If you had a maximum of 5000 to spend on a used car/truck what would you get?

NinjaGnome

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2001
2,002
0
76
Well I am probably gonna have a maximum of 5000 dollars to spend on the car I will be getting. I really have no clue what I should buy as there are like a million cars out there and I dont know much about them. So just think of one that you would get in this price range and post here.

Thanks
 

cavemanmoron

Lifer
Mar 13, 2001
13,664
28
91
something all wheel drive,like a Subaru Impreza?

i bought one of those new in 93,the ex wife got to keep it.

winter is comimg,
buy something for like $4,000
and buy snow tires,a new heavy duty battery,etc.

maybe a used Blazer,Jeep Cherokee, AWD Chevy Astro van {a bud of mine has one of these,it has the 4.3 v6,lotsa power,and is good on gas,Plus its All wheel drive,and is Great in the snow}

A full size rear wheel drive GM van,and put a snowmobile in the back,with snow tires,it will go thru almost
any amount of snow!

So many choices,we really need more of an idea what you want to do witht he car/truck?

 

NinjaGnome

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2001
2,002
0
76
I want to drive it to work and wherever else ill go. I saw this grand prix (think it was 88) for like 3000 it had a 350 V8 in it. It would make a very nice ghetto sled with a new black paint job. I want to get from point A to point B and thats pretty much it. Im not a big fan of vans or minivans.
 

NinjaGnome

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2001
2,002
0
76
prices for trucks really do suck. Only thing I could get truck wise that i could afford would be an S10.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
I have no idea. I just linked them to give you an idea of what Prizms were going for in your area.

The way I've found my last couple of cars is to find several models in a certain price range that score high, based on consumer ratings.
Then I narrow down the list to the cars that were the best of this group. After that it's just a matter of finding the right car for the right price. Pay attention to accessories and specific models. That will help you find out if the price asked is a good one or not.

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
It would depend on how worried I was about repairs. If I wanted to minimize money spent on it later I'd probably buy a corolla. If, on the other hand, repairs weren't a concern but $5k was just the current limit I'd seriously consider something like an old porsche or a mazda rx7 or something like that. Maybe an old supra turbo (have to be kinda old for only $5k tho).
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
  • Used Japanese imports are too high priced for what you get. Better to buy new than used.
  • Same goes for pickup trucks... just way too steep.
  • Any used Sports/Sporty car has probably been beat on, so screw that.
I've had the best luck with big used luxury Fords:
  • Rugged and cheap to fix, Easy to get parts for.
  • Used as fleet vehicles and police cruisers for this same reason.
  • VERY roomy, comfortable and safe.
  • Plenty of power under the hood, and power accessories that don't break.
  • Big old V8, RWD, full framed, four doors are usually owned by older (read responsible) people, who don't beat on 'em.
A nice old Town Car fits the bill, as well as Edmund's Used Car Best Bet, Grand Marquis.
 

grillmasterP

Senior member
Apr 2, 2000
468
0
0
I would look for a toyota camry or a toyota truck (4wd preferably).
In your price range - neither of these vehicles will naturally depreciate that much compared to many other vehicles.

easy to find/buy parts as well as to maintain.
 

NetGuySC

Golden Member
Nov 19, 1999
1,643
4
81
Was in the exact same position I had 5 grand for a car and bought a 1997 Camry with 98k miles for $4700. I've had it for 9 days now ... great car so far.

It has a 4 cylinder with auto. On a recent trip to Charlotte to pick up my mother-in-law it got 30.6 mpg
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
Originally posted by: Ornery
  • Used Japanese imports are too high priced for what you get. Better to buy new than used.
  • Same goes for pickup trucks... just way too steep.
  • Any used Sports/Sporty car has probably been beat on, so screw that.
I've had the best luck with big used luxury Fords:
  • Rugged and cheap to fix, Easy to get parts for.
  • Used as fleet vehicles and police cruisers for this same reason.
  • VERY roomy, comfortable and safe.
  • Plenty of power under the hood, and power accessories that don't break.
  • Big old V8, RWD, full framed, four doors are usually owned by older (read responsible) people, who don't beat on 'em.
A nice old Town Car fits the bill, as well as Edmund's Used Car Best Bet, Grand Marquis.

Ahhh, the grand marquis...I got a used one a while back. I loved it. Best interstate car EVAR! Nice car, lots of power, decent gas mileage (17/25) as far as full size goes, v8, rwd, full frame, very reliable, easy to maintain, and very safe. I should know on that last part cause about 3 months ago, I had someone run a red light and hit me at a high speed while I was doing a left turn. The car was totaled, but I walked away from it. If I had been driving one of those smaller cars like a corolla, civic, or something, I'd probably be dead now. That wreck was nasty...Needless to say, the Grand Marquis is a great car...if I had the cash to do so again, I'd go buy another one without thinking twice.
 

Robor

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
16,979
0
76
i'd get something like a neon, integra, or (insert your favorite 4-door girls car here) and drop it down, add rims/tires, put a big fin on it, and of course add a coffee can muffler so you sound cool even though you're still slow. then lean your seat back and do the gansta lean with your hat sideways. that way you'd have the fastest car around - or at least you'd think you do. then you'd be just like all the freaking dorks that i see on a daily basis and roll my eyes...

sorry for the sarcasm but if you lived near me you'd know what i'm talking about...
rolleye.gif


edit: sorry - i forgot to mention lots of neon... valve stems, windshield washers, inside, underneath, the more the better. :p
 

DainBramaged

Lifer
Jun 19, 2003
23,454
41
91
Originally posted by: NetGuySC
Was in the exact same position I had 5 grand for a car and bought a 1997 Camry with 98k miles for $4700. I've had it for 9 days now ... great car so far.

It has a 4 cylinder with auto. On a recent trip to Charlotte to pick up my mother-in-law it got 30.6 mpg

How fast were you driving that car? My '94 Max gets 31 on roadtrips and its a six-cylinder.
 

daclayman

Golden Member
Sep 27, 2000
1,207
0
76
I'd buy a Saturn SL series for less..., but you can nab a 2000 LS for around $5000

here

nice pics

They're cheap and they look like a Lexus from the front. 180HP V6 in the older models; they make you pay more now.
 

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
Originally posted by: Blain
Good trucks usually come at a premium. If you don't need a "bed" and want to get a "cheap to keep" car in your price range... it's hard to go wrong with a Prizm :D
98-02 Chevy version.

I MISS MY CAR!!! :(:(:(

And damn they're actually not that cheap on the used market. :( Word must have gotten out it's really a corolla. :D