How to find a good CHEAP used car

Bill

Bill

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A buddy of mine in NJ is in a bind, and needs a CHEAP used car for his daughter. Cheap as in he has $1000 to spend. How would you go about finding a decent 1 AMU car?

Go!
 
Look on used lots or in the trader sites for former rentals.
 
bullwinkle said:
Look on used lots or in the trader sites for former rentals.
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Former rentals can be a good deal, especially if it's one of the "bulletproof" brands. In 2004 I bought a Toyota Matrix from Hertz with 35K on it. My son is driving it now in Arizona, just sent me a photo of the odometer turning 200K.
 
In that price range you need to look at Craigs list and/or cars.com for private sellers. No dealer is going to have a decent car in that range. (OK I just made an absolute statement which somebody will probably come along and dispute, but still, dealers have overhead which a private seller does not.)

John
 
Agree with checking Craigslist. Anything Japanese would be a good start, along with the various economy domestics.

Don't look at the mileage so much as how it's been maintained.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Agree with checking Craigslist. Anything Japanese would be a good start, along with the various economy domestics.

Don't look at the mileage so much as how it's been maintained.
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And there are Geo/Chevy Prizim which is a thinly rebadges Toyota Corolla. Can be a really good value for cheap car.

John
 
No such thing as a cheap good car that cost $1000.

Especially a Honda or Toyota. Anything in that price range that runs will be beat to "S" and require a lot of repairs just to be reliable and safe. Unless your friend is a mechanic with a back lot pull of parts, I would spend more and get something worth having. Find a good well taken care of Corolla or Civic in the 80 thousand mile range and pay the $6-8K. That's as good as it gets.
 
Bill Jennings said:
A buddy of mine in NJ is in a bind, and needs a CHEAP used car for his daughter. Cheap as in he has $1000 to spend. How would you go about finding a decent 1 AMU car?

Go!
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In addition to what has been said, he should look for cars that are unpopular for some reason not related to reliability. For example, going into winter a rear wheel drive car will relatively cheaper than FWD or 4WD. Maybe some kind of boat like a Lincoln? A stripper RWD full-size pickup? I dunno. I am not in the market, but any used car manager that he talks to will be able to identify the slow movers and will probably be delighted to offer him some. Salvage titles might be another area to look but carefully of course. Not flood cars, for example, but maybe hail cars.
 
Craig's in Hampton roads Virginia. With all the military, there are often good deals on decent vehicles due to members having to relocate overseas in a hurry.
 
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/4789894850.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/cto/4789882626.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/4779778243.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/4789794084.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cto/4789784864.html

Go start driving them. See what falls off.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/4765196371.html

This Saturn will prolly go for a long time if you keep the right anti freeze in it. If the head starts leaking, you'll need to do a head job, which is super simple.
 
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jsstevens said:
And there are Geo/Chevy Prizim which is a thinly rebadges Toyota Corolla. Can be a really good value for cheap car.

John
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Agree.

And a good way to confirm this is I don't carry that car for parting out. Why? No demand. They rarely break. And when they do, the owner has learned they can find another one similar to it for less than the quote to repair.
 
Is there an airport with a courtesy car nearby? Just kidding.

Craigslist is the place to go. There are plenty of beaters in that price range. Personally, not much I'd want anyone I cared about to drive, but if you need wheels, you need wheels.

Your best but for something reliable and cheap is an old purple (or some other hideous color) PT Cruiser. You can find them listed in the teens and likely negotiable down to a grand.
 
Maybe I haven't been around here long enough - what is a "1 AMU car?"
 
GM midsize, V6 automatic. Bulletproof, and the market devalues them because they are not (1) sexy, or (2) Japanese.
 
MtPJimB said:
Maybe I haven't been around here long enough - what is a "1 AMU car?"
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AMU = Aviation monetary unit, equal to one thousand dollars. It's plane owner speak for spending $1,000 to repair something. 2.4 AMUs sounds a lot better than saying $2,400, or "one month's mortgage payment", especially when that 2.4 AMUs pays for a replacement chunk of aluminum part that needs to be replaced.

Also, hides the true cost of ownership from eavesdropping spouses.
 
Craigslist is a good place to get a beat-to-hell car for $1000.

Another good spot is a local public college or university (campus newspaper, etc.), as some of the students will be leaving in December or January and looking to unload their beaters. Don't go to Princeton, or the "beaters" will be $40,000 Lexi.

You can get an OK car for not much more than that, particularly if it's butt ugly. I got my VW for $1300, off Craigslist. But I wouldn't suggest you'll find a good car. It will need some work, or be pitifully ugly. The first thing I had to do on the VW is change all the rad hoses 'cause the previous owner put the wrong antifreeze in it and rotted them all out. In NJ, I'll suggest you won't find anything without terminal rust in that price range.

