Wrecked My Car, Have Little Money, Need Suggestions...

[RVDNuT374]

You should be able to pick up a 95-99 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable in good shape with fairly low miles for well under $10,000. They get decent gas mileage, have good performance with the Duratec V6, and have endless supplies of parts. They're also not that expensive to insure. But you'll have to deal with the infamous Ford features.

Or for something more reliable but a bit more boring, get a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

 

[Driftster]

A Civic Hybrid might break 40. But the gas versions are EPA rated 35-37. Add in real world variables, such as tires at proper inflation, rather than 50+ psi, and traffic, and you get 33 mpg or so.

Yes, the Camry does move a lot faster than it feels like it's moving. I use cruise, and pay attention to the speed the cars around me are going. If I'm blowing by them I know I need to slow down.
While it's true that a lot of oldsters own Civics, they are usually "last cars" and since they are owned by older people, usually women, they have automatic trannies. Not that women can't/won't drive a manual. Most reach a certain age and economic level and feel like they can live just fine with an auto.
Hell, I'm only 41, and my wife has been trying to talk me in to a car with an auto for the last 5 years. And while she is perfectly fine in a stick shift, she prefers to drive a vehicle with an auto.

I did also edit in that I think Hondas are good cars. I'd rather have an Accord. But for basically the same money, you can get a Camry with better creature comforts, and you only give up good ground clearance, and 2-3 MPG.

Also, I never said you couldn't find a Civic that hadn't been "riced". I said that you could get an unmodded Camry lots easier. I didn't add that almost all of them are Sage brown. I believe the key fob control for the alarm is so you can figure out which brown Camry is yours.

Go look up the VX...and tell me it's not in the 40's...

 

[Ev0]

I would highly recommend staying away from GM cars. Recently, they have been improving, but since you're looking at used cars, you'd have to go with one a few years old. My dad's mechanic tells all his customers to avoid used GM cars like the plague; they have quite poor reliability, based on his first hand experience.

 

[Gil]

Go look up the VX...and tell me it's not in the 40's...

I got my information at www.msn.com under the used autos section.
I usually compare between them and www.intellichoice.com.
They never mentioned a VX, they mention an HX that is rated at 38-43 MPG Highway. Which means in the real world with some one that short shifts, and never really tips into the throttle, it'll get 37 mpg on a great day, and maybe 35 the rest of the time. All the other models are rated at less.
I used the info in the same way that it panned out for my Ranger.
Both rated my Ranger at about 25 Mpg Highway.
I drive it highway 80+ miles a day and get anywhere from 22-24 MPG.
Taking their figures, and down-grading them the same amount for the Civic, I come up with the 33 MPG figure. Which is nothing to sneeze at.
I'd love to be getting over 30MPG.
I know the 4-cyl Camry's mileage because I happen to have one, and I check the mileage almost every time I fill it up. Again, I never said the Civic isn't a good choice.
however, because of my physical size, I prefer the bigger car.
Again, I didn't say the Civic was a bad choice. I happen to like Civics. But, for the money, I happen to think you'll get the most utility out of a Camry.
When I bought the thing, I drove it in back to back (literally 5 minutes apart) comparison with an Accord. I happen to really like Accords, BTW. But both my wife and I thought the Camry had the Accord beat hands down.
I also had a much harder time getting into and out of the Accord. I figure the Civic is smaller, therefore, I would have to slip it on like a very tight jacket.

That is one of my personal biases against the Honda

 

[pSI civic]

the vx model civic (92-95 hatchback) gets very good milage. see, the engine uses vtec-e. not vtec, but vtec-e. hondas normal vtec system operates at high rpm by switching to a larger cam profile to increase lift thus making the engine breath better. vtec-e works the other way around. at lower rpm, under about 2500-3000rpm, the cam profile is almost totaly round, only big enough to stop fuel puddling. above that rpm, it switchs to a normal economy profile for slightly better performance like for highway merging.

 

[Driftster]

No one ever mentiones the VX..why? because they're affraid to..

Fact is a VX can get upwards in the high 40's MPG with easy driving.

If you ever get the chance to take on for a spin.....Borrow it for a week, because that's about how long the tank will last.

