-------- Getting first ever car - Is this realistic?

[thatsright]

Looking for used car: Budget $4k-5k

Need

Japanese made sedan only
Dual Airbags
Power Breaks/Locks/Steering/
Automatic
Good Gas Mileage
Keyless Entry
?Low? Mileage if possible, but around 100K won?t scare me off for a Japanese car.


Nice add-on's to get if possible w/ budget

Remote Start
Moon/Sun Roof
CD Player

Thinking of a 1999 Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord Sedan of same year. I live in MA so insurance is gonna be a major chunk of my costs. I'll do pretty much anything to get a car that I can buy outright. I may think of leasing if it makes sense.

Thoughts?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

keyless entry? dual side airbags?

I would remove things like keyless entry from your list, that will only narrow the results and make finding something harder.

 

[vi edit]

Good luck on that. Side impact air bags are not very common at all in cars in that price range.

 

[thatsright]

Yeah, prolly the side airbags aren't an option. Listed by mistake.

 

[sniperruff]

good luck finding a 99 camry/accord under $5k with under 100k miles. try something like a 98 altima/galant.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

not a chance!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Budget $4k-5k

Thinking of a 1999 Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord Sedan of same year.

LMAO

Try early 90's, buy outright, and it's used, so what are you thinking of leasing for?

- M4H

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Get a Mazda Protege, if you can find one try for an ES model. '96 -'99 should be within your budget.

84 Proteges '96- '99 within 200 miles of 02804 as listed on Autotrader!


A little over your budget but loaded!
Protege ES

A little over your budget but damn, low mileage!
'99 ES low mileage

 

[ch33zw1z]

^^

I had a '82 Chevette that lasted almost three years, you can only bondo so much rust until it gets relentless trying to pass inspection though

 

[TwiceOver]

Purchased a '95 Altima in '99 w/ 32K miles for $6500 Little more than you are looking at. I like it. More than likely the body will fall off before it dies. Fine by me...

 

[yobarman]

2 years ago I got my 95 Maxima for about $3500 with 120K miles at the time at a Dealer Auto Auction in Jersey.

Still runs great, so yes it is possible.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Looking for used car: Budget $4k-5k

Need

Japanese made sedan only
Dual Airbags
Power Breaks/Locks/Steering/
Automatic
Good Gas Mileage
Keyless Entry
?Low? Mileage if possible, but around 100K won?t scare me off for a Japanese car.


Nice add-on's to get if possible w/ budget

Remote Start
Moon/Sun Roof
CD Player

Thinking of a 1999 Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord Sedan of same year. I live in MA so insurance is gonna be a major chunk of my costs. I'll do pretty much anything to get a car that I can buy outright. I may think of leasing if it makes sense.

Thoughts?

Most Camry's and Accord's are made in the USA. If you want a Japan made one, you're gonna have to look closely at the VIN I think Japanese made Camry VIN's start with a "J". Good luck finding one, I think 95% are made in the Kentucky plant. I don't know about the Accords.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Side airbags is out for that price.

Look at a Subaru. Imprezas are dirt cheap used, but not as nice/roomy. You can get a loaded Legacy from late 90's/early 2000's for that price range. Not too slow, fun to drive, AWD, pretty safe for their model year. My 97 Legacy GT Wagon (leather, sunroof, power everything, remote keyless, etc) bluebooks for under $5K, has 206K miles, and is running like a champ with no major malfunctions. Altho I must say the 95-97 (or 95-99, can't remember) engines ALL have their head gaskets go at some point, known defect FYI.

EDIT Nevermind on the MY2000, those are near $10K still! Mileage isn't the best on the 2.5L Legacy's, low 20's in the city and mid/high 20's highway. But still a very solid car for the money :thumbsup:

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: MasterAndCommander

Originally posted by: thatsright
Looking for used car: Budget $4k-5k

Need

Japanese made sedan only
Dual Airbags
Power Breaks/Locks/Steering/
Automatic
Good Gas Mileage
Keyless Entry
?Low? Mileage if possible, but around 100K won?t scare me off for a Japanese car.


Nice add-on's to get if possible w/ budget

Remote Start
Moon/Sun Roof
CD Player

Thinking of a 1999 Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord Sedan of same year. I live in MA so insurance is gonna be a major chunk of my costs. I'll do pretty much anything to get a car that I can buy outright. I may think of leasing if it makes sense.

Thoughts?

Most Camry's and Accord's are made in the USA. If you want a Japan made one, you're gonna have to look closely at the VIN I think Japanese made Camry VIN's start with a "J". Good luck finding one, I think 95% are made in the Kentucky plant. I don't know about the Accords.

ohio.

only performance models are from japan. prelude, celica, lan evo, etc.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: MasterAndCommander



Most Camry's and Accord's are made in the USA. If you want a Japan made one, you're gonna have to look closely at the VIN I think Japanese made Camry VIN's start with a "J". Good luck finding one, I think 95% are made in the Kentucky plant. I don't know about the Accords.

Oh yes, I know this. I meant cars from Japanese car companies. Regardless of where it is made. I just trust them more. Earlier, I thought of leasing a Jetta, but the maintence costs scared me away.

 

[thatsright]

Anyone else?

 

[NaOH]

I got my Civic EX fully loaded (power everything, sunroof, spoiler, aftermarket cd player, good interior) 75k miles for $7k. A little expensive but it was in pristine condition and ran like a champ. Still does after putting 30k more miles on it. In fact, I need to detail and change the oil this weekend.

I don't recommend an older civic though, they are totally underpowered. I feel scared going up mountains as the engine is a weak pos. It's good for commuting to school and work though. I get around 34 mpg. Pretty sure u can get a car in that range. Not so sure about side airbags cause a lot of cars don't even have them.

 

[Phlargo]

I'm going to be finding myself in this exact market really soon, when I finish up my finals and head back to CA. I wish I had a good choice for you - it's going to be all about finding the right seller of the car you want.

Consider a used Protege or Sentra. They can do most of those things, pretty well. It's a tough range to be in.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Looking for used car: Budget $4k-5k

Need

Japanese made sedan only
Airbags
Power Breaks/Locks/Steering/
Automatic
Good Gas Mileage
?Low? Mileage if possible, but around 100K won?t scare me off for a Japanese car.


Nice add-on's to get if possible w/ budget

Remote Start
Moon/Sun Roof
CD Player

Thinking of a 1999 Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord Sedan of same year. I live in MA so insurance is gonna be a major chunk of my costs. I'll do pretty much anything to get a car that I can buy outright. I may think of leasing if it makes sense.

Thoughts?

Edited a bit for the price range your looking at, and dont expect something from '99-'01 to be a good choice.

 

[sygyzy]

Remote start!

 

[JDrake]

Ya right. A Model T with dual airbags?

 

[clickynext]

Those are some pretty hard requirements to find in that range, but as others have said, Mazda Protege is a car that often goes for less than equivalent Hondas and Toyotas, but is just as good.