Sub-$5k car?

[Shoobie]

Hey all, I just talked to my grandpa, and he says he'll give me $5k for a car once I get my licence. What kind of car do you think I should be looking for? I'd like a small, 4-door car (like the size of an Accord, or something). I'm just looking for a general idea. The only place I know of to look for a car (other than the local cassified ads) is eBay. I like the Ford Focus, but I don't think it's too realistic of an idea to find one for five thousand (maybe a few on eBay, but locally, I don't know). As you can see, I know close to nothing about cars.

 

[AntMan530]

get a used chevy aveo.

 

[Pocatello]

A used Civic or Corolla, avoid the Focus, if possible, especially the 2000 models.

 

[vi edit]

My suggestion would be to find the lowest milage/least old Accord or Camry you can find for the price. A Nissan Altima would be a third choice.

 

[Shoobie]

Is that the one with the commercial where the basketball players get in and look like midgets?

 

[KingNothing]

Get a Geo Prizm with a 5-speed. Not a Chevy Prizm, a Geo Prizm. It's the exact same car as a Corolla, but with much lower resale due to the name. Great little car.

 

[Shoobie]

Whoa, quick responses. Thanks guys! What else should I be looking for when buying a used car? Sure, I could ask my parents, but you guys are cooler.

 

[Ryan]

Older Honda Civic (96/97), maybe a CRX for 2k - then use the rest to restore it to great condition. A 98 Nissan 200sx SE-R would be good - reliable and quick.

YOu could also look at getting a 3rd generation Maxima

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Shoobie
Whoa, quick responses. Thanks guys! What else should I be looking for when buying a used car? Sure, I could ask my parents, but you guys are cooler.

Carfax ANY car you find, have it looked over by a machanic, Stay away from any german cars, they're very costly to upkeep, expecially at such an old age. Be sure to check with Epinions.com and Edmunds to see what experiences opther have had with the car. A Japanese car is probably your best bet

 

[Shoobie]

Cool, thanks!

I like the look of the Prizms (and the price). I don't want an Accord, as that's what my dad drives.

 

[CraigRT]

buy Japanese .. or find a low miles 2000 or 2001 Neon for that price.

 

[halik]

focus would be neat, they almost brand new (2000ish).

you wont find newish civic (97/98) for anyhere near 5g unless its got 150k miles or something.


autotrader.com is a great place to find cars

if you want class, for 5gs you can get a nice BMW 318i or something similar
Also you can get some nice quattro audi (80 / 90 / 100)

As far as sporty cars go (my domain )
toyota mr2
1st and 2nd get DSMs
early 90s supra or rx7
porsche 944
nissan 300zx if you dont mind the high milage


EDIT:
please dont call people and waste their time untill you a) have the money in your hand and b) have the drivers license. I hate dealing with little kids calling me about whatever car im selling at the moment, saying that they like the car, but have to get a loan in 6 months when they get their drivers license

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: halik

toyota mr2
1st and 2nd get DSMs
early 90s supra or rx7
porsche 944
nissan 300zx if you dont mind the high milage

At least the RX7 is easy to rebuild (friend at work had a RX2 back in the day). I definitely can't recommend a 944. Tho fairly reliable if maintained its expensive to maintain. You can get 300ZX motors pretty cheap from importers completel with turbos so that's not bad either

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: halik

toyota mr2
1st and 2nd get DSMs
early 90s supra or rx7
porsche 944
nissan 300zx if you dont mind the high milage

At least the RX7 is easy to rebuild (friend at work had a RX2 back in the day). I definitely can't recommend a 944. Tho fairly reliable if maintained its expensive to maintain. You can get 300ZX motors pretty cheap from importers completel with turbos so that's not bad either

any german car is expensive to maintain (i own an a4 ). Theres no way in hell he will get a twin turbo z32 for that price, unless its wrecked or insane high milage (150+). I just sold my 1990 300zx na maybe 2 weeks ago for 4800

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: halikany german car is expensive to maintain (i own an a4 ). Theres no way in hell he will get a twin turbo z32 for that price, unless its wrecked or insane high milage (150+). I just sold my 1990 300zx na maybe 2 weeks ago for 4800

Well, then he can cheaply make a NA 3z a TT 3z All I can say is, its nice having a car that's fun to drive and fairly cheap to keep up. I :heart: my Ricer

 

[Shoobie]

Originally posted by: halik
focus would be neat, they almost brand new (2000ish).