 

[skip0110]

the vx model civic (92-95 hatchback) gets very good milage. see, the engine uses vtec-e. not vtec, but vtec-e. hondas normal vtec system operates at high rpm by switching to a larger cam profile to increase lift thus making the engine breath better. vtec-e works the other way around. at lower rpm, under about 2500-3000rpm, the cam profile is almost totaly round, only big enough to stop fuel puddling. above that rpm, it switchs to a normal economy profile for slightly better performance like for highway merging.

If I understamd what you said correctly, the engine is going to be totally gutless under 2500 rpm since it can't breathe. Not that it seems Kent would mind, he did not mention performace as a criteria.

 

[Driftster]

If I understamd what you said correctly, the engine is going to be totally gutless under 2500 rpm since it can't breathe. Not that it seems Kent would mind, he did not mention performace as a criteria.

No..It wasn't because it'll still run 16.3 @ 7#mph in the 1/4 without the back seats in
I know because I used to own one.

Weak as hell yes, 92 ish HP..

but it would still beat OZ rally lancers..and not totally gutless..but very very very very very very very very very fuel efficient.

 

[skip0110]

No..It wasn't because it'll still run 16.3 @ 7#mph in the 1/4 without the back seats in
I know because I used to own one.

Weak as hell yes, 92 ish HP..

but it would still beat OZ rally lancers..and not totally gutless..but very very very very very very very very very fuel efficient.

Pretty impressive for what it is, but in a drag race you're above 2500 rpm most of the time anayways...

..not criticizing the car mind you, it's great at what it does.

 

[Driftster]

Which is exactly what I did..

I'd drive it into the ground..and park it..and leav it running for about 45 minutes..and the tank would "fill back up"..So funny..

go speeding on the freeway (115 top speed in 3rd gear, 4th it just dropped) have a half tank of gas...park it and let it idle and do it's patended "Honda-lope"...10 mins later...above the full line..

 

[Gil]

Going back thru the archived magazines in my closet: I found the May '04 version of Auto World Magazine: Used Car Guide
In the $5,000 to 10,000 catagory:

2002 Chevy Malibu "The Chevy Malibu is proof that a sedan doesn't have to be exciting to be appealing." Has a 3.1 L V-6 That is EPA rated at 20city/29hwy. Which in the "real" world means you might see 27MPG. Not bad for a car this size. From the article: "It may not be as bulletproof as its Japanese peers, but it costs less up front. And, when something does go wrong a second mortgage on the house isn't required to fix it." Other cars in this catagory 2001 Chrysler Sebring, 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer.

2003 Ford Focus ZX-3 Even pretty nicely loaded it should go out the door at less than $10,000. Rated at 28city/36hwy. Good headroom and legroom front and rear. Rear access is a bit of a challenge. But not a bad choice. Others in this category: 2003 Toyota Echo, 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse

1997 Jeep Wrangler Good for off road, fuel economy is pretty dismal 17city/21hwy. But you do get the torquey 4.0. You also get a vehicle that is capable in any weather and terrain. Plus it has the option of a "convertible" top. Others in class: 2001 Chevy Tracker, 1996 Ford Bronco

2002 Suzuki Vitara JLX 4WD Body on Frame construction makes it truck tough for off roading. 5-speed is standard, EPA 22city/25hwy. Not terribly smooth or powerful, but cheap and well-equipped.
Also look at: 2002 Kia Sportage, 2001 Isuzu Rodeo

2002 Toyota Corolla CE Bulletproof reliability, excellent fuel economy 34city/41hwy with the 5-spd. Has fewer standard items. So shop around for cars with A/C and Power locks. The 3-spd auto should be avoided. Back-seat legroom is practically non-existent.
My uncle had an old Corolla, that ran 300,000 plus miles,
Also consider; 2002 Saturn L-series, 2001 Mazda Protege.

2000 VW Golf TDI Long list of standard features, good torque for a 90 HP diesel. Fuel economy is better than excellent 42city/49hwy with the manual trans. IMHO with diesel being more costly than gasoline, (at least here in KS) it's still a good choice, though it's fuel economy will have driven prices up somewhat.
Also consider: 1999 Honda Civic, 1999 Pontiac Gran Prix.

