help buying cheap and reliable car?

[Doppel]

Leasing/buying a cheap new car has a major drawback: high insurance costs, especially for new/inexperienced drivers.

They may not be that much higher. I just moved out of a vehicle worth a few thousand into a brand new one and insurance hardly changed. I am older, but the magnifier should be the same.

The lease will almost certainly cost more over three years but does carry a predictability, which is worth something.

And those touting a camry engine, great, there are a thousand parts in a car beyond the engine. It's one of the two key expenses if it breaks but maintenance on a vehicle of this vintage will not be otherwise $0.

In OP's price range he should not be buying any premier brand like saab or volvo. Get something that has easy to find parts, mechanics, a dime a dozen vehicle.

 

[JCH13]

Don't get anything that's making weird engine noises, unless it's a Miata and the noise is HLA tapping.

 

[HarryLui]

In OP's price range he should not be buying any premier brand like saab or volvo. Get something that has easy to find parts, mechanics, a dime a dozen vehicle.

RWD Volvo, (200, 700, 900 series) have a cheaper timing belt and tensioner than 90's Honda Civic.
$25.79 vs $36.79 both Gates, at Rockauto. So are plugs, air filter, etc.


RWD Volvo parts are really cheap, and plentiful. Most outsider don't know that.

 

[thedarkwolf]

RWD volvos are also on my short list. Wouldn't mind a BMW 318 either but I need the ugly TI hatchback version.

 

[Throckmorton]

I googled "E36 maintenance cost" the other day and it sounds like they cost a lot to maintain, just by being BMWs.

 

[BigSmooth]

Saturn!!!

My dad was recently looking for a cheap car and he found a '99 Saturn SL2 for less than $2K. Salvage title, but the frame looked straight and he hasn't had any engine trouble so far.

Even if you don't want a salvage title, late 90s and early 2000s Saturns are cheap and plentiful on Craigslist etc. You should be able to find an example that would be pretty reliable. Perhaps not quite as reliable as some of the Japanese contemporaries, but that helps keeps the prices down.

 

[Doppel]

RWD Volvo, (200, 700, 900 series) have a cheaper timing belt and tensioner than 90's Honda Civic.
$25.79 vs $36.79 both Gates, at Rockauto. So are plugs, air filter, etc.


RWD Volvo parts are really cheap, and plentiful. Most outsider don't know that.

And if you want to find a junk yard tranny how does that cost compare?