Best used car under 10 grand?

[Dirk Diggler]

Ok, this could open up the biggest Off Camber cyber-wank fest since the last big Airbus project, but here goes...:cool:

Time for the Digglers to get a second car, and I'm trying to keep it under $10k. Let's hear what you gearheads think.

A few criteria,
1. I'm done with American cars.
2. No interest in a pick up, SUV, or mini-van
3. Image isn't everything, but I'd like to have a shred of dignity, as well.
4. Family of four - space is important
5. Family of four - reliability is important

Bonus: Find something that we can take on a camping trip

Let's hear it...
:)

[chop456]

Honda Fit? It's got paddle shifters. :tony:

Dunno how much used Mazda 5's are going for, but I think the design is ideal. Not much in the coolness department, but...

[Edit] I'll add the Matrix/Vibe to the list, too.

[cameraman]

I was going to say a Subaru Outback but the under $10K part means it will have a minimum 120K miles on it:saywhat:

[KLang]

4. Family of four - space is important
5. Family of four - reliability is important


Accord or Camry seems the obvious answer to me. Not sure how old you would need to go to be below 10 grand.

[Stu]

do you have age and mileage restrictions? otherwise any car can be under 10k.

[Sean Malone]

No SUV, but has room and can go on a camping trip...I'm thinking crossover. SUV 'like' but built on a unibody chassis so it rides like a car. How do you feel about Korean?

Just my 2 cents but don't be so quick to rule out the dreaded minivan. If you've never had one, they are incredibly versatile vehicles and because of intense competition all makes are packed to the gills in gee gaws and gadgets. I hate driving my wife's minivan to the store, but I love taking road trips in it. It's like your own airplane sans wings and attendants.

[nrc]

I'm thinking Mazda 6 wagon or hatch. They didn't sell a lot of them so it might be tough to find one at that price.

[Methanolandbrats]

Don't buy Korean Junk unless you enjoy long, frustrating repair sessions. Try discharging the AC and removing the radiator to swap out the alternator :mad: (not mine, I stupidly offered to help a friend)

Yoda minivan feels like a car. Would be good choice. Very few cars have room for "camping" stuff, so if you want a car, get a rooftop box for the occasional times you need to haul lots of stuff.

Are you a home mechanic? For under 10k, you're gonna be fixing stuff and it gets expensive if you hire it out.

Edit: General used buying advice. If it's approaching 60, 100 or 120k, find out if routine maintenance has been done, especially timing belt and water pump, that's usually expensive. If it has been neglected, it can be extremely expensive when the belt breaks. Don't buy anything without service records. Crawl under it and look for leaks by brake parts, on the transmission, where the transmission and motor meet, and the front main seal by the crank pully. Pull the dipstick and oil filler cap, are both covered with nothing but clean motor oil? Look in the brake fluid resevoir, if the fluid is brown, the brakes were never bled which is a bad sign. Look in the coolant resevoir, any thing other than clean coolant? Grab the wheels and give them a shake. If there is any clunking or play, you're looking at suspension work which could be strut bearings, tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, wheel bearings, etc... Check the Alternator output by having the car idle and checking voltage across the battery poles, then turn on lights and AC and see if voltage drops under load. Look for corrosion under battery tray, that can lead to electrical nightmares. Check out the exhaust from front to back to see if it's about to fail. Run the HVAC and fan to check for problems (heater core, AC, HVAC control in dash...). This is only the beginning, but it's a start.

[Dirk Diggler]

Just my 2 cents but don't be so quick to rule out the dreaded minivan...

Yeah, I know. The thing is, we're replacing the minivan. I hated driving it, but I have to admit that the cubic feet will definitely be missed. I'm just ready for a car again.

[Dirk Diggler]

As for the cost, I think I should be able to get something decent. No one's buying right now, so I might even go back to a dealer:eek:

I'm thinking that the salesmen are probably chasing passing cars down the street like wild dogs and biting each other on the ass in the showroom. Should be able to bleed a good deal out of them on a decent used car.

[cameraman]

I have an Outback (1995, 110K miles and no, it isn't for sale) and a utility trailer. The trailer is a wonderful thing. I can carry all manner of crap, loads that you would never put in your pickup truck, and the rest of the time I'm just driving a nice regular car.

[Andrew Longman]

Edit: General used buying advice...

And check the radio. I did all you advise on a car I bought used from a dealer only to realize on my way home after buying it that one speaker didn't work. :saywhat:

Not the worst thing, and I forced the dealer to fix it, but I would not have had to make a scene if I noticed it before I signed the papers.

[cameraman]

Should be able to bleed a good deal out of them on a decent used car.

I was talking to a neighbor who sells cars and he said the only thing that is moving right now are the inexpensive used cars which oddly enough are not so inexpensive anymore.:rolleyes:

[Dirk Diggler]

I was talking to a neighbor who sells cars and he said the only thing that is moving right now are the inexpensive used cars which oddly enough are not so inexpensive anymore.:rolleyes:

Fair point.