1998 Isuzu Trooper Lousy economy 15/19 city/hwy. But a very capable off-roader that is less expensive than other comparable mid-size SUV's. Harsh ride, but it is a fairly serious off-roader.
Also look at: 1998 Explorer, 1999 Mitsu Montero

1999 GMC Jimmy SL 4WD. Vortec V-6 gives it good hauling capability EPA 16/20 City/hwy. AutoTrac 4WD automatically sends power to wheel(s) that aren't slipping. Good handling for an SUV, Can be had fairly well-equipped for under 10,000.
Also look at 2000 Jeep Cherokee, 1999 Mercury Mountaineer.

Take into account that this info is more than a year old. The fuel-sippers will be a bit more likely to have held their value. The gulpers will likely have gone down in price. Also note the "Also look at" vehicles ar the recommendation Auto World[/b} and I don't neccessarily endorse all of their choices. Though I have mentioned some personal knowledge where I possess it.

If you have availability: IMHO the first choice would be the Golf. The TDI is pretty peppy, all things considered. And it won't cost near as much as a comparable Jetta. However, make sure you get a good one cause repairs won't be cheap. But VW's tend to be fairly reliable. ANd they engender brand loyalty. I know a family of three that lives around the corner that has 3 Jetta's, all TDI's.
Second choice is the Corolla. Small size notwithstanding, it's basically bulletproof, gets poorer fuel econonmy than the V-Dub, but with a 80-cent/gallon difference in fuel cost, the Corolla is probably an even better deal than the V-dub. But the V-dub is proof that you don't have to drive a non-descript or even ugly car to be environmentally responsible.
Most of the rest are in your price range, but gulp fuel like it was 1968. Only gas isn't $0.22/gallon like it was back then.
For the absolute least amount of money- I would say the Focus is the best bet.
I see them in the paper every day for $7,500 and less. With some shopping around you can probably find one in the $5,000-6,000 range.

The cars that are in the $10,000-15,000 range will have dropped in price also.
They include:
2000 Nissan Maxima,
2000 Honda Accord coupe
2000 Honda CR-V
1998 Ford Expidition
2000 Toyota Camry
2002 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe
2002 Toyota Rav 4
1999 Jeep Cherokee.
Most of these were brushing the upper end in price. These same models will be closer to $10.000 today, especially the Grand Prix, Camry and the Maxima.

 

[Kent]

Well, thanks for the awesome discussion guys.



I've got news related to this little situation of mine (both good and bad).

The bad news is that my car is officially totalled (and that's bad because my 4cylinder camry was worth more on the road than on a check).

The good news is that the insurance company valued it much higher than I expected.
Keep in mind...
182,000 + miles
Horrible interior condition
Broken rear bumper (non accident related)

Overall "Fair" condition at best.

However, I kept her in good shape... Consistant oil changes, tune up, transmission fluid, brakes (front and rear), all of those things were attended to regularly. 👍

So, with that all in mind, the "Fair" condition on the check was really more like "Good" condition on the road.

And to get around to it...
What did they value the car at?

Well after I did the research and compared everything to my car...
Personal Estimate and Expected Value: 2200 (-500 deductable) = 1700 check
Actual Insurance Value: 3600 (-500 deductable) = Approximately 3100 (still haven't got the check though).

But that's good news.
It means I can either buy a cheap, CHEAP, car outright, or I can put down a large down-payment on something a bit more expensive.

Plus, if I can wait for just a bit of time there may be the chance of getting extra money and in-turn, getting a nicer car.

So where does this leave me?

Well, I'm still taking my time about shopping. I don't want to start that until I have the actual check instead of just knowing the amount.

Also, I'm not sure about extra money that will be thrown down on top of what I manage on my own, so there's no real way to know my final price range.

However, I've still considered my options to some extent and at the moment I'm finding myself looking at a few things I've never considered.

For example:
I'm actually considering a Toyota Pickup (4cylinder).
Also considering an older Mercedes from the late 80s/ early 90s.
Same for a BMW 3 (but that would be only for early-mid 90s).