If you go up to $2000-$3000, you might find a Geo Prizm without too many big dents.
 
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1AMU is definitely Craigslist territory, but if you are good at auto mechanics, there are places you can get a solid car for less than 1AMU. One is to go to an impound lot and talk up the owner. They get cars in there that either the owner owes too much in tickets, storage and fines, or for some reason never come to claim the car. The impound lot owner then eventually gains title to the car and just wants to get rid of it fast. They'll let you know when a particular car will be available, so be ready with cash.

Another way is to go to a Pick a Part wrecking yard. You would be surprised at the quality of cars that some people decide to junk. Sometimes something as simple as a dead battery is enough to get an owner to call the wrecking yard. Many Pick a Part operations recognize a solid car and put it up for sale as is instead of parting it.

I haven't had to do this kind of scrounging in a very long time, but in college I drove a '74 Pinto I got at an impound lot for $75. I had to put a few parts in it and in the end had $225 invested. I drove that car trouble free (except for the tires) for three years and sold it to a guy for $275.

Later I got a notice from another impound lot that I could come get my Pinto if I wanted it back. It seems the guy I sold it to never registered it and ended up racking up $1200 in parking tickets before the city towed it. All I had to do was pay the $1200.:rofl: No doubt that car moved on to somebody else for another $200...
 
SCCutler said:
GM midsize, V6 automatic. Bulletproof, and the market devalues them because they are not (1) sexy, or (2) Japanese.
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Also a good choice unless you need to commute a long way then gas is a little more pricey. But the drivetrain in these is pretty bulletproof.
 
If it were me I would be VERY concerned about my daughters safety in a cheap car. IF the car has airbags they often don't work. Are the tires are good? HIGHLY doubtful, but I would want to make sure they were in NJ winters. Same goes for brakes, struts, suspension, steering, etc, etc. All that adds up fast, doesn't add much value to the car, and means she won't be able to use it reliably either. This is a young inexperienced driver that is likely going to have some challenges and will likely need all the help she can get.

From personal experience, my sister was killed years ago driving her almost new Cadillac to work. Light rain, almost bald tires, and that was it. I wouldn't want to be a parent dealing with that because I saved a buck on a car.

There is a lot more to consider here than just money.
 
Alexb2000 said:
If it were me I would be VERY concerned about my daughters safety in a cheap car.
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I've always thought the young kids should be provided a 1985 Lincoln Town Car.

  1. So much better quality steel, that any incident involving a 2000 or newer car would do more damage to the other vehicle than the town car
  2. Super cheap to insure
  3. If they can learn to parallel park that tuna boat, they can parallel park ANYthing.
  4. There is enough cabin space that the youngster can take all of their friends out for a ride, and still have room left over for Biff the linebacker
  5. But better, the low gas mileage and massive gas tank would have them saving their money and riding with someone else.
1984towncarsignature4drsd1108.jpg
 
AggieMike88 said:
I've always thought the young kids should be provided a 1985 Lincoln Town Car.

  1. So much better quality steel, that any incident involving a 2000 or newer car would do more damage to the other vehicle than the town car
  2. Super cheap to insure
  3. If they can learn to parallel park that tuna boat, they can parallel park ANYthing.
  4. There is enough cabin space that the youngster can take all of their friends out for a ride, and still have room left over for Biff the linebacker
  5. But better, the low gas mileage and massive gas tank would have them saving their money and riding with someone else.
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I agree, the way kids are today they would never drive it. In my day anyone with any car was cool. I used to really look up to guys like Wooderson from Dazed and Confused. My neighbor gave is son a really nice TJ wrangler he had. The kid wouldn't drive it until he put new wheels and tires on it… because he couldn't be seen in anything that didn't look right.:dunno:
 
Corpsmaide said:
Craig's in Hampton roads Virginia. With all the military, there are often good deals on decent vehicles due to members having to relocate overseas in a hurry.
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X2 on this. Hampton road craigs is full of great deals, military folks getting deployed and dumping vehicles off cheap.

You can find something decent for $1000, deals are out there. Its not going to be easy though

Look for... Saab 900S (1992 or older). Ford explorer. Taurus. Anything desirable will be a mechanical train wreck at that price. Those cars of that vintage are generally undesirable.

For some reason Early 2000's Lincoln LS are especially undesirable and go real cheap. I passed up a nice one for $1400 recently.
 
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Alexb2000 said:
If it were me I would be VERY concerned about my daughters safety in a cheap car.

There is a lot more to consider here than just money.
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I talked to him about it, but the sad news is that's all they have right now for a car for her. AND, this guy is pretty much the stereotypical lives in NJ works in NYC blue collar type guy. Very animated, lots of stories, brass balls, and always on the scam for a deal.

