Looking For A Used Car

[shawn130c]

Update: See My Post Below, bought a 2006 equinox for 11500.

I am looking at a used car to replace my aging 90 Toyota Camry. I am primarily considering reliable used cars around $5000 but I can go up to $9000 if it is a really worth it. Not really sure what to get, there are a lot to pick from, so I thought I would ask for advice here .

Current Car:

-1990 Toyota Camry (LE?)
-A Little Less than 190K Miles
-I4
-Issues:
Starter has problems
Alternator has problems (its making whining noise)
A\C does not work and Heater does not get hot
Oil Leaking
Power Steering Leaking
Left Lower Control Arm (I think that is the name) will need replacing, already had the right lower control arm replaced
-Multiple Interior and Exterior Problems.

What I am looking for in a used car:

-Max is $9000 (5K preferred though)
-Sedan or SUV (I mainly looking at a suv (something along the lines of pathfinder,exterra, trailblazer, ect)
-Reliable and won?t cost an arm and a leg to fix (cheap parts)
-Good Condition (Mainly Will be Used For Work and College)
-Under 100K Miles
-2000 or newer preferred (not that important, but would be nice)
-Something Faster and with better acceleration, handling than my current Camry (v6 preferred)
-Gas Mileage is Not Too Important but needs to at least do 15MPG city, would prefer not to use premium but if it?s a good deal I can afford it.
-Easy To Work On (My Dad and I can do minor car repairs, but I really hate working in cramp engine bays and hard to reach parts)

I have looked around carmax, craigslists, cars.com and I have found a few things that I have found that I have liked.

Local College Car Fair:
-2005 chevy trailblazer (2wd drive, v6)
22k miles
$8700

-2002 xterra se super charged (v6,4WD)
85K Miles
$9500 (I am pretty confident he will go lower for serious buyers)

-2002 honda passport ex (v6)
92k
$7900

I still need to check carfax, and test drive the above though...

Besides those craigslist has a whole bunch of 4runners, corollas, Taurus, Impala, Malibu for around 5K to choose from.

I am not in a big hurry, but this year I spent about $1000 replacing different things to keep the car running and safe. I am starting to get concerned that something major might happen and I really do not want to put a whole bunch of money in car that is old.

Also if you guys want here are some links for local used cars, if you can give me some recommendations/advice for cars to look for and avoid it would be very helpful. My Zip Code 95610, I would prefer not to deal with dealerships, but hey if you think its a good deal I willing to check it out.


Sacramento Craiglist Car Classifieds There are many 4runners, corollas, mailbus and others that start around 5k that looks good.

Cars.Com Zip Code Search 95610


Thanks For Any Help:

Cliffs
-90 Camry Getting Old and breaking down
-Need 5-9K Sedan or SUV (preferred)
-Advice on what cars to avoid and look for
-Save Me From Getting A Dud

 

[angry hampster]

'02-03 VW Jetta 1.8T. It's quick, the motor is very solid and reliable, and very fun to drive. Will need premium but it does get 25-28mpg city, so the price will be offset. You can easily find them for 7500-9000 with around 75k miles. 99-01 is the same body style, but the motor has less power and there are electrical bugs.


edit: Also, use autotrader.

 

[Kroze]

ugh....VW & Reliable?

Get a Lexus, it's rated the most reliable vehicle 15 years in a row now so they obviously must have done something right (every lexus is built in Japan)

 

[Tbirdkid]

2003 yukon/tahoe. easy to work on, gets decent gas mileage for its size, and plenty of room. also, going back and forth from home to college can make a really comfortable ride...

 

[ehhhh]

What about a 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima? They will be reliable and have performance to boot. As said before, try using autotrader.

 

[shawn130c]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
'02-03 VW Jetta 1.8T. It's quick, the motor is very solid and reliable, and very fun to drive. Will need premium but it does get 25-28mpg city, so the price will be offset. You can easily find them for 7500-9000 with around 75k miles. 99-01 is the same body style, but the motor has less power and there are electrical bugs.


edit: Also, use autotrader.

Thanks Angry Hampster. I knew some VW had electrical problems but was not sure which ones. So 02-03 Jetta 1.8T are good. What other VW shoudl I keep an eye out for?

