Impreza (non-WRX), Legacy.
Help with an inexpensive used car reccomendation
- Thread starter cmorr
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Focus, Cobalt, or some Ecotec Saturn since you prefer domestic.
Hatchback or coupe. Don't get a kid a malibu or similar sedan unless he wants to haul passengers around (which usually isn't safe for teens).
manual trans for sure - makes him pay more attention to driving and is a good skill to learn early.
Hatchback or coupe. Don't get a kid a malibu or similar sedan unless he wants to haul passengers around (which usually isn't safe for teens).
manual trans for sure - makes him pay more attention to driving and is a good skill to learn early.
You can get a Toyota that's still a domestic. The Vibe.
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Ranger pickup, the 4 bangers get mid 20s MPG
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
This ^^^^
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
This ^^^^
car? taurus or civic.
small truck? ranger or tacoma.
all fall in the price range your looking at.
i have owned all four, good reliability, good mileage.
ranger lasted the longest, but they all got ran too death, literally.
small truck? ranger or tacoma.
all fall in the price range your looking at.
i have owned all four, good reliability, good mileage.
ranger lasted the longest, but they all got ran too death, literally.
Buick, can't go wrong.
I'd stay away from used Japanese cars, they all have spaceship mileage on them and are priced like they are gold plated.
You can pick up a nice Regal for $4k with a 3.4 or 3.8 which is a very comfortable and safe car to drive, and a super cheap to own and fix as well.
I'd stay away from used Japanese cars, they all have spaceship mileage on them and are priced like they are gold plated.
You can pick up a nice Regal for $4k with a 3.4 or 3.8 which is a very comfortable and safe car to drive, and a super cheap to own and fix as well.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
Good luck finding a 2005 Civic for $4000. They aren't bad vehicles, but they are not cheap.
I'll second the Focus. The auto transmissions are a bit weak, but Id only start to worry at 150K+ miles. If you want cheap and good you'll have to go with a domestic brand.
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
Good luck finding a 2005 Civic for $4000. They aren't bad vehicles, but they are not cheap.
I'll second the Focus. The auto transmissions are a bit weak, but Id only start to worry at 150K+ miles. If you want cheap and good you'll have to go with a domestic brand.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
Other than a timing belt in those earlier Hondas, many people don't realize that ease of DIY repair maintenance is very good on them.
$4000 for a quality car ?
2002-2005 Civic
Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.
They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
Other than a timing belt in those earlier Hondas, many people don't realize that ease of DIY repair maintenance is very good on them.
Update:
Thought I would share our experiences in the last week.
1) We decided to focus on 2002-2005 Honda's. As someone mentioned here anything under $5,000 (we even upped to $7K) has to the moon mileage. I assume these are kept in most peoples families. We chose to expand our search.
2) Ford Focus (within price range). Almost as hard to find but we did seriously conside two
3) He wanted to test drive a Taurus and even a couple Grand Marquis (I had two of these and he thought as a kid they were cool in an old man kind of way). He didnt feel comfortable in the Taurus or GM's (shame since we found two 2004 GM's is great condition with under 50K miles). His mother want's thrilled with RWD either
4)2006 Neon - Available through a fried, he loved it and we were ready to do a deal
So what did he get...... a 2003 PT Cruiser with 27K miles (gifted from my In laws, they unfortunately found out that my Mother In law can no longer drive (Alzheimers) FIL cant drive due to stroke. They wouldn't take any cash for it but we will compensate them anyway.
Purchased new by them it's completely stock (even the tires). My son and I went through the cars and replaced the belts (alt belt was a @#!$), front brakes,rotors, brake flush. We ordered a new electric rad fan (low speed not working properly, not overheating but AC operation and warm idle affected, known issue. He wont be driving until we do this job.
We also will be doing a tuneup, filters and a battery, ATF drain and fill filter replaced, coolant drain and fill with thermostat (hoses look good but will remove to inspect). Interior and exterior are excellent but we I am doing the whole detail process with him. He has been involved in the whole process (working on the car, finding/ordering parts) and is enjoying himself. he's keeping a maintenance log with receipts and caught him a couple times reading ahead in the Chilton and Hayes manuals and on-line for steps on how to do our next jobs which is good and that engine compartment is tight. In laws are thrilled he likes it (They weren't sure) and he truly appreciated their generosity.
All's well
Thought I would share our experiences in the last week.
1) We decided to focus on 2002-2005 Honda's. As someone mentioned here anything under $5,000 (we even upped to $7K) has to the moon mileage. I assume these are kept in most peoples families. We chose to expand our search.
2) Ford Focus (within price range). Almost as hard to find but we did seriously conside two
3) He wanted to test drive a Taurus and even a couple Grand Marquis (I had two of these and he thought as a kid they were cool in an old man kind of way). He didnt feel comfortable in the Taurus or GM's (shame since we found two 2004 GM's is great condition with under 50K miles). His mother want's thrilled with RWD either
4)2006 Neon - Available through a fried, he loved it and we were ready to do a deal
So what did he get...... a 2003 PT Cruiser with 27K miles (gifted from my In laws, they unfortunately found out that my Mother In law can no longer drive (Alzheimers) FIL cant drive due to stroke. They wouldn't take any cash for it but we will compensate them anyway.
Purchased new by them it's completely stock (even the tires). My son and I went through the cars and replaced the belts (alt belt was a @#!$), front brakes,rotors, brake flush. We ordered a new electric rad fan (low speed not working properly, not overheating but AC operation and warm idle affected, known issue. He wont be driving until we do this job.
We also will be doing a tuneup, filters and a battery, ATF drain and fill filter replaced, coolant drain and fill with thermostat (hoses look good but will remove to inspect). Interior and exterior are excellent but we I am doing the whole detail process with him. He has been involved in the whole process (working on the car, finding/ordering parts) and is enjoying himself. he's keeping a maintenance log with receipts and caught him a couple times reading ahead in the Chilton and Hayes manuals and on-line for steps on how to do our next jobs which is good and that engine compartment is tight. In laws are thrilled he likes it (They weren't sure) and he truly appreciated their generosity.
All's well
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It's great your son likes the car and that he is involved in all the work on it. That usually means he will take care of it and not treat it like a throwaway toy.
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