The brother is finally getting a car

[the Teuton]

My brother, the musician, needs a car, and he's finally going to be shopping for his first car in a week or two.  Here's the criteria:

-Safe
-Hatchback (to get all of his shit in it)
-Economical (500-mile trips necessitate more than 30 mpg highway)
-Automatic (He really is an unthusiast)
-Something that would be good to drive in upstate NY winters
-Reliable
-$2,000 or less

I'm leaning towards him getting an old Volvo, Subaru, or Civic hatch if I can find one at the right price.  He likes my car for some reason or another.  Anyone have any other ideas?

[CJ]

Get a 940 or 740 wagon.  If it's a 1990, run from it.

[the Teuton]

Get a 940 or 740 wagon.  If it's a 1990, run from it.

What kind of gas mileage do the old bricks get?

[CJ]

What kind of gas mileage do the old bricks get?

I'm getting around 33 right now.

[the Teuton]

I might be able to get him an old BMW at wholesale price if I pull some strings, but I'd prefer that he not have something small and RWD. 

For some odd reason, Volvos have never been thought of poorly in the snow, not even the RWD ones.

[The Pirate]

Get a 940 or 740 wagon.  If it's a 1990, run from it.

Why is 1990 a bad year?

[CALL_911]

I might be able to get him an old BMW at wholesale price if I pull some strings, but I'd prefer that he not have something small and RWD. 

For some odd reason, Volvos have never been thought of poorly in the snow, not even the RWD ones.

WTF!?!?!?!?!

Can you pull those same strings if I'm in the market to buy a car?

[the Teuton]

WTF!?!?!?!?!

Can you pull those same strings if I'm in the market to buy a car?

They have one stick car down there, and you wouldn't want it.  Well, you might...

There's an E36 318ti that I'd love to see him get if he wanted the RWD thing.

[CALL_911]

They have one stick car down there, and you wouldn't want it.  Well, you might...

There's an E36 318ti that I'd love to see him get if he wanted the RWD thing.

What would that car be?

[the Teuton]

What would that car be?

It's the same one I want:  An E34 525i.

[CALL_911]

It's the same one I want:  An E34 525i.

Well, it has an M20, but I'm down.

Potential candidate for an S38 swap, anyone?

[the Teuton]

Well, it has an M20, but I'm down.

Potential candidate for an S38 swap, anyone?

The M20 in that car is surprisingly a lot smoother than it is in the E30.  The E30 feels really unrefined by comparison.  I cannot tell you why.

[ifcar]

Tell him to look at Escort and Saturn wagons. Certainly no less safe than an old Civic, but newer and lower-mileage for the money.

[ChrisV]

Tell him to look at Escort and Saturn wagons. Certainly no less safe than an old Civic, but newer and lower-mileage for the money.

I agree. Something like this sounds perfect:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=244420390&dealer_id=1149846&car_year=1994&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=128&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=500&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=SATURN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=WAGON&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=21208&advanced=&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=2000&cardist=297

Or this one:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=245021184&dealer_id=100022668&car_year=1998&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=128&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=500&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=SATURN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=WAGON&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=21208&advanced=&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=2000&cardist=333

[Raza]

Hyundai something or other.

[the Teuton]

ChrisV, I like the SW2 idea.  I cannot recommend an SW1 to him because of the headgasket problems, but a 2 might be doable.

[the Teuton]

This is matching on all fronts but fuel economy and price, but I think getting it under $2000 wouldn't be too big of a deal.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/693874821.html

This is just me dreaming, isn't it?

How reliable are 1997-2003 Hyundais?

[ifcar]

But why would he want that instead of an economy car?


I'm not sure I'd trust a $2,000 Hyundai though. It's probably at the age where parts are hard to come by, even if it is as CR indicates no less reliable than the average car of that age.

[the Teuton]

But why would he want that instead of an economy car?


I'm not sure I'd trust a $2,000 Hyundai though. It's probably at the age where parts are hard to come by, even if it is as CR indicates no less reliable than the average car of that age.

I found a 2002 Elantra.  He's driven similar Elantras before and he's very comfortable with them.  For the money, would it be a bad buy?  I know it's not a hatch, but not a whole lot of cars are anymore.

[ifcar]

A $2,000 2002 Elantra? Either something's fishy or he's got a steal.

[the Teuton]

A $2,000 2002 Elantra? Either something's fishy or he's got a steal.

It's high mileage and it's stick.  That rules it out, unfortunately.  It has 167k for $1400.  I'd take it, but he won't touch stick with a 10-foot pole.

[the Teuton]

If it weren't an unreliable piece of trash, I'd tell him to get this supercharged Corrado.

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/car/695275291.html

[the Teuton]

I was just thinking:  Could I recommend him to a Saab 900 hatchback in good faith?  He needs a hatch, and he was throwing around the word "Aztek" today when I spoke with him.

Is the Saab reliable enough to recommend?  Also, what about 2000-2002 Ford Foci?

[3.0L V6]

For $2,000 you can forget the Saab.

If he's not concerned in the least about style, he can find old Chev Ventures and Dodge Caravans cheap.

The Saturn and Escort wagons are good ideas. Maybe an older Chevy Cavalier wagon?

For the price, you want something domestic.

Foci are out of his price range.

[the Teuton]

For $2,000 you can forget the Saab.

If he's not concerned in the least about style, he can find old Chev Ventures and Dodge Caravans cheap.

The Saturn and Escort wagons are good ideas. Maybe an older Chevy Cavalier wagon?

For the price, you want something domestic.

Foci are out of his price range.

You were saying?

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/car/652982342.html

[2o6]

You were saying?

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/car/652982342.html

You don't want that. Either it's a steal, or it's got numerous problems.

[2o6]

I was just thinking:  Could I recommend him to a Saab 900 hatchback in good faith?  He needs a hatch, and he was throwing around the word "Aztek" today when I spoke with him.

Is the Saab reliable enough to recommend?  Also, what about 2000-2002 Ford Foci?

I think the Aztek would be a great choice. Ugly, but practical to boot.

[omicron]

I was just thinking:  Could I recommend him to a Saab 900 hatchback in good faith?  He needs a hatch, and he was throwing around the word "Aztek" today when I spoke with him.

Is the Saab reliable enough to recommend?  Also, what about 2000-2002 Ford Foci?

Use your fraternal prerogative to punch him every time he mentions that word with so much as a hint of sincerity.

[ifcar]

You won't find an Aztek anywhere near $2,000.

[omicron]

You won't find an Aztek anywhere near $2,000.

Bless you and your practical solution to this Aztek problem!