Originally posted by: Kroze
ugh....VW & Reliable?

Get a Lexus, it's rated the most reliable vehicle 15 years in a row now so they obviously must have done something right (every lexus is built in Japan)

I have been keeping an eye out for lexus but so far I have not had much luck. The ones that I have been finding for sale are mainly older and higher mileage.

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
2003 yukon/tahoe. easy to work on, gets decent gas mileage for its size, and plenty of room. also, going back and forth from home to college can make a really comfortable ride...

Sorry Tbirdkid I really not looking for a large SUV. Are the Trail Blazer, Envoy, ect the same for ride quality and easy to work on or should I just avoid them. THat 2005 trail blazer with 22k miles was a little tempting...

Originally posted by: ehhhh
What about a 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima? They will be reliable and have performance to boot. As said before, try using autotrader.

Thanks for the info ehhhh. I have not had a whole bunch of luck finding maxima. THe ones that I have found for around 5-6k are older and the 8-9k are newer but usually more than 100K Miles. There are quite a few xteraa, pathfinders, altima, sentra, ect. Would they be just as reliable? What Models/Years should I try to avoid?

Thanks again everyone for the information, I totally forgot about autotrader and I will check them out this week.

 

[angry hampster]

'02-03 Altimas with the 3.5L V6 are really good cars, and quite quick to boot.

On VWs, the GTI is also a good car and has an optional 6-speed transmission. Prices may be sightly higher than comparable Jettas. Both are built on the same platform and the interiors (dash and console area at least) are identical.


Also, you may be able to find a Volvo S70 in your area. They're very good cars, and the turbo 5-cylinder motor is unbelievable (sounds good to boot). They stopped being made in 2001 IIRC.


On the SUV route, the Nissan Xterra is a very good vehicle. Chevrolet's trailblazer will also fall into your price range. My parents had one until a few years ago. Great vehicle that never gave them any problems, and the 4.2L "atlas" motor is really one of GM's best.

 

[desy]

SUV's are too hard on gas
Look at a Buick with the 3800 and 4 speed
Queit comfortable and fairly cheap and surprisingly good on gas

 

[cheesehead]

The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

Like most American products, Japan has made a Buick knock-off that's better than the original - the Toyota Avalon. These cars are very quiet and very comfortable in both the front and back seats - if you're driving through heavy traffic or regularly going on long trips, it's hard to beat. Furthermore, the claimed 29MPG highway is actually quite realistic - not bad for a V6 luxury car. Of course, the interior is a bit plastic-y and the pricetags often a bit high, though this may be balanced out by the tremendous reliability and low servicing costs of Toyotas relative to BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes. Front wheel drive is nice in snow, too.

If you want something a bit cheaper and a lot less geriatric, I can strongly recommend a Mazda3. It's not an especially amazing car, but it's not underpowered (I've driven the 2.3L 5-door - it's actually pretty zippy), it's very safe, it's very reliable, and the fuel economy is excellent - my father has the 2.3L 5-door, and he's managed up to 36MPG on long-distance highway trips. There are, however, a few downsides - the rear legroom is not as good as a Golf or Astra, and you might have some trouble getting one for less than $8k.

There are, however, several varieties of Mazda3 seat - the leather ones (which are nice), the cloth ones (which I haven't sat in yet), and the mesh ones (which are unspeakably horrible.)

If you want something even cheaper, you might want to consider the Mazda3's cheaper cousin, the Focus. A friend of mine has a seven-year-old automatic Focus Wagon, and while the interior trim is a mess, mechanically it's been completely reliable. A 3-door Focus with the 2.3L engine (a slightly stripped-down version of the 2.3L Mazda engine, actually) should be a hoot to drive, and very efficient too.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead


If you want something even cheaper, you might want to consider the Mazda3's cheaper cousin, the Focus. A friend of mine has a seven-year-old automatic Focus Wagon, and while the interior trim is a mess, mechanically it's been completely reliable. A 3-door Focus with the 2.3L engine (a slightly stripped-down version of the 2.3L Mazda engine, actually) should be a hoot to drive, and very efficient too.

