Let's play a game--what car if you had to buy it and have it licensed and registered by Wednesday

E36 M3 ain't getting done on the free car that we are/were getting. We need a car yesterday.

So, what car would you be looking for with these parameters:
$3,000 max
Might be kept as a DD through September.
Needs to be uber-reliable through the end of February (when we get the free car referenced above).
Needs to be safe (for a Daddy's girl. And my wife)
Needs to be automatic
Needs to be FWD or AWD
We don't care what it looks like
Not a Corolla, Yaris, Sentra, Accent, Rio, Aveo, Cavalier, Caliber, Neon, or Versa

And of course, it needs to be available right now in the Chicago area.

Bonus points if it is something that you think "yeah, I'd keep this as a backup until it dies", and double bonus points if it is "luxurious".

Oh yeah--a couple more "requirements"--it needs to not depreciate too much in the next 9 months, and it needs to be somewhat short since it will be parked on the street every day. That means no Crown Vics.

Civic, Accord, Camry, Maxima, Altima, g20, GM fwd 3800 something. There are lots of options, but I bet many will be ruled out based on what you're already excluding

Oh. From reading just the thread title I was going to say "Audi RS7".

Honestly, your "Not a..." list crosses off at least 5 cars that I would have recommended.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Civic, Accord, Camry, Maxima, Altima, g20, GM fwd 3800 something. There are lots of options, but I bet many will be ruled out based on what you're already excluding

Try it anyways. Civics are game. Mazda3's are fun (I thought I had one lined up, then the seller backed out). I like Cobalts well enough, although they all seem to have been wrecked.

How about this:

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5415499684.html

First-gen Focus? Mid-2000s Taurus?

You don't have enough time to list your desires. Buy the first thing that looks like it will run for a year.

Lexus ES300's. Always a bunch of cheap ones around.

Miata

Robbie wrote: How about this: http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5415499684.html

Ohhh boy that is tempting. Really tempting. Wonder how far I could talk him down...

Any Ford Taurus in your price range. Look for SEL package to most likely get leather.

SEADave wrote: Lexus ES300's. Always a bunch of cheap ones around.

I'm kind of leaning this way. Found one with 220k miles on it for $1,600. My only qualm is that the timing belt was done at 145, so it is at 75k miles on it. Probably nothing to worry about and nothing I can be picky with, but still there.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5410573258.html

There is what I would recommend, looks pretty clean for your region.

WOW Really Paul? wrote: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5410573258.html There is what I would recommend, looks pretty clean for your region.

I love it when sellers say something like "good price" in the ad.

Good price for you? or good price for me?

Saturn Wagon, 125k miles, good tires, little rust. $1900

'99 Mazda 626, 117k miles, $1600.

Here are my three current leading candidates:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=60126&endYear=2017&maxPrice=3000&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5B4RUN%5B%5D%5D%5B%5DINFIN%5BQX4%5B%5D%5D%5B%5DSAAB%5B9-2X%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=4RUN&makeCode2=INFIN&modelCode2=QX4&showcaseOwnerId=0&makeCode1=TOYOTA&modelCode3=9-2X&startYear=1981&firstRecord=0&makeCode3=SAAB&searchRadius=100&minPrice=1000&listingId=393921864&Log=0

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/5413975523.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5393095492.html

Just go to your "not" list. That's pretty much everything I'd suggest.

Bobzilla wrote: Just go to your "not" list. That's pretty much everything I'd suggest.

Bah, no sir!

C320 Wagon

Since you said no Corollas, best Camry you can find.

Toyota Avalon

In reply to Robbie:

I'd beat them down to around $2500, but it really isn't a bad price to begin with for an '05.

I'd have the trans flushed and the oil changed as soon as purchased however, as I those are the key to making those last forever.

I see all the OP's choices as a recipe for a subsequent "Well, I done berkeleyed up" thread in the near future.

WOW Really Paul? wrote: I see all the OP's choices as a recipe for a subsequent "Well, I done berkeleyed up" thread in the near future.

How so?

Not for the SAAB, which has already been eliminated. But the Infiniti and the Lexus are just a Pathfinder and a Camry.

Besides, these literally need to make it for about a month before we can get the BIL's old car up and running. After that, we'll keep whatever this is as a backup and have two reliable cars that have high miles and questionable service history.

Those lexus options are what I'd go for. Do not want to mess with ignition cassettes in Chicago winter on the side of the road with those Saabs despite how tempting they are and noticed that sucks of an automatic experience.