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Good, Cheap Beater Cars & Inexpensive Commuter Cars - how to find one?

345 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 9:00 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura Integra, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Mazda Protege, Buying Insurance

#257 of 345 those were fun by ghulet Jul 18, 2006 (8:43 pm)
I really like the Hondas/Acuras with the pop-up headlights, though they were a pain in the Winter, and the cars are becoming scarce (rusted away, at least here in the midwest). The interiors always felt roomy, I think mostly because of the low dashboards and large greenhouses.   Shifting gears here, anyone have any advice about which beaters to STAY AWAY from? I have a friend looking for a four-cylinder used car under $3500. Not too difficult, and I don't think he's too picky. Thus far, I have only advised strongly against the pervasive disease known as the NEON, but have steered him toward the following:   Cavalier/Sunfire (mostly cuz they're plentiful, cheap, and as far as I know, pretty reliable; otherwise, I'd pass)   Geo Prism/Toyota Corolla, though you're hard pressed to find one under ten years old for under $3500, especially the Corollas (no surprise there)   Ford Escort (97 up): again, cheap to buy and fix, and plentiful, reliable, not much else to recommend   Nissan Altimas: about as much style as you can get in this segment at this price without trying to find a Camry, Civic or Accord, which are mostly old and rusty for $3500   Nissan Sentra: surprisingly expensive here in Chicago (saw a '94 in a lot for $3k asking-it looked nice, but c'mon, it's a thirteen year-old econobox!), and not all that fun to drive, IMO.   Mazda Protege-my personal favorite, reliable, FUN to drive, but probably a bit more $$ to fix than most others here, when they do break down. Replies to this message: jlawrence01 (Jul 19, 2006 5:42 am) british_rover (Jul 19, 2006 5:54 am)
#258 of 345 Re: those were fun [ghulet] by jlawrence01 Jul 19, 2006 (5:42 am)
Replying to: ghulet (Jul 18, 2006 8:43 pm) Personally, I would look at some of the smaller 6-cyl vehicles out there in that price ranmge - Buick Century, etc. The gas mileage is similar and the engines may hold up better than say a Cavalier/Sunfire, etc.   Other than that, you assessments are frightfully accurate. Replies to this message: british_rover (Jul 19, 2006 5:54 am)
#259 of 345 Re: those were fun [jlawrence01] by british_rover Jul 19, 2006 (5:54 am)
Replying to: jlawrence01 (Jul 19, 2006 5:42 am) Yeah agreed a lot of the early to mid 90s 6 cyl domestics are extremly reliable and fairly good gas mileage.
#260 of 345 Escort, all the way by jaserb Jul 19, 2006 (7:24 am)
My brother bought a very decent '02 with under 35k miles a few months ago, and paid in the low $5s. That's with an automatic, PW, PL, Cruise, and A/C, so it's not exactly a penalty box. It's probably good for 100k miles with very little expense, and it absolutely sips gas. Can't beat that with a stick.   -Jason
#261 of 345 jaserb by michaell Jul 19, 2006 (8:11 am)
My brother bought a very decent '02 with under 35k miles...   Is this the same brother you bought the 'clean as a whistle' Maxima for a year or so back?   My daughters friend just got a car .. '97 Chevrolet Cavalier with 84K on it. Automatic (4-speed), AC, but no power accessories or cruise. Not sure how much her parents paid for it, but it runs good (she says it just needs a new fuel filter) and should last her a few years.
#262 of 345 Different brother. by jaserb Jul 19, 2006 (1:00 pm)
I have 4 brothers, and helped all but one buy a car last year   The "clean as a whistle" Maxima is getting a bit chewed up after spending too much time in college parking garages, but it still runs great.   -Jason
#263 of 345 hmmm by ghulet Jul 19, 2006 (5:09 pm)
The timing on this is not so great (trying to buy a house, need to really watch cash for the next month or two), but a co-worker is about to buy a new car, and wants to get rid of the following, which to no surprise, the Toyota dealer has zero interest in, on the trade of a new Sienna (at ~$500 below invoice):   95 (old body but dual airbags, so no mousebelts) Saturn SL2, blue-black with leather, 159k miles, automatic, loaded but sunroof inop (and needs to be fixed or sealed up: it got stuck in the open position, she forced it closed, now it's leaking), she says interior is what you'd expect for a grocery getter of a woman with two toddlers, no radio, I didn't ask (and don't care) about the a/c, she says it's been reliable (never stranded her, etc.), but 'is what it is'. I'm moving to a neighborhood that's a bit more remote than where I live now, so a car would be a nice thing, but I can't/won't swing a payment, plus, my S.O. and brother both have cars (street parking is OK, and the new house has a two-car garage). I'm almost sure she'd let it go for $400-500. I would like to pick up a beater eventually, not sure if this is the one I want, but at the price, I feel it'd almost be foolish to pass it up. This would be strictly a grocery getter/city car. Most Saturns in this year/condition (if they're being honest) seem to be $1000-1500ish or higher retail. I don't know what to do--I can kinda take it or leave it, but I'm thinking if it lasts me six months or a year with nothing major (I won't put big $ in it), it might not be bad. Any thoughts? I know, I don't 'need' a car, and I'm cheap, but this might work out....there's not much risk, really. Anyone know if SL2s are 'interference' or not? I'd hate to buy something for even $500 and have to junk it or put $600 into a new timing belt. Aye yi yi. Replies to this message: corvette (Jul 20, 2006 1:30 pm) steine13 (Jul 20, 2006 2:13 pm) zodiac2004 (Jul 25, 2006 9:22 am)
#264 of 345 Re: hmmm [ghulet] by corvette Jul 20, 2006 (1:30 pm)
Replying to: ghulet (Jul 19, 2006 5:09 pm) I think they have timing chains. You could always buy it, park it in the garage, and not drive it so you don't have to pay insurance on it.
#265 of 345 Re: hmmm [ghulet] by steine13 Jul 20, 2006 (2:13 pm)
Replying to: ghulet (Jul 19, 2006 5:09 pm) 95 (old body but dual airbags, so no mousebelts) Saturn SL2   Don't you wish. Just like the Escort, they retained the idiot belts along with the dual air bags. Mathias no like. Bad medicine.   -Mathias Replies to this message: zodiac2004 (Jul 25, 2006 9:22 am)
#266 of 345 timing chains, correct, Corvette by ghulet Jul 20, 2006 (6:49 pm)
Just found that out, definitely a relief, though obviously any car with almost 160k is a gamble. Still, I'm probably going to end up buying the Saturn, just so I'm not semi-stranded (having to rely on public transport and/or cabs that aren't all that common in my new 'hood) just so I have a way to get around the city. Seller has already told me she'd definitely let it go for '$400-500', that the heat and defrost work, windows and locks work and that it's a 'decent' car. She has the income and two toddlers, so I can't blame her for wanting something newer/safer/larger, and for not wanting to put any more money in that old thing. I'm pretty sure insurance will cost $40-50 a month, so not really an issue. I just can't justify doing a payment for what is essentially a third family car that I don't use for work. So, Mathias, this thing retained the idiot belts? Drat. Oh well, I lived with them on my Protege (those were motorized, I don't think they are on Saturns), so I can live with them again, especially on a five hundred dollar beater. I'm going to look at it over the weekend (if she gets her new family truckster, er Sienna), stay tuned.

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