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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

You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester

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


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#278 of 345
didn't try the radio... by ghulet
Aug 16, 2006 (10:31 pm)
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...but I did pick up the Saturn today, it 'seems' fine, for what it is...I would never have chosen it, but for a hoopty, it looks fine, runs fine (no smells, no dash lights lit, no bad sounds, though tires are a bit thin and needs an interior cleaning), brakes fine...I knew the sunroof was fishy (electric--works horizontally opening, not closing, won't close back down, and apparently leaks) and the radio and a/c don't work, but still...it is what it is...we just bought a house, I didn't 'need' a car, but this is the perfect city car/grocery-getter, I think. It's the best-looking and running $400 car I never wanted.
#279 of 345
Re: didn't try the radio... [ghulet] by british_rover
Aug 17, 2006 (4:51 am)
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Replying to: ghulet (Aug 16, 2006 10:31 pm)

What year and how many miles on the saturn??
 
I took a 1996 Saturn sedan manual in trade not long ago that was really worth 25 dollars. If I didn't have a demo car to drive already I would use it as a commuter.
#280 of 345
details by ghulet
Aug 17, 2006 (7:50 am)
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It's a '95 SL2, automatic (which isn't so bad, I'm usually a manual guy), blue/black with tan leather, all options except CD player (unfortunately, the sunroof is glitchy), just passed 160k. It's not worth much, but I still see these (and any other non-beat up running car) all the time with silly asking prices (over $1000, which to me is silly for an 11-12 year-old domestic econocar with 160k).
#281 of 345
Re: details [ghulet] by british_rover
Aug 17, 2006 (7:54 am)
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Replying to: ghulet (Aug 17, 2006 7:50 am)

Yeah the one I took in was the same just a manual.
#282 of 345
1966= $300 2006= $1884 by stuartf
Aug 21, 2006 (10:25 am)
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OK, I need a car for a year, mostly around town and in-state. For the fun of it, I thought I would try to spend what I spent on my first vehicle (adjusted for inflation), a 1960 Renault Dauphine purchased in 1966 for $300; kept it two years and had to put a salvage engine in it ($75) but it ran and ran for all its 36 HP.
 
I think I will stay away from the Koreans on this go round, see that the Escorts and Mazdas from the mid to late 90's might fit the bill. As always, I guess condition of the vehicle is most important.
 
IMHO, buying from the private owner is the best strategy. I am going to see a 1988 CRX-si with 64K miles asking 2350 this afternoon.
 
Any other suggestions??
#283 of 345
Re: 1966= $300 2006= $1884 [stuartf] by kirstie_h HOST
Aug 21, 2006 (11:51 am)
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Replying to: stuartf (Aug 21, 2006 10:25 am)

I'm a big fan of the Protege. My '96 ate little gas, was fun to drive (manual shift), and I think magic elves performed maintenance while I slept, because it cost almost nothing in repairs. You should be able to get a later model Protege for the same $ as the '88 Civic you're looking at, though the 64K miles is an attraction.
#284 of 345
Re: 1966= $300 2006= $1884 [kirstie_h] by guss
Aug 23, 2006 (11:23 am)
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Aug 21, 2006 11:51 am)

I would be willing to bet that 64k miles is followed by a parenthases. As in (on rebuilt engine). The ain't no one driving a commuter car 3000 mile per year.
 
If I had to get a car for under $2k, I would be looking at Buick Century's ,Chevy Lumina's and on the smaller side Mazda Protege's The 2 American cars are plentiful,parts are cheap, and every mechanic in North America knows how to work on them.
#285 of 345
Re: 1966= $300 2006= $1884 [stuartf] by stuartf
Aug 23, 2006 (5:58 pm)
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Replying to: stuartf (Aug 21, 2006 10:25 am)

I am rounding it up to $2k, I have an allergy to US designed iron... so far, the Prizm and the Escort seem to be the best for the $$, near replicas of the Corolla and the Protege for 20% less. Finding a 5 speed has proven to be the problem, lots of autos out there.
 
BTW, I was the mistaken one about the CRX, it had 102K, it was genuine, but it had been modified to the taste of an adolescent, not the thing for me.
 
I have also taken to heart the suggestion about putting word out in my networks; just missed by a week or two an older Protege that was sold for $100 (my, that beats the 1966 price of the Dauphine).
 
Keep the suggestions coming.
#286 of 345
Re: 1966= $300 2006= $1884 [stuartf] by asafonov
Aug 24, 2006 (7:15 am)
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Replying to: stuartf (Aug 23, 2006 5:58 pm)

Over your limit, but I would be all over this car had I needed a commuter vehicle:
 
Toyota Corolla 2000 for Sale - $3299
Reply to: see below
Date: 2006-08-23, 11:29AM CDT
 
U. international grad student, returning home in mid Sept, want to sell car before leaving.
White toyota corolla, 2000 model, manual transmission, ~64,000 miles, good condition, everything in good working order (AC/heating, cassette player/radio, power windows, power steering, cruise control etc.)
price somewhat negotiable ...
#287 of 345
Re: 1966= $300 2006= $1884 [asafonov] by stuartf
Aug 24, 2006 (6:25 pm)
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Replying to: asafonov (Aug 24, 2006 7:15 am)

I agree, this would be worth a look. Today I drove a 98 Protege, it was quite beat. The unfortunate young man who owned it was desperate to sell it, bargained himself from $1500 to $750 without any intervention on my part, but I couldn't rescue him from the disaster if his vehicle. My neighbors just bought a 1997 Prizm, 137 k miles, paid $1900, a smooth riding vehicle but it has an automatic.
 
I continue the search

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