Good $5000 used car?
Good $5000 used car?
I am planning to get a used car to get around town and occasional freeway use (short commute). As long as it has airbags and ABS, I would consider any year or model sedan or coupe.. etc Easy to maintain and reliable.. don't want EGR engine light / smog troubles.
I would very much prefer a Japanese car.
I'm overwhelmed by craigslist so please list some models
I would very much prefer a Japanese car.
I'm overwhelmed by craigslist so please list some models
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: California
Can't go wrong with an Accord. Wife had 150K on her 2003 with zero issues when we passed it along to a family member.
If anything, go with a very basic model so you don't have to worry about gadgets and electronics that will go bad.
Drive it for a couple of years and you can probably sell it for not much less than what you paid for it.
If anything, go with a very basic model so you don't have to worry about gadgets and electronics that will go bad.
Drive it for a couple of years and you can probably sell it for not much less than what you paid for it.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 750
Likes: 24
From: USA
i say get all the features you want - don't scrimp. scrimping leads to regret. get exactly what you want and drive it into the ground.
personally, i would never buy a car without built-in Navigation.
Last edited by Gekko; Jul 19, 2013 at 01:05 PM.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 30
From: TN
i disagree with this. that's the beauty of Japanese cars - the electronics are bulletproof.
i say get all the features you want - don't scrimp. scrimping leads to regret. get exactly what you want and drive it into the ground.
personally, i would never buy a car without built-in Navigation.
i say get all the features you want - don't scrimp. scrimping leads to regret. get exactly what you want and drive it into the ground.
personally, i would never buy a car without built-in Navigation.
This. You are going to look at A LOT of crap before you find something decent. Most anything with low miles will be beat to *****. Then you'll find the cars with 200k+, one owner, very well maintained and clean.
Generally speaking your best bang for the buck at that price point isn't a Honda or Toyota since they hold the value so well. If you want an import go look at a Nissan(pre CVT models), Suburu, or Mazda, avoid Mitsubishi like the plauge.
Another option is to buy grandma's last ride. Avoid Cadillacs with the Northstar V8, very problematic cars. Any Buick with the 3.8 v6 is a good bet, Grand Marquis(Grandma's Keys lol) and Crown Vics are good cars, gas mileage is crap(about 15 in town, 25 on the highway).
Reason I vote grandma's last ride is you can generally find very clean cars in that 10-20 year old range that have been very well maintained with less than 75k miles on them for that price. Looking at Hondas and Toyotas, etc for $5000 you are going to find clapped out junk owned by college students.
You can also find some clean Benz, BMW, and Audi's for that price. Just make sure you have another $5,000 socked away exclusively for repairs for the next 2-3 years.
Last edited by Aron9000; Jul 19, 2013 at 06:39 PM.
For my intended use it is around 3000-4000 a year for now
I think $5000 can buy a car that I'm not going to run into too much problems because I am not going to add 100k to it.. I am able to do some repairs myself
I disagree with the mitsubishi comment..
They don't have resale but they are usually easy to repair
That said many are beat to hell
That said I'm thinking about a 2000 crv. 1st gen
What do you think of them? I think they have abs.?
I think $5000 can buy a car that I'm not going to run into too much problems because I am not going to add 100k to it.. I am able to do some repairs myself
I disagree with the mitsubishi comment..
They don't have resale but they are usually easy to repair
That said many are beat to hell
That said I'm thinking about a 2000 crv. 1st gen
What do you think of them? I think they have abs.?
