[Ooztuncer]

*** this is fun and things are getting interesting - check post #11 for my new budget for a highly-likely-stupid-buy car ***


I have very limited budget (around $2.5k) and found 2 cars listed in my local craigslist.

One of them is a 88 awd toyota camry with 136k and the other is a 92 acura legend with 200k miles.

Here are the links:
http://maine.craigslist.org/car/395163287.html
http://maine.craigslist.org/car/395184319.html

Which one should I look into? I generally prefer private party sellers, however my last 3 cars in US were either from ebay or a used car dealer with minimum success rate.

94 escort ended up in junk yard (i got the wheels and the tires), 00 mazda protege's check engine light turned on 2 minutes after I left the dealer - returned immediately; and my last car, a 90 mazda protege with 97k, is going strong for now except it needs a exhaust job).

Man, it is very interesting to buy a USED car - there are tons of them, but it is unbelievably hard to find a good one! I wish I had the $$ for a 1-3 years old car...

I finally learned my lesson and this time I am buying locally. Above cars seemed interesting on the paper - any opinions?

Just for fun, I am also opening a poll...

Thanks,
-Ooz

 

[450]

http://maine.craigslist.org/car/388734647.html

Older Saturns were reliable and this one has only 85k miles.

EDIT1:
http://maine.craigslist.org/car/391752727.html
Taurus SHO! I always wanted one. Still do. 97k miles... I believe the Yamaha engine in this was quite good.

EDIT2:
http://maine.craigslist.org/car/386790520.html
Geo Prizm [read:Toyota Corolla] for like $1300...

EDIT3:
http://maine.craigslist.org/car/385040186.html
A Galant for like 2.2k...

Alright I'm sooo done. My car searching addiction has got to stop.

 

[3x331m]

If it's me and I have only these choices, I'd pick the Camry. You can get at least another 100K worry free if you keep it well maintained.

I assume that the Camry is in good condition and has been maintained properly in the past.

Buying used car is "Like a box of chocolate"

Good luck.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

They made an AWD Camry?

 

[grawk]

Expand your search to boston, there are lots of cars under $2500 that are good reliable transportation. If I'd picked between those two, i'd say camry if you need 4wd, and otherwise acura.

 

[Ooztuncer]

Hey thank you all guys - special thanks to four fifty! I will check the prizm and the galant. I especially like the galant's but not a huge fan of old ford's anymore so no more taurus/escort/etc.

Boston/NH idea is good but I simply don't have time to travel. And for the AWD, I actually don't care... I am driving 12 years now and saw very bad weather conditions, IMO manual tranny > awd!

It is indeed interesting though, to think about acura at 200k. In Europe generally we change cars at most 90k, but here they seem to go forever - but with my used-car luck - not necessarily, lol...


EDIT: where do you look for used car reviews? i am using consumerguideauto and car survey.

 

[grawk]

hondas and toyotas both will go forever, basically, if taken care of

 

[plus_c]

When you're talking about used cars at that age, maintenance history takes much more importance than initial reliability. Take the car that has the more complete maintenance record.

Also, I'm thinking it might be cheaper just to have the exhaust fixed on your current car...

 

[Orpheus]

i'm a little late here... but just wanted to say that you should never buy any used "luxury" car if you're under a heavy budget. most luxury cars have relatively extreme maintenance costs. and cars that old WILL have problems. and stay away from performance-oriented cars as well. only buy such cars used if you're willing to pay many times its purchase price over the next couple years. take it from someone that has had many experiences with used cars. so, in other words, no acura legend.

 

[450]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ooztuncer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey thank you all guys - special thanks to four fifty! I will check the prizm and the galant. I especially like the galant's but not a huge fan of old ford's anymore so no more taurus/escort/etc.

Unfortunately they are both automatic transmissions and FWD.

http://maine.craigslist.org/car/392975134.html
Manual Integra but $500 over budget...haggle down to 2.5k maybe...probably the best car for you

http://maine.craigslist.org/car/365280623.html
Ford pinto?! No plz don't get this.

 

[Ooztuncer]

hoho, you guys are good and funny!


[RANT starts]

Last 10 years I have been driving mostly JUNK cars - except my 2 beetles from 74. It was a blast to drive them and I terrorized the roads for 3 years when I was young.

