Always conflicated with cars.... (sub 5K cars vs newer 15-17K cars)

[debian0001]

I've test driven a bunch of cars I am interested in the 15 to 18K range but some things have popped up in my head....

I live in Chicago in a nice area but I park on the streets. I've been in a couple minor accidents with my current car that is on its last legs.

The last thing I want to deal with is a newish car getting into an accident or side swiped like my friend who just bought a new car.

I am almost thinking about trying to find a car under 5,000 dollars. I don't care if it's a gas guzzler, my commute is 2 miles but sometimes it's 40+ miles to corporate but it's rare.

Are cheap older cars too much of a risk / hassle with repairs to make it worth it?

 

[nerp]

Not if they're cared for. Then a used car is totally worth it. The trick is finding one. Service records are key.

 

[debian0001]

Would you recommend going to a dealer with good ratings, or looking for a personal one that's for sale?

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Beater cars rule!!

I bought a 1992 Honda Accord with 134000 miles on it for $700.00. Did some minor repairs on it (doing the work myself) including a new water pump, timing belt, and alternator which cost me another couple hundred plus my time.

Drove it for three years until the engine let go just a couple of months ago at 196000 miles. I think I only changed the oil in it maybe 4 times total.

Finally I called a salvage yard to come and get it once it quit running and they paid me $250.00 to come to my house and drag it away...

So basically for $600.00 and some change I got myself another 60,000 miles up the road.

Carried liability for like $200.00 a year and never gave a rats ass who or what hit it or what I ran into with it. Never washed it, never waxed it, didn't care if it got stolen...a VERY liberating experience coming from driving mostly newer cars making monthly payments and worrying over door dings, etc...

Was it worth it? I sure think so. Currently looking for another one just like it! I'll probably never own another expensive vehicle again.

My old dirty rusty hammer drives nails just as good as your brand new shiny one.

 

[tortillasoup]

when you replaced the water pump, did you replace the radiator cap? how about the pcv valve? when you do your maintenance, perhaps being more thorough will stretch your dollar significantly further.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Not if they're cared for. Then a used car is totally worth it. The trick is finding one. Service records are key.

This is my biggest challenge - my concern would be that if I paid $5k for a car and then the transmission had to be rebuilt ($2-3k) or something else that cost $1k+ at a shop (not something I'd like to do myself). Those things could easily put it at being a $6-8k car after that. I would have rather wanted a car for more money initially that wouldn't have needed that work.

OP - what about a slightly used car? I picked up a 2010 Civic for $12.4k with only 38k miles recently.

 

[tortillasoup]

not worth it imo. A best value vehicle would be something like a high miles prius with service records.

my current car that is on its last legs.

what does that even mean?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Most expensive car I've ever bought was $4300. Everytime I think about getting another car I try to convince myself to get a new one but it always comes down to I don't drive enough to bother like the OP. I live 3 miles from work and drive around 5k-7k miles a year so why bother. Currently I have an 04 VW jetta wagon TDI with 220k miles on it that I paid $3500 for and looks and drives great but I've only had it a year. My best bang for the buck car was an old beat to shit 89 dodge caravan that I paid $800 for and keep for 12 years lol. Everything on it worked, it was super usefull, and it was worthless so I couldn't justify getting rid of it.

Cars last a long time anymore so you shouldn't have a problem finding a decent 100k mile car for under $5k.

 

[debian0001]

This is my biggest challenge - my concern would be that if I paid $5k for a car and then the transmission had to be rebuilt ($2-3k) or something else that cost $1k+ at a shop (not something I'd like to do myself). Those things could easily put it at being a $6-8k car after that. I would have rather wanted a car for more money initially that wouldn't have needed that work.

OP - what about a slightly used car? I picked up a 2010 Civic for $12.4k with only 38k miles recently.

I got a loan through my bank and the min is 15K so it would be around that range.

 

[debian0001]

not worth it imo. A best value vehicle would be something like a high miles prius with service records.


what does that even mean?

Head gasket leak
Catalytic converter leak (check engine light on)
Hole in muffler (loud going over 50 MPH)
suspension shot
knocking
Just broke 139,000 miles

 

[monkeydelmagico]

i walk to work but like to tinker with cars as a hobby. I drive for fun mostly. There are lots of options for cheap reliable rides. Here are some of mine.

You can buy two ex-cop cars for $5k and have change left over. I bought a 2006 crown vic with detective package and 112K miles for $2200. 2 years ago. It needed a new temp mixer for the HVAC and tires. Otherwise it was great. Took it to the drag strip several times with a trunk full of nitrous. Finally managed to blow it up the summer of 2012 and got $550 back at the junkyard. So I bought another one. A 2007 crown vic whitey with spotlight and push bar 125K for $2450.- at auctions. The 2007 needed battery and still needs tires. It goes the the dragstrip a couple times a year too. A little less NOS though.

