I have $2000 and need a car, any advice or stories to share (serious)
I have $2000 and need a car, any advice or stories to share (serious)
I go to school in Buffalo, NY, and moved somewhere where I'm going to end up needing a car. My price limit is $2000, though I'd prefer to spend less as I'm already borrowing money from my dad to make this purchase.
I have no grand ideas about getting some awesome ride, I know that whatever I get will have a lot of miles and very little in the way of amenities. I don't care about that, but what I do care about is reliability. There's no point in me buying a cheap car only to have to throw another 500-1000 into it to get it working, or to keep it working.
Basically, I'm just looking for general advice. So far I've gotten the idea, from reading car forums and such, that an older toyota corolla or honda civic would be my best bet in terms of reliability and lack of issues.
I'm also looking for a manual, as I prefer the feel of it, even though I'm not particularly experienced driving them.
If anyone has any experience buying or selling cheaper cars, what did you do?
Thanks for the help.
get a bmw m3 or mustang cobra
it's tough. you won't find anything reliable for 2k.
you'll spend 2k but end up putting 1k of repairs in the next 12 months.
my advice would be to keep taking the bus until you save more,
Hmm, thanks for the advice, I suppose it's good advice, but I still do need a car. Once I have the car I can start working and possibly paying for repair or replacement, so what would you recommend as something I would have to throw the least money into after buying?
i got my mother in law a 98 ford escort with 100k miles on it for 1500
she drove it for 3 yrs and sold it with no issues
im not a big ford fan, but the 4 cyl engine in that car had no issues
was it auto or manual tranny?
Might want to look into the cars on craiglist...don't buy it from someone who isn't local or has a neck too thick to wrap your hands around.
Used cars make me sad :(
Dude for 2000 you can get a new scooter, rock the scooter bro
You can probably get a used 90s ford focus for that price. What do you think?
1990-1994 toyota corolla.
My dad has 1990 toyota corolla wagon with 300+ miles with no problems. But he's a mechanic and knows how to take care of cars, I suggest you look into car maintenance if you're going to buy an older car.
it's tough. you won't find anything reliable for 2k.
you'll spend 2k but end up putting 1k of repairs in the next 12 months.
my advice would be to keep taking the bus until you save more, Not true. I bought a ford ranger for 900 and it lasted me 4 years with little maintenance.
Just have to look around...
how much is "a little maintenance"?
Thanks for the serious responses. I just found an 98 escort with 140 k miles on it for 1500 asking. I'm not buying anything for about a week or so, but there are definitely options out there. Keep the advice coming, and thanks again.
how much is "a little maintenance"? Usual stuff. Brakes, oil changes, filters, tires, ... etc. The only "major" repairs were a new muffler and a new fuel pump.
The cost per mile for that truck was VERY cheap. It was about 8 cents per mile (not including gas). A new vehicle is like 40 cents per mile.
Thanks for the serious responses. I just found an 98 escort with 140 k miles on it for 1500 asking. I'm not buying anything for about a week or so, but there are definitely options out there. Keep the advice coming, and thanks again. Escorts are very reliable. Civics are probably out of your price range, but still reliable. Stay away from any European cars; their parts are too expensive. Chevy Cavaliers are very unreliable. Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range.
Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range. I can sell him my old one (the one I was just talking about). The engine is great. However the truck will need a new clutch and catalytic converter. I'm going to try to sell it for $600.
get a bmw m3 or mustang cobra I lol'ed... Funny guy!
To OP: Find a toyota pu w/22R, 22RE.. Bullet proof!
Try to find a early 90's civic, corolla or sentra.
Escorts are very reliable. Civics are probably out of your price range, but still reliable. Stay away from any European cars; their parts are too expensive. Chevy Cavaliers are very unreliable. Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range. I looked at reviews and most said their escorts were either problem free or complete headaches. In your experience, have escorts performed well?
bump for more opinions
I looked at reviews and most said their escorts were either problem free or complete headaches. In your experience, have escorts performed well? Escorts are very, very easy and cheap to maintain. That the biggest positive for an escort. My dad was talking to a mechanic when I was trying to find a car. He works on Porches and Mercedes. He said that the #1 car in his opinion for a hs/college student is a Ford Escort. I ended up getting a Cavalier, which I would not recommend, unless you know how to work on cars. It is fairly reliable, but it will have weird little problems that are easy to fix if you know how, but would be expensive if you have to have a mechanic do everything.
