I've got $5000. What car do I buy?

[jme5343]

I got a $5000 loan from E-loan toady (which was really easy, btw).

I'm heavily leaning toward a Buick Regal GS, atm. Supercharged 3.8l, reliable, many amenities, quick enough, room and stylish.

I prefer a 4 door, as I've got 2 kids. They rarely ride in the car as we also have a minivan, but it's got 195,000 miles, so who knows when it'll take a digger. I also prefer domestic since they're usually a tad cheaper and I can get them worked on if needed (I do most by myself). We're in rural hickville, so no foreign auto mechanics within 70 miles or so.

Got a better idea? Maybe a Saturn Ion or something? Just throw some ideas out and I'll do some looking

 

[redgtxdi]

Oooooh this is great.


Hmmm.............

Well, you could just X off anything American from my short list.

I'd be lookin' at a Corolla or Camry. (Late 90's should put you right in that range if you hunt hard enough).

 

[funboy6942]

How about a almost fully rebuilt 88 Pontiac Firebird with a whole new drivetrain, and paint? Southern car so no salt and NO rust

$2500 and she is yours.
New:
Engine 305 v8 Thottle injected rated at 26mpg Hwy
Trans (will cherp the tires shifting into second)
Trans Mount
gas Tank
Gas Pump
Exhaust (cat back all brand new)
Tires (front)
Brakes
Paint (2 different shades of white between the flames and the rest of the car with metal flake the the clear coat)
radiator
Thermo and fluids
Rebuilt Front light motors
Radio

Needs:
head liner
O2 Sensor
fan switch Installed (already have the switch just need to install it. Fan stays on all the time)
Heater switch (high doesnt work)
Door key

Works:
Air
Cruise
Both power windows
Electric Hatch
Lights go up and down like they should and do not wink

 

[DeviousTrap]

Saab 9-3/9-5.

Not exactly domestic, but owned by GM so they depreciated just like any domestic.

 

[jme5343]

LOL, not quite room enough funboy.

The way E-loan's "Powercheck" woks is that I have until December 7 to buy something. If not, deal's off and I have to reaplly. I like this since it gives me time to be a little choosy. I could've asked for 10 or 15,000, but that's a ridiculous amount for me to spend I drive a 1989 Buick Park Avenue that I paid $300 for. It's been great for 9 months. In fact I'll still drive it, I just want something a tad better in the stable for business trips and the like.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
LOL, not quite room enough funboy.

The way E-loan's "Powercheck" woks is that I have until December 7 to buy something. If not, deal's off and I have to reaplly. I like this since it gives me time to be a little choosy. I could've asked for 10 or 15,000, but that's a ridiculous amount for me to spend I drive a 1989 Buick Park Avenue that I paid $300 for. It's been great for 9 months. In fact I'll still drive it, I just want something a tad better in the stable for business trips and the like.

You wouldnt think to look at it but I can fit 2 full grocery carts full of food in there with the back seat down and I have 2 boys that do fit in the back seat if need be. But hell you got the van to haul kids and food right, buy my toy so I can buy something else. I have a funny feeling after I see the neurogist(sp) on the 4th they will be yanking my license so I hate to see it just sit around. The wife refuses to touch it for fear of wrecking it.

 

[sniperruff]

too bad you prefer domestic. a late 90's maxima would have been perfect. they are generally very reliable.

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
too bad you prefer domestic. a late 90's maxima would have been perfect. they are generally very reliable.

I will look into that. I bought an 81 Max back in about 94, served me well, with lots of extras for it's time. 4 wheel disc brakes, fuel injected inline 6, etc. I'll take a gander.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: funboy42
How about a almost fully rebuilt 88 Pontiac Firebird with a whole new drivetrain, and paint? Southern car so no salt and NO rust

$2500 and she is yours.
New:
Engine 305 v8 Thottle injected rated at 26mpg Hwy
Trans (will cherp the tires shifting into second)
Trans Mount
gas Tank
Gas Pump
Exhaust (cat back all brand new)
Tires (front)
Brakes
Paint (2 different shades of white between the flames and the rest of the car with metal flake the the clear coat)
radiator
Thermo and fluids
Rebuilt Front light motors
Radio

Needs:
head liner
O2 Sensor
fan switch Installed (already have the switch just need to install it. Fan stays on all the time)
Heater switch (high doesnt work)
Door key

Works:
Air
Cruise
Both power windows
Electric Hatch
Lights go up and down like they should and do not wink

Does it have the KITT option package or the Burt Reynolds option pack (with the screaming chicken on the hood)? :laugh:

 

