You have $1500 to buy a car...
 

...what do you buy?

I'm looking at older Tauruses (though the transmissions can flail out at 150K), Camrys, Corollas, Impalas and Crown Vics. What else would you consider?

Bus card. :)

Not feasible where I live and also not helpful. You're like one of those assholes who answers Windows questions with a smarmy, "That wouldn't happen on Linux!" ;)

I for one welcome our smarmy new overlord.

Yeah, also not helpful.

I don't know how you feel about pick-ups, I see you didn't list any in your possibles list, but, even though I'm not a Ford man, it'd be hard to beat an older F-150 for reliability. Also, late eighties early nineties Suburbans just keep going and going, and you might luck up on a high-mileage 'Burban for around $1500 (more luck at around $2500).

Is there a public auto auction (i.e. not for dealers only) anywhere near you? You might go and sit in on one for a while to see what kind of vehicles go through that are in your price range.

I'd say anything worth having on a lot will be over your $1500 limit.

Also: Craig's List

Seconded, move to vote. All in favor say fuck. Fuck. The fucks have it. Adjourned. Bailiff, clear the room.

Jeep Cherokee. Grand Cherokee 6cyl if you can find one. The Cherokee might be a bit too snug for you.

But then, my $1500 probably goes a bit further than most. I got that 97 grand Cherokee LTD with 164000 mi. for 1K, sold it for 2K, bought the 99 Laredo with 114?for 2K, spent $250 on new shocks and an exhaust manifold patch, sold that for $3800, and bought my 03 Yamaha for $2300.

I could have kept that 99 for 4 or 5 years though, and it would have been fine.

Too bad you're no longer local.

You might try to find a Kia sephia. They should be cheap, and they are actually a Mazda protégé. I doubt you'll find a camry worth buying for $1500.
Mitsubishi Gallant 4 door, dodge neon, Hyundai sonata.

If you can find a grand am with high miles, but in good shape...

Look carefully at the kind of older cars you still see on the road. They tend to be invisible if you're not specifically looking for them, but they give a good indication of what kind of cars hold up to time.

You still wee a lot of old jeeps, sentra, civic, accord, grand am, Gallant.

If you come across a Mitsubishi Diamante, they'd be good, but will be high miles in that price range.

Got any car guy buddies out there?

I had good luck with The Greaseslapper, a gift car that, with some minor repairs, ran pretty well. Unfortunately, I followed the conditions that came with the car, namely that I give it away when I finished with it, which I did.

Older Datsuns and such Japanese cars run really well, but the bodies rust. Can you make do with a motorcycle? Your money may buy more bike than auto.

I am WAY too big for a motorcycle.

The Mrs has a Kia Spectra, and I'm comfortable in that. The Cobalt I used to have was a little snug, but I was good with it.

I have friends that do my repair work...one of them has a broker license. I have him looking. I might be able to put a little more out upfront.

Thanks for the input, guys!

Orly?


http://i.imgur.com/jL78cpm.jpg

This from the one who responded " too much poo" in the middle of Limey's cute knitted characters in the "what did you make today" thread. :rolleyes:

Maybe he was hoping that she would knit him a toilet

A toilet cover would be delightful!

It's not like I was lying that day.

Of course, Sheldon and I were joking around...I assume most everyone else picked that up too.


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I can vouch for Jim's suggestion on the Grand Cherokee. Popdigr liked his old one so much he bought another one. I drive his old one now, GrandCherokeeOne now has 225,000 miles (it has the 4.0 inline six Jim mentioned, awesome engine, btw) and is still going strong. Mileage has always sucked (I might get 18-20 on the hwy, 15 in town is about as good as it gets), but it just keeps going and going, runs great, and pulls like nobody's business. Aside from being basically ugly to begin with, it don't look too bad for a 20 year old Jeep.

Outside of a transmission problem, the only thing we've ever done to it is change oil, filters, brakes, and one water pump. It still has the original alternator! Interior is dirty, but still in really good shape.

It really is like the Energizer Bunny, just nowhere near as cute.

I've been considering that, the original Cherokee or a Wrangler. Mileage isn't a huge concern, and I know they're durable vehicles. My brother-in-law has one that just keeps going.

Might I also suggest early model S-10/S-15 pick ups. They, along with parts (and custom accessories out the ying-yang), are cheap as dirt. And they go forever. They made gajillions of them, so junkyard parts are plentiful, and cheap as hell.

You can scratch Wranglers off your list. You won't get near one for less than $3500. And if you want one that runs, and has not rusted out, $5000. You get yourself a pre '99 Gr Cher (ZJ) ... the 99 thru 05 is a WJ....

The ZJ creaks and rattles a lot, but you can't kill em. The WJ will probably bring you over your 1500 mark. But if you can get one of those, grab it.

I can't really picture you in a jeep. Maybe a Taurus would be best

Carollas are small but very reliable and cheap to own.

90s Nissan Altima

There might actually be a WJ GC available to me for purchase. Apparently, it is my wife's uncle's extra vehicle. Burns a little oil (a quart a month), but I don't think that is a cause for concern. It's been well cared for. We'll see.

I think it's cause for concern.

If it's burning oil, that means the rings could be bad, or the Pistons themselves are scored, or the exhaust valves... Costly diagnostic, costly repair. Pass.

Snorkle.

Aardvark.

Wingtipped shoes.

Any of those helpful? :D

Not well enough. When they say oil is your car's life blood, they ain't kidding. That kind of issue will only continue to get worse. You used to be able to get a short block (Jeep 4.0) from Autozone for around $800, so, it becomes one of those "How much money am I willing to throw at this thing, to make it right?"-type situations.

That was always the last question I asked myself before pulling the trigger on a used car.

You know the vehicle better than we do, but, I'd also pass.

Warning: may be talking out of my ass on this

I need to actually look at it, and take my mechanic with me. I'm not sure which engine it has...I know that AMC straight-6 design is older than Jesus, so I can't imagine it being too hard to fix or replace. If he gave me a good deal on it, an engine swap might not be that big a deal.

I'm really leaning at this point towards a Cherokee, GC or a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Police Interceptor. There are a lot of the latter out there, easy parts availability and durable as fuck.

I think it's easier to buy a car with a good engine than buy a car with a bad engine and swap it out. It would have to be a very special used car with a great body for me to bother swapping an engine. The only thing I can imagine doing that to would be a cherry Westfalia.

Ideally, I would rather do that. But I know guys that can do the job well and for minimal cost. I don't see myself buying a car with a bum engine, but depending on the vehicle, I wouldn't be opposed to it.


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The thing is, you should be able to buy a grand Cherokee for $2500 with a good motor. A new straight 6 will cost you $2200, but the labor will cost even more.

Traded a 98 pathfinder today for 2000. Has 164 on it. Old grumpy lady said it runs fine. Roadtrip.

You wanna come here or you want me to come there? We have delicious BBQ here, but I haven't been to Philly in 6 years.

I don't deliver, but you're welcome to crash at my place if you fly out here