Probably a Ram or F150 -- assuming I get to keep my current rides. I'd also consider an unmolested SRT-4.
What car would you get with $8,000?
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Originally Posted By: oilmaven
I haven't been in the market for a used car in awhile...would have to take a look at what $8,000 buys anymore (used car prices have increased so much I can't imagine $8,000 buys nearly as much car as a few years ago).
Our local Smart Car sales lot has radio spots touting, for example, a '99 Lexus LS400 on sale for $9975. Almost 10 grand for a 12-year-old car, however solid and reliable, that was not and is not a rare or collectible machine? I dunno.
I haven't been in the market for a used car in awhile...would have to take a look at what $8,000 buys anymore (used car prices have increased so much I can't imagine $8,000 buys nearly as much car as a few years ago).
Our local Smart Car sales lot has radio spots touting, for example, a '99 Lexus LS400 on sale for $9975. Almost 10 grand for a 12-year-old car, however solid and reliable, that was not and is not a rare or collectible machine? I dunno.
ls1mike
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I would buy another LSX powered car.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2393588100.html
Maybe a Jeep or something older that needed some work. Like something from the 40's or 50's, so I could put my spare 5.3 and 4l65E in it.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2393588100.html
Maybe a Jeep or something older that needed some work. Like something from the 40's or 50's, so I could put my spare 5.3 and 4l65E in it.
If it had to be one vehicle, it would be a GMT800 Suburban, $8000 should be enough to get a 2002-2004 model with a shade under 100K. There's my 7-8-9 passenger seating and towing ability. MPG from 15-18 or so. Works for me.
For $8000 I would be more likely to buy two vehicles so I have a better choice when it comes to moving people and things.
1) $5000-$6000 for a GMT800 Suburban/Yukon XL, 00-02 model, 100-150K miles. That's the family hauler for when all 6 or more of us go somewhere together. Still gets high teens, no worse than the Durango we have now, just has more seatbelts, more cargo space, isn't about to need a transmission, etc etc etc...
2) $2000-$3000 to spend on a very clean late 80s-early 90s subcompact sedan with a small engine and a 5-speed, cold air, 5-passenger seating. This would be the family hauler when not ALL of us are going somewhere, the daily driver for grocery getting and other tasks, and basically would see 60-80% of the driving. I'm thinking 88-91 "EF" Civic, 88-92 Corolla, 89-92 Prizm, or the next generation of each (92-95 "EG" Civic, 93-97 Corolla/Prizm). Also would consider a Subaru Loyale, Mirage/Colt/Summit, Escort/Tracer/323/Protege, Sentra, and some select others but most interested in the EF-EG Civic sedans and the NUMMI twins due to their simplicity.
For $8000 I would be more likely to buy two vehicles so I have a better choice when it comes to moving people and things.
1) $5000-$6000 for a GMT800 Suburban/Yukon XL, 00-02 model, 100-150K miles. That's the family hauler for when all 6 or more of us go somewhere together. Still gets high teens, no worse than the Durango we have now, just has more seatbelts, more cargo space, isn't about to need a transmission, etc etc etc...
2) $2000-$3000 to spend on a very clean late 80s-early 90s subcompact sedan with a small engine and a 5-speed, cold air, 5-passenger seating. This would be the family hauler when not ALL of us are going somewhere, the daily driver for grocery getting and other tasks, and basically would see 60-80% of the driving. I'm thinking 88-91 "EF" Civic, 88-92 Corolla, 89-92 Prizm, or the next generation of each (92-95 "EG" Civic, 93-97 Corolla/Prizm). Also would consider a Subaru Loyale, Mirage/Colt/Summit, Escort/Tracer/323/Protege, Sentra, and some select others but most interested in the EF-EG Civic sedans and the NUMMI twins due to their simplicity.
I would probably get a GMC/Chevy full size truck with extended cab or 4 doors or maybe an Avalanche.
I went for a ride in a 2000 Miata yesterday with a quick driver at my autocross race... I really shouldn't, that car is so perfect for autocross its annoying to go back to my Neon...
I beat him after PAXing but if $8k had to be spent on a car, that would be the one!
I beat him after PAXing but if $8k had to be spent on a car, that would be the one!
Agreed, old Miatas are great for the money. Sadly the really old ones (early 90s) are rusting and getting really beat up.
98 Mustang GT just like i had before. I still have all my Maximum Motorsports parts sitting in my garage along with the 2000 Cobra R brake setup with cooling ducts.
With what I have now, I'd be looking for a Javelin, Machine, Rebel, charger, challenger, dart, etc.
If I had no cars, I'd be looking for an IS300, ls400, GS300 or GS400, or maybe another cressida, with leftover money for repairs.
If I had no cars, I'd be looking for an IS300, ls400, GS300 or GS400, or maybe another cressida, with leftover money for repairs.
You could get a 1990's Mercedes Benz such as a C-320 for that money.
With my current car? A CNG Crown Vic. I'd run it around town; to work and back, etc. Keep that wear and tear off my good one.
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TDI, or an LS powered coupe. Maybe a Jeep then swap an LS or Mercedes diesel.
A friend recently paid 8K bucks for a 2009 Ford Police Interceptor..It was former prisoner transport car..It had 90K miles on it..He also knew one of the drivers.
According to the maintenance records the car was serviced by Ford the bulk of the time every 7500 miles [long distance car] using 5W20 Motorcraft Full Synthetic and sometimes 5W20 Mobil 1 at a Mobil 1 Express Lube center.
They generally keep those cars for 200K miles but since Ford will not be making the CVPI anymore and Ford was overloaded with 2011 CVPI'S the agency made a great deal on a few new cars.
According to the maintenance records the car was serviced by Ford the bulk of the time every 7500 miles [long distance car] using 5W20 Motorcraft Full Synthetic and sometimes 5W20 Mobil 1 at a Mobil 1 Express Lube center.
They generally keep those cars for 200K miles but since Ford will not be making the CVPI anymore and Ford was overloaded with 2011 CVPI'S the agency made a great deal on a few new cars.
If I were very patient & resourceful, I could probably find a clean, high-mileage `02 Audi S6 Avant for $8k(or less). Last year, I had the opportunity to buy a 100k+ `03 Audi RS6(unbroken TB, but it NEEDED it!) for $10k...would-a, could-a, should-a.
^ I wouldn't touch either of those with a ten foot pole. If either of those cars were that cheap, they would probably have serious problems.
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