[Dirk Diggler]

Thanks, Methandbrats. I know the general checklists pretty well when you buy, but I just haven't really kept up on cars over the past 5 or 6 years, so I'm kind of stumped as to what's even out there. Comes with driving a mini-van, I guess. It just depresses you to see what else you could be driving!:laugh:

[dando]

2500+ listed on eBay from 2000-2004 for under $10K. Accord, Camry, Altima, 6 are all good choices. I'm @ 10 years and 80K on my 328i. You can prolly find older 3 Series for around that budget, but the maintenance costs suck. Oil changes only @ the dealer. :(

-Kevin

[G.]

I have an Outback (1995, 110K miles and no, it isn't for sale) and a utility trailer. The trailer is a wonderful thing. I can carry all manner of crap, loads that you would never put in your pickup truck, and the rest of the time I'm just driving a nice regular car.
Mine is a 1999, 115k, and it IS for sale. Much less than $10k, but I'll have to check that...

But it's probably not a long-termer anymore.

[KLang]

Here is CR's list for $10-12K:

[FTG]

Used Americans are cheaper.

[Methanolandbrats]

It's American, but the local police auction is a good place to pick up an inexpensive car with lots of room in it. They have been well maintained and don't break much. An added bonus is that people move over and get out of your way on the interstate :D

[Dirk Diggler]

It's American, but the local police auction is a good place to pick up an inexpensive car with lots of room in it. They have been well maintained and don't break much. An added bonus is that people move over and get out of your way on the interstate :D

I hate Illinois Nazis.

[dando]

Here is CR's list for $10-12K:

I don't get that list. They put a '98 M3 on the list, but not a 3-series, which has been on their best car list for like 15 years now. :confused: :saywhat: And an M3 is much more $$$ than a 3...I looked into buying (before kids). Good thing I didn't pull trigger on that one. :gomer:


-Kevin

[dando]

But it's probably not a long-termer anymore.

No , but somewhere out there is a kid that's turning 16 soon. I've got 11 years to go for our oldest, hang on that will ya? :gomer: :D

-Kevin

[Sean Malone]

New and used cars are dirt cheap here in Tampa. We have one dealer selling 2008 Nissan Titans V8's for $17K.
the dealer ads in teh paper are LOADED with sub-$10K used cars. Page after page, after page. All made within the last 5 years (although many are American).

[oddlycalm]

Check your email. We have a transition model 1999 (2000 spec) Audi A6 w/ 35,000 on the clock, AWD, premium audio (dash CD + changer), sunroof, etc. It's no hotrod but it'll carry four full size people and their luggage in comfort all day long. New Michelin hydro edge rubber. For you, under $10K.

We're looking to get a Mini and are on the list if they decide to bring in a few of the plug-in hybrids.

oc

[KLang]

I don't get that list. They put a '98 M3 on the list, but not a 3-series, which has been on their best car list for like 15 years now. :confused: :saywhat: And an M3 is much more $$$ than a 3...I looked into buying (before kids). Good thing I didn't pull trigger on that one. :gomer:


-Kevin

The 2002 3 series shows up on the list at $16-18k, and the 2003-2005's show up at $18-20k. I'm guessing the older 3's have fallen off in their reliability surveys or they lack enough data to recommend.

[dando]

The 2002 3 series shows up on the list at $16-18k, and the 2003-2005's show up at $18-20k. I'm guessing the older 3's have fallen off in their reliability surveys or they lack enough data to recommend.

Odd. '98 M3 is the same chassis as the '98 328i. Damn good car. Beats the heck out of the '00 and > 328 designs (back seats suck for normal adults). *shrug* And now they've Bangled. :irked: :saywhat: Plus, you would think there is more data on a 328 than an M3 or Z, which were sold in far fewer numbers (me thinks data skewage).

-Kevin

[High Sided]

keep the mini van and have a midlife crisis...

http://hondacbr1000.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/cbr1000rr.jpg

[JohnHKart]

Ford Escort...my 93 is at 206,000 miles and counting. Of course you said no american but remember this car started as a Mazda.

[Sean Malone]

I must be one of the lucky few as I've never had any major mechanical issues with any of my American branded vehicles. I've had a few frustrating design issues (such as a power steering pump 'groan' noise in a Chrysler minivan. The dealer's response was "they all do that" and "Ford minivans make that noise right off the assembly line". I guess that was supposed to ease my concern.). That said, my US vehicles do lack the refinement and material quality that my foreign cars have. But on the flip side, the common advantage of a domestic car is that they usually have comparative features for a less premium. Example; my Dodge pickup was less money than the Toyota I looked at, has a V8 instead of a V6, larger interior space and higher tow rating. The Toyota had better material quality, better fuel efficiency, comparative horsepower to the V8 (torque was much lower though) and a higher resale value.
There are some really nice American made vehicles being made lately, the problem is that they aren't priced competitively with their foreign counterparts and people aren't buying a $30K Chevy SUV over a $32K Toyota.
If GM were smart they would glue those tacky gold Cadillac emblems on ALL their cars like they did their pickup. Bling, bling yo. :gomer: