Under $3000 what car would you buy

[serryjw]

I have plenty of time to find it. The obvious answer is a Toy but I always thought that they cost to much to maintain when they are VERY old. I was thinking of an old Mercedes since I am in snow country. An old original VW would be fun. I always wanted a Honda CRX. Suggestions of make and year.?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Avoid the mercedes-extremely high maintenance cost

I would go with either the Toyota or the Honda. If you do not mind tinkering yourself, the old VW would be a fun choice.

[serryjw]

3. " Tinkering"???

I'm a 'girlie' and screwing in a light bulb is a major accomplishment!

[KitchenWitch]

8. I am a woman too!

Way back in the day I used to do most of the mechanical work on my cars...now with the computers and shit, one cannot anymore.

[Floogeldy]

2. A Buick Le Sabre that was owned by an old lady for a long time.

:)

[serryjw]

4. isn't that a gas guzzler?

[DainBramaged]

14. 1% of cars sold today are hybrids at +$3000 over the same non-hybrid

so I guess everything is a gas guzzler than? Why must we always assume that when someone owns a car, because it doesn't fit a "certain" political niche, it is a badge of dishonor to own it?

The new Toyota Landcruiser, flagship of the indestructible non-guzzling-Toyota-can-never-do-wrong wonder-cars gets (mpg city/highway) 13/17, which will probably be 8/12 when the test gets realistic next year.

Would you dare call that a gas guzzler?

[serryjw]

17. Yeah!

Sorry, I always drove small Toys that got over 20/mpg

[Floogeldy]

15. I don't think so.

I think it is medium-sized, I think. :)

[Thtwudbeme]

5. In snow? No doubt....this:

Subaru with AWD.

For your budget, try to make sure that you don't get the 1997 and above 2.5 L double overhead cam....

Get the old school 2.2 L....way better engine than the new ones.

Stephanie

[serryjw]

12. A lot of Subaru's in Denver

They are all over the place. Thanks everyone for suggestions. There are SO many cars online, it's a tough choice.

[Maddy McCall]

13. I want a subaru so badly!

[LeftyMom]

6. A late 90's Saturn is in that price range

They're very reliable cars. Mine (a '97 SW1) has 130K with no problems.

edit: Whoops, I missed the snow country part. Get a Subaru.

[Maddy McCall]

7. 1983 Jeep Renegade.

Decent gas mileage. 4WD when you need it. And truly a classic. You can pick one up for around $5K.

That's mine; I bought it new, and I refurbished it in 1990--it needs some work now, but I ain't selling.:

[CottonBear]

9. Front wheel drive Toyota Corolla or some sort of Subaru.

Hondas are expensive to maintain. Toyotas are much less expensive. I don't know much about Subarus but the Car Talk guys like them. There are no Subarau dealships within 70 miles of my town.

[henslee]

10. That is a tough call. Best thing is to know where the car is coming from.

I'd stay clear of the old VW -- too old. Parts/repairs can add up. I believe if you find someone who was a responsible owner, who really changed the oil every three thosand miles and who has maintenance records, you can go with a variety of things. Be careful about solicitating online advice -- there is always someone saying something bad/good about everyting. It can make you nuts.

[leftofthedial]

11. just don't get any crazy ideas about saving money . . .

Thousand dollar car it ain't worth nothin'
Thousand dollar car it ain't worth shit.
Might as well take your $1000,
and set fire to it.
$1000 car ain't worth a dime,
You lose your $1000 every time.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
$1000 car is gonna let you down,
More than it's ever gonna get you around.
Replace your gaskets and paint over your rust,
You'll still end up with something that you'll never trust.
$1000 car's life was through,
'bout 50,000 miles 'fore it got to you.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
A $1000 car ain't even gonna roll,
til you throw at least another thousand in the hole.
Sink your money in it, and there you are
the owner of a 2,000 dollar 1,000 dollar car.

If you've only got a $1000.
You ought to just buy a good guitar.
Learn how to play it it'll take you farther,
than any old $1000 car.
If a $1000 car was truly worth a damn,
then why would anybody ever spend ten grand.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a thousand dollar car.

[evlbstrd]

28. I bought a $200 car more than a year ago.

I still have less than $1000 in it, over 100K miles now. No troubles at all.

[Redstone]

16. Old Mercedes cost a fortune to maintain.

Under $3K? don't know what to advise. Hard to find anything good in that range. when I was young, a $50 to $100 car could take you places, but now? I dunno.

Redstone

[serryjw]

19. You can only buy what you can afford

10 years ago in Florida I bought an old Ford for $500 and drove it for over a year. I would rather drop a new engine/traney in for $1000 than buy a newer car. I don't think there is much difference b/t $3000 and $5000 for a car. BOTH are going to need work....MY opinion. IF I could afford $10K it would be a different story, but I can't and won't take out a loan.

[Redstone]

20. That makes sense. Especially if you can work on the car yourself,

it's good to keep the initial investment down.

And you're right; from what I see, the difference between $3K and $5K says you ought to save the two grand.

Redstone

[LeftyMom]

21. Get it inspected before you buy

We had AAA look at the LeftyMobile before we bought it. It cost us $70. They found out the brakes would need new pads soon (they did) and said the alternator would need replaced soon (2 years later it's still fine) so we talked the seller down a few hundred bucks. It saved us money, let us know what issues were on the horizon and gave us some reassurance we weren't buying someone else's headache.

It just might be the best $70 I ever spent.

[serryjw]

23. Absolutely true

since I can't do any work myself. I miss Florida 'shady tree' mechanics. They did a great job and charged nothing

[LeftyMom]

25. My favorite amateur mechanic moved to Okiehoma

It's gonna suck when the car needs something I can't do and I have to pay somebody in cash instead of beer. :(

[serryjw]

27. I did pay cash not beer

but he did the work in his garage at home and was sooooooooo cheap!

[LeftyMom]

30. He wouldn't take cash from me (a pride thing)

but I'd give his GF some money when he wasn't looking.

[DainBramaged]

18. Using Kelly Blue Book "Perfect car finder"

http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.sp?kbb&&&usedCars;slp

[serryjw]

22. Cute Toy........

Found a bunch.thanks

[DainBramaged]

24. Nice Acura in fair cond only $3800

1997 Acura Integra RS Sport Coupe 2D

4-Cyl. 1.8 Liter
Transmission: Automatic
Drivetrain: FWD
Mileage: 90,000
Selected Standard Equipment
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows Tilt Wheel
AM/FM Stereo Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags


You can get nice stuuf for under $4000

[serryjw]

26. Yeah, I think so to

I would prefer a legand but would consider an Integra

[CatholicEdHead]

29. Used Honda or Toyota or a Chevy Prism

The latter is a rebadged Toyota Corolla anyways.