Car Shopping, Oh joy!

[Mike is Fr3sh]

Alright, would like a little help with this. My sister, being older than me, will be keeping the 2003 Sentra for college, which means that i need to purchase a new used car. Funny how my parents bought my sister a sentra, a new laptop after she broke her old one, two new ipods and after that a iPhone 3gs, a room redecoration, while i got jack shit. You want to know what i got from my parents? Rock Band, that i got for Christmas three years ago. I pretty much had to buy my entire computer set up, two xbox 360s because my last ones 3 year RROD warrenty expired, and alot more. So, enough of my life story, i want to get down to the good stuff. Right now i am looking for great cars to purchase under 5k. I would like to know each of y'alls (i even type in texan, dear god) opinion on what kind of car i should consider. Keep in mind that I dislike trucks (funny, I live in Texas and I hate them) and as much as I would like a sedan, I don't. I also dont want to get a car that has over 100k miles.

 

I have been looking at Tiburons, Eclipses, 3000GTs, Preludes and more. I think those are awesome but i want experienced opinions!

 

Have fun doing my dirty work.

Edited April 15, 2010 by Mike is Fr3sh

[Colonel Potter M.D.]

Buy ANY GM Vehicle All are good and last very long! I have a 8 Year old GMC Envoy Still Worth $10K! and only 50K Miles!

GM's V-6's Have good power and MPG

BTW Chevrolet Or you might get a nice caddies (Fuel Guzzlers) Will Be the best for selection.

[Mike is Fr3sh]

no offense, but GM can suck my dick.

[Colonel Potter M.D.]

Offense Accepted

[Never trust a hippie]

Buy this shit off me.

I've always had a thing for the Porsche 944, could find em under 100,000 for around that fairly easily.

Other than that just stay away from American 80-90's cars for the most part...

Reliability=Honda, Toyota, Porsche 944 for that kind of cash which is not much to play with.

[Mike is Fr3sh]

yeah the problem is that i dont live where you live, and thats a drive alright.

[Sock]

Ford Probe, although one under 100k miles might be hard.

[bort]

don't try to get any particular used car. its never gonna happen. look around on the internet for used cars from dealers within a few hours of your area. see what they have and make your selection from that.

 

if you fixate yourself on trying to get a specific car, you're probably not going to find what you want, nor will it be a t a good price

[Cefdinir]

Certified pre-owned cars are the way to go. Usually with around 100k mile warrenty and whatnot.

[Wingless]

I've always been partial to Saturn for A to B vehicles. Low cost of ownership, haven't had anything break on one of them, good gas mileage and maybe most importantly, insurance is dirt cheap compared to most everything else.

 

Granted, you'll probably never be able to buy a new one again, but I've owned 3 (92, 02 and 07) and don't have any regrets.

 

Of course, if you're looking for a sports car to run into the ground, this isn't going to fit the bill.

[Kamps]

ANYTHING i am about to say is my own personal opinion and should not be regarded as the right answer

 

 

Hmmm.... I'll put this out there, i do know my shit about cars, I am a car photographer and know cars better then the back of my hand... SO that's my technical background

 

I suggest a VW, Jetta or Golf.... Yes i know... Americans hate VW's but trust me when i say this you won't regret it. I drive a 2000 Jetta 2.0, She Drives amazingly, Still can hit top speeds, drives smoothly, I agree they are slightly more expensive on Repairs... but you'll never need to repair. doesn't rust either, I live in Canada, more importantly, Quebec, we are notorious for Salting our roads and my car doesn't have any cancer yet. I am a strong advocate for VW.

 

Stay away from Older Hyundai, as good as they are now, they haven't always been that way, they will break and will fall apart. I recommend a 2008+ if you do buy one. But beware, they weren't built for tall people, I am 6"3' and barely fit into any of them.

 

I have a strong disbelief in American Cars.... I am sorry... No Offense.... But they built in Quantity over Quality and will break down often. Yes 2cents to repair... but still

 

Honda, Always reliable. Will drive to 200,000 miles and still run, down fall on Honda is when you get a lemon, its a lemon, and Honda are easy to break into and hot wire.

 

DO NOT BUY any modified car, it always means trouble. They are always a gamble. A lot of the time, they are installed with a, It will do state of mind.

 

Also, demand a test drive with the car, make sure it drives straight if you let go of the wheel and make sure you ask for a complete repair and service history... cars that have been in major accidents, even if repaired always seem to have this curse of breaking down all the time afterward.

 

Look out of cancer, (rust) even the smallest of patches will grow quickly into huge spots if untreated.

 

For any other questions, concerns, or advice, feel free to pm me. I am slightly opinionated against certain car companies but I'll try and be reasonable.

