Alright every one her's the sitiation. One of my buddies has had 3 cheap vehicles so far. None of them have been driven more then in and out of his driveway because he's never registered them. The only "job" hes had is helping his dad with a small time construction outfit, and helping out his girlfriends dad with his small time carpentry buisness. As his highschool carrer is comming to an end he quickly relizes that maybe he should stop screwing around and get a real job and a real car. Between selling a dirt bike, a truck, and his little odd jobs hes managed to come up with about 2500 dollars to spend. Once he has a car he has a job waiting for him, but no transportation= no job.

What I'm asking is what vehicle would you guys buy with $2500 considering the following!
1. ALL FORD BIAS ASIDE!!!!!
2. Needs to be good in the snow(4 wheel drive would be best)
3.He "wants" a vehicle in EXECELENT shape. He "needs" transportation, as far as I'm concerned its gonna come down to need over want.
4. He "needs" cheap insurance
5.He "wants"(theres that word again) a german car(ie. volkswagon.), ford truck, or a jeep.(but he cant find any trucks in the shape he wants for $2500 go figure)
6.He dosent "want" an american car.
7.He could use good gas milage
8.Hes "plannning" on getting a much better car this summer, so hes looking for something to get him thru the winter, but he'll have to see what money is like.

Alright now with all that set what do you guys think would be the best. Persoanlly I think he should buy an older ranger, you can find em with like 100000 miles on em, for around 2500, get good gas milage, insurance is dirt cheap, and he could even go with a 2 wheel drive, throw some good studded snows on there, and throw some sand in the back and be ok. Also not have a problem with the truck.

Either the ranger or an older subaru would work good. He had a real nice 1991 Jeep wrangler that all he needed to do was get a loan approved(which is gonna be another story in itself, hence sticking to 2500 dollars and no loan) untill he got a "real" insurance qoute that wasn't over the I-net, and it turned out to be 4200 dollars a year, way to high.

Thanks in advance

 

what I'd tell him is get a 1/2ton with a 6cyl. cheap on gas, cheap on insurance,

Vance

 

I got my ranger with 100k on it, still running strong 10k later. only gets about 15 best with it though in town. Right now its getting 12, due to cold and possible coolant temp sensor problems which might cost me 15 bucks to fix. New cars=high insurance. Pre/Rusted out seat belt cars = high insurance. so he's got to find one that has saftey features to make insurance cheaper (seat belts, abs, air bags, etc) Somthing used, and somthing not too big (gas mileage) i'd say f150 with a strait 6 or either a ranger. just my thoughts

 

Having raised 5 kids (1 son and 4 daughters), they all started life in Fords of one kind or another. My son started with a '87(Best I can remember) Ford Escort EXP 5peed manual ($2100) and drove it for 3 years. Was a very good car for new drivers. Daughters #2&3 started out in 88 Escorts GT's 5 speeds. Only difference in them was the colors (red $3200 & silver $3450). Both of these were really great cars and made numerous trips back and forth across US with them going to college in Michigan. Daughter #4 had a 88 Mercury Topaz LS 5 speed ($3500) and it is still running at 182k. Daughter #1 had a 87 Escort 5 speed ($2300?) but rolled it 2 1/2 times coming home from work one night. She walked away from it w/o a scratch. I was amazed at how structually strong the body was. I like to start them out in manual trans and low power but something sporty and "fun" to drive.

 

I'd look for the Ranger w/ a 4-cyl or an older Dodge dakota

 

Lets get realistic. Please no flames here. I would go for an older honda accord, there are millions of them out there, they aren't worth anything so their cheap, and with proper maintainence they run forever.

 

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

 

$2500 for a car/truck.

It will be more like $1250.00 for the ride & the rest of the money for registration, fuel,repairs,Insurance,etc

 

I have a tempo he can HAVE
if he comes and gets it
But honestly, Id get something in that nature, or an escourt, or something small and thats cheap on insurance

 

i second the ranger idea also a s 10 aint bad but the 6 cylinders are notorious for head gaskets.insurance at that age is a killer anywhere cause too many kids goof off while driving.let him try to take a defensive driving course etc it aint gonna be easy
other than that id say go with a toyota camry or a a honda cvcc.... i hate to recommend rce but if ya get a good one ya get something that runs for practically no maintenance etc

 

I have to go with the Ranger. I'm on my 2nd and I love em.

 

baaahhh I wish he would hury up and find something, hes not keeping his options open is half the problem. I talked to him about saturns, nope he'de rather walk, acura integra too small, he wont even look at an escort I dont even have to ask. I think as far as cars go you can't go wrong with a 95 escort coupe gt(IMHO)
Then he starts looking at bmw's and I said no way!

baahhhhhh again, lets see whats better a 92 escort GT with an auto and 68000 miles for 2600 bucks or a 95 civic ex with a 168005 miles on it for 4 grand with a 5 speed and sunroof. I'de pick the escort but nooo escorts arent good enough. he tells me to find him a car, so i do, i find him a cherry car heres the link,
http://www.bargainnews.com/BNO/photo...TheDealer=2123

and he dont want to even call on it. I'm done I think I found theres a point were you just have to let it go.

 

There is an 85 bronco down here for 1500. Looks pretty good, i believe its the inline 6 with a 5 speed. Which would be tough as hell.

 

$2500, that can get him a nice 70's F100/150 with lots of change. Take a look around, I am sure there are plenty of them around there.

 

The escorts are great cars, reliable, and cheap on gas and insurance. 2600 for that escort GT is way overpriced. Unless it has new everything and then some, they are only wort 1000 at most. Try looking on some of the online things, like cars.com to find cars.