WTB KC area car for under $5k

Asking for my nephew. He's about to buy his first car. Any great ones out there?

My searches so far have yielded a couple Toyota sedans from the early 2000s with 200k miles. If there are GRM cars for sale with known history, that obviously trumps random finds (depending on the history that's known, of course...)
 

My advice to him was, "I don't mean to say ONLY get a Toyota, but that's a good bet. You are not necessarily gonna go too far wrong with most any cars these days. I would specifically avoid any car with a turbo, I would avoid a Subaru, I wouldn't get a Chrysler or Dodge, but by and large you should otherwise be ok"

Can he drive a stick shift? 

Your best bargain might be a manual trans car. Make it a 2 door generally, non-sporty car, and it could be a real good deal. 

Single cab, rwd trucks can be deals too in auto or manual but even more deal for manual. 

I have a Subaru sedan with 155k for less than $4k with no rust.  I could meet somewhere between Memphis and St Louis on 55.  

He doesn't have a good ride anywhere and doesn't yet know how to drive a stick but clearly that can always change. His dad loves them. And ha that's funny- a Subaru anyway, huh? :)

I looked in KC following my advice above.  Here's a car that is hard to sell:  

2 door, manual, 2005 with only 60k asking $2,500.  That's pretty reasonable pricing for low miles.  The car is a pleasant blue color.  Looks to be clean/well kept.  Claims to run and the AC is cold.  Why so cheap???

The answer is because the rare person who might want this car, demands a automatic.  And the person who wants a manual doesn't want this car.  

Before you click, I dare you to guess what it is.  

I'd low ball the heck out of the seller.  He doesn't still have this car because he's turning down offers.  He has this car because no one is even calling or coming to look at it.   The ad says listed 3 weeks ago.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Dude I have ZERO idea of what it might be. I'm about to click...

HA I was not expecting that!

Sure, its no kids dream car but in a world where $5k will only buy you a 200k mile Toyota...  

Sure the Toyota is more "reliable" than a Chrysler but 200k compared to just 60k?  

This PT Cruiser is in the hands of an estate sale company.  This screams of elderly owner of PT Cruiser died and we couldn't sell the car at the original auction/estate sale.  The owner was likely 70 yrs old when they bought it.  Now, 17 years later, they have passed.  The car likely sat in the garage all its life.  

Sure, its not the coolest car but with the top down, I'll bet it is just as fun as a Jeep Wrangler convertible.  Even in base trim, the PT Cruiser has a large 4cyl (2.4L) and with a manual trans it will be pretty spunky.  The trade off is that they don't really get good mpg with 22 combined being a reasonable expectation.  Jeep Wrangler soft tops don't get good mpg either. 

Buy this for $2000 and spend $1000 more in whatever it needs.  You now have a fully maintained $3k car.  That seems better to me than buying that $5k Toyota/Honda that still has underlying defects that will need to be attended to.   

As the prior owner of a PT with a 5-speed, I would reccomend against.   Unless he has an excess of virginity he's looking to hold on to.  Take it from me, that stuff doesn't appreciate.

In reply to psteav (Forum Supporter) :

I too do not recommend the PT Cruiser. 

PT Cruiser.....just don't do it.....

As a former Kansas Citian, I trust no one and no place without at least 5 numbers in their address. Also, Chrysler.

I get what you're saying about cost and upkeep and miles, I really do though.