What Sayeth The Garage?

[Perknose]

Ok, got myself involved helping a lady friend source a vehicle, and . . . she's only got ~ $2,000 to spend. Of course, if what I recommend needs any repairs in the next year or two, it'll be my fault!

I told her the used car market remains tight as we ease out of this depression. She say, "Miracles happen." Ok.

Right now, my two best suspects are a 1997 Honda Civic EX coupe with 5spd, sunroof, power doors & locks and decent head unit. It's got 194,000 miles on it. The timing belt was changed ~ 30,000 miles ago. It's inspected (Pa, yearly) until March. Guy says tires and brakes are good. $2,100.

The other car is a 1999 Ford Contour, 4cyl, auto, 147,000 miles, brand new inspection. Don't know anything about its service history. $1,900.

I'm going to see both of them tomorrow.

Anything I should know or especially look out for? Any thoughts or advice? Anyone know anything key, especially about the Contour?

All I can think is, "No good deed goes unpunished."

Also might look at a 1999 Taurus with a rebuilt transaxle and a brand new inspection. High miles in the same range as the other two. Auto tranny. $2,200. But . . . I don't much fancy the Tauri.

 

[Vic Vega]

The Ford Contour will be a much better vehicle in just about every regard. This is the same vehicle as the European Ford Mondeo. You didn't say which engine it has a 4 cylinder or the 6 cylinder either way both engines are very reliable. What the Honda will have is better fuel economy but that's about all. The Contour is very nice to drive and was one of the best handling a front wheel drive cars of period.

Edit: I see you stated it is a 4 cylinder

 

[CrackRabbit]

At that price point anything is going to be a crap shoot.
Having experienced personally the wonders of later 90s FoMoCo products I would say go with the Honda of the two options you presented.

If she isn't adverse to GM products old Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs with the 3800 II motors are pretty sturdy. Just have to make sure the intake manifold gasket has been changed.

 

[skyking]

Take a good look at them both. You know you'll miss something, but that is a given.
"No good deed goes unpunished."

 

[nerp]

Key thing to look for is oil/fluids on places they shouldn't be.

 

[IronWing]

Today is you lucky day; my cream puff is still for sale! She can live in it should things get worse and she'll still have money left over to take you to dinner. 278k loving miles.

Don't worry about the heater core bypass this winter. There's plenty of room for a fire pit in the third row footwell.

 

[A5]

My wife used to have a 1999 Ford Contour. One of the worst cars I've ever been in. They love to eat transmissions around 80-90k miles, too. Wouldn't touch it unless the transmission has been rebuilt/replaced.

My wife's also had a problem with electrical fires in the fuse box, but I don't think that was as widespread.

 

[Arkaign]

At the price range you're talking about, I've found the wisest thing to do is basically forget all about looking for a particular car, and continually scour CL and other sources for whatever is in the price range, and analyze on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Ferzerp]

At the price range you're talking about, I've found the wisest thing to do is basically forget all about looking for a particular car, and continually scour CL and other sources for whatever is in the price range, and analyze on a case-by-case basis.

This man speaks the truth. You get 0 choice in that price range. You just have to keep searching until you find something (anything) that hasn't already fallen apart.

 

[jagec]

My fiance has a 97 Civic EX, automatic though. The 90s Hondas were absolutely bulletproof. The stick will be even more so. How's the clutch? Can she drive stick?

I'd go for the Civic. Partially known maintenance history, stick, better mileage, Honda reliability, good tires and brakes. High-mileage automatics with no maintenance history are ticking time bombs. But check them both out and get a feel for how well cared-for each vehicle is.

Compare this to this.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

If she isn't adverse to GM products old Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs with the 3800 II motors are pretty sturdy. Just have to make sure the intake manifold gasket has been changed.

This. I've got a 2001 buick regal and I like it alot. Though I have done all the parts in the front end(nothing broke, just wanted it all new) at 110k. Other than that the only issue I've had is the cat got plugged up, but that was easily fixed with a steel rod and a hammer.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah take your time. I wouldn't buy a contour. I don't know what happened between Europe where they were good and the US but here they seem to suck. Taurus wouldn't be bad and have horrible resale.

I bought an 03 pontiac vibe earlier this year for $2200 with 196k miles on it. It isn't pretty but it is a reliable toyota with a timing chain that gets decent gas mileage and is very practical. They aren't easy to find that cheep though.

 

[power_hour]

Civic is very reliable if you can one unmolested. Nissan Sentra is another really decent gem. The old 1st gen Nissan Altima's were really good too.

 

[AMCRambler]

Had a 2000 contour svt. Loved that car but I don't that it compares to the one you mentioned. Mine had the curated v6 and a 5spd manual. Biggest problem I had was fuel pump died a slow death and the fuel tank straps rusted though.

I would check those straps to see how bad they look. Easy enough to do just by sliding under. If they are rusty then consider thats going cost about $500 clams to get replaced. its a dealer only part. I never heard bad things about the auto transmissions on that car. The above poster was the first.

That said, the Honda is the better way to go. If that clutch was also swapped changed that is. Otherwise she's going to need a new clutch. Not cheap on a shoe string budget.

 

[Harrod]

The civic might be ok if the clutch has ever been changed, but if it's original, it is probably getting close to needing to be done.

 

[BUTCH1]

The civic might be ok if the clutch has ever been changed, but if it's original, it is probably getting close to needing to be done.

Good point, I would imagine a clutch replacement would come close to the cost of the car..

 

[BUTCH1]

Today is you lucky day; my cream puff is still for sale! She can live in it should things get worse and she'll still have money left over to take you to dinner. 278k loving miles.

Don't worry about the heater core bypass this winter. There's plenty of room for a fire pit in the third row footwell.

Holy mother-of-the-family-truckster, no heater core?, I did one, welcome to 20 hours of aggravating, knuckle breaking work taking the entire dash out..

 

[ViviTheMage]

Get the civic, I bought one for $900 bucks for my little brother that has been rock solid for 2 years now.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honda S2000 or a used E36 M3... duh.

The Civic and Contour are both wrong wheel drive. Plus she could do track days with the S2000 or the M3 and she could work on it herself and save a lot of money.

 

[desy]

Avoid the Contour , /civic would be OK or Look for Saturn S series if fuel economy is a big concern, not? those Buicks are tough to beat

 

[IronWing]

Holy mother-of-the-family-truckster, no heater core?, I did one, welcome to 20 hours of aggravating, knuckle breaking work taking the entire dash out..

That's what the mechanic said before suggesting the bypass. He said the labor for replacing the core would exceed the value of the car.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Whatever you do, skip the Contour. They are piles of junk. No telling how much its previous owners had to spend on it to get it that far.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Holy mother-of-the-family-truckster, no heater core?, I did one, welcome to 20 hours of aggravating, knuckle breaking work taking the entire dash out..

20 hours? Seriously? On what?

I've never seen one that took more than 4, regardless of what it actually paid.

 

[stormkroe]

Might as well factor in the cost of ball joints for both of those too I swear, ball joints are made out of dried play-doh.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Today is you lucky day; my cream puff is still for sale! She can live in it should things get worse and she'll still have money left over to take you to dinner. 278k loving miles.

Don't worry about the heater core bypass this winter. There's plenty of room for a fire pit in the third row footwell.

wow, i didn't even know olds did a wagon in those years. i had the sedan.