I can sell him my old one (the one I was just talking about). The engine is great. However the truck will need a new clutch and catalytic converter. I'm going to try to sell it for $600. What year and what's the condition of the body. My dad has owned two Rangers and has never had a single problem with them. They're ****ing invincible. He was trying to make his 15+yo 89 Ranger crap out by not doing any maintenance.(he refused to junk it until it died) It lasted two years with nothing(no oil, not a single cent put into it). The fuel pump finally died, and he then went and got another one, which has not needed anything except oil. Unless it's really old or has rust on the frame, it would be a great buy for the OP.
Dude I got a 1992 Honda accord for sale if your interested (serious). I live in pittsburgh so im kinda close. Runs like a ****ing champ. PM me in your interested. Its inspected and has zero problems
I've heard horror stories about escorts. I'd be willing to learn how to work on them, but I literally have no experience with cars at all. My neighbor is a mechanic, and I'm sure I'd be able to ask the odd question, besides being generally good with my hands and patient enough to research and figure it out.
it looks like I'm leaning towards buying an early 90's corolla, camry, or civic with high mileage, getting it checked out my a mechanic before buying, and doing my best with it.
I'm still up for suggestions, so suggest away. Who makes the ranger and how is it on gas?
bump
I'd recommend staying away from US automakers small cars (Escort, cavalier, etc....). Check into older Toyota's (Corolla, Tercel, even older Celicas can be had for your price range......and the unstoppable Toyota pickup as mentioned above :cool: ). We currently own 2 Toyotas ('05 Corolla and '92 Celica), have previously owned 2 other Toyotas ('91 Tercel, '75 Celica) and they are about as reliable as a car is going to get. You'll still have to factor into your bidget some $$$ for possible repairs...... but repairing/insuring an older car is way cheaper than paying for and insuring a new car, for sure. Go old Toyotas - they may not be the flashiest nor fastest car on the block, but they run a long long time on just regular maintenence, for the most part.
thanks for the reply fuelish. Old Toyota or Hondas seem to be my best option. Does anyone know what year they started putting airbags in?
I go to school in Buffalo, NY, and moved somewhere where I'm going to end up needing a car. My price limit is $2000, though I'd prefer to spend less as I'm already borrowing money from my dad to make this purchase.
I have no grand ideas about getting some awesome ride, I know that whatever I get will have a lot of miles and very little in the way of amenities. I don't care about that, but what I do care about is reliability. There's no point in me buying a cheap car only to have to throw another 500-1000 into it to get it working, or to keep it working.
Basically, I'm just looking for general advice. So far I've gotten the idea, from reading car forums and such, that an older toyota corolla or honda civic would be my best bet in terms of reliability and lack of issues.
I'm also looking for a manual, as I prefer the feel of it, even though I'm not particularly experienced driving them.
If anyone has any experience buying or selling cheaper cars, what did you do?
Thanks for the help.
Answer:
get a bmw m3 or mustang cobra
Answer:
it's tough. you won't find anything reliable for 2k.
you'll spend 2k but end up putting 1k of repairs in the next 12 months.
my advice would be to keep taking the bus until you save more,
Answer:
Hmm, thanks for the advice, I suppose it's good advice, but I still do need a car. Once I have the car I can start working and possibly paying for repair or replacement, so what would you recommend as something I would have to throw the least money into after buying?
Answer:
i got my mother in law a 98 ford escort with 100k miles on it for 1500
she drove it for 3 yrs and sold it with no issues
im not a big ford fan, but the 4 cyl engine in that car had no issues
Answer:
was it auto or manual tranny?
Answer:
Might want to look into the cars on craiglist...don't buy it from someone who isn't local or has a neck too thick to wrap your hands around.
Answer:
Used cars make me sad :(
Answer:
Dude for 2000 you can get a new scooter, rock the scooter bro
Answer:
You can probably get a used 90s ford focus for that price. What do you think?
Answer:
1990-1994 toyota corolla.
My dad has 1990 toyota corolla wagon with 300+ miles with no problems. But he's a mechanic and knows how to take care of cars, I suggest you look into car maintenance if you're going to buy an older car.
Answer:
it's tough. you won't find anything reliable for 2k.
you'll spend 2k but end up putting 1k of repairs in the next 12 months.
my advice would be to keep taking the bus until you save more, Not true. I bought a ford ranger for 900 and it lasted me 4 years with little maintenance.
