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Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it.
There are some upgrading cooling system parts you can get that are better than OEM and will probably well outlast your ownership of the car.
Good luck!
2015 328i xdrive wagon, automatic
Alpine White /Beige
55400 miles, SoCal.
For sale at SoCal Land Rover dealer, asking 22.4K
Clean carfax, one owner, looks ok.
I prefer the E91 rwd with true hydraulic steering, but this is for the wife to haul kids around
Thanks in advance
Here's a question put to me by a buddy of mine -- his daughter has $5k to buy "a car", what would I suggest. This is for an A-to-B car, automatic preferred, no special hobbies to accommodate, solid transportation desired.
Years and years ago, the answer would have been "Prizm" and later, up to a point, "Pontiac Vibe." Well, the former is gone, and the latter is either a rust bucket -- first-gen cars are now over a decade old -- or the lackluster second generation, plus they are somewhat prized in this here GM town.
Keep in mind also, we're in the rust belt. Another friend is moving away and has a very nice 2005 Buick LeSabre with only 105k miles -- but that car is 14 years old. In the south it might be a long-term keeper, but the writing is on the wall; he's at the shop every few months for this and that.
I have only vague ideas, like maybe a first-generation Cruze with the non-turbo engine. I understand nobody likes Corollas anymore, as they are considered frumpy. So maybe one of those? I know nothing about Hyundai/Kia but it seems to me there might be value to be had. VWs with the unkillable 5cyl engine and conventional automatic?
Help me out here, guys.
2015 VW Golf SE
South Florida
49,600 miles
Blue/tan
Run Flat tires
accident in CarFax report
alloy wheels from a Jetta SEL
Repair work done so well it's hard to tell.
Looking to maybe purchase an Acura ILX
2017 Acura ILX
South Florida
8801 miles
Blue/tan
Safety Features
Technology Package
Certified Pre-owned
Asking $20,999.
No more 2018's on their lot as that's what I'd like. Have a feeling the accident is going to ding the Golf though the work was done very nicely. Hoping maybe my Golf and $12K might get the job done as the ILX is now two model years old now. Will get over to CarMax and get a value from them hopefully on Thursday.
Thanks for your help here. The ILX has been on their lot a couple of months now so hoping they're willing to let it go for a fair price for both of us.
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
All $5K may have their issue come up, but I think this list is about as safe as possible. Naturally, service records are important. There's some debate about including the Chevy Impala but those V6s had such trouble with the intake manifolds that you'd pretty much have to require a repair order showing it was replaced and the proper coolant installed.
but, your primary criteria is condition. Could get anything, just find it with reasonable miles and good maintenance. The rust issue, not sure what you can do there other than travel! Road trip to Tennessee?
at least by me (I am guessing, a little more expensive area?) $5k is in that gray area. Lots of crap, but the occasional solid buy. Which probably will be snapped up quick when they do appear!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
This one was IIRC listed at $4,500 maybe.
http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2006-hyundai-sonata-4dr_sedan_gls_v6_automatic-used-18523803.html
I think this one was less than $5k too
http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2010-chevrolet-cobalt-2dr_coupe_lt_w_slash_1lt-used-18332558.html
Could have some fun with your cheap!
http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2004-ford-mustang-2dr_convertible_deluxe-used-18523802.html
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Just run a search in your area for anything with 80k or fewer miles. Sometimes interesting stuff pops up like a low mileage Protege, Civic, or Saturn.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
$8K seems a bit low on the Golf but the accident isn't helping matters much here no matter how good of a job they did. Still drives great and worth much more to me than the $8K so best I think to just keep it in the stable another year. By that time it'll be around 60K on the clock and I'll evaluate things again then. Hate to just give it away and since it's behaving itself, it's gonna stay. I think I'll have new batteries put in both key fobs as it's been over 5 years since I got them. I do swap them out monthly which helps. looked at my receipts and I put the run flats on back in January of 2017 with about 26K on the car and luckily, they're wearing evenly. Would I do run flats again? Doubtful to be honest, and definitely not on the Golf if it needs new rubber before it's gone. They run smoothly and have given me zero issues but think I'll save some bucks and just go with regular tires going forward.
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Yes, the depreciation curve will flatten out, but don't expect to get $8k for it in another year with 10,000 more miles on it. Will just mean more money out of your pocket to cover the difference on the new ride.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That dealer markup of $3k doesn't look so bad on a $20k used car. It looks a lot steeper on an $8k used car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Sorry for asking a question and disappearing.... we're having record cold here, the Lab was "closed" which means that I wound up working a long day yesterday to cover... wife drove me to work so she'd have the little car with the heated seats and the garage spot.. comes time to pick me up, the driveway is totally blown over with snow and it's -20 degrees socialist or whatever and the wind is up. I wound up taking two buses home.. 5 mile trip for a two mile commute.. lemme tell you, standing around waiting for 5 minutes can make a guy question his life choices. Anyway...
