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The best running car I have ever owned was a 1982 Honda Civic that I bought in 2001 for $300. It was tore up from the floor up on the outside but it never let me down.
I never have had an emotional/nostalgic connection with a car ... except that one.
It would be very difficult and most likely require additional work and money to make it street/highway worthy. I reviewed craigslist for cars in my area between 500-1000 dollars and most seem to fall into these categories. Sometimes more than one.
~Bad or no Title
~Engine doesn't run, missing, blown up, bad head gasket, needs major work, etc.
~Transmission is missing or slips
~Needs major body work
~Other major parts need to be replaced, sometimes more than one (Suspension, tires, brakes, fuel pump, etc)
I think the 2000-3000 dollar range will yield better vehicles.
As an aside I always get a laugh by the ads that say "Blown head gasket. Other than that its in great shape"
I'd look for a car that has body damage that does not affect the daily driveability. There are a lot of cars that run well but are not pretty, and are steeply discounted for that reason alone.
I once bought an 88 Camry with a crease in the center of the front where the guy's daughter ran into a pole at a rock concert. It was old and he no longer had collision insurance, so he sold it to me and I ran it another 100K.
I have a 1998 Dodge B1500 van I'll be giving away. Brakes are good, windshield has a crack below the drivers vision (All the way across it) water pump is leaking and interior is trashed. Rear doors are basically sealed but the tires are near new.
Engine is solid, oil needs to be refilled every so often (Dodge is known to burn it) tranny is good. Front end was redone 2 years ago. Maybe a alignment is needed. But solid still.
Tags are good for a year. I'd trade it in with cash for an RV, but the tires would be wasted and a good running vehicle that some poor person who needs one would be lost.....
I could junk it out for $200 or so, but it could be so very valuable to someone who wants one.
Cheapest car I ever bought was back in 1984 $150 for a 1965 Dodge Dart with push button transmission. Drove it all summer long, had a broken exhaust manifold. Neighbors hated me...
Seeing some cars for $1K in Portland, OR. Some cannot be that cheap....but they are listed...
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Disgustedman
I have a 1998 Dodge B1500 van I'll be giving away. ...
Seeing some cars for $1K in Portland, OR. Some cannot be that cheap....but they are listed...
I bought most of my 'towing auction' cars in Portland. In the peak times, they were selling 600 / week from (3) major towing companies. I usually paid minimum bid ($35). Most ran, they had just been parked illegally and owner could not afford to 'redeem' the car from Towing Company.
Recently with more liberal parking policies, and city not so friendly (encouraging) to towing companies, you might have to pay $200 for something that runs. Stuff with the 24 month license plates goes for the most $$, ($500+) as many homeless buy them to live in the cars. (during winter). Most with legal plates never get re-registered. They will eventually expire and get towed. Then you can rebuy them quite cheap.
I bought most of my 'towing auction' cars in Portland. In the peak times, they were selling 600 / week from (3) major towing companies. I usually paid minimum bid ($35). Most ran, they had just been parked illegally and owner could not afford to 'redeem' the car from Towing Company.
Recently with more liberal parking policies, and city not so friendly (encouraging) to towing companies, you might have to pay $200 for something that runs. Stuff with the 24 month license plates goes for the most $$, ($500+) as many homeless buy them to live in the cars. (during winter). Most with legal plates never get re-registered. They will eventually expire and get towed. Then you can rebuy them quite cheap.
What you describe as the provenance of cars falls in the margin, if not solidly within civil forfeiture, one of America's top growth industries. Along with surveillance, fear and incarceration. Which are also frequently privatized.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,712 posts, read 58,054,000 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cebuan
What you describe as the provenance of cars falls in the margin, if not solidly within civil forfeiture, ,,,.
We expect that in Portland, and even encourage it! through our 'progressiveness' and on the left coast in general.
I and others who bother to bid... just benefit from the cheap cars. (and that helped me to retire pre-age 50.)
Cheap cars became a necessity, back when registration was based on value (in neighboring WA state) was over $1000 annually for my pickup, so... I 'downsized' and now I pay $42 once for a lifetime 'collector' vehicle plate. (complying with the "cheap' and 'beater' car theme.) I keep many extras around for 'spares', http://www.city-data.com/forum/membe...rabbits-5.html
but don't really need them as the main driver's rarely need repair. Worst tragedy is getting your 50mpg free fueled low value car smashed by a 'distracted' driver. (4x so far). These things no longer grow on trees, (or in McGregor's briar(berry) patch) and lately only seldom appear at auction.
I paid $50 for a Diesel VW pickup I found in a berry patch. It had been sitting 10 yrs and all overgrown / covered in Blackberry vines. I machetted it out and stuck a battery in it and drove it home. Was sad to see the owner's original payment book of $5000 in glove box, so... I painted and spiffed it and sold it to a 'greenie' for $2500. Then I felt better.
I was bringing a couple $35 auction cars home on my trailer, and a guy banged on my truck window and asked if I wanted another one of "those things". Sure, He said, "Follow Me" ! He came out of his shop with a forklift carrying my "White Rabbit" pride and joy. Pristine 1984 (last yr of production), I paid him $50 and turned it into a GTD. Always handy to have a few 50mpg < $100 "Sports Cars' around the house.
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and on the left coast in general.
) and lately only seldom appear at auction.
