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Please help me decide between...
Hi everybody,
Im a student looking for a get around car. I need your help.
There is a 91' Toyaota Camry,153k,auto--$1550
Average Condition
and
93'Nissan Altima,111k,5spd-$2300
between clean and average
I don't know which one to buy. I need ur opinion i'll drive 6k a year at a maximum.
which one is good in terms of resale value after two years.
please reply
Thanks in advance
wsuguy
Im a student looking for a get around car. I need your help.
There is a 91' Toyaota Camry,153k,auto--$1550
Average Condition
and
93'Nissan Altima,111k,5spd-$2300
between clean and average
I don't know which one to buy. I need ur opinion i'll drive 6k a year at a maximum.
which one is good in terms of resale value after two years.
please reply
Thanks in advance
wsuguy
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Comments
Without input- which do you prefer?
Based on what you said I'd go with the Altima...little newer/lower miles/in better shape.
Dont worry about resale value. 11 and 14 year old cars with that kind of mileage have pretty much the residual value left(IOW- there's not much depreciation left to be had).
Good luck.
I also prefer sticks, especially on 4 cyl cars, so I know which one I would go after (assuming they are roughly the same condition otherwise).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Too bad the new ones got so big in the butt.
It sounds like the poster is concerned about resale values.
Camrys are MUCH more in demand and five speeds can be tough to unload. Few people share stickguy's opinion of them.
Both good cars.
Personally, I would be much more concerned with maintanence/repair costs. Take both in to a mechanic and have it checked out. If it is a private sale, ask for maintenance records... looking for engine tune-up, timing belt change, clutch change(for the manual), auto trans flush(for auto), etc. Any one of these could drive up your maintenance costs pretty heavily unless you do all the maintenance yourself(tune-up $100, Timing belt change 6-900, clutch change 3-500, auto trans service 100-200, etc)
something to ponder.
I'm with the guys who say have it checked out. 11 or 13 years old, it's all in the condition. no way to tell from here. and at that age, the stick is less likely to give trouble. if the clutch is good now, it'll be good two years from now, if you know what you're doing.
-Mathias
1997 - 2000 Explorer (with SOHC V6).
Approx price: $7,000 - $9,000.
Not really my top choice, but the least expensive route. The positive thing is that they've lost so much of their re-sale value, it seems to make them relatively better values. The downside is that most of them seem to have around 80k - 120k miles on them. I'm worried that with a Ford, this is right about when I might start running into bigger repair expenses, making them not such a good value after all.
1997 - 2000 4Runner (with 3.4L V6).
Approx price: $11,000 - $15,000.
Since I've decided on a used car about 3 - 7 years old, I thought I might be better off in the long run going with Toyota reliability. I've seen a wide range of miles on used 4Runners in this price range, from as low as 40k to over 150k.
1998 - 2000 Land Cruiser (with V8).
Approx price: $23,000 - $26,000.
Somewhat surprisingly, I've seen alot of Land Cruisers in this range with relatively low miles (50k - 60k). In fact I saw just as many Land Cruisers with low miles as ones with high miles. I wonder why that is? Do alot of Land Cruiser owners not use their cars that much?
A rather wide price range, as you can see. If I went with the Explorer, I would only keep it for a few years (after which I would probably look to buy a used 2003 4Runner). If I went with the 4Runner, I'd probably keep it for around 3 to 4 years. If I went with the Land Cruiser, I would want it to last at least the next 5 years.
As a rough guide, I figured that with the Explorer I should look for one with under 80k miles, if possible. With either the 4Runner or Land Cruiser, I figured that anything under 100k miles was still safe, as I have read people saying that these have run as long as 200k miles or more. And I saw plenty of 4Runners and Land Cruisers with less than 70k miles or so, which I figured would be especially good buys. Also, I only put about 6,500 miles on my car each year, so especially with the more reliable Toyotas I figure I'd outgrow the car before it became an issue.
