Isn't car shopping supposed to be fun?

I'd be jumping on that MX3. That's a pretty uncommon example with those options. Those wheels are the best that ever came on those cars. Every other MX3 owner will be jealous.

No kidding. I dont actively look for them but thats the best one ive ever seen on CL.

Gearheadotaku wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: To stay 2 door and fit some of what you want, maybe you should add Ford Probe to your search. Highly overlooked. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3744169269.html Another good choice; MX3 http://flint.craigslist.org/cto/3751972538.html

I'd be jumping on that MX3. That's a pretty uncommon example with those options. Those wheels are the best that ever came on those cars. Every other MX3 owner will be jealous.

How many winter till the body is full of holes? Would you condone a rare car to such treatment? 165K and full of expensive, hard to find parts. Not what I'm looking for in a DD. I need something common and disposable.

I can't answer how many winters until the body is full of holes. I haven't seen the car, and i don't really have any idea how badly cars rust in your area. They aren't really any more rust-prone than anything else made in that time period.

Sure i'd drive the hell out of it year round. It's just a $2500 car, who cares?

Parts are cheap and easy to find for these.

If you're looking for something to maintain on $10 a month and have to be able to pull any part you can possibly think of out of the junkyard at a moment's notice, then really your best choice is a 1st gen SOHC Neon.

Gearheadotaku wrote: Part of the mental block I have is spending 5k on a car that will be worth 2k in a couple of years. A "loss" of 3k. Buy a 3k car and its worth 1.5 -2k in a couple years. I paid $2500 for the Saturn, a great deal at the time, and I bet I could sell it for 2,000. While I doubt I'll come out like this again, I managed to do it in the past. Bought a 1992 S-15 in 2000, drove it 4 years, (90K miles) and sold it for a grand less than I paid.

I go through the same process all the time. That's one of the great things about buying a cheap (and good) used cars. Your net loss is much smaller. Though I have to say that even though I'm currently driving a sub $3k beater, my views are starting to soften a little. Not that I want to...or could afford to... go out and blow $50k on a car. But a little voice in my head keeps saying that I work hard and deserve a nice car. In general, cars depreciate. If I get good use out of them and enjoy it, then it's money well spent. Of course, saying that and doing it are two different things...excluding my wife's car and our minivan, my sub $3k daily driver is the most expensive car I own for me.

Have you thought about a two door Cobalt or one of the newer Saturn Ion quad coupes? My wife has a Cobalt and seems to work alright as basic transportation. Quick check on Craigslist seems to put examples in your price range and in your mileage range as well.

Klayfish: Yep, you get what I'm saying. This would be so much easier if I didn't live in a state that throws road salt like parade confetti 6 months out of the year.

92dxman wrote: Have you thought about a two door Cobalt or one of the newer Saturn Ion quad coupes? My wife has a Cobalt and seems to work alright as basic transportation. Quick check on Craigslist seems to put examples in your price range and in your mileage range as well.

All I find is 4 door auto's with a ton of miles. The few stick 2-doors are hi milage or bad shape upon inspection. The 40mpg XFE cars are out there, and have normally been driven into the ground.

Did test drive a Quad Coupe. The tiny off center gauge cluster drove me nuts. Who's idea was that?

If you're looking for something to maintain on $10 a month and have to be able to pull any part you can possibly think of out of the junkyard at a moment's notice, then really your best choice is a 1st gen SOHC Neon.

Bwahaha, hilarious and legitimate statement. I have enjoyed my SOHC 1g neons, though mine have been 95s and id recommend 96-99 to avoid the 95-only parts.

That reminds me, there was nice northern uncracked dash part on a rusty car from up north in the jyard yesterday and i forgot to grab it! I gotta go back tomorrow now!

Vigo wrote:

If you're looking for something to maintain on $10 a month and have to be able to pull any part you can possibly think of out of the junkyard at a moment's notice, then really your best choice is a 1st gen SOHC Neon.

Bwahaha, hilarious and legitimate statement. I have enjoyed my SOHC 1g neons, though mine have been 95s and id recommend 96-99 to avoid the 95-only parts. That reminds me, there was nice northern uncracked dash part on a rusty car from up north in the jyard yesterday and i forgot to grab it! I gotta go back tomorrow now!

I'd roll one as a cheap daily and enjoy every second of it.

My point was more to illustrate the potentially unecessarily stringent requirements in terms of parts costs and ease of parts sourcing.

MX3s are CHEAP to maintain. Parts are cheap as hell, they don't really have a big weak point in the first place, and they still show up plenty often in junkyards. (At least here.) I've seen 4 different ones in the local pull-a-part/pic-a-parts so far this year.

Gearheadotaku wrote: I'm really liking to 30+ MPG I get with the Saturn, and thats with maybe 35%freeway driving. The value of 3800 FWD sedans is not lost on me, but at 10mpg less over 18K a year adds up quick.

Don't discount GM's 3800 sedans. They get remarkable mileage for their size--- 25-30+ mpg. I've even heard of them getting mid-30s on the highway. The 3800 is also extremely reliable if maintained properly.

If excitement is what your after, look elsewhere. But if you need a reliable, decent machine I"d agree --- look for the old people cars!

And if you got a grand prix/ monte carlo / buick you could get the two door, I've always had two doors until I got my new car I hated the idea of a four door but I hav to admit it is handy for putting stuff in the back seat. It just stinks how now that everyone cares about Mpgs the small econo cars end up being worth more used than a family car, but I guess that's how it is now. You get a lot more car for the money and a better example

Monte Carlo was a brief thought. My dad knocked down 30mpg in his Lesabre on the highway all the time. Got 22 or so around town. That's why I looked at V6 f-bodies a little.

Klayfish wrote: IDK, I find the hunt as much fun as the buying of the car. I usually shop in the same price range as you, so I understand that it can be frustrating wallowing through so much muck. But then you find that one right score and it's very satisfying. Found my current '01 Saab 9-5 for $2900, with full maintenance history. Keep plugging away, you'll find "it".

And I did! Late afternoon CL search turned up a yellow 2001 Saturn SC2 with 47k miles. Never saw that coming. Car has some moderate cosmetic issues (Grandson bumped into a few things) but I got it cheap enough to be worth fixing. Sadly its an autotragic but couldn't pass up the super low mileage. Trans swaps are fairly well documented and cheap to get. Won't do it right away but it will give me a project for next summer.

My gut is still churning over the whole thing, I worry constantly about stuff like this.

Dang that's low miles. Nice find!

Nice find. I worry over this crap too, but just roll with it. There's no crystal ball to say how good your next used car purchase is going to be.

Well I feel horrible right now. After a long sleepless night I've decided this just isn't the right car. Call me a jerk, call me a Bob Costas, whatever. Fire away, I deserve it.

After comparing it to my car, the front structure is worse than I thought. Combined with the other issues I just can't get comfortable. The final straw was when I asked myself "If the mileage wasn't a factor, would I want the car?" Answer? No. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Was supposed to pick it up later this week, I'll contact the buyer and call it off. Maybe I'll keep looking, maybe I'll save up some more and try again in the fall or even next year.

Sorry to use you guys as a mental health resource. Feel free to lock the thread.

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/3763513519.html
How about this one?

Or this?
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/3764606994.html

That's why I looked at V6 f-bodies a little.

I honestly think 3.8/5spd 4th gen f-bodies are a fun car to drive. I would rock one, and in fact ive searched CL on occasion for the 'right one'. Not sure on MPG, though.

I know it isn't a bowtie but what about two door Focus hatchbacks? Should be able to find a decent 5 speed example in your price range.