 

Kamps

Edited April 16, 2010 by Kamps
My ignorance

[KenjiFukui]

Alright, would like a little help with this. My sister, being older than me, will be keeping the 2003 Sentra for college, which means that i need to purchase a new used car. Funny how my parents bought my sister a sentra, a new laptop after she broke her old one, two new ipods and after that a iPhone 3gs, a room redecoration, while i got jack shit. You want to know what i got from my parents? Rock Band, that i got for Christmas three years ago. I pretty much had to buy my entire computer set up, two xbox 360s because my last ones 3 year RROD warrenty expired, and alot more. So, enough of my life story, i want to get down to the good stuff. Right now i am looking for great cars to purchase under 5k. I would like to know each of y'alls (i even type in texan, dear god) opinion on what kind of car i should consider. Keep in mind that I dislike trucks (funny, I live in Texas and I hate them) and as much as I would like a sedan, I don't. I also dont want to get a car that has over 100k miles.

 

I have been looking at Tiburons, Eclipses, 3000GTs, Preludes and more. I think those are awesome but i want experienced opinions!

 

Have fun doing my dirty work.

 

Ford Mustang ; Chevy Camero ; All other cars: Inferior

[Blitzkrieg]

Pretty much anything made by Nissan is very dependable, but I'm a huge Nissan geek.....

[RetiredTacos]

Anyone showing bias towards a car brand is a fuckin idiot. Sure you may say you like x car for x reason, but when you say "X BRAND" sucks, you're an idiot, thanks.

 

Also I lol'd at "kamps" response, car expert? Please inform us of your expertise.

 

So the real question is, how much do you want to spend? How long do you plan on keeping it? Manual or auto? Gas mileage needed?

[Colonel Potter M.D.]

 

I have a strong disbelief in American Cars.... I am sorry... No Offense.... But they built in Quantity over Quality and will break down often. Yes 2cents to repair... but still

 

Kamps

 

GM's Are Very Reliable Versus a lot of other cars because they tend to last with transmissions and engines.

REMEMBER GM DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!

If you Buy 2003+ GM You are buying a car with a Generation 2 Turbo-Hydramatic.

All GM's Transmissions are ALL METAL AND RARELY SLIP!

As I Said Go With A Chevy Product, there usually cheaper than the other GM's.

Even Lincoln's USE THE GM Turbo-Hydramatic Transmission Verses The Ford Transmission.

[fox*]

Fords are too expensive, Chevy's are ok and they last longer than fords do, Doge are cheaper and they have a lil more horse power, or get a great jeep like MEH!!!

[RetiredTacos]

GM's Are Very Reliable Versus a lot of other cars because they tend to last with transmissions and engines.

REMEMBER GM DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!

If you Buy 2003+ GM You are buying a car with a Generation 2 Turbo-Hydramatic.

All GM's Transmissions are ALL METAL AND RARELY SLIP!

As I Said Go With A Chevy Product, there usually cheaper than the other GM's.

Even Lincoln's USE THE GM Turbo-Hydramatic Transmission Verses The Ford Transmission.

 

The "turbo-hydrmatic" as you call them has been around since 1964. The TH400 is one of the best auto trans around, easy to build and holds a shitload of power. BUT, cars don't come with TH400 these days, that was a 3 speed trans.

 

They come with 4L60/80 or 6L80 (6 speed) which has been around since the early 90's. The 4L60 is one of the most common trans around, while the 4L60 is good, it doesn't hold much power. GM does have some of the best trans, but I think you're going overboard on this lol.

[Kamps]

GM's Are Very Reliable Versus a lot of other cars because they tend to last with transmissions and engines.

REMEMBER GM DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!

If you Buy 2003+ GM You are buying a car with a Generation 2 Turbo-Hydramatic.

All GM's Transmissions are ALL METAL AND RARELY SLIP!

As I Said Go With A Chevy Product, there usually cheaper than the other GM's.

Even Lincoln's USE THE GM Turbo-Hydramatic Transmission Verses The Ford Transmission.

 

Well then here is the thing, maybe, i wouldn't know, i have never driven an american car, all i know is the reviews i have read.

 

Like i said i am really biased against them, I am sorry, i will try to be open minded, but cannot promise anything.

 

As for my expertise in cars, (answering Terry Taco), I have been living in a car world for the past 15 years of my life, i read daily many different car websites on new releases, technical innovation and what not. If there is a technical term i do not understand i will learn it till i do.

 

I'll admit, i am a bit full of myself, and if i say something wrong, so be it, i am only human, I am just very passionate about cars as cars, music and photography in that order are my life. I travel the world to go to car shows, just recently came back from geneva car show.

