help buying cheap and reliable car?

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weflyhigh

weflyhigh

Senior member
Jan 1, 2007
971
1
81
Looking for a cheap and RELIABLE car to buy this summer for this upcoming year and maybe 1 or 2 years after

I looked around and it seems like people are suggesting cars like 97ish Honda Accords/Toyota Camrys.

My main concern is reliability. I'm at college and don't have time to work on the car except during breaks. I just need it to start every day and go probably 10 miles round trip. Don't care how it looks.

ALSO,
any tips on buying a car? what's the best place to buy a car like this from (craigslist? used car lot? ebay? one of those used car websites?)? pay in cash? any things I should specifically look for (carfax? rust?)?

looking to spend <$3,000. <2,000 would be better. cheaper the better. parking is already 900/year

any help is really appreciated
 
C

CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
Oct 21, 2006
5,401
2
0
Look for an "old people" car, like a Buick. They tend to be driven very easily and at least decently well maintained. Any sedan with the GM 3.8L that has been well maintained should be a good bet. You won't get awesome gas mileage, but 26-28 MPG combined isn't out of reach if you keep your foot out of it.

Other than that, get a consensus here about what cars to look out for, but make you final decision based on the car itself. Just because it's a '97 Camry doesn't mean it hasn't had the piss beat out of it, or hasn't had an oil change in 20k miles.
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
I'm send my little bro off with a 98 maxima. Its his second year in college. While MPG isn't hot, it should last him.

Sent from my Nexus One
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
If you're looking for a cheap, reliable car you're best off if you keep what you'll accept very broad. Those cars you listed could be good, but it's often hard to find them under $3,000 in good condition because they're in demand. If you look at cars that traditionally have high depreciation but good reliability (like the 3.8L GM powered cars mentioned above) you can get a lower mileage, better maintained car for less money.
 
H

HarryLui

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2001
1,518
33
91
Get a old volvo (240, 740, 940) for $1000, and spend the rest of the $1000 on maintenance/repair items.
 
J

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
Why not just lease something cheap for $125-200? You're still not spending very much, and then you have something reliable, safer, and warrantied.
 
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V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Just bought my BiL a cheap reliabile car.

Buick Century 2000+
Pontiac G6
Saturn SL's 1997+
Ford Focus (timing belt cars)
Nissan Sentra
etc....

Those are some we looked at. Bought a 2000 Ford Focus for $4500 with 34000miles. Needs rear shocks and timing belt will be done at 40k due to age.
 
weflyhigh

weflyhigh

Senior member
Jan 1, 2007
971
1
81
started actually looking yesterday, found these in Buy It Now section

1999 Volvo S80, 114k miles, no problems besides needs new tires (edit: check engine light is on)
$3200
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...iewitem=&sspagename=STRK&#37;3AMEWAX:IT#v4-38

1997 Volkswagen glx vr6, 70k miles, no problems listed
$2700
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...eName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m159.l1634

1998 Chevrolet Lumina, 48k miles, no problems listed
$2500
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260799626430&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

thoughts?

kinda more than I wanted to pay, but if that's what I have to pay for it to be reliable and not have problems... I guess :/
 
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SandEagle

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
lease a civic. bottom of the barrel civic is $189/mo. 0 down.
price of used cars went up like crazy
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
80s-90s Camry. If youre low on oil, you can use dirt in a pinch and it won't care. It takes a very special breed of person to kill a 3S/5S Toyota engine.
 
D

desy

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2000
5,446
214
106
The Lumina is a good choice esp its the 3.8 Parts are dirt cheap and its a very reliable drivetrain.
It would a great choice, old Escorts are a great option as well, rebadged Mazdas and better on fuel if thats a concern. As well s Saturn S series stuff
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
exdeath said:
80s-90s Camry. If youre low on oil, you can use dirt in a pinch and it won't care. It takes a very special breed of person to kill a 3S/5S Toyota engine.
Click to expand...

best thing and about a key factor to why they live is non-interference engines. I think i've seen 4-5 broken timing belts on people's cars most seem to break in the 160-180k area.

the 5S might be a little on the slow side, leak some oil here and there but will always run. i dont recall real world MPG but i might get a celica for a beater.
 
B

Black2na

Senior member
Nov 25, 2010
629
1
0
I have to agree with most folks here a lease would be the best bet you might spend a little more in the long run with payments but not much more and the car is brand new
 
weflyhigh

weflyhigh

Senior member
Jan 1, 2007
971
1
81
hmmm hadn't really considered a lease

seems like for a Hyundai Accent/that type of car, it'd be 150/month

most leases are 36 months, right?

so you pay $5,400 for a car for 3 years?

would a normal car really deflate $5,400 in value in that same time?

what am I not considering, though? free repairs with a lease or something?

would insurance be significantly higher since the car would be relatively new compared to something used?
 
LOL_Wut_Axel

LOL_Wut_Axel

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2011
4,310
8
81
Get a 1999-2001 Mazda Protege DX. They're extremely reliable and have great fuel economy. That, and they're within your price range.
 
LOL_Wut_Axel

LOL_Wut_Axel

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2011
4,310
8
81
weflyhigh said:
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2404503063.html

best I could find. doesn't look to hot on the outside, but the price is good...
Click to expand...

I'd suggest you look only from 1999 to 2001 models. Those have a newer chassis, more features, and are even more reliable. 2002 and up, don't bother: they messed up the engine reliability.

Though it's pretty weird you can't get one in Philadelphia... they sold very well. The one you found is $1300, though, so that seems like a very good deal. If you can get a 1999-2001 model for $2000-2500 that's in good condition, don't hesitate to buy.
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
HarryLui said:
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2426962628.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2440744558.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2403045462.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2404251949.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2431654488.html

Stay away from 93+ FWD volvo, especially S80 (FWD inline 6 with a weak transmission)
Click to expand...

Those old Volvos aren't a bad option. They're tanks and are easy to work on. At those prices he could even buy a second in case the first one doesn't want to start one morning ;).
 
gevorg

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
5,070
1
0
Leasing/buying a cheap new car has a major drawback: high insurance costs, especially for new/inexperienced drivers.
 
T

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,028
122
106
weflyhigh said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380346953057&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

2001 Saab 9-3, 85k miles

$2500

"Engine is Tapping ( Possible Lifter or Wrist Pin )"


engine is tapping?

avoid?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking about an older Saab myself for a new beater. I'd go read up on www.saabcentral.com about that problem. I know I've come across one for sale that also had a noisy wrist pin. That is a pretty major job to fix. Lifters aren't exactly easy to replace either. I know saabs have some electrical issues but I haven't read up on them a lot yet myself to know how overall reliable they are but probably not the greatest idea for somebody unless you can work on them yourself.

I'm replacing a beat to hell old 89 dodge caravan turbo that I paid $800 for 11 years ago.
 
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