So, all things being equal, any suggestions on what limits or how many miles would be ideal on those models I'm considering? I know there are other factors to consider such as whether the miles on the car were primarily highway or city miles, and how well the car was maintained. But those seem difficult to verify unless the owner kept all service records, and the claims of "mostly highway miles" seems impossible to verify at all. Also one last thing, again with all other things being equal, would you go with an older car with fewer miles or a newer one with more? Say between a 1998 with 70k miles and a 1999 with 90k miles, which one would you choose?
Explorers can be troublesome as they age. Look for condition over miles. A car can have 100K and be in better shape than a mistreated one with 60K.
A Land Cruiser is a huge land yacht. Unless you REALLY need a clumsy gas hog, I would lean toward the 4 Runner.
So my choices are sort of geared towards that goal. Buy either a less expensive Explorer or 4Runner now, and then in a couple years buy the 2003 4Runner I want used after it has depreciated about 40% or so. I considered the Land Cruiser because I thought it a good alternative to the new 4Runner Limited, at a decent price. Do you really consider it that big? Checking it's dimensions, the Land Cruiser isn't that much bigger than the new 4Runner. The new 4Runner is 189 inches long, 73.8 inches wide, and 71.6 inches tall. The Land Cruiser is 192.5 inches long, 76.4 inches wide, and 73.2 inches tall. I still consider the Land Crusier "midsize". It's definately not in the Sequoia, Expedition, etc size. Gas mileage is much worse than the 4Runner, but I only drive about 6,500 miles a year, so I am not as concerned with the mileage it gets.
About the miles, I would look for good condition first and have the car checked by a mechanic. But say I find several cars that all check out well, then the one with lower miles would be better right?
The Landcruiser that you mentioned is a great SUV and has a nice bit of cachet. Yes,it is big and ponderous, but not much more so than the current 03-04 4Runner. Considering body styles haven't changed in a good while, an older model LandCruiser would be a nice buy.
I could go for the aftermarket leather on an SR5, but after thinking about it, it is probably still more than I'd be willing to spend now.
Unless a person REALLY **needs** one I can see little use for one.
But...that's just my opinion!
Terry.
2000 LC
2000 Wrangler
New or low-mileage used
Manual Transmission
fairly speedy
good handling
4 seater
hatchback/wagon
low maintanence
less than $20k
To give you an idea of what I mean - my husband's favorite car was a Rabbit GTI, mine was a CRXsi - alas, they are both at the great junk yard in the sky.
I imagine we will keep this for at least 150k miles, so no Korean cars need apply.
Toyota Matrix would work to, but its not as fun to drive, which from your post sounds like an important consideration.
-Jason
The Sentra SER Spec V has a great suspension, if you like uncivilized raw cornering ability, and gutsy torqe.
The Neon SRT 4 was the most fun of all to drive, quickest, but I'd give the nod to the Mazdaspeed in the cornering department.
If you want to step down a bit, I'd go for the Mazda 3, Sentra SER, and that'd be about it.
Clearly the yellow zx5 is the better deal, I just can't make up my mind if ABS is important enough to turn down the car because of it. And it does have side air bags, which the red car doesn't. (surviving an accident vs. avoiding one, I suppose!)
anyone have thoughts on this?
thnx!
jen
The biggest danger is being run down as you walk to work or the grocery store.
Regards... Vikd
Saturn VUE Redline? I guess i've never heard of it. Does it have the Honda V6 mated to the CVT tranny?
Might be interesting but, as you said, we're in more need of a bus...
Regards... Vikd
By the way, the Redline is Saturn's performance series. It's got a regular transmission (I think 5 speed with the 6) and the Honda engine. Has 18" wheels and some ground effects. I've vaguely been thinking about a Vue to replace the old warhorse Maxima, and this one really yanked my chain. Pretty quick, pretty good looking, lots of room (relatively speaking) for the offspring and fun to drive. Bit on the pricey side, though (about 26K), and interior materials quality aren't the best. But, a pretty good effort from the General.
