Good "first car"
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
Okay, no offence, but why is your friend even THINKING of BMW's?
I was going to suggest a Pontiac Firefly, but if he thinks a Acura is too small...
I noticed you wrote he needs "transportation". Get him a bus pass, or a moped if he needs his own wheels.
I think Dennis is right, that $2500 is including insurance, so, other than a Firefly or a moped, a REAL OLD (as in 1980) Honda Accord should fit the bill.
Firefly's are good cars, they can handle some SERIOUS weight. I used it to haul all my tools and my bottom roller cabinet fit in the trunk with the back seat folded down lots of times. Also the reason the back of my tool box is dented (from the hatchback latch loop) The windows are easily tinted (to be cool). Lots of expandable trunk space (good for camping), and if you go on a road trip with 2 friends, your friends are fighting over the back seat. And great mileage.
edit: We no longer have the Firefly. When I "got" my truck, my wife got my truck, and I got her car. So, we traded her car in for a new Chevy Tracker, and I got "my" truck back.
I was going to suggest a Pontiac Firefly, but if he thinks a Acura is too small...
I noticed you wrote he needs "transportation". Get him a bus pass, or a moped if he needs his own wheels.
I think Dennis is right, that $2500 is including insurance, so, other than a Firefly or a moped, a REAL OLD (as in 1980) Honda Accord should fit the bill.
Firefly's are good cars, they can handle some SERIOUS weight. I used it to haul all my tools and my bottom roller cabinet fit in the trunk with the back seat folded down lots of times. Also the reason the back of my tool box is dented (from the hatchback latch loop) The windows are easily tinted (to be cool). Lots of expandable trunk space (good for camping), and if you go on a road trip with 2 friends, your friends are fighting over the back seat. And great mileage.
edit: We no longer have the Firefly. When I "got" my truck, my wife got my truck, and I got her car. So, we traded her car in for a new Chevy Tracker, and I got "my" truck back.
Last edited by bigrigfixer; Jan 14, 2004 at 11:25 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Lower Rainland British Columbia, Canada
I bought my 84 B-II for $400.00 at Auction. Driver side front fender was crumpeled and the grill and headlight were toast. But that was easy stuff. Mechanically she's fine and just needs a stern hand once in awhile.
If your bud can't deal with a B-II maybe he should get a job with a company car
JK
If your bud can't deal with a B-II maybe he should get a job with a company car JK
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
Having just spent weeks looking for a car for my son, I will tell you that you are not going to find a car in "excellent" condition for that price. You may find some nice cars that don't need much, if any, work but nothing that would be considered excellent.
Finally ended up forking out $3K for a nice '97 Kia Sephia. It's still running after 3 weeks, which is much better luck than I had with the '92 Sable we tried first.
Finally ended up forking out $3K for a nice '97 Kia Sephia. It's still running after 3 weeks, which is much better luck than I had with the '92 Sable we tried first.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: torrington,ct
ya I relize that 2500 is gonna be tuff to find a car in excelent, but he doesen't seem to understand that. he had a 88 f-150 with the 300 and 5 speed 4 wheel drive and he got rid of it cause it had to many "problems", he managed to run a stick thru the radiator(his fault), problem 1. the radiator support was rotted, problem 2. and it had minor rust in places. I really dont understand why he sold it. It only had 100k on it and ran like a champ. I would have kept it and drove it till if found something else, which is exactly what I did with the 88 that my dad gave me, and now I'm getting to bug to clean it up.(floors, and rocker panels are rotted, bed rotted, cab corner etc, I still drive it)
like I said he is being way to pickey, escpesially if hes geting a "new" vehicle in the summer anyways. As far as the bus pass goes thats good idea but the only busses we got around here is a school bus. I like the moped idea, I've got another friend that rides his moped everywhere, and in all wheaher.
like I said he is being way to pickey, escpesially if hes geting a "new" vehicle in the summer anyways. As far as the bus pass goes thats good idea but the only busses we got around here is a school bus. I like the moped idea, I've got another friend that rides his moped everywhere, and in all wheaher.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 0
From: Near Wamego KS
"As far as the bus pass goes thats good idea but the only busses we got around here is a school bus. I like the moped idea,"
Given the fact he appears to lazy to work and to stuck up to walk maybe the bus is the best ride for him. About anything he buys is going to need to be 4cyl and no power. The car is the cheap part of this transaction, he'll be lucky if insurance doesn't run him at least $1200 a year for liability only on anything that runs.
Given the fact he appears to lazy to work and to stuck up to walk maybe the bus is the best ride for him. About anything he buys is going to need to be 4cyl and no power. The car is the cheap part of this transaction, he'll be lucky if insurance doesn't run him at least $1200 a year for liability only on anything that runs.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
I would say he doesn't understand because he hasn't lived in the real world yet.
Give him 5 years of trying to look after himself.
If this guy is not in a hurry, have him check around for Police auctions in his area.
Sometimes you can buy quite the car for cheap at one of these auctions.
Give him 5 years of trying to look after himself.
If this guy is not in a hurry, have him check around for Police auctions in his area.
Sometimes you can buy quite the car for cheap at one of these auctions.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Central KY
I don't understand about the insurance
I have
1996 F3504x4 Full coverage $770/yr
1994 Ford Crown Vic Liability and Comp $700/yr
1996 Yamaha Virago Liability and Comp $275/yr
Tell him to quit being a prep and get any car until he can afford what he wants. I started with a rusted out 79 Buick
I have
1996 F3504x4 Full coverage $770/yr
1994 Ford Crown Vic Liability and Comp $700/yr
1996 Yamaha Virago Liability and Comp $275/yr
Tell him to quit being a prep and get any car until he can afford what he wants. I started with a rusted out 79 Buick
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 0
From: Yelm Washington usa
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Originally posted by TLD
I hate to say this but a good durable FIRST car would have to be a 95 thru 99 SATURN 1.9 with automatic. They'll go 200,000 plus with just regular maintenance and cost little to fuel and insure
I hate to say this but a good durable FIRST car would have to be a 95 thru 99 SATURN 1.9 with automatic. They'll go 200,000 plus with just regular maintenance and cost little to fuel and insure
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,309
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From: northern ca
I vote for an 80s Toyota or Honda.
the rear drive Toyotas are easier to fix if they do break.
my last car was an 85 Celica, and driving and working on that, I can see why the Japanese are winning in the car market.
unless you're an exprerienced VW guy, I'd avoid those, their designs are just wierd if you're used to real cars.
the rear drive Toyotas are easier to fix if they do break.
my last car was an 85 Celica, and driving and working on that, I can see why the Japanese are winning in the car market.
unless you're an exprerienced VW guy, I'd avoid those, their designs are just wierd if you're used to real cars.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
find him an 80's toyota pickup. cheap to fix, run forever (had one with 317000 miles) 4x4, stick and did i say durable as hell? early 80's came with solid axles later had efi. great on gas, insurance practicly free.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 1
From: iowa
tell him to buy a old VW, there is nothing cheaper to drive, and performance in he snow is the best a two wheel rear drive could hope for. they are easy to fix and parts are everywhere, and i like them. my first car was a toyota corrola with about a bajillion miles on it, but my 2nd 3rd 5th 8th were all sort of VW's from bugs to a type 3 to a camper van, and i used the same engine in all of them except the type three, and i still have that engine and it still runs. i think it was a 1968 engine, so shows ya they last and last.
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