Help with an inexpensive used car reccomendation

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cmorr

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Guys,

Looking for some input/advice on a used car for my youngest son

Criteria: This will be his first car, needs to be cheap but able to be made safe and reliable. In our area needs to be good in snow so most likely FWD.

Usage: Daily trips to school/work, 60 miles max.

Condition: No severe body rust or major (engine/trans) issues but the rest are a non-issue. I am going to fund and assist him to getting it road ready, don't wan't to hand him a finished car as I think his sweat equity investment will make him more appreciative and give him a better understanding of future maintenance (hopefully by then on his own)

Target Purchase Price: $4K max, less is better but want to complete the project for no more than $5K

Preferences: Domestic over import

All input appreciated. We may end up treating this like the NFL draft and just finding the best athlete at the time but I wanted to hear your thoughts
 
I'd say a Grand Prix, LeSabre, or Bonneville. Those are pretty bulletproof once the 3800's plastic lower intake gaskets are taken care of. They also get okay highway fuel mileage.

An older Cobalt might be in the offing also. The Ecotec 2.2 is reliable, as is the 4T45 or manual transmission. Sure, it's plastic fantastic on the inside, but for a first car it can be lived with.
 
If domestic- get him focus hatch with 5 speed. Teenager will appreciate it more than some big fat bonneviles, lesables and so on. Those are grandma cars.Plus it's better on gas, parts are cheap.
 
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I see you have some Mopars.. Maybe a 2003-2005 Neon. The 2.0 is an awesome engine, those cars take a lot of abuse. I had a 2001, it was bulletproof..
 
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
I see you have some Mopars.. Maybe a 2003-2005 Neon. The 2.0 is an awesome engine, those cars take a lot of abuse. I had a 2001, it was bulletproof..


A Neon is a renamed Duster, both pretty [censored].
 
Originally Posted By: MBS500
If domestic- get him focus hatch with 5 speed. Teenager will appreciate it more than some big fat bonneviles, lesables and so on. Those are grandma cars.Plus it's better on gas, parts are cheap.


Yup, it's a good choice if it has Zetec in it. Total cost to put my ZX5 on the road was $4k.
I changed all fluids, had to change the thermostat housing and repaired the rusty oil pan.
Parts are plentiful and cheap and the car is very easy to work on.
 
I'd say go shopping in your area.
What's available will decide your purchase.
I'd go for whatever is the cleanest, nicest, car available at your pricepoint.
Then before I'd bite, I'd have a talk with your insurance agant to determine whether the make and model of that car is one that you would want to insure (specifically, pay the premium on.)
 
Spirit/Acclaim with 2.5/3spd auto.Cant beat the basic dependability and ease/price of repairs.Or a Shadow/Sundance if you can find one.
 
$4000 for a quality car ?

2002-2005 Civic

Good gas mileage, parts are cheap, small tires, gas sipping, Honda quality and they can be found everywhere. The 5 speed trans are great cars and with basic maintenance you will drive it another 10 years.

They are built in Ohio so you are getting an American car.
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saturn s series or ion
malibu "classic" with ecotec
02-04 cavalier/ sunfire with ecotec or a cobalt.
 
Cheap: Focus, Malibu, Intrepid

Safe: Volvo, BMW, Mercedes

Reliable: Camry, Accord, Corolla

I would not get a big boat for him. You want him to like it so he'll take care of it, and very few young people want to be seen in a Buick or a Grand Marquis if they had a choice. If it were me, I would get an older manual E46. And check insurance rates before you buy the car, because it may end up costing you a lot in the long run for certain cars.
 
Try to get something with a manual transmission. If his first car has a manual trans, he'll learn to keep his mind on driving while he's driving. It's better if he wears out a clutch learning than to run into a tree or truck or some such because his attention was elsewhere.

Also, there's a good chance that he'll develop good habits and save a lot of money on fuel and brakes over a lifetime regardless of what he drives in the future.
 
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Take your pick: 3rd gen. Ford Taurus, 3rd gen. Chevy Prizm, or Saturn S series if you want domestic. I like the Crown Vic since it's a sedan built on a truck frame, but RWD and heavy(sucks gas) might not be suitable for you son.

If not, plenty of used Civics/Accords, Corollas/Camrys, Sentras/Maximas, Lancers/Galants, Elantras/Sonatas, Forte/Optimas, 3/5 series, C/E class, etc, etc.

Whatever you do, buy the previous owner(s) maintenance practices and you should be golden.
 
Pontiac or Saturn.
Since GM dumped the brand, people have unloaded them for fear they can't get them repaired.
GM dealers and junkyards are good sources of parts.
 
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