$4000 DD beater

[scottmandue]

I got talked into a 2015 Nissan Versa "for the great gas mileage!"

Well, I have a love hate relationship with the Versa. The diminutive size means I fear no parking spot and zipping through traffic is a piece of cake (if you call 109HP/1600cc zippy) but also because of its diminutive size I am also familiar with every joint/crack/pebble on my commute to/from work.

Wife is planing a road trip and wants to take the Versa (it gets great gas milage!") so she took it to the mechanic for a brake job... of course when done we get the comment "it needs struts, shocks, bushings, etc." to the tune of +/- $2000.

To which I comment: "I would rather sell it than put another $2K into it"
Her retort: "If you can get something with out a car payment go for it."

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

(Purchase would be August September IF I decide to go for it)

Criteria:
$4000
Under 100K miles
Post 2000 manufacture date
Do not want to be on a first name basis with my mechanic/tow truck driver.

I understand it will have some "platina" i.e. less than perfect cosmetically.

Poking around Craigslist found the usual suspects, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, something called a Chevy Aveo that I have never heard of before.
And...
A bunch of Volvo's
I know we have some Volvo fans here, what are the good/bad models/years for the Volvo?
Open to other ideas... except a PT cruiser... nope, no way, not going to happen. (a flock of them on craigslist)

Let the games begin!

[cabmandone]

I'm a Subie fan but the first two on your list is what I'd be looking at. Maybe toss a Toyota into the mix.

[masraum]

Twice in the past couple of years I've assisted one of the kids with purchasing a vehicle on a limited budget. Both times, we test drove the Versa and a bunch of other vehicles in the same size/price range. We found the Chevy Sonic (used to be the Aveo) to be a much better car all around and better bang for your buck. The Sonic was peppier, and had better features/options than the Versa. To get a comparable ($$) Toyota, you had to get the most stripped down Corolla with roll up windows etc.... Our other kid already had a Sonic and has put a ton of miles on it.

From your list, I'd consider the Aveo (although I'd be really nit-picky about one on the bargain end) and the Focus and the Civic. Around here, Civics and Corollas are way, way more expensive than everything else in the same class.

One thing, maybe if you're buying something older with higher miles on the cheap, then maybe it would be worth it to hold out for a Honda or Toyota instead of getting the Aveo or Focus.

[Scott Douglas]

I wouldn't let the miles scare me away from this one:
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/super-clean-and-relaible-2002/6634073627.html

Original owner, hiway miles, a little more style than your normal beater.

[wildthing]

What's the Versa's MPG? Because I see Honda CR-Vs within the search parameters you provided.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/cta?max_price=4000&min_auto_year=2000&max_auto_miles=100000&auto_title_status=1

[stomachmonkey]

How about an 07" Avalon.

I know where you can get one that needs a little bit of work.

Killer deal.

[john70t]

Toyota seems to be big into the "interconnected" and "driver correction" and "assisted driving" thing.
(a small step from government-mandated self-driving cars for everyone)

Also they seem to be against the "right the repair".
(reference Auto Alliance and DRM and SOPA)

I used to like Toyota.

[rockfan4]

I'm going to go a completely different direction, since I just got back from a two week, 3400 mile road trip and you mentioned road trip.

3rd gen GM W body -
2004–2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
2005–2009 Buick LaCrosse/Allure
2006–2016 Chevrolet Impala/Impala Limited[4][5]
2006–2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

A Grand Prix or LaCrosse with the 3rd gen 3.8 would be awesome. Don't get a 3.4, if you get a 3.5 get a 2008 up.

The wife has a 2009 Impala with the 3.5, it has almost 160,000 on it, it had 120,000 when we bought it 6 1/2 years ago. I've put tires, brakes and tie rods on it, nothing else but oil changes. I did change the transmission fluid and filter since I don't know if it's ever been done. We averaged 30.7 mpg for the trip, but it kind of sucks in town, around 20. Insurance is dirt cheap too.

[Tobra]

Miata is cheep cheep

[Steve Carlton]

Most $4,000 cars need $1-2,000 worth of work.

[reachme]

maybe try looking for cars with highest depreciation like Chrysler 300.
Someone looking to get out quick may take a low offer
otherwise in that range I agree with Steve Carlton above, the devil you know may be better than the devil you dont

[VincentVega]

Brakes should be $200 in parts. Spend an hour or 2 and get it done. Save up for a car you want. What's the value of your nissan? I imagine it might sting.

[berettafan]

civic?

lacrosse would be a nice cushy ride. good looking car imo.

lexus e300?

[chapo]

BMW e46, plenty to choose from. I put 200k on one, easy to work on, parts are cheap. I had a 5 speed , lots of fun and got 28-30 mpg. Lots of beaters out there, be selective. They have begun climbing in value again. Wish I didn't sell mine to keep as a third car but my other doesn't want to drive a manual. Like all BMWS they eat window regulators and all coolant parts but aren't hard to work on.

[porsche4life]

Toyota Corolla. Best appliance car ever made. Mine has 111k miles on it and it’s only ever had filters, belts, and oil changes. Hasn’t even needed brakes replaced!

[JackDidley]

Chevy Cruze. A buddy has one with 150,000 miles on it. It is a special gas mileage model and it is killer on fuel consumption.

[Jim Richards]

Here ya go, Scott...https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/d/2001-mazda-protege-lxobo/6633227180.html

[lendaddy]

How about just drive the Versa and ignore the nonsense from the mechanic? You can't bring a 4+ year old vehicle into a garage without an "it need this" list as long as the Gettysburg Address. You'll know when your car is broken when it....breaks, drive the damn thing.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by masraum

Twice in the past couple of years I've assisted one of the kids with purchasing a vehicle on a limited budget. Both times, we test drove the Versa and a bunch of other vehicles in the same size/price range. We found the Chevy Sonic (used to be the Aveo) to be a much better car all around and better bang for your buck. The Sonic was peppier, and had better features/options than the Versa. To get a comparable ($$) Toyota, you had to get the most stripped down Corolla with roll up windows etc.... Our other kid already had a Sonic and has put a ton of miles on it.

From your list, I'd consider the Aveo (although I'd be really nit-picky about one on the bargain end) and the Focus and the Civic. Around here, Civics and Corollas are way, way more expensive than everything else in the same class.

One thing, maybe if you're buying something older with higher miles on the cheap, then maybe it would be worth it to hold out for a Honda or Toyota instead of getting the Aveo or Focus.

My sister had a Sonic as a company car and I drove it a couple times to drop it off for service. I liked it. Drove nicely, fairly peppy and build quality was good. Materials were cheap, though.

If you would go older, I would say an E30 or an E34.

[petrolhead611]

Any Mazda that has no rust around the rockers or the rear wheel arches.End of.