Thinking about getting a car.

[inspiron]

I have $2500 on a car, and my mom will possibly give me another $500 that I have to pay back.

I was looking at craigslist and they have some decent cars! Here is one that I am really thinking about getting: http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto/1564564859.html

Any suggestions on good cars or trucks that are dependable and cheap? I live in the country, and I have a horrible driveway, with potholes and what not. My family always goes like very very slow when getting out. Once we out, it is fine, very few dirt roads where i live.

Truck might be nice too, because I could be a little more carefree! Thanks for looking...

 

[HumblePie]

NOOOOoooOOooOoooo....oooo..oo...

 

[waffleironhead]

First off
<------ garage is that way

Second. Ask them if it has the 4 cylinder or the 3.4 v6. The 4 cyc is pretty anemic, while
if the v6 is in place see if they already replaced the lower intake manifold gasket. I have a 99 grand am coupe with over 180k miles it on, so the engine is fine, but they had a issue with the gasket that required a replacement.

 

[joesmoke]

#1 - Wrong forum
#2 - honda for cars, toyota or ford for trucks.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

wow, that ad went from somber to superhappy in no time flat

EDIT:

Good, clean, well maintained, one owner Pontiac for Sale.This car has been a great car for us, but we have another one due to a death in the family now, and we don't need 2 cars. Runs Great and has 110,000 mostly highway miles. SUPER BUY!!!!! Call 405-379-9908 or 405-221-3393 for info.

I wonder if they died in the car?

 

[Vette73]

Best bang for your buck will be a used american car. Try to stay in the GM or Ford family.

The grandam is not a bad car. My grandmother has one and is going well.
The V6 is better then the 4cyl for that year but I am thinking it is a 4cyl since they say MPG in the headline.
The 2002+ grandams have a better 4cyl.
So I would pass on that Grandam and try for a 2002 or newwer. Look for Saturn S cars as well.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Best bang for your buck will be a used american car. Try to stay in the GM or Ford family.

The grandam is not a bad car. My grandmother has one and is going well.
The V6 is better then the 4cyl for that year but I am thinking it is a 4cyl since they say MPG in the headline.
The 2002+ grandams have a better 4cyl.

Look for Saturn S cars as well.

Also look for 2000 era Ford Tauruses, zero resale value but pretty decent bang for your buck

 

[mafia]

#1 - Wrong forum
#2 - honda for cars, toyota or ford for trucks.

Hondas are overpriced and overrated. Toyota trucks 2003 and up are crap compared to Ford trucks. (Except the 4Runner).

Welcome to The Garage.

 

[joesmoke]

Hondas are overpriced and overrated. Toyota trucks 2003 and up are crap compared to Ford trucks. (Except the 4Runner).

Welcome to The Garage.

im not sure if youre saying those are the typical responses here or if i should actually defend my position

 

[HarryLui]

http://fayar.craigslist.org/cto/1606052801.html

Talk him down to $2400

 

[inspiron]

My dream car would be a 21st century mustang, but no way in hell I can get that $3000 or lower!

 

[Vette73]

http://fayar.craigslist.org/cto/1606052801.html

Talk him down to $2400

Thats a good one, or at least sounds like it.

 

[hans007]

you could probably just barely get like a 1998 or 1999 nissan altima for $2000-3000 with maybe 110k miles on it. I've seen them that cheap anyway and a lot of them are fairly well equipped. I looked yesterday actually since I was thinking of buying a beater someday.

I had one in college and well it is a very reliable car if you can find one that isnt too bad.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

im not sure if youre saying those are the typical responses here or if i should actually defend my position

Used Hondas are worthless, especially if you only have like 2500 bucks. Toyota trucks suck, everyone knows this

 

[desy]

Here is a usefull post
based on your dirt roads I'd get a 4 cylinder ranger enough ground clearnace and truck suspension and not brutal on gas

 

[inspiron]

my preference:

Trucks- Ford, Chevy
Cars- Toyota, Pontiac, Mustang.
Dirt bikes- Honda, yamaha

 

[PhoKingGuy]

4 cyl ranger, end of story

 

[joesmoke]

Used Hondas are worthless, especially if you only have like 2500 bucks. Toyota trucks suck, everyone knows this

shoulda noted "manual" for hondas. every honda ive had has been used and know a LOT of people who have gotten cheap (<2000)used hondas and had good experiences with them. ive found that the engines go forever.

i wasnt thinking of 03 and up when i was thinking 2500 toyota trucks... though a ranger would prolly be newer/cheaper for the money.

 

[joesmoke]

my preference:


Dirt bikes- Honda, yamaha

im a yami man myself, but recently rode a green one and was very impressed with the low-end.

 

[Arkaign]

Here's the thing about buying a used car on a limited budget :

Any significant preconceptions (eg; I want a 2001-2002 model X with X miles in X color) about what you're looking for is going to inhibit your success on finding a good deal.

What's available locally is going to vary massively from week to week, and the good deals will pop up and go by continually. What you need to do is get a general idea of minimally acceptable standards, for example :

(1)- I want 100k miles or less.
(2)- I want something that is 1996 or newer.
(3)- I want something that is in the compact to midsize range.
(4)- I want an automatic transmission.

etc.

Then filter ALL CL (and Autotrader/etc if you want) local car results with your price range (perhaps add an extra $500 into the range, you may be able to bargain someone down from $3k to $2500), and look at each car objectively on a case by case basis.

Something crazy might pass along that you haven't thought of. Maybe a '96 Infinifi G20 in excellent shape with 78k miles pops up at $3k, and you can bargain them down. You wouldn't want to miss a deal like that just because you were looking for overly specific models. When it comes to buying a used car, it's often better to find an incredibly well-taken-care-of example of something you might not have even considered before, than to settle for a purely average example of something you set out to find. In a perfect world perhaps there would be an unlimited supply of X cars with X miles at X price that you are looking for, but yeah, that's not the world we live in.

Basically, cull the results into your price range, then cull the obvious non-starters from the lineup, then examine the remains one by one.

 

[BlackTigers]

shoulda noted "manual" for hondas. every honda ive had has been used and know a LOT of people who have gotten cheap (<2000)used hondas and had good experiences with them. ive found that the engines go forever.

i wasnt thinking of 03 and up when i was thinking 2500 toyota trucks... though a ranger would prolly be newer/cheaper for the money.

They're not bad cars....just overpriced as hell for what you get.

And I third/fifth whatever the Ranger sentiments. B2000 or a ranger, gogo.

 

[Arkaign]

Btw : this is an OUTSTANDING car for you if it's what it says it is :

http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto/1607185355.html

That's back when the Corollas were pretty damned bulletproof (it's a Corolla with a Chevy badge). Great fuel economy, good safety, top-notch reliability, cheap to keep up with tires/brakes/hoses/etc.

only 101k miles on it, that's just getting started (that gen Corolla easily sees 200k+ on the original drivetrain with normal maintenance, no guarantees of course but that's the usual)

 

[angry hampster]

^ GET THAT ONE.


That thing will last you forever assuming you change the timing belt on schedule.

 

[inspiron]

hmm... not really liking the looks of that car. But hell I got $2500 I shouldn't expect much right?

Any comments on the car I showed first? I thought it was a pretty good deal.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

hmm... not really liking the looks of that car. But hell I got $2500 I shouldn't expect much right?

Any comments on the car I showed first? I thought it was a pretty good deal.

Seriously, go buy that thing right now, don't wait. It will last forever