Also drove a Hummer, too. Think that'd work for you?
-be new or used
-be less than $20k
-get decent gas mileage (25 mpg or better)
-last 200k miles
I am partial to Honda and currently have an Accord that is at the end of her rope. We are considering a Honda CRV and a Mazda 3 (5 door). We have also test-driven the Prius and the Civic hybrid. Although I love the Prius, there are too many unknowns and too many expensive compnonents to worry about post-warranty. Anyways, if you have any comments on the CRV or the Mazda 3, or have other recommendations, I would appreciate it greatly.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I am partial to Honda because I have a mechanic that works solely on Hondas and Acuras...greta, trustworthy guy, but doesn't work on other vehicles. Additionally, I know where to get a good, cheap extended warranty from American Honda Care. We have one on our Odyssey, but don't know if I would need one on a Civic/Accord/CR-V.
Towing the kids around is a very small concern...I would say gas mileage and reliability will factor in most. The kids would be an excuse to get something with a little more room like a CR-V. I have heard wonderful things about a CR-V, but have also heard of two issues: a pull-to-the-right problem and a "loud ride" while driving on the freeway.
I had a '89 Mazda 323 that I drove for 180k miles. Is there any reason to believe that a Mazda or Nissan wouldn't last as long as a Toyota or Honda (200k miles)?
But if you are comparing to a sedan ... you'd still come out ahead. I think 2 carseats AND another passenger is a tight fit in a sedan. In the Mazda5, its 2 carseats, the extra passenger rides in the back, and half of the back seat can still be folded down, leaving more cargo room than any sedan trunk would provide. Just my .02
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Not from my perspective. I've owned all 4 makes over the years and all of them have been very reliable. A slightly used NIssan Maxima would be more back seat room than the Accord sedan but way more fun to drive than the CRV. It is a V6 so not quite as good as the 4 cyl accord, but not bad either -- we got 30 mpg on our last highway drive. More like 23 or so around town. However, if you like the Accord, you won't go wrong with that choice either.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
We own an Accord, too, and 3 kids (not all mine!) in the back fit about as well in it as in the Corolla, which was my reason for suggesting the latter over the Accord. If you do need to haul the kids more frequently than, say 3-4 times a month or once a week, just get something with 3 rows of seats - another minivan (MPV or used Villager/Quest), a Mazda 5, etc.
I *need* to get a car by the end of this month and am getting it from a reliable, trusted dealership so there is no shopping around.
They have a 2005 Focus SE, 21000 miles. I like everything about it but it's not my first choice in color. I don't hate the color, I just really love the way the grays look. It's a light color that I could live with and at least it's not red which I despise. lol.
They have a grey LX coming tomorrow I am supposed to go look at. I don't know the year or mileage, just that it's around 9,000 which is an awesome price. Some of the differences are no power windows and locks, smaller wheels and the steering wheel isn't adjustable.
I think crank windows will annoy me, but I really don't think I need them. I don't really like windows open, I never go through drive thrus so I don't have that problem.. I think while driving I might like the passenger side window down but not a big deal.
I think as long as I can put a keyless entry in it I'd like it..I'd be all set with that..
I rather have an MP3/CD player..but I guess I could always add that later..
I rather go new. But I don't think the guy helping me pay for the car is going to be too crazy about it..lol 3,000 price difference in the used 05. But new sounds bad or "ridiculous" as someone put it when they found out I was interested in one.
They said sometimes they geta bunch of used focuses in and then none for a while. I feel stuck but don't want to settle either. Even the new grey they had had too much options I don't need. It's just going to be a car to get me places to places but I don't want to be stuck with something I don't like for 3yrs or so either. Someone was telling me how if I don't like the color, when I start getting sick of the car I'll really start hating it.