A couple years ago I grabbed a 2000 ford widstar for $1300 with 102k miles. I've put less than $300.- in parts on that thing and it keeps going. A year before that I picked up a 2000 mazda protege for $2500 with 112K miles. My son drives it all over the place. We just changed the oil and it has 165k miles now. I would guess I've spent less than $1k in parts and labor on that car over the past 3-4 years.

 

[tortillasoup]

Head gasket leak
Catalytic converter leak (check engine light on)
Hole in muffler (loud going over 50 MPH)
suspension shot
knocking
Just broke 139,000 miles

What kind of car was it. headgasket could be lack of maintenance, suspension could be cheap shocks, cel for cat could be cause by dirty running vehicle due to lack of maintenance, old o2 sensor, etc. Most failures are penny wise pound foolish maintenance practices.

 

[nedfunnell]

I used to drive a 1990 Camry I got for $20- essentially given to me so I could get to a ministry where I volunteered for a year. I loved that car. I echo Jolly Roger, except that I took care of the car more. I didn't care if I scraped something or to lock the doors. It got okay gas mileage (26) and was comfortable and dependable. I replaced it more out of fear that I might die in a minor accident (major, structural rust propagated after I owned it) than because it stopped functioning.

Toyota: Make the 1990 Camry LE again, but add lightness and put the Echo's engine in it for 40 MPG. I would buy that styling, trim, and functionality all over again.

(For $20)

 

[thedarkwolf]

I used to drive a 1990 Camry I got for $20- essentially given to me so I could get to a ministry where I volunteered for a year.

Had one of those too. Back when I started college I had a classic and didn't like leaving it parked in the school parking lot so I started looking for a cheap beater. An 81 plymouth horizan broke down in the parent's drive way and the people just gave it too me lol. I rebuilt the carb, put new brakes on it, and 4 brand new tires all for under $300 and drove it a year and sold it for $300. Other than the fact it never broke down it was the biggest POS I've ever driven. Nothing worked on it other than what needed too to be legal.

 

[debian0001]

What kind of car was it. headgasket could be lack of maintenance, suspension could be cheap shocks, cel for cat could be cause by dirty running vehicle due to lack of maintenance, old o2 sensor, etc. Most failures are penny wise pound foolish maintenance practices.

it's def. a head gasket leak when the whole engine is covered in oil on the outside.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Chicago? I would never buy anything nice, or something I would get personally attached to.

However, a good reliable $5k car is tough to find nowadays unless you can work on it yourself.

Personally, I would probably get a 3-4 year old economy car.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

it's def. a head gasket leak when the whole engine is covered in oil on the outside.

Covered in oil doesn't mean jack as far as a blown head gasket.

Knocking is worse. But 139k still has life left. Have you had it looked at by a GOOD shop, not a friend?


Year/make/model of current vehicle?

 

[TripleThreatTLT]

Get a 97-99 Jeep Cherokee. Super Reliable, Run Forever and easy to work on. Easily in the sub $5k price range as well.

 

[Meghan54]

Covered in oil doesn't mean jack as far as a blown head gasket.

So true.....that sounds more like a valve cover gasket, a completely different animal than a head gasket.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Find a sub 5k lexus.. plenty out there and they are super reliable.

 

[MagickMan]

So true.....that sounds more like a valve cover gasket, a completely different animal than a head gasket.

Was about to say that, it's likely an easy (and quick) fix.

 

[tortillasoup]

Was about to say that, it's likely an easy (and quick) fix.

not to mention the fact that a leaking valve cover gasket is likely caused by OP not changing his PCV valve which causes a buildup in crankcase pressure and forcing the gasses out through every gasket possible instead of being sucked up into the intake and burned in the engine.

 

[debian0001]

Covered in oil doesn't mean jack as far as a blown head gasket.

Knocking is worse. But 139k still has life left. Have you had it looked at by a GOOD shop, not a friend?


Year/make/model of current vehicle?

Well... it's not blown, it's leaking.

2002 Dodge Neon. Collectivly there's too many problems. I can dump 2 grand to fix this car and what? it might just die.

I forgot to add, there's knocking. It's been knocking for years, at least 2 to 3.

 

[nerp]

I wouldn't invest in the Neon with those issues and I'm a Chrysler fanboy.

 

[raf051888]

I wouldn't put another dime into the Neon. I had a 97, I know its a different generation but they seemed to be really cheaply made.

As for a sub $5k car look at old Toyotas [Camry, Corolla] or a Civic.