Which car for me?

[m3t4lm4n222]

So a little background on myself. I am 19 years old, a college student and I currently work at a customer support center 45 hours a week as a seasonal employee. I bring in about ~$1350 a month. I live with my grand parents, so the only real bills I pay right now are for gas, food, car insurance and pleasure. All in all I probably spend about ~$300 a month at the most. I own outright a 1997 Ford F-150 2WD (4.6L) but I am looking to sell it, because it only gets about 15mpg and I end up spending about $50 a week in gas.

SO I will be looking for a vehicle in the ~$2500 (Give or take a bit) and I am not sure what vehicle I should be looking at. I want something that:

*Gets decent MPG (Better than 20MPG highway at the least)
*Has a reliable drivetrain (Engine + Transmission)
*Decent crash test rating (Won't be rendered useless in a small fender bender)
*Has an automatic transmission (I can drive a manual just fine, however I personally prefer an automatic)
*4 seats

I try to ensure all my decisions revolve around finances. So here's my current financial status:

What I owe:$4500 in student loans

What I own:$2000 in savings, $1997 Ford F-150 w/ 120K miles on it, KBB value approximately $3500

Approximate net worth:$1000



Any ideas? Thanks guys.

 

[bepperb]

If you don't are about sporty (or maybe even if you do) there are so many good 4 door midsize sedans that would still be reliable at that price. I mean, can you stretch a bit and find a 2003 Accord... and if you can't if you can find a 98-01 that's had the timing belt done.

If that won't work you'll have to more specific about what you like besides 4 doors and rolls on tires.

 

[fxrider]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Corolla-D...=US_Cars_Trucks

 

[aquariuscsm]

Imo for $2500 you won`t get much of a car. Keep your F-150,that`s what I`d do. 120k on a Ford 4.6 V8 is nothing. Those engines will go far beyond 300k if you take care of them.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Imo for $2500 you won`t get much of a car. Keep your F-150,that`s what I`d do


+1

 

[bepperb]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Imo for $2500 you won`t get much of a car. Keep your F-150,that`s what I`d do


I also considered this. I mean either way in four or five years you'll want out of whatever you buy now (or keep) so what does it really matter? How many miles a year do you really drive and how much would you really save... if it's less than a grand over three years that's about the cost of trading up cars.

As a student consider reading "the market for lemons" paper:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Market_for_Lemons

which is famous. It's a proof and will let you understand why nobody will ever pay you what your current car is worth. And then you get the double whammy of taking a risk on a 2500 dollar car which is substantial.

 

[m3t4lm4n222]

I'm not looking for much of a car. I'm looking for something that will run, be cheap to maintain and get me too a from work. I don't need something sporty. I just need something with 4 seats, a drivetrain known for reliability, decent gas mileage and a decent crash test rating.

Keeping the Ford is not an option i'm willing to consider. It's a gas guzzler with 2 seats. Surely I could get a car for ~3000 dollars that's just as reliable, no?

It may be important to note that I am a backyard mechanic. I have no problem changing my own oil, transmission fluid, differential fluid, exhaust manifold, alternator, spark plugs, ect.

Originally Posted By: fxrider
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Corolla-D...=US_Cars_Trucks


I was considering looking at Corollas becuase I actually owned a 91 Corolla that I had purchased for $1000 with 140K miles on it and it ran without issues. I sold it for $2000 after putting about ~2000 miles on it because I couldn't resist the offer. However, the person I sold it too got into a wreck with it and the car was absolutely totaled, so it doesn't seem like they where very safe cars.

 

[SLCraig]

I was going to suggest an Ecotec Cavalier until I read decent crash test rating.

I don't know what I would buy, tons of choices.

I would probably spend even less and just get a Saturn S-series, but that's just me.

 

[gregk24]

Something like this would be great for you....
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/4115757122.html

My first car (previous car) was a 1996 Accord EX-L V6, and my cousin has a 1997 2.2 like this one, but a 4 door. They are like tanks, built very well, very solid. Mine had 225K miles when I sold it, and he has around 170K on his and it runs great. Good MPG's and very reliable. I really wish I still had mine.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

I usually laugh when someone suggests a Crown Vic every time someone asks for a car recommendation just because it doesn't fit what the OP wants, but in this case, I'm going with Crown Vic.

 

[m3t4lm4n222]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I usually laugh when someone suggests a Crown Vic every time someone asks for a car recommendation just because it doesn't fit what the OP wants, but in this case, I'm going with Crown Vic.


The Crown Victoria has the same drivetrain as my truck, Seats 4 people, gets 23 MPG and has a great BOF design, so it's something i'd be willing to consider, however I have noticed that all of the ones available for ~$3000 are used cop cars with holes drilled through there A-Pillers. If I could find one without holes drilled all over them, i'd definitely consider one. I'll add that too my list.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Slap a search light back on and most people will think you're a cop and you can have some fun on the highway.

You should also include the Mercury Grand Marquis in your search.

 

[m3t4lm4n222]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Slap a search light back on and most people will think you're a cop and you can have some fun on the highway.

You should also include the Mercury Grand Marquis in your search.