Advice on deciding? I'm driving everyone here nuts. lol. :sick:
First, I think it is probably a good idea to go the used route when buying a Focus or another domestic compact. The savings over new are pretty incredible - with the caveat of, where is this 2005 vehicle coming from? Most likely, it was used as a rental; this may be ok if the rental car company maintained it at least minimally. I would still be a little concerned about a break-in being done properly. How about trying to find one through a private sale - maybe a family had twins and is upgrading to a larger vehicle? Advertise in the wanted section of Craigslist?
Were you planning to have the used vehicle checked out by a mechanic? Always a good idea, even if buying under warranty.
They have a grey LX coming tomorrow I am supposed to go look at. I don't know the year or mileage, just that it's around 9,000 which is an awesome price. Some of the differences are no power windows and locks, smaller wheels and the steering wheel isn't adjustable.
The price is indeed thousands lower than the TMV on the new one... but keep in mind it will not be easy to resell it if needed, with its manual locks and crank windows. And yes, I am occasionally annoyed by crank windows in one of our cars. If you ever have passengers (think kids) in the car, power windows and locks (and keyless entry) are even more important, almost safety features.
I think as long as I can put a keyless entry in it I'd like it..I'd be all set with that..
You certainly could do that, but make sure you work with a reputable installer (which may not be the cheapest out there), and verify that the vehicle's manufacturer's warranty is not voided.
You refer to somebody helping you buy this car... not clear if this is a relative/friend, or a part of your job compensation. These are different scenarios. And new does not necessarily sound bad or "ridiculous"... some cars (Civics, Accords and Toyota trucks/SUVs come to mind) are usually better buys new.
After your budget is defined (which I was not sure about), I think your options become clearer. If you can spend no more than 10k, I would NOT buy new and look for a used Protege or perhaps a newer Focus (if you are not limited to compacts, then Taurus/Impala and perhaps ca. 2001 Camry come into play.) If your budget is 15k, I would go with a new base Corolla - or a new base Mazda3i if one can be bought close to that amount.
Yes, the used Civics and Corollas are pricey compared with the domestics.
> I've now decided to definitely get a Ford Focus. I test drove one and I actually liked it better than the Civic.
My wife bought a used Budget Rental 2004 Focus in June 2004, six months old with 10,300 miles. The new Focuses had $3000 rebates that drove down the price of the used ones. She paid $2000 less than the TMV on a new Focus, about $6000 under MSRP. She enjoys the sporty feel and high view of her Focus.
> I *need* to get a car by the end of this month and am getting it from a reliable, trusted dealership so there is no shopping around.
The rental companies auction thousands of their Focuses every month with 10-15,000 miles. Every Ford dealer around has dozens of these Taurus and Focus ex-rentals (Buffalo is a blue-collar union city). You should be able to find exactly what you want in color and options by looking around.
Edmund's TMV on a 2006 Focus SE is about $14,300 including a $1500 rebate. You can buy a used 2005 for about $12,300.
Ford Fool
I need something with good pickup since I'm used to my 225 hp auto up in car heaven. I'm also a 21 year old female, so obviously I want something that's cute (I could avoid the subject, but honesty is the best policy).
These are some cars I'm looking into... any insight would be great...
2003ish Audi TT Roadster
This is my top option right now
2002/3 BMWCic convertible
2002/3 Volvo C70 HT Convertible
These two are probably my next two choices
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Convertible
The other option would be to get something newer that's less expensive like the eclipse, but I feel like I would be sacrificing safety...
What do you think?!?!
I have a Saab 9-3 in my fleet and rarely does it go two months without a stop at the dealership usually for an electrical problem - sunroof, door locks, headlights, etc.
I'd stick with the Solara...
Seriously, if your budget is $25K-$30K, and you absolutely have to have one of your choices, you'd be better off leasing a new Saab or BMW.. Free maintenance included.
regards,
kyfdx
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You can, in fact, get a *new* Miata for the price of any of those used ones.