On this, Ford's SVT made a souped-up FOcus from '02-04 with 180HP and a ridiculously good suspension and transmission. Recaro seats as well. Can be had for ~8500 very easily.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

You may want to do a bit of research before you speak.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

I think we can safely say Cheesehead has no idea what he is talking about and should be ignored when it comes to cars from now on.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

I think we can safely say Cheesehead has no idea what he is talking about and should be ignored when it comes to cars from now on.

:thumbsup:

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
'02-03 VW Jetta 1.8T. It's quick, the motor is very solid and reliable, and very fun to drive. Will need premium but it does get 25-28mpg city, so the price will be offset. You can easily find them for 7500-9000 with around 75k miles. 99-01 is the same body style, but the motor has less power and there are electrical bugs.


edit: Also, use autotrader.

The 1.8t is a solid engine, now that turbo...I would be iffy of! IF you do get a 1.8T, make sure it is not surging, and it is does not have sludged up oil....make very sure of this!

IMO, I do not like the interiors of the mark4's anymore...they seem so crappy compared to my B7 Audi.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

I think we can safely say Cheesehead has no idea what he is talking about and should be ignored when it comes to cars from now on.

:thumbsup:

As a former auto tech, I also agree, the 3800 (3.8L) is one of the best motors of all time.

 

[Vette73]

OP, if you want a good car/suv used then look for a GM product. Their resale is not the best so when buying used you usually get a good car with low miles for a great price.

The trailblazer is reliable and rides well, but its gas milage is not the best. Now if you want something to tow with then yea get it over a car.

If you just want decent milage and good ride then look for a Impala. Rides good and is also very reliable. You should be able to pick up a 2000+ model with low miles well within your price range.

If you want even better milage and can live with a mid-size then look for a Pontiac G6. They are good cars that can be had cheap. It ahs a 4cyl and 6cyl option so more engine options for milage or performance needs.

Also look for Buicks made 2000 or newwer as well.

 

[Q]

Honda Accord

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 3800 is a terrible engine. And a 4-speed? WTF?

The 3800 (3.8L) and the 4 auto are great & proven GM products that are on par with their Asian counterparts.

It will be a lot easier finding a great deal on a gm product with the 3.8 and 4 spd auto than a Mazda3.

The 3800 wasn't a modern engine during the Nixon administration. They're weak, they're inefficient, and they're really not that reliable compared to engines produced by Mazda, Honda, and Toyota.

I think we can safely say Cheesehead has no idea what he is talking about and should be ignored when it comes to cars from now on.

:thumbsup:

As a former auto tech, I also agree, the 3800 (3.8L) is one of the best motors of all time.

^^ Agreed. The 3800 is ridiculously reliable and surprisingly economical. Cheesehead might be thinking of the GM 2.8/3.1L 6-banger, that was truly a turd in comparison.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: shawn130c

Originally posted by: angry hampster
'02-03 VW Jetta 1.8T. It's quick, the motor is very solid and reliable, and very fun to drive. Will need premium but it does get 25-28mpg city, so the price will be offset. You can easily find them for 7500-9000 with around 75k miles. 99-01 is the same body style, but the motor has less power and there are electrical bugs.


edit: Also, use autotrader.

Thanks Angry Hampster. I knew some VW had electrical problems but was not sure which ones. So 02-03 Jetta 1.8T are good. What other VW shoudl I keep an eye out for?

uh, i think those were the years with electrical problems.

Originally posted by: ehhhh
What about a 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima? They will be reliable and have performance to boot. As said before, try using autotrader.

Thanks for the info ehhhh. I have not had a whole bunch of luck finding maxima. THe ones that I have found for around 5-6k are older and the 8-9k are newer but usually more than 100K Miles. There are quite a few xteraa, pathfinders, altima, sentra, ect. Would they be just as reliable? What Models/Years should I try to avoid?

Thanks again everyone for the information, I totally forgot about autotrader and I will check them out this week.

[/quote]
sentra is a steaming pile compared to the civic or corolla. and while mine has never left me stranded, the QR25 motor has some weird starting issues that are probably electrical (it floods easily, which is weird for an EFI engine). that engine is used in both the sentra and the altima. it also gets worse mileage in the sentra than the altima.

the 3.5 altima should be pretty good. the 2002 and 2003 maximas had paint issues, iirc, but are much nicer inside and probably put together better than the altimas. both cars could probably come in at the high end of your range with about 55,000 miles.

