-28 on the highway, which I think is pretty fair.
Click to expand...

I hate Nissan...but I have to hand it to them....my 01 Altima still drove well (besides the emission failure) w/140K. I treated that car like crap too.
 
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: Skoorb
HOLY HOT DAMN!!!

Nissan Maxima!

I have a 2000 Maxima SE and its private party value is now around 4500 or so at the most with 120k miles (I bet you could get one for less, especially if you found a GXE although there are VERY FEW manual tranny GXEs in this generation). It still drives like a champ and outpulls most brand new family sedans. It doesn't look bad and is quite roomy. Reliability, not just for me but others, is solid. I'd really consider one. Go with a manual tranny 2000 or 2001. I doubt 2002 will be buyable with it having lots of miles.

Fuel economy is not bad. It prefers premium but I get about 22-24 MPG combined city and I honest to God can get 27-28 on the highway, which I think is pretty fair.
Click to expand...

I hate Nissan...but I have to hand it to them....my 01 Altima still drove well (besides the emission failure) w/140K. I treated that car like crap too.
Click to expand...

Why do you hate them then? 😕
 
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