Can I get a decent used car for $1000 or lower? (windshield, brakes)

[fruitlovER]

This is a serious question.

[vmaxnc]

That depends entirely on what your definition of 'decent' is. For me, no, $1000 wont' buy a decent car. But if all I wanted is transportation, and didn't care about features, performance, the impending repairs, the likely sad state of the interior/suspension/things that don't work/etc, then maybe $1000 could get me what I want.

[jaypee]

Based from what I've seen on my local Craigslist, yes you can, but you'll have to be fast as they get snatched up real quick.

Something like this: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2880155975.html (broken link)

[brocco]

i sold my last car for 900. it wasnt pretty but it worked just fine. i had priced it higher but negotiated down to that

[boulderduder]

Yes. Get a 1990's honda civic, 5 speed transmission that is under 250K miles and has lots of aesthetic damage to lower the asking price.

That is what I would do.

[NJGOAT]

There is no way to get what most would consider a 'decent' car for $1,000. However, you can compromise in a lot of areas and get something that will certainly run and get you from A to B. That compromise is going to be either buying a car that needs immediate mechanical attention or buying a car that has large cosmetic issues. In that case, better to drive a mechanically 'decent' car that's four different colors and covered in bondo, then drive one that needs some major mechanical work.

[Coldjensens]

My son bught a 1994 Thunderbird LX with 98,000 miles from his cousin for $500. It would normally proabbly sell for $900 - 1200, but then this one had a cracked windshield (badly cracked) and its transmission is having issues, so maybe $500 is market. We drove it from Texas to Michigan with no problems. We got a new windshiled for $200, install new brakes all around (for whatever the parts cost)put snowtires on it for $500 and he will probably get a year or two out of it before the transmission completely fails. Really that is not bad. (unless the transmission dies in a month). He will probably just drive ont he snow tires year round. They will outlast the car.

[rlrl]

if this is any help, Cars 4 Kids sold my 1992 Toyota Tercel that had 141,000 miles on it, burned oil(needed weekly topping off), failed the yearly emissions test (needed a skilled mechanic to pass it), new f&r brakes and brake lines, new exhaust system and Oxygen sensor, new battery, new struts, new seals for $530, to an unrelated party

despite the problems mentioned above, the car ran like a top and refused to die

I just wonder what that party is going to do in the fall when the car fails emissions!!

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by fruitlovER

This is a serious question.

Yes, with care and some research a $1,000 or less car is very possible.

Go to New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Pricing - Edmunds.com to see what $1,000 buys in the used market then choose one of those cars to look for.

[eofelis]

A few years back I sold a good car for $1200. It was a 17yo Subaru Legacy wagon with 165k on it. It ran really well. Very reliable. Only problems were that the AC didn't work and the front passenger side door was bashed in where some drunk idiot had backed into it while it was parked. Door was still fully functional. Otherwise the body was in great shape, no rust.