Just those 3 are showing me that my selection is much more diverse than my original intention of buying a Corolla or the best alternative.

We'll see how it goes.

In any case, I wanted to come back and give you all an idea of where I'm at for now.
Also wanted to thank you all for the commentary. 👍

Catch you all later,
Back again with news next time I have it,
Till then,
-Kent

 

[TwinTurboJay]

2001 Nissan Sentra SE
2.0 145 HP, 136 ft Lbs torque, limited slip Diff, 16" rims, 55 series rubber standard, 4 way discs, with a manual get 35-38 mpg on highway hellofalotoffun ratio is very good.
Got mine off lease 80'000 km, $9600.00 plus tax ( Canadian )

 

[Flerbizky]

I'm actually considering a Toyota Pickup (4cylinder).

Be careful - They're the real worlds Christine :-) Top Gear tried to kill one - First they just drove around hitting stuff, then they dropped a trailer on it, they burned it, drowned it in salt water, put it on top a (15 story +) building being demolished - and there's probably some stuff I forgot..

It lived.. If I recall just somewhat correct - It had 180000 miles on it when they started.. Now THAT's bulletproof

 

[Kent]

That's why I joke about it being a taliban tank.

Sure they were horrible people but they had great taste in trucks!

Fact is, the toyota pickup is one of the world's top pickups for longevity and popularity.

I can't argue with a reputation like that.

Plus, in terms of the role it will play in my house-hold, a truck of that sort would be valuable beyond measure.

Like I said before,
I haven't made any final decisions but at this time it looks like 2 of my top choices are Toyotas.

Even though my camry was nice enough that I would be happy to own another, I've decided that going with a lighter weight or more functional car wouldn't be a bad idea.
Hello mini-camry and camry on stilts!

 

[Pako]

Any Toyota you can get.. No matter what model, they're practically bulletproof and should give some decent gas mileage. A friend of mine had a 1993 Corolla and he beat the living crap out of that car - it never failed him once - Didn't even use any oil. They've now bought a 2001 Golf, and if has given them nothing but trouble. Monthly checks, uses as much oil as fuel etc..

Next time we're shopping for a new(er) car, we'll be getting some sort of Toyota...

Amen.... I drove a '72 Corolla Deluxe 1600 for 350,000 miles. Never had the oil pan off. I even ran it completely dry of oil for 30 miles, got to town and put oil in it and it was good to go (although it never really was the same after that). Drove it for another 10,000 miles and put a 1800 5-spd in it. Would probably still be driving it but it got totalled.

[edit]

Actually when I say "I" drove it, it's more like my dad drove it, my brother drove it, I drove it, then my brother, then I drove it, then my brother again. It switched between family members for over 25 years. That's a hell of a legacy.

 

[Kent]

Seems to me like that's the only way to kill them Pako!

No for real though, I've been really impressed with Toyota in the past and present.

I doubt there will be any manual transmissions for me (unless I get the truck), but I bet that would be a blast in something like a Corolla.

Do they make manual Corollas in the modern era?
I mean, something like a 95-05?
Not that I can buy an '05, I'm just wondering about those models.

Once some of these cars get old enough I begin to dislike the way they look. Now, I know that shouldn't matter when you're on a budget like I am but I just can't help it.

For some reason I do want to have a decent looking car.
Hopefully I will not have to go all that old though.
Maybe something in the '99 Corolla area?
Or a '95 pickup?

Still haven't priced the pickup (and I need to).
Auto trader or something will be my first stop after I get home from school.

And that's where I'm headed now- School.
Back in a few hours,
Till then,
-

 

[Pako]

Ebay Motors anyone? I actually bought a 4-Runner using Ebay that worked out to be a great deal.

 

[VIPFREAK]

I'd stay away from '80s Toyotas... "bulletproof" is not a word I'd use to describe mine. But for your criteria, I would agree, Kent, a Toyota from the first half of the '90s should fit the bill well.

My '88 Corolla SR5 is still a "baby" at 160K and I haven't had any problems other than cosmetic things go to hell.