Just have to look around...
Answer:
how much is "a little maintenance"?
Answer:
Thanks for the serious responses. I just found an 98 escort with 140 k miles on it for 1500 asking. I'm not buying anything for about a week or so, but there are definitely options out there. Keep the advice coming, and thanks again.
Answer:
how much is "a little maintenance"? Usual stuff. Brakes, oil changes, filters, tires, ... etc. The only "major" repairs were a new muffler and a new fuel pump.
The cost per mile for that truck was VERY cheap. It was about 8 cents per mile (not including gas). A new vehicle is like 40 cents per mile.
Answer:
Thanks for the serious responses. I just found an 98 escort with 140 k miles on it for 1500 asking. I'm not buying anything for about a week or so, but there are definitely options out there. Keep the advice coming, and thanks again. Escorts are very reliable. Civics are probably out of your price range, but still reliable. Stay away from any European cars; their parts are too expensive. Chevy Cavaliers are very unreliable. Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range.
Answer:
Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range. I can sell him my old one (the one I was just talking about). The engine is great. However the truck will need a new clutch and catalytic converter. I'm going to try to sell it for $600.
Answer:
get a bmw m3 or mustang cobra I lol'ed... Funny guy!
To OP: Find a toyota pu w/22R, 22RE.. Bullet proof!
Answer:
Try to find a early 90's civic, corolla or sentra.
Answer:
Escorts are very reliable. Civics are probably out of your price range, but still reliable. Stay away from any European cars; their parts are too expensive. Chevy Cavaliers are very unreliable. Rangers are reliable, but they are hard to find in your price range. I looked at reviews and most said their escorts were either problem free or complete headaches. In your experience, have escorts performed well?
Answer:
bump for more opinions
Answer:
I looked at reviews and most said their escorts were either problem free or complete headaches. In your experience, have escorts performed well? Escorts are very, very easy and cheap to maintain. That the biggest positive for an escort. My dad was talking to a mechanic when I was trying to find a car. He works on Porches and Mercedes. He said that the #1 car in his opinion for a hs/college student is a Ford Escort. I ended up getting a Cavalier, which I would not recommend, unless you know how to work on cars. It is fairly reliable, but it will have weird little problems that are easy to fix if you know how, but would be expensive if you have to have a mechanic do everything.
I can sell him my old one (the one I was just talking about). The engine is great. However the truck will need a new clutch and catalytic converter. I'm going to try to sell it for $600. What year and what's the condition of the body. My dad has owned two Rangers and has never had a single problem with them. They're ****ing invincible. He was trying to make his 15+yo 89 Ranger crap out by not doing any maintenance.(he refused to junk it until it died) It lasted two years with nothing(no oil, not a single cent put into it). The fuel pump finally died, and he then went and got another one, which has not needed anything except oil. Unless it's really old or has rust on the frame, it would be a great buy for the OP.
Answer:
Dude I got a 1992 Honda accord for sale if your interested (serious). I live in pittsburgh so im kinda close. Runs like a ****ing champ. PM me in your interested. Its inspected and has zero problems
Answer:
I've heard horror stories about escorts. I'd be willing to learn how to work on them, but I literally have no experience with cars at all. My neighbor is a mechanic, and I'm sure I'd be able to ask the odd question, besides being generally good with my hands and patient enough to research and figure it out.
it looks like I'm leaning towards buying an early 90's corolla, camry, or civic with high mileage, getting it checked out my a mechanic before buying, and doing my best with it.
I'm still up for suggestions, so suggest away. Who makes the ranger and how is it on gas?
Answer:
bump
Answer:
I'd recommend staying away from US automakers small cars (Escort, cavalier, etc....). Check into older Toyota's (Corolla, Tercel, even older Celicas can be had for your price range......and the unstoppable Toyota pickup as mentioned above :cool: ). We currently own 2 Toyotas ('05 Corolla and '92 Celica), have previously owned 2 other Toyotas ('91 Tercel, '75 Celica) and they are about as reliable as a car is going to get. You'll still have to factor into your bidget some $$$ for possible repairs...... but repairing/insuring an older car is way cheaper than paying for and insuring a new car, for sure. Go old Toyotas - they may not be the flashiest nor fastest car on the block, but they run a long long time on just regular maintenence, for the most part.
Answer:
thanks for the reply fuelish. Old Toyota or Hondas seem to be my best option. Does anyone know what year they started putting airbags in?