Colorful guy, fun to hang with when I have the chance.
 
Alexb2000 said:
I agree, the way kids are today they would never drive it. In my day anyone with any car was cool. I used to really look up to guys like Wooderson from Dazed and Confused. My neighbor gave is son a really nice TJ wrangler he had. The kid wouldn't drive it until he put new wheels and tires on it… because he couldn't be seen in anything that didn't look right.:dunno:
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My high school vehicle was a 1950 F1 pickup with a flat head straight 6, three speed manual transmission, push button starter, bad paint, and the heater was an old quilt.

If we hadn't had sold the truck back then, I likely could push it onto Richard Rawlings for enough money to put a major dent in his beer budget.

But more likely, I would just hire him and Aaron to make it into something Gas Monkey cool.
 
You might be surprised.

When I drive my butt ugly Gen2 Jetta down to LA, I occasionally get wide eyed comments from the local kids. Apparently, they look distinctive. IMO, distinctively ugly, but the local kids seem to think otherwise.

Not that I understand that. But it has happened several times.
 
I have a mechanic,that goes to the auctions,he also takes trades.
 
MAKG1 said:
You might be surprised.

When I drive my butt ugly Gen2 Jetta down to LA
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I had a Mk1 Jetta, bought it for $800 with 225k on it. I drove that car two years and put 60k on it and sold it to the next chump for $800.
 
Part of your friends problem was created by the infamous "cash for clunkers" program that destroyed thousands of perfectly good used cars to prop up the auto industry. Less supply equals higher price for used cars.
 
My $1,000 1998 purple Honda Accord that I bought about a year and a half ago is doing quite well. I've put about 40,000 miles on it and it's up to about 240k on the odo.

In that time I've changed the oil a few times. I also replaced the alternator which cost me $150 or so for a new one.
 
I was in the same boat about 5 years ago, and came up with a REAL cheap solution. This might work for you as well. We have a Joint Vocational School nearby, and they teach auto mechanics. People donate cars to them, usually cars that are beyond economic repair. The kids at the school fix them and then park them outside. At the end of the school year, they have a silent auction. You can go to the school and look at the car, but that's it - no test drives, nothing. Also, the auction is pretty poorly advertised, so there are not many bidders. I've bought two cars there, both are daily drivers. One of them I have had for five years or so - Geo Prizm for $700.
The other is a Chevy S-10 ($1000).
Anyway, You might call your local JVS/Trade school. They may do something different. In the end, though, you'll have a car that's been thoroughly "gone over" for not a lot of money. Once they fix the car, it's not doing them any good. They need broken cars to fix. The fixed ones don't do them much good.
 
Umm, if you've ever seen a community college auto shop in action, you wouldn't be so quick to call those cars fixed without air quotes.

Many of the teachers are quite good, but the students….well….you gotta learn cylinder crosshatching by screwing it up once or twice.

If you're a good mechanic yourself, you might overlook all the brake fluid eaten paint and the dropped ratchet dents and fix all their FUs. But it would probably be economical to go to Pick'n'Pull instead.
 
All I know is my experience. I've had the Prizm for at least 5 years. I've had to put an alternator in it. The S-10 I've had for 3 or 4, can't remember. I had to put a new battery in it this year.

The Prizm might need a power steering pump in the near future. That's been the sum total of my problems. Can't complain too much. The Prizm is a 1993 and the S-10 is a 1987. Both daily drivers.

Need to remember the OP is looking for a car for his daughter. The Prizm was for my daughter. It was safe and ran like a top. It didn't look good, but it ran every day and stopped when is should. I don't think the OP is looking for s "showpiece," he just wants a car that is safe for his daughter.
 
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cgrab said:
Part of your friends problem was created by the infamous "cash for clunkers" program that destroyed thousands of perfectly good used cars to prop up the auto industry. Less supply equals higher price for used cars.
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But oh boy did I get lots of cheap inventory. sucked I couldn't sell the engines, but I did really well on the remainder.
 
Craigslist, look for Hondas, toyotas, subaru, Lexus etc, a straight 6 jeep is also a good tuff vehicle.

Compression test, check underneath for leaks or blown CVs, ball joints etc. good test drive as in really put it through its paces. Check the coolant for oil and the oil for froth. Check the tires for condition and same brand, check the rotors are smooth. Basic stuff.

Id stay away from buy here pay here used lots, all the good lots won't sell those types of cars, they just go to auction.
 
Bill Jennings said:
A buddy of mine in NJ is in a bind, and needs a CHEAP used car for his daughter. Cheap as in he has $1000 to spend. How would you go about finding a decent 1 AMU car?

Go!
Click to expand...

Look for a Honda or Toyota on Craig's list. Another good cheap car is the Cavalier/Sunfire series, they run forever on few parts.
 
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