[JulesMaximus]

You could look for a mid 90's Impala SS (the RWD cop car one...not the POS FWD model). Or a Crown Vic with police package.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: funboy42
How about a almost fully rebuilt 88 Pontiac Firebird with a whole new drivetrain, and paint? Southern car so no salt and NO rust

$2500 and she is yours.
New:
Engine 305 v8 Thottle injected rated at 26mpg Hwy
Trans (will cherp the tires shifting into second)
Trans Mount
gas Tank
Gas Pump
Exhaust (cat back all brand new)
Tires (front)
Brakes
Paint (2 different shades of white between the flames and the rest of the car with metal flake the the clear coat)
radiator
Thermo and fluids
Rebuilt Front light motors
Radio

Needs:
head liner
O2 Sensor
fan switch Installed (already have the switch just need to install it. Fan stays on all the time)
Heater switch (high doesnt work)
Door key

Works:
Air
Cruise
Both power windows
Electric Hatch
Lights go up and down like they should and do not wink

Does it have the KITT option package or the Burt Reynolds option pack (with the screaming chicken on the hood)? :laugh:

No burt option or Kitt but its got the chicken

 

[PandaBear]

Do you prefer stick shift or auto? For auto, GM usually do better in reliability, Ford is spotty, and Chrysler is horrible. For stick, it is a wash. $5000 for a large car, you can probably get something like an old crown vic or old buick, just make sure it is not from years that they have the intake gasket leak and it will be fairly reliable.

What about an old MB diesel? Those things were build like a tank and last forever.

Imports may cost more for the reliability, so I would suggest staying with domestic too (I drive import myself, and I know how ridiculus some of the prices are).

 

[ShadoWing]

Mazda 3!

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: funboy42
How about a almost fully rebuilt 88 Pontiac Firebird with a whole new drivetrain, and paint? Southern car so no salt and NO rust

$2500 and she is yours.
New:
Engine 305 v8 Thottle injected rated at 26mpg Hwy
Trans (will cherp the tires shifting into second)
Trans Mount
gas Tank
Gas Pump
Exhaust (cat back all brand new)
Tires (front)
Brakes
Paint (2 different shades of white between the flames and the rest of the car with metal flake the the clear coat)
radiator
Thermo and fluids
Rebuilt Front light motors
Radio

Needs:
head liner
O2 Sensor
fan switch Installed (already have the switch just need to install it. Fan stays on all the time)
Heater switch (high doesnt work)
Door key

Works:
Air
Cruise
Both power windows
Electric Hatch
Lights go up and down like they should and do not wink

You're still selling this? I thought it was gone a while ago? And you never clarified, is this a 5-speed or auto? GF bought a 92 Camaro RS B4C (police package w/350 & auto) which after much mechanical work is getting a sexy black paint job and fiberglass Ram Air hood; and I'm buying a 2006 GTO Muscle cars FTW!

 

[fbrdphreak]

Oh, and to answer the OP's question: I think you're looking at your best bet. A Maxima would be good and shouldn't use premium fuel either (I hope). For more, similar options look at the Grand Prix GTP or Bonneville SSEi; should be same as that Buick.

Also, didn't the Olds Aurora come with a V8? Not sure how much those cost. Ford Taurus SHO? Terribly unsporty handling, but a V8 none-the-less...

 

[LordMorpheus]

You could get a police package Crown Vic for 5 grand easy. Aside from a spotty transmission (more an issue some years than others) the panther chassis is rock solid. If you're willing to sacrifice sport for class, look at Town Cars. Fantastic vehicles.

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Oh, and to answer the OP's question: I think you're looking at your best bet. A Maxima would be good and shouldn't use premium fuel either (I hope). For more, similar options look at the Grand Prix GTP or Bonneville SSEi; should be same as that Buick.

Also, didn't the Olds Aurora come with a V8? Not sure how much those cost. Ford Taurus SHO? Terribly unsporty handling, but a V8 none-the-less...

Taurus SHO just had a higher output V6, IIRC.

You could get that chassis with a V8, though, in the Lincoln Continental.

A lincoln Mk. VIII might suit the bill. It's got the high output V8, Rear drive, extremely comfortable, lots of luxury kit.

2 doors, but it has plenty of back seat room.

 

[mercanucaribe]

I'm obligated to recommend a Chrysler product. Buy an Intrepid.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
You could get a police package Crown Vic for 5 grand easy. Aside from a spotty transmission (more an issue some years than others) the panther chassis is rock solid. If you're willing to sacrifice sport for class, look at Town Cars. Fantastic vehicles.

