I need a cheap beater. Are old cars still a good deal?

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Not trying to type a whole big story. Trying to spend a couple grand on something I can drive until the doors falls off. Nothing European besides a Volkswagen with the correct engines. Maybe a Saab. No trucks, convertibles without a hardtop, or anything that gets less than 20mpg. Mileage and age is irrelevant. Only matters is does it start every time, drive straight, and is not a money pit.

It's hard to find a good car now. And unfortunately, a lot of the cars from the 90s and early 2000s that were considered tanks. They are finally having all kinds of parts fail on them. Electronics especially. I mean can you really expect a 30+ year car to be a reliable daily? I've talked to older folk who were my age back in the 90s 80 and 70s. I asked if it was common to see someone back then dailying a vehicle from the 40s or 50s.

They said the people who drove old cars were always working on them, chasing down old parts, trying to find a mechanic who would touch it and knew about wrenching on older models etc. I just feel like I hear the same stories from people my age or reading online about their old Volvo, old Subaru, old Honda, whatever. Just components and seals all giving up the ghost one after the other. Not knocking anyone who got lucky with a old car that just needs fluids, brakes, and tires.

So suggestions? Feel free to offer a car my way. Either yours or someone you know. Send a link to a Craigslist ad you saw. Any good advice is appreciated as well. Figured I should post here.

[Pumpytrilly1]

Are you able to work on your own car since you are in the rust belt? Really look over suspension control arms and jack points on older vehicles.

[Daltech]

2010 toyota corolla will never die. Hey hey my my. Toyota corolla will never die.

[Fossilhead]

I picked up a 2013 Corolla last year. I'm digging the 30+ mpg

[Daltech]

If it breaks. It cost between $50-$200. Unless you go to mechanic, then it’s $500-$1000.

[Maxwell]

I'm a cheap car buyer; I don't like paying a bunch for insurance and for transportation. My paintball gear bag outvalues my vehicle occasionally. I've had decent luck with the 2008ish era of vehicles myself. Normally 1-2 small repairs a year and they can be had for a 2-3 grand or less. The big key is knowing someone who works on cars for cheap though. Someone who isn't running an actual business and paying insurance and all of that. This is just how I go about it because I'm a cheapskate and shouldn't be taken as advice.

I finally splurged and bought a new 6 speed Corolla after 15 years of driving and I got rear ended into another car and had it totaled not even a month later. Didn't even get my real plates yet.🤣 Now I have a 2015 Kia Forte for about $6,000 and it's been amazing. Little higher budget but she gets the job done.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Pumpytrilly1 Yes I have access to tools and place to work on it if needed. My roommate has a job at place that does custom microwaves for a bunch of different uses. Lots of crazy stuff goes through that shop. Anyway, I did auto shop all throughout highschool. I've pulled my car into the shop before to do simple stuff like a lightbulb, pads and rotors, spark plugs. But we are not auto mechanics in the slightest. No way can we drop an engine and tranny, and put it back in a weekend just to get to a stupid sensor or something (some cars are just not mechanic friendly). Let alone pull apart either of those main components and do a rebuild. It has to be a car that I can do the normal routine maintenance. Without taking hours just to even get to the part that needs replacing.

Suspension components for sure. Rust just destroys good cars up here.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

2010 toyota corolla will never die. Hey hey my my. Toyota corolla will never die.

I see a lot of Camrys from that era in my price range. Some sixes, some 4 bangers. The corollas around here are almost all toast. The Camry people seemed to at least keep them looking cleaner. Lol

[Grendel]

Buick LeSebre for the 90s to early 2000s. Dirt cheap easy to workon.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Buick LeSebre for the 90s to early 2000s. Dirt cheap easy to workon.

The 3800 is considered one of the most reliable engines ever. The tranny's seem to be the killer on those cars. Especially the supercharged ones. I've see ones with the 3100 and the 3400 sometimes with super low miles and showroom clean for well under 10 grand. Sometimes under 5 grand! It would be badass to roll around in a mid 90s Oldsmobile 98 Regency or a Pontiac Bonneville SSEI!

[William the Third]

The 3100 V6 will run forever... as long as you don't mind oil leaks.

[ford]

If I could change anything about my beater 2007 Honda accord, it’s the fact I have the v6 engine which given its age and mileage it has a number leaks and replacing the timing belt will cost more than the car is worth.

id consider looking for a 4-cylinder version in that same era. Easier to work on, timing chain and very reliable. Suspension work will probably be required tho.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

If I could change anything about my beater 2007 Honda accord, it’s the fact I have the v6 engine which given its age and mileage it has a number leaks and replacing the timing belt will cost more than the car is worth.

id consider looking for a 4-cylinder version in that same era. Easier to work on, timing chain and very reliable. Suspension work will probably be required tho.

I do see a couple of clean Acuras in my price range with the K24 4 cylinder, instead of the J32/35/37 v6's. They should be reliable if they were not abused. I do think the 4 bangers require 93 octane though.

[Reflex0283]

I got a 2013 honda fit with 93k miles for $6.2k last week, I've been loving it so far and I've had zero issues with other hondas from the same time period. Despite the fit having a 1.5L engine, it's surprisingly peppy and really fun to drive. 2005-2015 hondas should serve you well

[Chuck E Ducky]

Anything in the 2k price range is going to be a crap shoot for reliability. If it runs and can be made to pass inspection it’s worth at least $3k.

Know anyone who works at a dealership. My brother seems to get good deals buying cars for just over trade in prices after the dealers try and rip customers off with pathetic offers. He’s a mechanic tho so knows what to buy and what to stay away from. He can also put the work in to make them right without paying someone $100 an Hr to do the work.

A buddy of mine just picked up a pretty clean Subaru for $3k it’s got 250k on the clock but a mechanic went through and did everything on it. Seems pretty tight for the mileage and it was taken care of but it’s still a crap shoot. Deals don’t last so be prepared to jump on them if you get lucky. At the same time you got to know what you are looking at so you don’t have to buy another 2-3k car in a few months.

[Criticalhammer]

Got a 180k Mazda 3 that the only thing I had to do with it was replace the rack and pinion at 120k. That was 100% from me racing it at Colorado high plains raceway more than it should have.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

I got a 2013 honda fit with 93k miles for $6.2k last week, I've been loving it so far and I've had zero issues with other hondas from the same time period. Despite the fit having a 1.5L engine, it's surprisingly peppy and really fun to drive. 2005-2015 hondas should serve you well

I would love a Honda Fit. Not seeing a lot of them in my searches though. Same for the Toyota Yaris or the Toyota Matrix. I did see one Pontiac Vibe though. A real lack of tiny hatchbacks here. Though I do love a smaller car. My favorite car is a red 86 or 87 crx SI. I really want like a Toyota Booty Wagon or Honda Accord wagon. But they are way outta my price range, for a well taken care of survivor. I would take a Volkswagen Passat Wagon with a Diesel or the inline 5. I would like a car I can camp in when I do a 3 day Phish run at Alpine Valley Or Deer Creek! But I know wagons are hot these days, so I probably won't find any in my price range.

[Reflex0283]

CR-Xs are really cool, I've got a friend in Kansas (long story) that has a del sol (my profile picture) that I might get eventually, small Hondas are great!

Volvo 240s are still cheap but they're usually suffering from chronic rust or degrading rubber seals, there's an abundance of Honda fits near me so it made a lot of sense for me to get one. I had an 8th gen civic before my fit and that was a lot of fun too