What car would you choose $2500-4k - Page 2

MustangEater82 · 02-05-2012, 10:34 PM

This thing is floating around...

LIGHT BLUE HARD TOP CADILLAC SEDAN DE VILLE

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CatsTasteGood · 02-05-2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangEater82

Overall how is the reliability of the northstar era Caddys, they just seemed like a nickel and dimer to keep on the road.

Mine was a 93, I think. In the two years I had it I did struts, tires, battery, alternator. I think that was it. Keep in mind I bought it with about 120k.

Xride · 02-05-2012, 11:06 PM

Cherokee is not a bad pick. The 4.0's last forever, lots with well over 300k still going. They can nickle and dime you though. And will eat into your fuel budget pretty fast.

MustangEater82 · 02-05-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xride

Cherokee is not a bad pick. The 4.0's last forever, lots with well over 300k still going. They can nickle and dime you though. And will eat into your fuel budget pretty fast.

I'd be keeping the Camaro too, and drive it mostly for my commute to work.

RRRR · 02-06-2012, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangEater82

$300-500 cars don't exist,

3 years ago, I bought a '94 Olds Ciera for $400. It was rusty as all fruck and needed front brake pads, an outside driver's door handle and an exhaust system. I may have spent another $200 at most. My son learned how to wire brush away the rust and then primer/paint with rattle cans. We spray foamed all the rust holes, painted over the holes with roofing tar and finished with Rust-o-leum spray bombs. He drove it about a year (inc. a 400 mi round trip). I sold it for $500.

It can be done.

MustangEater82 · 02-06-2012, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRRR

3 years ago, I bought a '94 Olds Ciera for $400. It was rusty as all fruck and needed front brake pads, an outside driver's door handle and an exhaust system. I may have spent another $200 at most. My son learned how to wire brush away the rust and then primer/paint with rattle cans. We spray foamed all the rust holes, painted over the holes with roofing tar and finished with Rust-o-leum spray bombs. He drove it about a year (inc. a 400 mi round trip). I sold it for $500.

It can be done.

there are signs on the side of the road that they will give you $600=800 cash and pick your car up for scrap.

MustangEater82 · 02-06-2012, 01:45 AM

What about Volvo 850s? Good bad?

How are the turbo ones? crap, or nice? Or should I just look at n/a ones.

I saw this one, apparently only 1500 in the US, 1996 only, and MSRP was about $37k new.

1996 Volvo 850 Platinum Edition

assuming its real, but its been 2 weeks its probably gone

darkoverlift · 02-06-2012, 09:21 AM

97 Z was replaced by a 2000 GTP and that was replaced with a 1995 Cherokee and I could not be happier. Manual windows and doors no cruise and it has been the best vehicle ever....I recommend 95 or newer on the Cherokee.

TedH · 02-06-2012, 09:39 AM

Cars in that price range are all about condition. I have been lucky a few times with $500-$1500 beaters that have been traded in at the dealer where my wife works. These are cars that would be sent to auction and are often a source of profit for dealerships but if they have body damage some dealers are just fine selling them to someone who will tow them away...

I still have a 1998 Ford Escort wagon I got for $500 a year ago. It has not given me any problems and is decent on gas. The driver door had a crease in it and the paint was shedding on the hood so it wasn't going to be a good vehicle to wholesale so I got it cheap.

The previous owner, who I actually met, inherited the car from her Dad and he had just done the brakes, belts, fluids, and put four new tires on it.

It is a great beater car.

My advise is to look around until you find something that is mechanically sound and has been taken care of. Be patient. Dependable vehicles in your price range are difficult to find.

RRRR · 02-06-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangEater82

there are signs on the side of the road that they will give you $600=800 cash and pick your car up for scrap.

Read the fine print.

MustangEater82 · 02-06-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedH

Cars in that price range are all about condition. I have been lucky a few times with $500-$1500 beaters that have been traded in at the dealer where my wife works. These are cars that would be sent to auction and are often a source of profit for dealerships but if they have body damage some dealers are just fine selling them to someone who will tow them away...

I still have a 1998 Ford Escort wagon I got for $500 a year ago. It has not given me any problems and is decent on gas. The driver door had a crease in it and the paint was shedding on the hood so it wasn't going to be a good vehicle to wholesale so I got it cheap.

The previous owner, who I actually met, inherited the car from her Dad and he had just done the brakes, belts, fluids, and put four new tires on it.

It is a great beater car.

My advise is to look around until you find something that is mechanically sound and has been taken care of. Be patient. Dependable vehicles in your price range are difficult to find.

It is different when you have an "in" with a dealer. A couple dealers around here do resell there trade ins off instead of sending them to auction. They sell cheaper then buy here pay here, but don't offer financing(which is fine), but they sell more then most privateparties. I am sure they make a killing overall over auction.

I know of a dealer that does this and I check their backlot where they keep them and hope to catch stuff before it hits craigslist.

I am being patient, I actually have been looking off and on for months. I came across a deal and it got snatched up fast, so I made this post to see if I should widen my search. I was mainly looking at Cherokees, a specific 3rd gen project I want to start, then some subarus, saturns, chevys, nothing too specific.

camaro_chic17 · 02-07-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn0ut305

97-99 eclipse, there like mini tanks with great gas mileage. Id only touch a non modded one though!!!

Is this a joke??

Jason E · 02-07-2012, 03:36 PM

I'm probably the only dealership GSM that would park a demo '11 Charger RT and drive a 2000 Cherokee for a week, for the sheer hell of it, but that's what I just did

I love it. 175k on it, 2000 Sport 4 door. I gave the customer $2,000 real money for it, and spent about $1,300 on it in my shop doing ball joints, a couple U joints, tuned it up, did front brakes, a full tune up and flushed the heater core (heat barely worked). With $3,300 in it, its a fun little rig to tear around town with and not care where I park it. Its going on the lot for $4,995 when I'm done with it, and I'll bet we sell it in less than 30 days.

I love old Jeeps. As for Northstars, check for oil leaks. If they have one, run. Oil pan gaskets are common, and major $$$ to fix.

johnnyb · 02-07-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaro_chic17

Is this a joke??

Thank god someone caught that

ZAZ · 02-08-2012, 07:06 AM

i agree mostly with what ted said.. for under $3k cars.. id look more at condition and mileage over a specific type of vehicle. with that being said, your most likely going to be looking at cars at least 8-10 years old. cars known for reliability would be GM's with the 3.8, jeeps with the 4.0, hondas, acuras etc.

buicks, oldsmobiles, cadillacs, larger acuras etc. were generally driven by older people, and well taken care of. i have no doubt you could find a 10 year old example with no more than 120k miles and in pretty good shape for under $3k. i recently saw a 99 olds alero 4 door, 120k miles, female owned, and had 4 new tires and a recent service completed for $1600 obo. look around, you can find something. jeep cherokees with decent mileage for under $3k are all over the place.