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Update: $20k (want advice: first used car <$15k)

soydios

soydios

Platinum Member
I'm currently a college student in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Instead of shipping my '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee from the west coast, I'm looking for a car here.
Budget is $15k out the door, so figure $10-14k before title, tax, and registration. This car will preferably last me a good while after graduating college, so 6-10 years from now.
I'm partial to Jeeps (4WD required; if I get a Jeep I will use it on occasion), but I wouldn't turn down a more financially sensible idea. A BMW would be (very very) nice, but yeah ... I doubt that's practical.

I can get a 2003-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 70-90k miles for about $12k, or a 2007 Ford Fusion for the same.

Other suggestions, please?

Answering some questions: must have 4 doors, intended usage for a car is to be a normal car (transport me and friends around town or on some road trips, transport groceries, occasionally transport boxes when I move apartments, etc.), intended usage for a Jeep is to do all that plus Jeep-y things (like playing around off the tarmac). I am aware of and willing to take the hit on MPG with the Jeep. I am not willing to pay for AWD in a sedan, because I have no need for it.

EDIT: Alright, so I'll decide between Jeep and sedan. But, what sedan(s) should I be investigating?

UPDATE: So I've decided to put $5k of my money in along with the $15k from my parents to get a slightly newer car. Which one should I get between these two, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo V8 4.7L or a Jeep Liberty, both 4WD? The Grand Cherokee's first model year was 2005, the Liberty's was 2008. Is a first-model-year car still something to avoid?
http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car...V=List&Q=d1359251-8eab-4062-855e-030336942f27
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...on=&max_price=20000&cardist=15&standard=false
 
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Thats a big range from a fusion to a cherokee; limit that range and it'll be easier for people to find what car suits you best
 
I love my ford focus (2008)
Just got it last month, take a look into that or if you want something a little more "umph"
mazda3
 
So it either has to be a 4wd SUV or an AWD car? 12k for a Jeep with 90k sounds like an absolutely horrible idea. The weather here isn't that bad and an AWD car with good winter tires would easily get the job done. Snow isn't the problem, it's ice.
 
Without any other considerations I would always take a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee over a Ford Fusion. But as others said, that price for such mileage seems high.
According to NADA you should only pay $9,600 for the V6 or $10,000 for the V8, and thats assuming its in excellent condition.
It depends on exactly which Fusion you are looking at and how many miles, but 12 grand could be considered an absolute steal if it were nice enough.

You need to be more specific. What exactly do you wanna do with it?
 
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Answering some questions: must have 4 doors, intended usage for a car is to be a normal car (transport me and friends around town or on some road trips, transport groceries, occasionally transport boxes when I move apartments, etc.), intended usage for a Jeep is to do all that plus Jeep-y things (like playing around off the tarmac). I am aware of and willing to take the hit on MPG with the Jeep. I am not willing to pay for AWD in a sedan, because I have no need for it.
 
Then it boils down to, is the fun off road worth the trade off in gas mileage and increased maintainence costs of a higher mileage vehicle? Only you can answer that. For a college student I would say car every time. But you have to decide if the off road fun is worth the trade off.
 
Are you financing this? Personally as a college student I'd buy a sub-$5k cherokee. I picked up one for $3k with 107k on it.
 
^ Ditto, you could get a Cherokee (go for the 4.0L I6) AND a Saturn both with less than 100k for around $7k to $9k total. Take the Jeep off-roading and use the Saturn to get around town. Sock away $5k to pay for any repairs.... and if/when it happens, you already have another vehicle to get you around while the other's in the shop. Granted, depending on your living situation, this might not be practical (parking etc.) but IMO it's worth thinking about.
 
On the Fusion: all the V6's seem to be 2008 former rentals with 50k +/- 5k miles. Should I run away, or just approach with caution?
 
soydios said:
On the Fusion: all the V6's seem to be 2008 former rentals with 50k +/- 5k miles. Should I run away, or just approach with caution?
Click to expand...

I've heard two opinions from people that have bought rentals. Either they swear that the car was great or they just swear at the car. Personally, I wouldn't risk it. When a car gets handed around among a hundred drivers it's pretty much a guarantee that there will be a few that will drive it within an inch of its life.
 
buddy of mine got an 07 civic sedan with 20K miles on it for 12,750 + TTL. I'm sure it'll last 10+ years. you can probably find an 06 with same miles for a few grand less.

buy honda. ride worry free
 
SandEagle said:
buddy of mine got an 07 civic sedan with 20K miles on it for 12,750 + TTL. I'm sure it'll last 10+ years. you can probably find an 06 with same miles for a few grand less.

buy honda. ride worry free
Click to expand...

offhand, that actually doesn't sound like a bad deal. unlike the $5k civic that was from like 2000 and had 100k+ miles on it.

my brother's advice to me was to never have a car payment w/o a warranty. best of luck in the car hunt OP 🙂
 
boomhower said:
So it either has to be a 4wd SUV or an AWD car? 12k for a Jeep with 90k sounds like an absolutely horrible idea. The weather here isn't that bad and an AWD car with good winter tires would easily get the job done. Snow isn't the problem, it's ice.
Click to expand...

and AWD won't help you stop any better. FWD + Snow tires is all that 99% of people need. They don't need AWD at all.
 
What kind of off tarmac fun are you talking about? Just some loose gravel or something that requires good clearance/big tires/etc...?
 
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