Best Used Car?

This probably should go under one of LJ's sub-forums, but for some reason I am prevented from starting a new thread there.

Anyhow, I have recently come into a very small inheritance of sorts, as I might have mentioned elsewhere, and I'm considering replacing my extremely battered '92 Explorer 2-door model with a new used car. The amount of money I could invest is $6,000.00 tops. I have been thinking along the lines of a second hand Suburu and am wondering if I could find something worthwhile at that price. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Also, any pitfalls/traps to be aware of when buying a second hand car? What sort of things should I look for?

[Crimson Ghost]

Look in the weekly papers, like "Wheels and Deals" here in NJ. You could find a load of deals in those things. Friend of mine bought a 1957 Chevy BelAir for $3,000, put $2,000 into it, and sold it for $15,000 to a collector. He now has a 64 1/2 Mustang that he bought thru the same magazine. You never know...

[wolf]

I suspect Mari will want something that runs out of the gate ...

Check Consumer Reports for "best used cars under $6K"

Whatever you do, don't buy a car from anyone who won't let you get it checked out by your own mechanic before purchasing.

Yeah, like Wolf said. I don't have the savvy to search for automotive "buried treasures." I just want something that runs well and can be expected to last given reasonable care like oils changes, etc.

[lumberjim]

that's the hardest car to find, you know. a $5000 ( leave room for tax and tags) dependable used car under 100k miles.

why dont you outline your needs as far as size, performance, ( you're in CO, so 4x4 is probably a plus? a necessity , perhaps?)

I have a 95 cherokee country with 86K in beautiful shape for $6000. if you can find something like it out there....Jeep Cherokees are all but bulletproof from about '94 on up. subaru is not a bad car. an awd legacy wagon maybe?

I could possibly go an extra $1,000, but I want to squirrel the rest of my little unexpected windfall away for a rainy day like if I'm longer getting back up on my feet than I expected.

I'd like 4wd or awd if possible (know its hard to find one in decent shape in my price range). 4wd is not a requirement for Colorado but it sure helps sometimes, plus I like to get away off the beaten path now and then. I'd rather have standard transmission, too. My Explorer was a real lemon. Its done nothing but break down. Lucky for me I have a kind-hearted mechanic who gave me a quantity package deal on repairs!

Too bad you're so far away, the Cherokee sounds right up my alley!

[lumberjim]

yeah, if i had need of an extra car, and the $$, i'd buy it my self.

we traded one with 299,987 miles on it. just as clean as this one, except the leather seats were cracking. he got $1500 for it. we sold it the next day for $3500.

good cars. and they can actually be found with 3 pedals.
a wrangler is another good option, but you'll have to go pre '96 for that price, and the suspension will most likely cause you kidney damage.

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

...Jeep Cherokees are all but bulletproof from about '94 on up.

I had a 94 cherokee. and an 89 Jeep YJ. the YJ burst into flames in the parking lot of Bed Bath and Beyond (it was my wife's car) on Route 7 in Fairfax County (the burn marks were there for years until they resurfaced) and burned completely- an auto spontaneous combustion if you will. My Cherokee leaked fluid from every orafice - oil, transmission fluid, AC coolant, brake fluid, etc. I've never been happier to get rid of a car.

[lookout123]

for that price you can still find old (pre 1990 toyota 4runners) they don't have much power but if you change the oil, the bastards will run forever. i had an '87 that i sold with more than 300K miles on it about 7 years ago, it is still rolling around town. serious body rot, but there is no where it won't take you.

Originally Posted by Beestie

I had a 94 cherokee. and an 89 Jeep YJ. the YJ burst into flames in the parking lot of Bed Bath and Beyond (it was my wife's car) on Route 7 in Fairfax County (the burn marks were there for years until they resurfaced) and burned completely- an auto spontaneous combustion if you will. My Cherokee leaked fluid from every orafice - oil, transmission fluid, AC coolant, brake fluid, etc. I've never been happier to get rid of a car.

Sounds like my damned "Exploder." Seems like our Japanese friends still make the best 4wd or Awd. A lot of folks have been telling me to go for either a Suburu or a Toyota. I've had both in the past and put 300,000 miles on each. My ex still has the Toyota, and I see the two of them driving around town to this very day.

[Cyber Wolf]

I've currently got a Nissan that's 8 years old and only had it's first major system failure about 9 months ago, mainly due to age. It's an Altima so I don't know how Nissan's heavier duty vehicles might do but if the same quality is in those as is in my car, then you should be good for a used one. Don't know how much they'd run though...

[cowhead]

oh hell yeah! I have an '87 4 runner that I bought last year.. 120k on it, new transmission... love that car.. quit driving my '93 pathfinder.. (heh you can have it for 4k.. all the bells and whistles.. power everything.. moonroof all that crap).. although my brother is a mechanic.. i don't ever like bringing stuff to him to fix.. guilt and/or I don't want to owe him ) have you tried e-bay or kelly blue book? (they just opened a website for selling used cars)

here in China, VW 's car is all over.
i(my brother) has a car BORA 1.8T AT

[DanaC]

I like VWs. I would love a zippy little Golf.....course i would have to take driving lessons first.......

Golf in China seems not very popular,people prefer BORA because it has a tail