Question about buying a used car

[Juche]

I lost my job a few weeks ago and humorously my car broke down a few days ago. It is a 99 ford ranger so it is only worth about 2k. I have about 12k in savings, but am unemployed and living with family.

I am wanting to buy a used honda or toyota to tide me over until I become more established in my career (I graduated in spring 2007 and got the job I lost in spring of 2008). So I want something that'll last me 3-5 years w/o major problems. I am looking at 99-01 hondas and toyotas with about 120k, they run about 4k. However I can get a 96-98 with about 170k miles on it for 2000-2500.

Would it be better to go with a 2000 model or would a car be reliable enough that I could get 3 years out of it even if it were a 1996? I am mostly looking for a sedan that'll get good gas mileage (30mpg or higher) and won't give me major problems. But if I can spend 2500 instead of 4000 then I will.

Are there forums anyone knows of that might also give me good advice on a situation like this?

[Kali]

1. find the best one and if it is the cheaper higher milage

keep a couple grand hidden away to fix it if you end up with something major. Have it checked out by a mech before you buy and if/when you buy change the timing belt no matter what. Just my little experience driven bit of advice.

Du has an auto forum - a bit slow but there is good stuff in there. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=310

Click and clack used to have a good forum but they changed it a while back and I didn't like it so I don't know how it is now. I think it is at cartalk.com - other good info at the website for sure.

edit to add: what is wrong with your ranger - it might be better to fix it.

[flvegan]

2. Before buying a Civic, call your car ins company.

Some Civics are at the very top of the "Most Stolen" list. If you're going to get comp/collision ins on the car, the specific year Civic you buy may be hundreds of dollars a year difference in insurance rates. Just something to keep in mind.

Otherwise, all things being equal, I'd probably consider fixing the Ranger first. Those are about bulletproof. If it's truly a lost cause, I think that if you bank the $2k you'd save for potential repairs, I'd get the older Civic. It's a fair gamble.

[appal_jack]

6. 2nd vote for fixing the Ranger

If you have the 3.9 or 4.0 v6 in that thing, it should run a quarter million miles, easy (I hear that the 4 cyl was not as good). Ford did do some weird things with tranny's in earlier Rangers (juggling Mitsubishis, Mazdas and one other supplier), but I can't speak to what they were doing by the late 90's (I owned an 87 with the 2.9 l v6 that I only parked after a rollover - it had 236 k miles on it and would have easily run for a few more years if gravity and momentum had not interfered...). On that '87, I had replaced the tranny (Mitsubishi on mine - I found a workable replacement at a junkyard), clutch, and some electrical stuff, but it was otherwise bombproof.

Camrys and Civics are cool and all, but Ranger parts are cheaper, and they get pretty good mileage for what they are...

-app

[Juche]

7. The transmission has serious problems

I am not sure I could justify spending over $1000 to repair a truck that is only worth $2000. I know rangers are supposed to last forever, but I'm worried if I put tons of money into this one it may just have something else go wrong next year. I have the 4 cylinder model.

[flvegan]

9. If it's the Duratec 4 banger, that's a Mazda engine (mostly).

Should be good forever. You may be able to get a junkyard tranny for a couple hundred, and installed for a couple hundred more.

If money is the main concern, I'd still fix the truck and take my chances. The smaller problems that may come from keeping a 10 year old automobile is about the same across the marque gamut, like alternators and ball joints, etc.

Just my opinion. You're the one with the decision, and if you sleep at night better with a Civic in the drive, then it may well be worth it.

[madrchsod]

3. 99-01 honda`s had iffy automatic transmissions

the 4`s were not to big a problem but the 6`s were a big problem.some late 90`s toyota engines had sludging problems. depending on driving habits accords or camrys will get around 25-30 mpg. civics will get over 30 but not as comfortable as the accord

we have both...01 honda and a 94 toyota. both excellent cars. try to buy a car with verifiable maintenance records from a dealer or private sale. both cars need timing belt replacement which can be costly. if you have cash now is the best time to buy. the cost of replacement parts from 1992-2000 on both cars are just about the same. we bought a 500 dollar 1991 accord and put 100,000 miles on it and spent close to 700 dollars in replacement parts. so you can`t go wrong with buying a good low mileage honda or toyota.if you can get a good low mile verifiable repair records i`d go with the older models. you`ll spend about the same amount on repair costs but you`ll save the difference.
we have owned over ten hondas in the last 15 years..crxs,civics,delasol,and accords.i guess i`m are partial to hondas.

[rrneck]

4. Keep your money in your pocket.

If it runs good, save a few bucks to have it fixed and sweat out the unemployment first.

[handmade34]

5. older, high mileage, cheaper, if

you can get a mechanic to look at it and give it a reasonable seal of approval. I bought my youngest a 1995 Honda with 150K for his 16th birthday and he still has it (junior in college at 20yo and over 200k on the car).

Good Luck!

[LeftyMom]

8. Fix your Ranger.

Even if you have to put a whole new engine in it, you'll be better off than you would be buying a new-to-you ten year old Honda of questionable history. And making payments and paying for full coverage isn't something you should be taking on if you don't have any reliable income.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. I vote for fixing the Ranger tranny...

Two Toyotas I had broke me in repairs when they got over 150,000 miles. The last one bought a new boat for my mechanic and got me for a $500 vibration dampener just before the transmission went and I junked it. The one I have now hit me for almost a grand for the steering rack and needs rear struts at 125,000 miles, with a lot of small problems I'm just not fixing unless they get serious.

I'd gladly trade you a Corolla for a Ranger with a blown tranny, but then I couldn't live with myself.

[PJPhreak]

11. Hummm....I vote for

Losing the Ranger.
Why? You have that crappy AOD Tranny in your truck.

AOD=Automatic with Over Drive. It is nothing more than a Pinto 3-Speed Automatic with a Fourth gear (Overdrive Ratio) added to it.

If u really wanna get the best bang for your buck,take what you can get for the Ford and use that money to buy a 79 to 88 Toyota Truck.

MAKE SURE YOU GET THE 4-CYLINDER 18R-20R-22R SERIES ENGINE WITH THE 5-SPEED TRANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The easiest way to tell if you are looking at the right one most all of the ones you want say SR-5 on the tail gate.$2000-$3000 will buy you a Sweet one...buy it from a Toyota Truck Fanatic who took care of it and you will be driving the most reliable vehicle on Earth!

why should you take my word about this? I drive this...



This my 5th one since '74 and tho I really want to support the American Auto Co. My 94 Ford Ranger spit up the AOD I mentioned 4 Times!! Costing me a not so small fortune and the 01 Neon I also currently own (And it "Only" has 67,816 Miles) Is tonight sitting in the Repair Shop....And it gonna cost me $1700!!!! at 67,816 Miles it needs a Head Gasket,Timing Belt,Water Pump,Serpentine Belt and all the Labor to take it apart and reassemble it

And this comes from a Gent that thinks that one of life's sweetest Sounds is a Big Block Chevrolet running at Full Throttle.

Look a lot,Be Picky,Spend a bit of time pokin around the net,but for about 3 Grand these 'Yota Trucks are out there. And they are worth every bit of the effort to find a Nice one!

[elleng]

12. Go Toyo!

I'm driving my Folks' '93 Camry wagon. Sorry, don't know mileage at the moment. No major problems, or even minor problems. I'd say, if you see good price 'old' Toyo, have it inspected and go with it.

Best of luck!