A tiny budget.........

[2o6]

Well it's official (kinda) My mom hates the fact, but she said that I'll probably be getting a car at 16.  (Usually, all of my brothers waited till their 18) And I'LL have to pay for it............ working........ a summer job.............



So in 2 years, I'll need a car. Working that job, I'll make probably tops $1500.



Very Basic, but any suggestions?


Any doors

Any type

Seats at least 4

Manual Tranny a must.

[ifcar]

Escort or Saturn S-Series. Try for a wagon if you can, insurance is less.

[Raza]

Neon. 

[Danish]

High miles but

http://dayton.craigslist.org/car/390114416.html

[etypeJohn]

On that kind of limited budget forget looks, forget sporty, forget fast.  Go for reliability.

[USA_Idol]

Escort or Saturn S-Series. Try for a wagon if you can, insurance is less.

Escort is surprisingly reliable.? My dad's commuter car, a '95 Escort LX, has over 205,000 miles on it.? Yep...and it's all original & still gets 31 mpg (it's an automatic).? He's got the 5-door hatch version.  IIRC, it's had routine maintenance done and nothing more. 

It ain't perfect...but Escort (any of the Mazda-derived models; 1991-200?) would be a great first car pick. 

[2o6]

What about an older version of my dream car, the G20?

[ifcar]

What about an older version of my dream car, the G20?

You won't get anything good in that price range. Maybe a 15-year-old car with 190k miles, if that.

[2o6]

You won't get anything good in that price range. Maybe a 15-year-old car with 190k miles, if that.

Yeah you will...........



Remember, the G20 came out in 1990.


It don't have to be new. Or have low milage. Just be in good shape.









Mazda 626 or MX-6? 1st Gen Nissan Altima?

[the Teuton]

AWD, power everything (almost), 4 doors, 144k mi, $800.  Beat that!

[2o6]

It sounds nice, but what car is it?

[Raza]

Impreza 2.5 something or other.

The Neon is probably going to handle better, and get better gas mileage.

As I recall, his Impreza is not on the road at the moment...

[ifcar]

It don't have to be new. Or have low milage.

But the newer and the lower-mileage it is, the more you can count on it to run.

[2o6]

But the newer and the lower-mileage it is, the more you can count on it to run.

So?


Ford ZX2?

[ifcar]

So?

You don't care if your car runs? Will you have money set aside for repairs?

[2o6]

You don't care if your car runs? Will you have money set aside for repairs?

You make it sound as if it'll fall apart as soon as they hand me the keys.

[SVT_Power]

You make it sound as if it'll fall apart as soon as they hand me the keys.

It happens. Trust me.

[2o6]

It happens. Trust me.

............



Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze, Ford Contour, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry?

[ifcar]

You make it sound as if it'll fall apart as soon as they hand me the keys.

There is a decent chance that you will have trouble with any older car, and that risk increases with age and miles.

[ifcar]

............



Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze, Ford Contour, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry?

Cloud cars and Contour have known reliability issues, and you won't find anything close to decent from Honda or Toyota at that price, much less an Accord or Camry.

Stick with late-90s domestic economy cars, and you have the best chance of a decent lifespan at your price.

[SVT_Power]

............



Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze, Ford Contour, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry?

It happened to me after 3 days of ownership 

Oh and if you haven't noticed, it was a SVT Contour that did that to me

[2o6]

Cloud cars and Contour have known reliability issues, and you won't find anything close to decent from Honda or Toyota at that price, much less an Accord or Camry.

Stick with late-90s domestic economy cars, and you have the best chance of a decent lifespan at your price.

From 1993 and above? I'm seeing them go for $3000. So in 2 years, they'll be in my price range.



Once again, it doesn't have to be that new. Also, All the cloud cars and contours I see are in good shape.

[ArchBishop]

............



[shit]Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze, [/shit]Ford Contour, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry?

Get the first or second generation altima, or better still, a Nissan maxima. The VQ is one of the best, if Not THE best V6 you could get in the mid 90's.

or just get the G20.

[565]

Someone I know just got rid of an early 90s S13 240SX for something like $1000 dollars.  It ran well and everything.  If you look you might find one on sale for cheap.  You just have to find a seller that knows nothing about drifting or anything like that.

[ifcar]

From 1993 and above? I'm seeing them go for $3000. So in 2 years, they'll be in my price range.



Once again, it doesn't have to be that new. Also, All the cloud cars and contours I see are in good shape.

I think you're missing the difference between "good shape" and "reliable." Good shape means only that it isn't broken right now.

[CJ]

I think your definition of "good shape" and his definition are completely different.

[2o6]

I think your definition of "good shape" and his definition are completely different.

Exactly. I kinda want my car to break down.

[2o6]

Acura Vigor?

[ifcar]

Exactly. I kinda want my car to break down.

Good plan.

[the Teuton]

As I recall, his Impreza is not on the road at the moment...

It's been on the road all summer.  Whachu talkin' about, Willis?