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Hi,
I'm looking for a car under $5 k, and posting on here for recommendations for such (year, model). I'm primarily looking for a car that is reliable, not too expensive to repair, and still has some style/basic features. Thanks.
Toyotas Echo or Yaris that has been well maintained.
Confirm if the particular year / make / model has a timing belt vs timing chain (easy google search).. If it has a timing belt, try to confirm if the timing belt has been replaced somewhat recently (repair receipts, etc). If there’s no proof then plan on getting the timing belt replaced at the time of purchase (usually a $1k job) or walk away from the car.
As example, high miles, but well maintained, and I know that the owner lived in a rural area with paved roads. Standard transmissions are a favorite of mine, as virtually no one wants them. Ones that need some repairs that are not major, as example, new tires, or brakes. One can get major discounts on those.
Haven't bought a new vehicle in 40 years, never spent more than $1,000 in repairs on any of those vehicles in that time, and usually keep them for 4-5 years. Often I get close to what I paid for them in the end, and in one case, I actually made money after 4 years of driving it.
But that's me, I know what I am looking for, and I usually buy when I don't HAVE to buy one, but a deal crosses my path.
Pontiac Vibe. People dismiss it because it's a Pontiac, but in reality it is a Toyota Matrix in Pontiac skin (much like how the old Geo brand was essentially rebadged Toyotas and Isuzus). And the Matrix was basically a hatchback version of the Corolla (same engine/transmission/etc). The car was built in Fremont in a factory jointly owned by Toyota and GM. Toyota reliability with GM pricing.
Hi,
I'm looking for a car under $5 k, and posting on here for recommendations for such (year, model). I'm primarily looking for a car that is reliable, not too expensive to repair, and still has some style/basic features. Thanks.
I would say your best bet is to raise your price range to 7-10K and buy from a dealer.
Most people looking to sell their car on the street are looking to get rid of a car with problems.
However, some people (like me) may be looking to trade in a high mileage car that doesn't have big problems yet, but may.
I'm thinking I could trade my car in for 5K and they would try and sell it for 7-8K.
So, if you buy a car like mine, it may serve you well, but there's the potential for large problems in the near future.
There's no way to avoid that buying that price range.
But I have the entire history of my car and there have been no major repairs, regular maintenance always done, have all the records etc.
Ones to avoid:
Private party sale but the car has a dealer plate, or no plate at all. They bought it and then found it would be too expensive to fix.
One brought to you on a trailer. There's a reason they don't want to drive it for any distance.
"Only needs an O2 sensor." Perhaps, and perhaps it could also need a catalytic converter. Perhaps the engine is burning oil and that's why the sensor gets gummed up.
You really shouldn't encounter any of these turkeys in the $5K range, though.
Beat me to it - was going to say Mercury Grand Marquis / Lincoln Town Car also.
Buick Park Avenues, too
The Park ave, LeSabre, Riviera and Regal all had the same 3800 engine up until about 2006ish. Not sure about the LeSabre but there was a supercharged version available for the others that bumped the HP up to about 240. The Regal also had the supercharged GSX version which was dealer option so there isn't many of them, that was 280HP which in the late nineties and early 2000's was pretty impressive. Dual exhaust, factory tuned, higher psi on the supercharger.
I'd get an old Toyota Camry. By the time they get 10+ years old, the Camry is just about the same price as the Corolla, and it will be a little more comfortable and look a little nicer. As others have said:
Condition of the car is critical
Want one that hasn't been beaten on by a kid
One where the owner did all the required maintenance - ideally service records to show this
Finding one owned by a retiree who was comfortable with $ a good thing
Check VIN number against CarFax for accidents
Once you find one that you really like and are ready to buy, have a condition inspection done by a mechanic
Adding to others comments... sorry I know OP is looking for model specific info but at the <$5,000 price range, model is very important but just as important is simply how good of a buy the particular car is. A good model might be in bad shape, etc..
I try to look for someone who I can sense is a busy working person that knows how to communicate. Someone who has had the money, contentiousness, and commute needs to keep the vehicle in great shape rather than doing the bare minimum to keep it running. Who doesn't have the time to try to nickel and dime to get the most $$ as possible for it but instead just wants someone who will no hassle come check it out and buy it. Who is selling because not that the car is falling apart but because they upgraded to a newer vehicle just for the fun of upgrading because they have the cash and family wants new vehicle comfort features.
They should be very detailed about the car in the ad and very upfront about all issues it has.
Look for craigslist ads like this that are new. Good deals posted, find them when they're posted, because they'll get sold fast. Old ads are not a good sign. Find a new ad that's a good deal like this, and communicate like an adult who is serious about buying when you contact them. They'll schedule you before scheduling the person who sends them two badly spelled sentences asking stupid questions.
(On the flipside... This is how I sell my car. And almost every single time, the first person to check out my vehicle ends up buying it. The only time it didn't happen was when I mistakenly missed noticing an exhaust leak that they noticed and we couldn't agree on theoretical repair cost and thus the vehicle's value.)
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