EDIT:
please dont call people and waste their time untill you a) have the money in your hand and b) have the drivers license. I hate dealing with little kids calling me about whatever car im selling at the moment, saying that they like the car, but have to get a loan in 6 months when they get their drivers license

Heh, don't worry, I'm more sensible than your average 15 year old. Right now I'm just browsing around, getting a general idea of what I'll be looking into seriously in a month or two. Kind of like those little kids in the toy store, except I'm not making anyone mad by looking and not buying. But I see where you're coming from.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm not really into those street-racer type cars. I'm also not too familiar with the inside of a car, so rebuilding or restoring is above me (I do, however, have a few uncles who restore older cars, like 60's Camaros and Corvettes, so i could probably learn some things if I wanted to).

one more question, what kind of milage is acceptable for a used car? I'm guessing 150k+ is pretty bad.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Shoobie
Cool, thanks!

I like the look of the Prizms (and the price). I don't want an Accord, as that's what my dad drives.

The evolution of the Accord from being the "sedan to HAVE" to being an "old person's car" has begun I'd say tkae the Accord, it's a better can than the Prism/Corolla.

 

[vexingv]

halik,
how can you get BMW 3series for 5k? (or better question, how old would it be?)
i'm sort of in Shoobie's situation; but i do have my license (parents will get me a used car once i get a parking spot in my building)

...how about acura's--classier than hondas (acura is made by honda), tho you might spend a lil bit more than 5k

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Shoobie
Cool, thanks!

I like the look of the Prizms (and the price). I don't want an Accord, as that's what my dad drives.

The evolution of the Accord from being the "sedan to HAVE" to being an "old person's car" has begun I'd say tkae the Accord, it's a better can than the Prism/Corolla.

Nah. The Accord still has a long ways to go towards being an old person's car. The Camry is firmly cemented in that position

 

[kalster]

96 camry
that is all

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: kalster
96 camry
that is all

*cough*old folks' car*cough*

 

[Shoobie]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Shoobie
Cool, thanks!

I like the look of the Prizms (and the price). I don't want an Accord, as that's what my dad drives.

The evolution of the Accord from being the "sedan to HAVE" to being an "old person's car" has begun I'd say tkae the Accord, it's a better can than the Prism/Corolla.

Nah. The Accord still has a long ways to go towards being an old person's car. The Camry is firmly cemented in that position

Well, I guess that rules out a Camry, then. No one wants an 'old people' car.

And rbloedow, I actually meant that I didn't want to have the same car as my dad, not that it was an 'old person' car, if that's what it sounded like. I actually like my dads car, other than the fact that it's an automatic. But he always takes me driving, so I hardly ever get to drive a stick.

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: kalster
96 camry
that is all

*cough*old folks' car*cough*

<- old at 24 coz i drive a camry

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: kalster

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: kalster
96 camry
that is all

*cough*old folks' car*cough*

<- old at 24 coz i drive a camry

Sorry bud. Well, at least you and NFS4 can cruise in style

And yes, I know from experience. My folks' '00 Camry drives like a friggin' Cadillac.

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: kalster

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: kalster
96 camry
that is all

*cough*old folks' car*cough*

<- old at 24 coz i drive a camry

Sorry bud. Well, at least you and NFS4 can cruise in style

And yes, I know from experience. My folks' '00 Camry drives like a friggin' Cadillac.

heh its cool

i am not much of a car person frankly

i just wanted something cheap and reliable so camry was a good fit