 

[pSI civic]

Do they make manual Corollas in the modern era?
I mean, something like a 95-05?
Not that I can buy an '05, I'm just wondering about those models.

i learned to drive stick in a '95 corolla.

 

[Duke]

My '88 Corolla SR5 is still a "baby" at 160K and I haven't had any problems other than cosmetic things go to hell.

My '83 Supra was a mechanical nightmare. It made it to 230,000 miles before I ditched it, but that was after 3 headgaskets, 2 cracked heads, and finally a junkyard engine. The rear brakes were horrific to work on. The transmission required a difficult combination of subtle finesse and brute force to shift any time the temperature was below 50 degrees F. The windshield wiper motor failed mechanically; it was a $300+ part, and this was apparently a common problem because every Supra I saw in every junkyard had it missing already. It had electrical problems and it rusted.

 

[VIPFREAK]

I never like that gen Supra, my aunt had one and it didn't feel very "sporty" at all.

 

[Driftster]

is the 83 supra the Celica Supra?
yeah, i'm not supporting you on that decision either.

 

[mplacki]

Ebay Motors anyone? I actually bought a 4-Runner using Ebay that worked out to be a great deal.

Same here. My 2000 ranger came out to $7400 off eBay, and it's beautiful.

A few cars that I would recommend:

Chevy Caprice 9C1 (Police Car) - Fast, decent gas mileage, and cheap. Low insurance, low prices for new parts, and extremely reliable - our 1990 Caprice cruiser ran to 200,000 miles before we sold it to a taxi service.

Chevy Impala (Also available in 9C1 Police Package - The 3800 V6 is bulletproof and delivers decent gas mileage. Again, parts are pretty cheap, as is insurance, and the cop versions pack a serious punch, though not quite as much as the Caprice.

Ford Taurus - pretty much like the Impala, but might be a bit cheaper.

Ford Ranger - If you want a truck, you can't go wrong with this. The 3.0L V6 is fantastic, and the options range from uber-budget version and up.

Toyota Tacoma - another good truck, though significantly pricier than the Ranger.

Toyota Corolla - plain vanilla sedan, but it's cheap and reliable.

 

[niky]

hehe... devil's advocate... I support TwinTurboJay's Sentra SE nomination... you can put over 200k miles on that motor AND turbo it... but then, that's just for nutters like me... go on with the Toyota discussion.

 

[Wolfe]

@Kent: Many, many cars are still available with manual transmissions, especially ones from foreign marques. Finding a manual-tranny "newer" Corolla shouldn't be much of a problem.

 

[Gil]

@Kent: Many, many cars are still available with manual transmissions, especially ones from foreign marques. Finding a manual-tranny "newer" Corolla shouldn't be much of a problem.

You can probably afford the Corolla I suggested many posts back (2002 model)
and as I recall the 3-spd auto should be avoided.

I just hit MSN and checked the price of a Tacoma and the 2000 model is about $10K for the midrange.
One caveat about compact pick-ups, If you are a big guy, a standard cab can feel pretty tight. My Ranger is a standard cab, and though I love the thing, when I replace it I'm going to an extended cab, or a full size truck with 4 doors. If I stay with Ford, which I'm more likely to do than not, I might consider an Explorer Sport-Trac.
Much depends on what fuel prices do.
I may talk myself into an Pre-owned F-250 Crew Cab with a 6.0 Power-stroke diesel.

 

[a6m5]

I rarely hear reliability issue on a Toyota, so maybe Duke got a bad one. My buddy drove a Supra that was 84ish, just until this fall and it didn't die, he gave it back to his boss, who was the actual owner. Anyway, it was a daily driver after 20 years, and no problems. I'm more of a Honda and Nissan person, but if I was buying a pickup, I'd definitely be interested in a Toyota.

 

[mplacki]

Toyota's not bulletproof at all. We bought a brand new Toyota Sienna a few years ago... the transmission failed at 56,000 miles. We were not impressed.

Plus, they're a major PITA to work on. I don't know about older models, but newer ones need to be taken to a dealer to have the spark plugs changed because you need special tools. This is a major bummer for those of us who like to work on our own cars.

 

[pSI civic]

you think thats bad the ford windstar has to have the engine removed for that.