My girlfriend's sibling is getting a car. Here's the requirements:
$4000 max. That's an absolute cap. The actual budget is higher, but that's being set aside for fees and a nest egg for repairs.
Goodish mpg.
Safe.
Reliable.
Moderately good-looking. She goes to a private school and is image-conscious.
She doesn't know stickshift, so automatic is preferred. If the car was available in a stick, that's a plus; I'm going to work on them about that, so it being an option makes my job easier.
Made in large numbers. This purchase needs to be made within the next week or so, which means immediate, local availability is important. This also precludes a statement like, "If you search long enough, you'll find a Maserati in that price range."
So, toss me some ideas. Is there some wicked awesome Infiniti that's depreciated into the toilet? Gimme the wildest you've got.
And no, this doesn't count:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-LADA-2110-1-5GLI-VERY-RARE-CAR-USA-RUSSIAN-CAR-CLEAN-SHARP-LOOKING-/190712265290#v4-41
David S. Wallens wrote:
Miata?
So you could have answered this at the water cooler, then.
Sentra
Sorry, I have a 1 track mind.
Hey, did I mention it must have more than 2 seats?
It must have more than 2 seats.
Javelin wrote:
* Volvo V70 / S60(?) (safe, relaible, good-ish MPG, euro, she should love it!)
Exactly what I was thinking of.
E36 /end thread.
New enough to have air bags, ABS etc. Not too small, not too big, isn't a truck and has a great image.
If you want to stick your neck out then a Porsche 944, all the image she could ever want, cheap, known quantity. It isn't a 2 seater, but calling it a 4 seater is a stretch. Once advantage, those back seats are too small to get in trouble in.
Can you get an E46 that cheap? Those seem to fit the rest of the requirements for the right kind of person (someone who doesn't intend on ruining things).
In reply to Travis_K:
The idea of an E46 for $4k scares me, I can't imagine how badly screwed up one of these would have to be to sell for that much. Like a car that had an engine fire and the owner died in it or something. Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt it.
mndsm
PowerDork
8/10/12 2:31 p.m.
Image conscious? Needs a chevy astro van, obviously.
Woody
MegaDork
8/10/12 2:42 p.m.
You can get a decent WRX for $4000, but 18 year olds should not drive WRXs.
Honda CR-V
Toyota Rav-4
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Altima
Lexus ES300 (tarted up Camry)
Infinity G35
Last gen Celica
jrw1621
PowerDork
8/10/12 2:45 p.m.
Alan Cesar wrote:
So, toss me some ideas. Is there some wicked awesome Infiniti that's depreciated into the toilet? Gimme the wildest you've got.
Even before I got to this sentence my answer was going to be Infiniti i30.
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3191167487.html
2001 w/ 118k miles and a $2,600 asking price.
Am I correct in assuming the family lives in metro Daytona?
The i30's tend to have a cheaper buy-in price that the comparable G20's.
Sample:
http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/cto/3174433374.html
yamaha
HalfDork
8/10/12 2:48 p.m.
Just buy a 00-07 Taurus with the duratec in it. Find one with lower milage for around 3k.....save the rest, because you know it'll get wrecked(female, teen, need I continue?) Screw the "image" side of it, after that, buy a BMW or MB after college.
Cavalier.. get a 10 year old one in good shape and it will leave her $2k for cool things like wheels and a wing on the trunk.
Hal
Dork
8/10/12 3:12 p.m.
David S. Wallens wrote:
Five-door Ford Focus.
I'll second that recommendation. With the additional info that aftermarket suspension and engine parts are readilly available.
Argo1
Reader
8/10/12 3:16 p.m.
Thoughts off the top - E36 or Z3, ZX3, Mitsu Eclipse, New Beetle, Jetta, or Mustang.
Notice that I avoided saying Miata. That can't be the answer for EVERYTHING around here...
yamaha
HalfDork
8/10/12 3:18 p.m.
In reply to Argo1:
Normally, I would have advised a Jetta, New beetle, or Golf for a female teenager, but body panels are more expensive, plus when things go wrong(and that era VAG stuff goes HORRIBLY wrong) it'll blow that budget again just for transmission electronics.
Lexus SC300. Manuals are rare but they are out there. $4k should buy you a nice auto one. They look nice and have a decent image. They have a back seat but it's too small to be abused. They're safe and very reliable.
Edit: Taurus? Focus? Did you guys see this part: "Moderately good-looking. She goes to a private school and is image-conscious." Those cars are not good looking or image-conscious compatible. I understand that you guys don't care about image but when recommending cars for someone that does, a Taurus or Focus doesn't fit the bill.