Well, see the problems not so much that there's a hole in the pillar, it's that with my OCD, I can't handle the fact that the hole in the pillar isn't fixable in the sense that you can't purchase a ford factory pillar and just slap it on the car to fix the issue.

If that makes any sense.

 

[FutureDoc]

I would keep the truck as well. I do not think you will get much better.

I was looking at the same a while back thing but it was more of a winter beater. I already owned a MR2 (w 55K mi), the wife's Fit was paid for, but the "winter" of Western NC was a lot more "problematic" for a mid-engine RWD car. I had a budget of $2700 (taxes, insurance etc included, so about 2350-ish for the car). I was able to find a 160K+ Subaru for about $2,400. Now, the bare-bones of the car, (frame engine transmission, and the HG was already done) were good but otherwise it was fairly abused. About 60K happened in the last 20 months before purchase, the back-seats were bathed in milkshakes, the brake rotors were shot, CC did not work, power-steering leaked, rear struts were gone, el cheapo tires, and it was just a lot of the minor repairs and maintenance that had to be done. So it took me about another $500 (really $700) to get it up to spec.

So this is what I did. I went to a few dealerships and told them that when they get a high mileage trade (of a Subbie Forester or Outback) that they would not retail and put back on their lots (ie they would kick it to auction), give me a call and I will give them the approximate auction price (a bit on the higher side) plus a percentage profit. Now, some dealers were not willing but I did fine a few that were. That is how I got a good deal on a beater without going to the auction (which my wife was dead-set against).

Otherwise, you just have to hunt down the right deal, but at $2500, you better have a $2500 repair budget or a second car because there is a LOT of risk. My younger bother had a aweful dog of a car in college because he bought a buddy's friend's brother's cousin's neighbors' Sebring and everything was garbage (he is not a car-guy). It was not "pretty" but I drove a Datsun '79 280ZX which was half junk-yard material which I "restored" after my freshman year at college. I drove that til Grad School and got a used MR2 with my fellowship money.

In the end, gas is cheap. It really is. I would drive that F150 until it turned into dust.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I usually laugh when someone suggests a Crown Vic every time someone asks for a car recommendation just because it doesn't fit what the OP wants, but in this case, I'm going with Crown Vic.


Yup, a vic is a good choice if he can't stick with the F-150.

 

[m3t4lm4n222]

Regardless, I spent $1500 for the F-150 when I purchased it 2 years ago with 109K miles on it. Now it has 120K and i'll probably end up getting ~$3K for it. I am really good at hunting for deals. All the cars i've purchased have been sold for more than what I bought them for.

$1000 Corolla (1991) with 140k and I sold it for $2000
$2000 Suzuki Samurai (1994) with 145K and I sold it for $2400 not running (Only needed a distributor)


By the way, cars don't rust down here. So that's not an issue.

 

[FutureDoc]

If you feel like you can swing it, well, maybe. A pick-up was my initial plan rather than the Subbie but the market around here kept the price high even for junk. So you might make out ok depending on the market there. However, I would be conservative with cash and would not take out student loans if possible. I was in college 10 years (three degrees BA, MS, PHD) and they are a pain now even when 6 years were "free". I love my MR2 but sometimes looking back I wish I drove the datsun a bit longer but rebuilding an engine was a bit much entering the phd program.

 

[4D-56]

If I was you in that situation, I'd be looking for one car only, a Civic, the youngest or lowest mile example that maxed out my budget. The good ones are hardest to find, of course. dont be in a hurry and the right one will come.

 

[m3t4lm4n222]

Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
If you feel like you can swing it, well, maybe. A pick-up was my initial plan rather than the Subbie but the market around here kept the price high even for junk. So you might make out ok depending on the market there. However, I would be conservative with cash and would not take out student loans if possible. I was in college 10 years (three degrees BA, MS, PHD) and they are a pain now even when 6 years were "free". I love my MR2 but sometimes looking back I wish I drove the datsun a bit longer but rebuilding an engine was a bit much entering the phd program.



My plan is too use the money I acquire from my seasonal job to pay off the amount I owe so far then hopefully be converted to a non-seasonal employee and be able to pay for my classes out right. That's why I am trying to keep my budget for a vehicle so low.

I don't buy junkers. When I look at vehicles on craigslist, I take my time and ensure whatever I purchase is a decent vehicle and generally bring a mechanic such as my father too look at it with me. I look at lower mileage, the engine and transmission reliability ratings first and foremost. The $1000 Corolla I purchased was far from "Perfect" but it ran without any real issues.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: m3t4lm4n222
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Slap a search light back on and most people will think you're a cop and you can have some fun on the highway.

You should also include the Mercury Grand Marquis in your search.



Well, see the problems not so much that there's a hole in the pillar, it's that with my OCD, I can't handle the fact that the hole in the pillar isn't fixable in the sense that you can't purchase a ford factory pillar and just slap it on the car to fix the issue.

If that makes any sense.


In that case, old people who can no longer drive or recently became deceased are your friends. I don't know about other parts of the country, but in FL Crown Vics/Grand Marquis are driven by old people if they are not cop cars. They're usually in meticulous shape and if you happen to find an estate sale or someone giving up their car then you might find a good car at your price point.