cheap car shopping
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From: Maine
cheap car shopping
A buddy of mine is planning on getting his license soon (he's 20, but never driven) and I've offered to help him look for a car.
He's looking to spend around $600, and wants something that runs/doesn't need any work. Doesn't want a 2-door. Doesn't care about standard/automatic, or any features.
We're watching the classifieds, and since it's a college town, there are cheap beaters around in spades. I'm thinking something like an Escort with the 1.9, he thinks he wants bigger, to haul stuff. (His girlfriend has a Civic 2-door.) Anybody got any tips for him?
He's looking to spend around $600, and wants something that runs/doesn't need any work. Doesn't want a 2-door. Doesn't care about standard/automatic, or any features.
We're watching the classifieds, and since it's a college town, there are cheap beaters around in spades. I'm thinking something like an Escort with the 1.9, he thinks he wants bigger, to haul stuff. (His girlfriend has a Civic 2-door.) Anybody got any tips for him?
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From: SE Alabama
I agree... Escorts are a dime a dozen and good little cars. Get a wagon if he wants to haul. Even the hatches can be loaded down. Trucks carry a premium, so a $600 truck will probably need some work.
If he wants bigger tell him to get some more money
If he wants bigger tell him to get some more money
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From: Maine
That's sort of my feeling (bigger, get more $). I'll be helping him with whatever repairs are needed on what he buys, but I've only got so much time, and neither one of us has a garage or even a driveway to work in. I think he wants to be able to haul friends around, so trucks are probably out.
He also doesn't seem interested in shopping by vehicle model, just price. It's not at all how I would shop, but I know that for me, a vehicle purchase is as much an emotional choice as anything. He's not a car guy, he just wants a car.
He also doesn't seem interested in shopping by vehicle model, just price. It's not at all how I would shop, but I know that for me, a vehicle purchase is as much an emotional choice as anything. He's not a car guy, he just wants a car.
Last edited by john112deere; Mar 25, 2007 at 03:57 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: ME
Originally Posted by john112deere
A buddy of mine is planning on getting his license soon (he's 20, but never driven) and I've offered to help him look for a car.
He's looking to spend around $600, and wants something that runs/doesn't need any work. Doesn't want a 2-door. Doesn't care about standard/automatic, or any features.
We're watching the classifieds, and since it's a college town, there are cheap beaters around in spades. I'm thinking something like an Escort with the 1.9, he thinks he wants bigger, to haul stuff. (His girlfriend has a Civic 2-door.) Anybody got any tips for him?
He's looking to spend around $600, and wants something that runs/doesn't need any work. Doesn't want a 2-door. Doesn't care about standard/automatic, or any features.
We're watching the classifieds, and since it's a college town, there are cheap beaters around in spades. I'm thinking something like an Escort with the 1.9, he thinks he wants bigger, to haul stuff. (His girlfriend has a Civic 2-door.) Anybody got any tips for him?
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From: Maine
He has been. I didn't think he was going to be looking for a while yet, but today he asked me to call about a car he had seen (price ended up being a misprint. 
)
I try to avoid reading Uncle Henry's- on Friday I nearly bought an F-250...
)I try to avoid reading Uncle Henry's- on Friday I nearly bought an F-250...
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From: Maine
Orono, at UMaine.
What town near Rumford? I've got a buddy from E. Dixfield, and sometimes my family camps in Phillips.
What town near Rumford? I've got a buddy from E. Dixfield, and sometimes my family camps in Phillips.
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From: Running Springs CA
The best bet at that price point is something with a "salvage" title and body damage. Anything with perfect body and "paperwork" at that price is not going to run well. What does insurance (basic liability) for a newly-licensed young driver cost in Maine?
$600 today is probably equivalent to $50 when I started driving in the 1960's. A $50 car back then didnt get you very far without repairs. My best friend did buy a barely running Renault (remember those?) for $5.
Jim
$600 today is probably equivalent to $50 when I started driving in the 1960's. A $50 car back then didnt get you very far without repairs. My best friend did buy a barely running Renault (remember those?) for $5.
Jim
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From: Calgary Canada
You can get some very cheap vehciles if you are willing to look at larger cars. A crown vic can be a great buy. As a plus, they are fairly reliable and easy to fix. Gas mileage won't be stellar, but it's not as bad as most people think.
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If he finds a $600 Crown Vic, I might talk him out of it and buy the thing myself. I kinda want one for a summer project... (I wouldn't really do that to him. But I'll be jealous if he gets a good deal on one...)
He and I are gonna hang out tonight, I'll try to get a feel for what he expects to get for that money. I'm willing to help him work on it, but I don't want to spend a whole lot of time at it unless he wants to work with me and learn, so he can fix it himself, later.
I don't know what ins. is for a newly licensed driver here. I got my lic. in MA, where it is $2000/year and up, depending on where you live, and only legally moved to Maine this summer. Now that I've got a clean record for 36 months, I'm just over $1000/year, with more than minimum liability, and comp. but no collision for my Ranger.
He and I are gonna hang out tonight, I'll try to get a feel for what he expects to get for that money. I'm willing to help him work on it, but I don't want to spend a whole lot of time at it unless he wants to work with me and learn, so he can fix it himself, later.
I don't know what ins. is for a newly licensed driver here. I got my lic. in MA, where it is $2000/year and up, depending on where you live, and only legally moved to Maine this summer. Now that I've got a clean record for 36 months, I'm just over $1000/year, with more than minimum liability, and comp. but no collision for my Ranger.
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Seventyseven250 is right. You can get an older American made car pretty cheap like an eighties Dodge Aries or Plymouth Reliant. Both are reliable, simple, cheap to fix and they are six cyl. Stay away from the Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zepher, though.
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From: SE Alabama
Originally Posted by Red Star
I had '92 Escort 1.8L. It was at mechanic pretty much every week.
Besides, you had the "GT". Probably abused by the previous owner.