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Oh, and to answer the OP's question: I think you're looking at your best bet. A Maxima would be good and shouldn't use premium fuel either (I hope). For more, similar options look at the Grand Prix GTP or Bonneville SSEi; should be same as that Buick.

Also, didn't the Olds Aurora come with a V8? Not sure how much those cost. Ford Taurus SHO? Terribly unsporty handling, but a V8 none-the-less...

Taurus SHO just had a higher output V6, IIRC.

You could get that chassis with a V8, though, in the Lincoln Continental.

A lincoln Mk. VIII might suit the bill. It's got the high output V8, Rear drive, extremely comfortable, lots of luxury kit.

2 doors, but it has plenty of back seat room.

Lincoln Continental is the same chassis as the Crown Vic AFAIK. It's body on frame and RWD. The only other version of the Taurus was the Mercury Sable.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: funboy42
How about a almost fully rebuilt 88 Pontiac Firebird with a whole new drivetrain, and paint? Southern car so no salt and NO rust

$2500 and she is yours.
New:
Engine 305 v8 Thottle injected rated at 26mpg Hwy
Trans (will cherp the tires shifting into second)
Trans Mount
gas Tank
Gas Pump
Exhaust (cat back all brand new)
Tires (front)
Brakes
Paint (2 different shades of white between the flames and the rest of the car with metal flake the the clear coat)
radiator
Thermo and fluids
Rebuilt Front light motors
Radio

Needs:
head liner
O2 Sensor
fan switch Installed (already have the switch just need to install it. Fan stays on all the time)
Heater switch (high doesnt work)
Door key

Works:
Air
Cruise
Both power windows
Electric Hatch
Lights go up and down like they should and do not wink

Does it have the KITT option package or the Burt Reynolds option pack (with the screaming chicken on the hood)? :laugh:

No burt option or Kitt but its got the chicken

That's a pretty ghetto chicken. More like Kentucky Fried if you ask me. :laugh:

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
I got a $5000 loan from E-loan toady (which was really easy, btw).

I'm heavily leaning toward a Buick Regal GS, atm. Supercharged 3.8l, reliable, many amenities, quick enough, room and stylish.

I prefer a 4 door, as I've got 2 kids. They rarely ride in the car as we also have a minivan, but it's got 195,000 miles, so who knows when it'll take a digger. I also prefer domestic since they're usually a tad cheaper and I can get them worked on if needed (I do most by myself). We're in rural hickville, so no foreign auto mechanics within 70 miles or so.

Got a better idea? Maybe a Saturn Ion or something? Just throw some ideas out and I'll do some looking

HAHAHA you used sportish and buick in the same sentance...

Get an eagle talon ts AWD / Eclipse GSX

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
Do you prefer stick shift or auto? For auto, GM usually do better in reliability, Ford is spotty, and Chrysler is horrible. For stick, it is a wash. $5000 for a large car, you can probably get something like an old crown vic or old buick, just make sure it is not from years that they have the intake gasket leak and it will be fairly reliable.

What about an old MB diesel? Those things were build like a tank and last forever.

Imports may cost more for the reliability, so I would suggest staying with domestic too (I drive import myself, and I know how ridiculus some of the prices are).

He said sporty...er-ish. That's about as sporty as a taxicab...then again so is a Crown Vic. $5k isn't giving us much to work with here.

How about an older SAAB 900? Those are kind of sporty. Not exactly easy or cheap to repair though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I'm obligated to recommend a Chrysler product. Buy an Intrepid.

Why?

 

[PandaBear]

Originally posted by: ShadoWing
Mazda 3!

If you can find one for 5k only, I will take 10.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You could look for a mid 90's Impala SS (the RWD cop car one...not the POS FWD model). Or a Crown Vic with police package.

Don't know about the interceptor package, but the regular crown vic/ marquis is BY FAR the worst car I've ever driven. You're basically sitting on a floating couch.

Pretty much all body on frame sedans are gonna drive and handle like utter shite (tuned for medicare-bound drivers with fragile hips).

$5k puts you to late 90's american sedans... so garbage. Either spend more cash and get something more recent or look at the other options.


EDIT:

How did i not think of thise : FORD CONTOUR SVT. Sweet looking car, great handling and should hover around $5k

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: halik

HAHAHA you used sportish and buick in the same sentance...

Get an eagle talon ts AWD / Eclipse GSX

Do a little checking buddy. A lightly modded Regal GS will lay down sub 14 second quarters all day

And I'm not spending more...maybe another $500 if needed. I've been car payment free for three years, I'm suprised I'm even entertaining the thought...