YET ANOTHER "Car Buying Time" thread - $3k budget

[Dasfinc]

Criteria are new/low mileage as possible, 25mpg+, Coupe/Sedan/Hatch, Car Illiterate family (so minimal maintenance/issues)

For my Cousin to replace his EXTREMELY beat 95 Camry (Side-swiped by a truck, messed up front bumper/grille/hood from previous run in), was passed down twice through the family to now him (Non of the damage is his fault).

So far this is the list of makes/models I'm looking at for them:
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Pontiac Vibe
Lexus ES300
Acura RSX
Acura TL
Acura Integra
Volvo V40
Focus (05+ Generation)
Mazda 3

Anything else I should slap on the list while I'm poking through Craigslist?

Click to read more...

 

[Flyn]

Vibe? That's like one of those "What does not fit in this group" puzzles.

No way will you find any kind of '05 or newer Focus for under $3K unless it's junk. You may find late '90s early 2000s Integras, Civics and Corollas for that price.

GLWS. I will watch it to see if I can get any tips on less pricey rides.

 

[Dasfinc]

Vibe? That's like one of those "What does not fit in this group" puzzles.

No way will you find any kind of '05 or newer Focus for under $3K unless it's junk. You may find late '90s early 2000s Integras, Civics and Corollas for that price.

GLWS. I will watch it to see if I can get any tips on less pricey rides.

The Vibe is the exact same Underpinnings/Engine/Trans as the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix. Toyota Matrix has the Import Stigma which causes high resale. The Vibes being a Pontiac typically have a lower price of entry, but its an import under the sheet metal.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Everything on CL under 3k is junk in my experience.

And that is all that I can help you with.

 

[Intel]

Alitma and Maxima are decent and have lower resale compared to most on the list.

 

[RICH17]

If he needs a beater to get him through the winter my Gran Am is for sale. Lower control arm bolt head broke off and I ddidnt want to deal with it. 600 bucks and its yours. Will even leave the Bluetooth head unit in

 

[Flyn]

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/5161702496.html - '99 Corolla low miles $2995.

This guy is a dealer masquerading as an owner and he's from Miami so I would not touch this car personally but it does show you what may be available. You should be able to find the less pricey imports on your list from the late '90s or a little newer if you get lucky.

 

[syP]

BUY MY JEEP!

oh.. 25mpg+ :/

 

[smokiechicago]

You could maybe add a SL series Saturn to your list
as they are pretty affordable and are decently reliable
from my experience in my auto 1996 Saturn SL1. 100HP!
Great gas mileage. Mine had a performance button on the
middle console that allowed it to rev it all the way to its
redline.

 

[Shocker]

+1 on Saturn SL

 

[10sec]

98 bonneville is what you need.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

yea Saturn SL. POS but super reliable and super easy to fix and super cheap parts

 

[smokiechicago]

Be careful when passing/being passed on the highway as the draft will definitely get ya.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Saturn SL ftw. They don't die.

 

[wombat]

+1 on Saturn SL

+2

...until you sell it to a friend a few months after buying it and it chucks a piston...

 

[Shocker]

+2

...until you sell it to a friend a few months after buying it and it chucks a piston...

Should of put oil in it!

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

+2

...until you sell it to a friend a few months after buying it and it chucks a piston...

Joey drives his cars like shit

 

[smokiechicago]

+2

...until you sell it to a friend a few months after buying it and it chucks a piston...

You're lucky that hundred shot of NOS didn't blow the welds on the intake!

 

[Shocker]

Just blame my ex-wife she's the only reason I ever got rid of it!!

 

[Intel]

Step 1 of owning a saturn.. put oil in it.
Step 2 keep on doing step 1 until it dies.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Step 1 of owning a saturn.. put oil in it.
Step 2 keep on doing step 1 until it dies.

i did this for MONTHS. NEVER changed the oil and never revved it past 4k because then it would stutter....fucking thing was knocking but as long as it had oil and i didnt go over 4k rpm....then it would drive perfectly... SOOOOO SLOOWWWW though

 

[wombat]

Should of put oil in it!

I didn't blow it up, when I sold it to a friend after buying it from you, it blew

Joey drives his cars like shit

Yeah I know...

 

[Shocker]

I didn't blow it up, when I sold it to a friend after buying it from you, it blew



Yeah I know...

I know, you had told before.

 

[Yaj Yak]

did not read thread.

saturn ion redline.


also. the vibe's are solid. my friend still owns the one i had (awd) and it is going strong... ron vogel had it like 2 months one summer for a family road trip

 

[Euro]

All this Saturn talk makes me sad we sold my wife's old SL1. 111k and I think it needed a new tensioner. Developed some kind of lifter-like tick after sitting a few months. Figured something in the top end puked...so decided to get rid of it. Later on found it was probably something easy