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

[conjur]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget

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.

You're insane! BLECH! Rented one of those POS a few years for a trip to Florida. Thing had NO handling whatsoever. Floaty, bouncy, soft, just plain hideous handling! I was scared to go above the speed limit in the damn thing.

The following year we rented a Cadillac Deville. Now that was the first GM car to impress me...ever! But, even a 2000 model would surely be over $5000.

 

[jpeyton]

Mid-90's Accord

 

[Ornery]

"You're insane! BLECH! Rented one of those POS a few years for a trip to Florida. Thing had NO handling whatsoever. Floaty, bouncy, soft, just plain hideous handling! I was scared to go above the speed limit in the damn thing."

Gotta wonder why your local cops use them as interceptors, eh? Why they're the first choice for taxis and other fleet vehicles? These reviewers must have their heads up their ass, I guess:

• Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2002
  • A rolling example of the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," philosophy, the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis twins continue to be the vehicles of choice for taxi companies, police departments, retirees and families who want a large, comfortable sedan without having to spend the big bucks on a luxury nameplate.
  
  Value is the story here, as well.
  • After spending several weeks behind the wheel of this big Merc and its sister in the Ford product lineup, the Crown Victoria, our elders have earned newfound respect for the wisdom of their automotive preferences.
    It's fairly obvious why the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are smart choices. The cars are, most importantly to our staff, fun to drive.
  
  What's with kids these days? I guess there are some things they'll just never understand.
  • But the original "pony car wars" actually signaled the end of the muscle age ? an era that had its genesis with a slew of big-engined, full-size hardtops and sedans.
    
    That's right, fast family-size cars started it all. Big Chevy Impalas, Pontiac Bonnevilles, Buick Wildcats, Ford Galaxies and Plymouth Furys ruled the roads. They touted huge, powerful V8s ? the fabled Chevrolet 409. Poncho's (Pontiac's) hot 421 and Buick's 401. Ford's venerable 406. And Mopar's 413.
  
  Who Needs a Minivan when Lincoln Offers a Trunk this Big?
  • Truth be told, we did not expect to like this Lincoln, which obtained an unsavory nickname concocted by a groomsman. Still, after living with the Town Car for ten days, we came to appreciate the comfortable interior, the huge trunk, the V-8 power, and all the little luxury conveniences. Driving this Lincoln made us wonder how big rear-drive cars fell out of favor with the American public.
  
  An enduring, endearing tradtional.
  • It is, as they say, a lot of car for the money.
  
  1992-2002 Ford Crown Victoria: Consumer Guide Best Buy
  • Handling and stability are fine for a big sedan. The base suspension absorbs bumps nicely, yet doesn't wallow or float past pavement swells.
  
  Ford Crown Victoria, 1992-1998
  • It's hard to believe, I know, but this big four-door handles surprisingly well. Even the base suspension does a good job of absorbing bumps and road bruises... The truth is, you don't wallow and float in a Crown Vic, at least not to the extent you might think.
  
  Jedlicka Reports
  • Virtually all American family cars were downsized and switched from rear- to front-drive in the 1980s to lighten them so they could deliver higher fuel economy without losing much?if any?interior space.
    
    But guess what? New large domestic cars with rear-drive will be introduced in the not-distant future. Engines and transmissions have become far more efficient, and American automakers know that a rear-drive layout?common with upscale European cars such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz?gives better weight distribution and balance. The result is sharper, more stable handling.
  
  Review by RON DRYSDALE
  • Such antics are more typically undertaken in something like a Porsche, but they also provided my most edifying moment in the surprisingly-athletic Crown Victoria that I was driving that day. Simply put, the car remained flat and cornered like it was on rails.

Surely you'll have links to back up your BS...

 

[cavemanmoron]

my friend has a 97 Crown Vic,
i drive it on occasion,
Nice car
put snow tires on it,and keep it near a full tank of gas,and its great in the snow.

Oh yeah, ,the back seat has a Lot of room.

 

[Chaotic42]

I'd get a Ford Ranger. I drove my uncle's Ranger (84 or 85, IIRC) for about a month and I loved it. I almost bought a '96 Ranger last year.

 

[jlee]

What would I look for? 1993 MR2 Turbo...but that's just me.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

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.

My '98r Corolla gets 38.5 highway (4cyl)..

 

[madthumbs]

Originally posted by: Blain
Linky for U

The "GEO" Prizms


Don't forget to factor in your insurance, plates and taxes.

-Excellent advice... save ~$1,000 and get a "wannabe" toyota corolla!

 

[NetGuySC]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

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.

My '98r Corolla gets 38.5 highway (4cyl)..

I averaged 80mph with a/c Hey I am satisfied ... may not be the best mpg but I love this car ... runs smooth as silk.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: NetGuySC

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

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.

My '98r Corolla gets 38.5 highway (4cyl)..

I averaged 80mph with a/c Hey I am satisfied ... may not be the best mph but I love this car ... runs smooth as silk.

80mph?

My 240sx only gets 28 highway . But that's with the AC on normal. I didn't realize recirc was more efficient until recently.

 

[Thegonagle]

Buy a detective's Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor '97 or newer, a Buick Regal or Buick Le Sabre, 96 or newer, or a Buick Century, 97 or newer. For that kind of money, you can get such a much newer, nicer car with an American car than an import. Those cars that I mentioned are good, dependable cars, especially the Buicks, IMO.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Crown Vics are nice but if I was looking for a cruiser I'd get a 4.6l T-Bird. They still seat 4 people, not as well as a vic, but they look and handle better. Still has the same great reliability though.

 

[SammyBoy]

I'm about to MAYBE buy a 96 GTI vr6 for 4600 bucks or so. It's got high miles but the previous owner for the past 6 months or so is a VW technician for a living so it's recently had every little quirk worked out like new. It's lowered and got new struts as well. 130k on it, but if i drive it and it feels as cared for as the guy says it was and the work he did to it indicates, I'm getting it


pic, yay!

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

What about these?

Mazda MX3 or MX6
Acura Integra
Honda Accord

Used and manual, of course, wherever possible. I'm in the same boat with a slightly lower budget, so I'm looking for older cars with higher mileage.