As a latecomer generation x (born in 79), living in this highly-changing, make-you-spend-money world I started to believe 40-years-old crisis hitting me 12 years erlier, at the age of 28.

I have this UNbelievable urge to buy an UNreliable, fast-but-stupid car whether it coud be a 85 vette, 95 300zx, or something else...

I am sick of looking for a 'reliable' car or listening most 'logical' thoughts that my brain sends to my pocket.

I am giving my 90 protege to my wife (new driver), so this is going to be my car and I am sooo bored looking into high mileage and semi-dependable (all used cars IMO) cars.

GIDDIDY GIDDIDY GIDDIDY

[Rant ends]


EDIT: by the way, due to my thoughts above I am thinking to increase my budget to $7.5k.

 

[taylor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ooztuncer /img/forum/go_quote.gif hoho, you guys are good and funny! [RANT starts] Last 10 years I have been driving mostly JUNK cars - except my 2 beetles from 74. It was a blast to drive them and I terrorized the roads for 3 years when I was young. As a latecomer generation x (born in 79), living in this highly-changing, make-you-spend-money world I started to believe 40-years-old crisis hitting me 12 years erlier, at the age of 28. I have this UNbelievable urge to buy an UNreliable, fast-but-stupid car whether it coud be a 85 vette, 95 300zx, or something else... I am sick of looking for a 'reliable' car or listening most 'logical' thoughts that my brain sends to my pocket. I am giving my 90 protege to my wife (new driver), so this is going to be my car and I am sooo bored looking into high mileage and semi-dependable (all used cars IMO) cars. GIDDIDY GIDDIDY GIDDIDY [Rant ends] EDIT: by the way, due to my thoughts above I am thinking to increase my budget to $7.5k.

You could easily get a 4th generation (1995-1999) Maxima for under $6,000. It's not the fastest car ever, but it's a lot faster than most other luxury sedans.

 

[ken36]

Toyota makes the worlds best cars. IMO.

 

[skev13]

I owned two Acura Integra's. One from 1992, and one from 1993.

Just last week we sold the 1992 one, which was still in great running condition, with about 400 000kms on it.

The 1993 currently runs like a beauty for us.

If the legend is built like any of the integras are, it should be an absolute beauty to drive, with remarkable reliability.

 

[Orpheus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ooztuncer /img/forum/go_quote.gif hoho, you guys are good and funny! [RANT starts] Last 10 years I have been driving mostly JUNK cars - except my 2 beetles from 74. It was a blast to drive them and I terrorized the roads for 3 years when I was young. As a latecomer generation x (born in 79), living in this highly-changing, make-you-spend-money world I started to believe 40-years-old crisis hitting me 12 years erlier, at the age of 28. I have this UNbelievable urge to buy an UNreliable, fast-but-stupid car whether it coud be a 85 vette, 95 300zx, or something else... I am sick of looking for a 'reliable' car or listening most 'logical' thoughts that my brain sends to my pocket. I am giving my 90 protege to my wife (new driver), so this is going to be my car and I am sooo bored looking into high mileage and semi-dependable (all used cars IMO) cars. GIDDIDY GIDDIDY GIDDIDY [Rant ends] EDIT: by the way, due to my thoughts above I am thinking to increase my budget to $7.5k.

well, i'll tell you this (it's related to my first post):

i had a '89 corvette that was bought used. bought it for about $9k while i was in college. i have easily spent $10k++++++ in maintenance over 5 years or so. yes, Ten Thousand Dollars Plus in repairs. pretty much every single part in the car eventually was replaced. and not only that, you need a specialist to do it. a standard shop will f up the car--trust me, i've tried. how much do corvette specialists charge?--the cheapest one i found around la charges $120/hour.

anyway, again, do not buy used luxury/performance cars unless you are willing to pay 2-3x their buy price as maintenance. i am not saying you shouldn't--but your real price should reflect that fact.

i don't regret that purchase at all btw... i've since then bought a brand new z06 that's all raced-up, and will probably get an exige or viper in a year or two. never would have gotten into all this if it weren't for my old baby. i've also been trying to race-up some Nissan 240sx's for the drifting scene.... and that is the bottom of the bottom of used cars.