grr need a car ?

[Ferzerp]

The 96 accord isn't a dealer. It looks to be a private sale.

 

[Zivic]

http://memphis.craigslist.org/ctd/3639322936.html

Too good to be true? I would ask if it's a clean title or not?

typical scammer listing. easily detectable by the embedded pictures with the email.

 

[SSSnail]

A Geo Prism. Pretty much the same damn car as the Corolla, but without the premium. It'll get you from point A to point B, and economical.

 

[mmntech]

Look for some 90s era car driven by a little old lady. Probably pick one up for a steal. You can find something like a Civic around that price with reasonable mileage, you're laughing.

 

[power_hour]

Used police car / taxicab. You want something that can take abuse and keep going. Ford Crown Victoria. Simple and tough.

Other notable options are the usual throwaway cars:
1. Olds Ciera
2. Pontiac Grand Prix
3. Chevy Cavalier
4. Mazda Protege
5. Nissan Sentra
6. Chevy Malibu

These are the cars nobody usually wants.

Look for something with a gazillion miles and recent service i.e. timing belt change.
End of month scour the ads as some people trading their car will put up ads trying to get more than the dealer will offer. Those people are in a rush to dump. That is your best opportunity.

Good luck.

 

[Durvelle27]

Used police car / taxicab. You want something that can take abuse and keep going. Ford Crown Victoria. Simple and tough.

Other notable options are the usual throwaway cars:
1. Olds Ciera
2. Pontiac Grand Prix
3. Chevy Cavalier
4. Mazda Protege
5. Nissan Sentra
6. Chevy Malibu

These are the cars nobody usually wants.

Look for something with a gazillion miles and recent service i.e. timing belt change.
End of month scour the ads as some people trading their car will put up ads trying to get more than the dealer will offer. Those people are in a rush to dump. That is your best opportunity.

Good luck.

2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 were some i was looking into

 

[RossMAN]

http://jonesboro.craigslist.org/ctd/3564804692.html

 

[Rifter]

Dont let the guys get you down you can get a solid car for $1500 you just need to know alot about cars to weed out the crap or take someone with you who does.

I recently purchased a car for $1800 and ive been driving it for three months and its rock solid zero issues so far other than some tired engine mounts that will need to be replaced in the next 6 months, and i havent been nice to it the first month i beat the living piss outta it to get to know it and see if anything was on its way out and would need to be worked on soon, other than the engine mounts(which i can do myself in less than 2 hours) its in A1 mechanical shape.

Just look for cars that have had recent work done if they are getting higher up in mileage if you can find one with a eninge/trans rebuilt in the last 5 years you should get a good service life from it.

The car i purchased was a 1994 Acura Integra GSR, recently had complete engine rebuild and new clutch installed, trans rebuilt 7 years ago at 300,000kms, shows 378,xxxkms on the odo now but still drives like its brand new, whoever owned it before the mechanic i bought it from took very good care of it. Has only been in one accident in its lifetime and was a $2200 rear ender when it was a year old.

However i sorted through many many people trying to rip people off selling lemons when i was searching for my car, more than a few people trying to pawn off crap for $1500-2000 when its obvious the engine is on its way out or there is so much rust there will be nothing left of the car in 3 years. And some people will do everything they can to mask the symtoms so be very careful.

 

[Mermaidman]

http://memphis.craigslist.org/ctd/3639322936.html

Too good to be true? I would ask if it's a clean title or not?

If you have to ask . . . That listing stinks of SCAM.

Google the e-mail "mattwils5@gmail.com" and be entertained! e.g.
http://www.fightthescams.com/2012/07/08/matt-williams-senior-medic-again-with-replies/

First of all I have to tell you that I can’t use the phone due the military security reasons I’m restricted from leaving the unit’s facility under any purpose and have strictly limited phone access.I hope you can understand that we will have to stick to email for now.Right now I’m in a military base of Ohio National Guard. The vehicle is here with me at the base but I’ve already made all the arrangements with DAS to pick it up from the base.The title will be sent with the car. I think the car will be in 3-5 days to your address.I will take care of shipping charges . I will send all necessary paperwork (clear title, bill of sale, user’s manual, pink slip etc). Regarding the payment I want to use Google Checkout protection program. You’ll get 5 days to inspect and test drive after delivery. During that 5 days testing period I will not be getting any money. Once you inspect and decide to keep the car, will confirm your decision with Google and only then they will re-route me the money. In this way we are both protected. :hmm:

 

[Durvelle27]

Dont let the guys get you down you can get a solid car for $1500 you just need to know alot about cars to weed out the crap or take someone with you who does.

I recently purchased a car for $1800 and ive been driving it for three months and its rock solid zero issues so far other than some tired engine mounts that will need to be replaced in the next 6 months, and i havent been nice to it the first month i beat the living piss outta it to get to know it and see if anything was on its way out and would need to be worked on soon, other than the engine mounts(which i can do myself in less than 2 hours) its in A1 mechanical shape.

