What is a good cheap used car
 

It has come to that time in my life, and i need a car, no ifs ands or buts about it. The problem is I only have a bout $5000 to get one. So my question to my freinds at TF, is what would be a good car to buy in that price range. I have hear good things about Honda Accords. let me know what you think.

I got a Mercedes 300E for $4k in good shape. They're the best bang for your buck IMO. They require more maintenance than hondas, but are much better made. Steering is the best of any car I've driven (that includes a lot). They have a luxury ride, yet accelerate better than base Porsche 944's of the same years (depending on year), and handle very very well. The interior is also better, and I think the exterior looks better than all but the latest accords.

I have heard any type of used honda or toyota is the best bang for the buck. Some toyota you can put alot of miles on it. My band teacher from high school had a late 80's corolla and was reaching the 600,000 mile mark and all he did was usual matience plus change timing belts every 100,000. Any late 80's or early 90's gm car with the 3.8 v6 engine are really nice too. They get pretty good gas mileage, cheap to fix and are reliable.

If you find a car that you like, use the internet and find out what some of the key problems for that specific year of the car.

For example, I didn't search about my s13 240sx. They have a boatload of power window problems, timing chain and specific things die out after so much mileage. Some of these things are damn expensive. The timing chain is only $120 in parts, but over 8 hrs of labor! That's one expensive bill for a newly bought used car.

If you want it to run forever - get a honda

I'd go for a toyota or honda much like for the reasons stated before, no point in me repeating them.

Honda or Toyota, they run forever with minimal maintenance. They get my vote.

I agree with stingc on the Mercedes. Granted they are much more expensive to repair/replace parts, but it's easier to replace parts on a car than on yourself, and a late '80's/early 90's Mercedes is far safer than Honda or Toyota for the same. In fact, they're probably safer than a brand new Honda or Toyota. I talked to a guy who went head on with a late-90's Civic in his 190e. He walked away with bruises, the guy in the Civic was in the hospital. Knew of another guy in Germany who went head on with a 190e in a Ford Taunus. The guy in the 190e walked away with bruises, the guy in the Ford spent two months in the hospital.

Well im gonna agree with Merker on the GM cars with the 3800 series engine. My family has had 3 of them and weve take them all above 150,000 miles without any engine trouble. One of the cars went 225,000 and the engine ran absolutely fine. we sold it cause my dad wanted a different car. But GMs are generally good esp. with that motor, its a beast that just keeps chuggin.

My vote goes for toyota, those things run forever!

hondas or toyotas have the best reliability without a question

get a maxima.

any questions about them go to www.max-world.org and visit the forums.

MrGone

One word: Civic.


CRX's are nice if you don't need four seats; I'm looking at one right now that has a JDM SiR motor dropped in it.

mmmm... 170hp tin can....

Anything german will last you a looong time, assuming its in decent shape when you buy it. Of course, they aren't as big as american cars.

Go for the Toyota or Honda. Parts are cheap and loads of used stuff. There's a reason they cost more than other econo cars, they last long and are easy to re-sell.

I thought those were the standard econo cars.

get a honda/toyota, red preferably, put it outside, wait a few days, and go buy a german car with the insurance money.