 

[shawn130c]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: shawn130c

Originally posted by: angry hampster
'02-03 VW Jetta 1.8T. It's quick, the motor is very solid and reliable, and very fun to drive. Will need premium but it does get 25-28mpg city, so the price will be offset. You can easily find them for 7500-9000 with around 75k miles. 99-01 is the same body style, but the motor has less power and there are electrical bugs.


edit: Also, use autotrader.

Thanks Angry Hampster. I knew some VW had electrical problems but was not sure which ones. So 02-03 Jetta 1.8T are good. What other VW shoudl I keep an eye out for?

uh, i think those were the years with electrical problems.

Originally posted by: ehhhh
What about a 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima? They will be reliable and have performance to boot. As said before, try using autotrader.

Thanks for the info ehhhh. I have not had a whole bunch of luck finding maxima. THe ones that I have found for around 5-6k are older and the 8-9k are newer but usually more than 100K Miles. There are quite a few xteraa, pathfinders, altima, sentra, ect. Would they be just as reliable? What Models/Years should I try to avoid?

Thanks again everyone for the information, I totally forgot about autotrader and I will check them out this week.

sentra is a steaming pile compared to the civic or corolla. and while mine has never left me stranded, the QR25 motor has some weird starting issues that are probably electrical (it floods easily, which is weird for an EFI engine). that engine is used in both the sentra and the altima. it also gets worse mileage in the sentra than the altima.

the 3.5 altima should be pretty good. the 2002 and 2003 maximas had paint issues, iirc, but are much nicer inside and probably put together better than the altimas. both cars could probably come in at the high end of your range with about 55,000 miles.[/quote]

Thanks for the comments guys. I was able to find some 3.5 Altimas. But you were right, there were pretty close to my limit. I did find quote a few 1.8 and 2.5 Altima. Are those good or should I just stay away?

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
OP, if you want a good car/suv used then look for a GM product. Their resale is not the best so when buying used you usually get a good car with low miles for a great price.

The trailblazer is reliable and rides well, but its gas milage is not the best. Now if you want something to tow with then yea get it over a car.

If you just want decent milage and good ride then look for a Impala. Rides good and is also very reliable. You should be able to pick up a 2000+ model with low miles well within your price range.

If you want even better milage and can live with a mid-size then look for a Pontiac G6. They are good cars that can be had cheap. It ahs a 4cyl and 6cyl option so more engine options for milage or performance needs.

Also look for Buicks made 2000 or newwer as well.

I have noticed that I seem to be finding alot better deals with GM products. I have seen quite a few trailblazers and blazers. Any specific years I should try to avoid between 2000-2007 or are they pretty much all the same?

I did find some nice impala though... Any specific models/engines I should be looking for? But I am leaning towards more of an SUV at this point. But there are some 50K-70K impalas which are around 5k that I like if I can't really find any suv I like.

 

[cheesehead]

I just don't get the 3800 fanboyism. Sure, it's very reliable. Sure, it's easy to work on. But the engine is almost identical to the original GM "fireball'' V6 of 1962. As a result, you're looking at about 200HP from an engine that weighs more than some GM V8s. And while the fuel economy may not be terrible, I severely doubt you're going to get over 30mpg.

There's also the issue of the cars they're bolted to. According to Wikipedia, all cars with 3800s in the last ten years or so were either flobbery old Buicks or torque-steer-tastic Pontiacs. And if you really want a big, cushy car...why not buy an Avalon instead?

On the subject of Nissan, they seem to be a bit of a mixed bag - the Versa is the CR "Least reliable small car of the year." Maybe Consumer Reports has some relevant info?

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

On the subject of Nissan, they seem to be a bit of a mixed bag - the Versa is the CR "Least reliable small car of the year." Maybe Consumer Reports has some relevant info?

The versa drives like shit and has a poorly designed interior. Nissans in general are very good, well-built cars though. My sister has had zero problems with her '07 Altima 2.5 since she got it new.

 

[cheesehead]

One possibility if you're willing to do your own work is a late-90s Volvo - say, a 940 or 940 Turbo. They're very big, very comfortable, and very cheap. And I've been told you can drop in a small-block Ford engine without too much trouble....