Just look for cars that have had recent work done if they are getting higher up in mileage if you can find one with a eninge/trans rebuilt in the last 5 years you should get a good service life from it.

The car i purchased was a 1994 Acura Integra GSR, recently had complete engine rebuild and new clutch installed, trans rebuilt 7 years ago at 300,000kms, shows 378,xxxkms on the odo now but still drives like its brand new, whoever owned it before the mechanic i bought it from took very good care of it. Has only been in one accident in its lifetime and was a $2200 rear ender when it was a year old.

However i sorted through many many people trying to rip people off selling lemons when i was searching for my car, more than a few people trying to pawn off crap for $1500-2000 when its obvious the engine is on its way out or there is so much rust there will be nothing left of the car in 3 years. And some people will do everything they can to mask the symtoms so be very careful.

Thank you so much for this its very helpful.

Here are a few cars i was looking at and wanted my grandfather to check out:

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3620546005.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3635282126.html

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/ctd/3632026973.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3639994488.html

 

[nerp]

Thank you so much for this its very helpful.

Here are a few cars i was looking at and wanted my grandfather to check out:

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3620546005.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3635282126.html

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/ctd/3632026973.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3639994488.html

All but one of those still works and the one that works is a scam. You should just look in a local newspaper or find another site that isn't craigslist. You can use AOL autos and filter out dealer cars.

 

[halik]

Thank you so much for this its very helpful.

Here are a few cars i was looking at and wanted my grandfather to check out:

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3620546005.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3635282126.html

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/ctd/3632026973.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3639994488.html

Well the fact that all of these have been flagged tells me you should not be shopping on craigslist...

 

[debian0001]

I would def look into an old crown vic or grand marquis.

 

[Ryan]

Save up more. 1500 will buy you nothing but an unreliable money pit.

 

[CrackRabbit]

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/cto/3626139534.html

That would be a good place to start.

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3641319513.html
There is another, ugly, but damn reliable.

 

[CrackRabbit]

DP

 

[Durvelle27]

All but one of those still works and the one that works is a scam. You should just look in a local newspaper or find another site that isn't craigslist. You can use AOL autos and filter out dealer cars.

will pick a few newspapers from walmart

 

[Durvelle27]

http://northmiss.craigslist.org/cto/3626139534.html

That would be a good place to start.

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/3641319513.html
There is another, ugly, but damn reliable.

The Camry looks promising

 

[RossMAN]

The Camry looks promising

Assuming it's a clean title and no major mechanical problems (the ad is quite short), I would buy it now!

 

[RossMAN]

2004 Chevrolet Impala Base - $1,850

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?paId=503031030

 

[power_hour]

Assuming it's a clean title and no major mechanical problems (the ad is quite short), I would buy it now!

Yep. The paint looks like hell but those cars were legendary for reliability. But like anything else car needs a good looking at first. $1k for that is pretty decent. Which makes me wonder if it hasn't been beaten to hell. See if you can match the VINs. I would be curious if that thing has the original engine.

The Buick Century in the other ad is going to be iffy. They weren't bad cars but usually lots of little shit would break - Steering rack, water pump, stuff like that. But they ride nice and very smooth. Again needs a good checking over. Don't pay more than $1k for it. No way that thing is worth $1.5K. It being a daily driver is a very good sign. Should mean the brakes are decent and no leaks, hopefully.

These cars you gotta act fast. So go prepared. Magnet, rags, flashlights. Bring a friend if you can. Good luck.

 

[gus6464]

I don't think all cheap cars at that price range are going to be bad. I just sold my wife's old 1998 Corolla with 146k miles for $1500. The exterior looked like absolute crap but the car ran perfectly fine. A decently taken care of Toyota from that time frame will run forever if taken care of.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Yep. The paint looks like hell but those cars were legendary for reliability. But like anything else car needs a good looking at first. $1k for that is pretty decent. Which makes me wonder if it hasn't been beaten to hell. See if you can match the VINs. I would be curious if that thing has the original engine.

The Buick Century in the other ad is going to be iffy. They weren't bad cars but usually lots of little shit would break - Steering rack, water pump, stuff like that. But they ride nice and very smooth. Again needs a good checking over. Don't pay more than $1k for it. No way that thing is worth $1.5K. It being a daily driver is a very good sign. Should mean the brakes are decent and no leaks, hopefully.

These cars you gotta act fast. So go prepared. Magnet, rags, flashlights. Bring a friend if you can. Good luck.

I've driven enough sub $1000 cars to have an eye for them.
The big thing about cars in this price rage is that almost all of them are going to have issues of some type. It is a matter of choosing which issue you want to live with.
Major components broken are usually not worth the hassle, but a burned out power window motor, ugly paint, busted A/C or oil leaks are liveable or fixed easily enough with some elbow grease and time.

 

[Durvelle27]

Just got a job so gonna save up a few pay checks

 

[j&j]

I know you said cars.... but any mid 90's Jeep cherokee will be cheap and they are super common with great I6 motors...