 

Anything i said before is my own personal opinion and should not be regarded as the right opinion... i should maybe edit that in my post for before.

[RetiredTacos]

As for my expertise in cars, (answering Terry Taco), I have been living in a car world for the past 15 years of my life, i read daily many different car websites on new releases, technical innovation and what not. If there is a technical term i do not understand i will learn it till i do.

 

So you've only READ about cars, that's what i figured, that's all I need to know. Basically you just bashed shit you know nothing about, that bothers me.

[Never trust a hippie]

What I know about these cars... everything else SUCKS lol terry.

 

 

1988 Honda Accord LX: Small, great gas mileage, lasted to 225,000 miles, drove till the wheels literally fell off, rust issues with rear quarter panels.

 

1990 Honda Accord DX: great looking car, great gas mileage, lasted to 285,000 miles before the automatic trans died from slippage due to me shifting it manually most likely, rust issues in rear.

 

1993 Audi 100cs: Big car, all the amenities, heated seats/mirrors, bose sound system, built in Germany, automatic transmission electrical problems were costly and mileage was poor, no rust issues.

 

1994 Nissan Sentra... Tiny, great mileage, unsafe, rust issues, slow, easy to fix.

 

2007 Honda Civic si: Too much money, still not enough power.

[VOLKSW00T]

GM's Are Very Reliable Versus a lot of other cars because they tend to last with transmissions and engines.

REMEMBER GM DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!

If you Buy 2003+ GM You are buying a car with a Generation 2 Turbo-Hydramatic.

All GM's Transmissions are ALL METAL AND RARELY SLIP!

As I Said Go With A Chevy Product, there usually cheaper than the other GM's.

Even Lincoln's USE THE GM Turbo-Hydramatic Transmission Verses The Ford Transmission.

 

GM is like the retarded child, when everyone else is using 3 speed with superior performance, GM's still riding on the glide.

 

If you are/or have friends who are capable of rebuilding engines, spend around $1500 for a good condition chrysler turbo K-car and rebuild the engine. This is in my opinion the cheapest option for a non-rice burning fast all American econo-box.

 

List of some K-cars for your view pleasure (Via Allpar) :

Daytona (Sport 2 door)

Shadow and Sundance (Coupe and sedan)

LeBaron (Coupe)

Reliant and Aries(Boxy sedan and stationwagon)

Newyorker and 600 (Bigass K-cars)

Edited April 16, 2010 by VOLKSW00T

[Colonel Potter M.D.]

1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE - Vehix

or

Ford Pinto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Wingless]

So you've only READ about cars, that's what i figured, that's all I need to know. Basically you just bashed shit you know nothing about, that bothers me.

 

^This

 

I talk about Saturn from a cost of ownership standpoint because I live in an accounting software company. I've also busted my knuckles on just about every sedan model they've made since the 90s. I'm not going to talk about how the Charger with an interceptor package has a tendency to have failure after too few miles compared to the CVPI, even though it's pretty much true. Mostly because I'm not positive of why.

 

Terry will sodomize you with an air tool.

[De3ViNe]

You should consider getting either Honda civic/accord [2 doors] or toyota....and if you are planning on getting a used car that is less than 100 miles, go to a dealership like honda and ask to look at thier company cars that might be on sale, normally if they have any, it would be in good condition and if your lucky, you might get one that is less than 50,000 miles....or you can look at car auctions....goodluck ...

[Slazenger]

GM's Are Very Reliable Versus a lot of other cars because they tend to last with transmissions and engines.

REMEMBER GM DEVELOPED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!

If you Buy 2003+ GM You are buying a car with a Generation 2 Turbo-Hydramatic.

All GM's Transmissions are ALL METAL AND RARELY SLIP!

As I Said Go With A Chevy Product, there usually cheaper than the other GM's.

Even Lincoln's USE THE GM Turbo-Hydramatic Transmission Verses The Ford Transmission.

 

 

I hate to call you out on this...Mom had a 2005 Chevy Tahoe, the tranny went in mid-2008. She has a 2009 Tahoe and the tranny started slipping in February. She doesn't drive like a maniac either. =/

 

People laugh at this...but Toyota's are still a very good option. There have been a few instances of issues with random acceleration, but keep in mind that for the past eight years, Toyota has sold more cars within the United States than any other manufacturer. And if you get an older Toyota there's no chance of an issue. I drive a 2003 Camry and couldn't be happier. Never needs work done, has just shy of 100k miles, and runs like a champ.

 

 

It's personal preference and rather than ask us, who have our own opinions, do some research and create your own opinion. =]

 

You will be happier in the end that way.