YAWCT... yet another what car thread

hese are simply ones that I crossed and thought for a 2-3k range, these have a pretty good chance of being something you could consider.

97 Buick Century, 138k  should last until 160 if loved  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/elizabethtown-1997-buick-century/7205687910.html

Clean, high-mile blazer for $1850  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/newark-2000-chevy-blazer-4x4/7205652583.html

Not terrible, but the miles scare me a bit.  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/harrisburg-2003-ford-taurus-sel-local/7205462285.html

Low mile century for $3000  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/harrisburg-1997-buick-century/7204546022.html

01 Taurus SES with $95k  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/harrisburg-2001-ford-taurus-ses-miles/7205002907.html

89 Legend for $22k, but high miles.  Offer 1700 and see what he says.  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/millersburg-1989-acura-legend/7203305692.html

Fair bet Exploder   https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/harrisburg-2004-ford-explorer-eddie/7203245076.html

Mazda 626.  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/harrisburg-2001-mazda-626-es-local/7202310799.html

I wouldn't give a Cavalier high marks for reliability, but thisone has low miles   https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/new-kingstown-2004-chevrolet-cavalier/7200861436.html

Now we're getting somewhere.  Modest miles Sonata   https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/new-kingstown-2003-hyundai-sonata/7198734412.html

This Accent should last til 225k  https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/2009-hyundai-accent-35-mpg/7195721543.html

My brother has had an 09 Accent like the last one in that list since new. Currently around 170k. I've replaced coils, valve cover gasket, timing and serpentine belts, shocks/struts. All pretty normal. It now needs swaybar endlinks. It's been extremely reliable and i still think it is. 

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

I wouldn't give a Cavalier high marks for reliability, but thisone has low miles   https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/ctd/d/new-kingstown-2004-chevrolet-cavalier/7200861436.html

04 Cavalier is an Ecotec.  Thats a pretty solid appliance for that price for sure. 

I think we've narrowed our choices down to:

• '05 Scion TC 159k - coworker's car.  

• '12 Mazda2 205k

The boy likes the idea of the Mazda2 better, more mpgs and newer. 

We'll get a closer look at both this weekend.  I've driven the Scion and it is a solid little car, well cared for.

On paper, I like the Scion TC but someone rebuttled here that they have a problematic electric steering rack or something similar and sited that this was reason enough to avoid a high mileage version.  

EDIT: comments in this thread about tie rod ends/rack

Funny turn of events.  As of today, I am now helping my 24 yr old niece find a car.  At 4:00 we will be seeing this '09 Versa S w/81k asking $4.4k. 

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Funny turn of events.  As of today, I am now helping my 24 yr old niece find a car.  At 4:00 we will be seeing this '09 Versa S w/81k asking $4.4k. 

How widespread are the CVT issues with these?

In reply to ProDarwin :

See my post on page 1 of this thread that the SL trim got CVT (to be avoided) but the S trim got a traditional 4 speed auto.  The trade off is the S trim is rated for about 2 mpg less than the cvt.  

Specifically, checking fueleconomy.gov...  

1.8L w/ 4 speed auto: 24/27/32

1.8L w/ cvt auto: 27/29/33

I was just in the same situation.  18y/o son needed a car.  Had $3000 to spend.  In Wisconsin the tin worm is devastating to 10+ year old cars.  I looked at 7 or 8 cars that were "clean" in the photos, but had disturbing to dangerous amounts of rust underneath.  

Finally found a nearly rust-free, 2-owner 2004 Civic LX coupe (AT) that had 201K on it, was owned for 160K miles and had EVERY service record included.  Spotless interior and came with newer struts, brakes, timing bet/valve job, A/C parts, tires, etc.  Even got a set of winer alloys with Michelin X-Ice tires too. 

$2700


They are out there...keep looking

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

In reply to ProDarwin :

See my post on page 1 of this thread that the SL trim got CVT (to be avoided) but the S trim got a traditional 4 speed auto.  The trade off is the S trim is rated for about 2 mpg less than the cvt.  

Specifically, checking fueleconomy.gov...  

1.8L w/ 4 speed auto: 24/27/32

1.8L w/ cvt auto: 27/29/33

Ah, I missed that.

These cars are very practical, and despite being 'soulless' to most people here, they are great appliances.  I dated a girl with one and I was impressed at how large the door & hatch openings are.

Is that an OEM roof rack?  My searches don't show versas with fixed point mounts.

In reply to ProDarwin :

I too have never seen one with a roof rack???  Could have been a dealer install option? 

For my wife, in '06 we bought her a '07 Versa SL (yeah the CVT.)  Hers was on the first truckload to the dealership.  We kept it until '11 and 80k miles.  It served as the perfect appliance and we never had cvt issues (other than the slight oddity of the cvt in general.)  The car was generally more than the sum of its parts.  Seemed huge for what it was yet oddly the small-ness of it's size is from the fact that it is narrow.  The front occupants shoulders are close to each other.  The rear has huge leg room going forward but even though there a 3 rear seat belts there is not near enough hip room to sit 3 abreast.  

I thought the hatch would be super useful for large items.  Strangely, the car's single largest opening is the rear side door.  It is wonderfully square.  I remember bringing home a big screen tv in a box.  I started to try to load it in the hatch...box too wide.  Actually, just opened the side door and slid the big box right across the seat...super simple.   

Korean cars holding up well, Spectras, Accents, Elantras, are all good options.  As others have said, look often (CL, OfferUp) and have cash ready.  A deal will slap you in the face soon enough.

I went and looked at a '12 Accent SE today, $2600.  

Advertisment photos intentionally hid some small damage on rear passenger side door/fender lip.  I was able to look past it.  

Rear passenger shock mount was broken - would have been easy fix.  Needed 4 tires - no big deal.

Seller had title w/both signatures needed, but didn't have a title transfer form.  Car was not in his name, so he couldn't sign it.

Then I got stuck in 2.5 hours of traffic coming back from San Antonio.

Ended up with 2012 Mazda2

Good move! I really liked the 2 I tested.