Used car search

[Steve]

Eldest son is in need of a car, and has very limited budget. There are a few vehicles that are in his price-range, but he doesn't really want a truck (pity, because we could use one!) however I have found the following more-interesting vehicles.

1. 1985 AMC Eagle, 107k miles in decent shape. Everything works.

2. 1992 Toyota Corolla, 205k miles.

3. 1988 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 204K miles.

I think it's a coin toss between the Toyota and the Volvo, but it's up to him. Volvo has automatic though, and he wants manual tranny, so it would be down to condition.

 

[R6MGS]

I think I'd go with the Volvo myself, but I recently noticed that mid 90's monte carlo's can be had really cheap around here, I know they're not really as interesting, but they're sporty, reliable transport....heck if I needed another car..

 

[Camshaft]

Another vote for the Volvo, but I prefer Saabs any day.

 

[78Z]

I had a Mazda B2000 truck for a short while - cost almost nothing, dirt cheap parts and reasonably fun with 5spd - perfect beater if you change his mind. I should have kept mine.

 

[R6MGS]

I looked at the B-series before deciding on the Sonoma for my son...B-series where alot cheaper and I have a friend with one that has given no problems at all. Great little trucks!The Sonoma was a little more than I originally wanted to spend, but it's pretty nice for a truck especially with the factory lowered suspension and bigger wheel/tire combo....Son loves it, 4.3 is pretty peppy...and I kinda like it too.

Plus, lifes alot easier with a truck around the house....No more of this kinda stuff!

 

[beaulieu]

out of those 3 choices

Keep looking !

200k miles is alot of miles on any car

the AMC eagle would not even be on my list

I would stay with Toyotas and Volvos

Good motors , good gearbox and lots of places to get parts other than the dealer,

Beaulieu

 

[tony barnhill]

Be interesting to learn why a male teenager isn't interested in a truck.....

 

[Steve]

Be interesting to learn why a male teenager isn't interested in a truck.....

He's been spoiled, loves driving my 5-series and the wife's Passat (1.8 with the turbo). He's 23 by the way.....

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]He's 23 by the way[/QUOTE]

Ah, sorry, just assume you were talking about a teenager.

 

[jackq]

I have a real nice 93 Maxima that I picked up a while back, some GI was driving it when a car cut a corner too sharp and clipped the rt. front. No internal structual damage at all. Minor damage to corner of hood, rt. front fender and got the front door and frt. marker lite. They didn't want it repaired since they bought it new and kept it perfect. I said whatever and bought it. I bought all new fender, door, hood and marker lite. I'll paint it and sell it. Was going to put it in our garage in NY so when we're there..have a car. Now selling house and car is extra. 3.0 V-6,Auto. trans..new tires,shocks, brakes..etc. c/d sytem...and since it spent ots life in new Mexico..no rust. Power everything and its a four door. Make someone a nice car...also replaced the radiator for no reason other than to replace it..and battery.

 

[Steve]

Hmmmm, may be a bit too much for him..... The Maxima has to be worth more than he can afford to pay. I appreciate you mentioning it though.

Thanks to the suggestions above, we saw a Mazda B-series truck, 4WD for $1,800. Close to what he has available to spend.

 

[78Z]

The 4wd B-series trucks have a Mitsubishi 2.6L engine in them - not sure how they do but seem to last a little less long. The 2wd ones have a 2.0L or 2.2L bullet proof engine - quite slow though. Mine was $400Cdn and I drove it about 5k miles in a month and then sold it off again for $400. Should have kept it.

 

[AngliaGT]

We had a B2000 LX.Loved it,but it was slow.
Our oldest Son got a ticket for doing 78 MPH in
it - thing wouldn't do more than 70 on a flat
piece of road.Charges got dropped.

- Doug

 

[aeronca65t]

We had a '91 GEO Prizm (same as that Corolla).
When it had around 150,000 miles, I took it to Lime Rock for a track day and thrashed it for 3 long, hard hours.
Then I gave it to my sister and she drove for another 20K. Then *she* gave it to someone else....still running.

So between your three choices, I'd take the Toyota, but only if it was free.

Honestly,unless they're *free*, none of those cars seems like they are worth the effort.

I've gotten three free Ford Escorts in about the last 6 months. All mid-to early 90s with around 100,000 miles. Two of them were quite street worthy....no one seems to want them the way the want Hondas, but actually, they are not that bad. I see plenty of them here for around $250 with much less miles than your three choices. There was just a nice-ish '98 Escort locally with low mileage and minor body damage for around $500.

Have you looked on craigslist? I dislike eBay, but I really like craigslist, partly due to it's local nature (in fact, I just bought something on cl today).

https://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/wi

 

[JPSmit]

FWIW, I watched Top Gear last week and their task was to buy a 1500 pound (sterling) car and race each other - One got a jag, the other a 6 series BMW and the third a Mitsubishi? Anyway, makes don't matter because their advice was simple, if you have a limited budget for a sporty car buy Japanese.