>> nyccarguy $5K buys you complete, miled up garbage nowadays[..] how about leasing Corolla/Elantra
Not wrong... and looking a new is usually a good idea, but we're talking a student with 3 years to go here..
>> mr_shiftright I don't think anyone with a $5K budget has much choice about being "frumpy" or not.
Yeah that was my point. Frumpy = cheap = good. On the other side of that coin is the inevitable Toyota Tax.
>> Corolla would be an excellent choice (2003-2007)... 95 to 2001 Maxima 94-99 Integra; Miata, CRV, LS 400 Mercury Grand Marquis with the 4.6."
Spoken like a California car guy! Except for the Corolla, these are all going to be 20 years old (-> brake & fuel lines) or RWD (-> snow) or both. But exactly what _I_ would be looking for, were I visiting sunny California
>> Chevy Impala but those V6s had such trouble with the intake manifolds
The Impala is a solid choice -- my favorite car lot recently sold a clean 115k 2012 for under $5. That would have been my vote, but the timing didn't work.
Every shop in town knows all about these because we're in GM country.. by the same token, they cost more than comparable Fords.
>> stickguy Hyundais are fine now [..] road trip!
So I gather -- just don't know anything about them [Hyundais].
I've been threatening buying trips for years... but I don't my friend will be up for it.. he's plenty busy. Come to think of it, so am I. So I buy boring new cars. No fun!
>> primary criterion is condition
>> Lots of crap, but the occasional solid buy.
Amen, brother!
I have learned that there NEVER is enough of a discount for a car in crappy condition. Which is a lot of them in the sub-$5k
>> corvette I've seen some cheap Chevy HHRs.
You're right about the Ecotech being a solid engine.. the rest of those cars is GM cost cutting at its finest, plus they weren't big sellers new.
Well, here's what I'm getting in the aggregate:
- Make and model matters less than it did 20 years ago.
- Condition is paramount.
- The used-car market is fairly efficient. No more secret bargains. Credit the internet with leveling the playing field.
I'll pass on the information, thanks!
The way I read the mid-Michigan market, $5k is more money than most people have cash. So it's a good place to look for private seller's cars. The problem with dealers is, they know what their stuff is worth... the problem with private sellers is, they have no clue. The market has a way of educating them, but it's a looong painful process for many.
My favorite dealer is a guy who doesn't put a lot of effort into squeezing out every last dime. Last year he had an '08 Jetta in really nice shape with highish miles at $2,700 and an equally nice 06 low-end Focus with 100k for the same. I asked him, on what planet are those worth the same money??? He said, well I got a better deal on Jetta... so that kind of tells you how the process works, and explains why I watch the inventory patiently. Best he has at the moment is this: https://lansing.craigslist.org/ctd/d/lansing-2012-chevrolet-malibu-lt/6803591137.html but I haven't seen it in the flesh. Given the temps, I'm not in a hurry.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The main takeaway is that their quality push started with the '01 model year but each vehicle didn't get it until it was redesigned. '01 for compact, '06 for midsized.
My wife is on her 3rd Hyundai: '01 Elantra, '12 Elantra Limited, and her '19 Kona Ultimate hasn't cracked a thousand miles yet.
Cheapest used beater I ever bought was my 79 Continental Coupe. In 1999 it cost my $700. It ran and drove and was a 5/10 cosmetically.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Fushigi, how do you like the kona? I likely would have gotten one if they were out when I got the Elantra.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
They also are usually pretty easy to land a 1% lease on. I keep telling myself I'm going to try and hack a stupid cheap deal on a lux loaner or something like that, but I always seem to procrastinate and then need a car.
When I got the Elantra I listed my car old car as soon as I started shopping. It sold to the first person who looked at it and I jumped in fast to replace it.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
We did look at a new Santa Fe (redesign), but it just didn’t float our boats. Didn’t actually drive one though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
The 4x4 mode of the AWD works well on slick roads. The 1.6t engine & 7-speed DCT, combined with relative light weight, make it quite fast off the line (C&D got 6.6 0-60).
A definite down side for me is that there are very few soft-touch surfaces in the interior, even in the highest trim level (she has the Ultimate). I could live with that mostly but a major pet peeve of mine is the top of the door where your arm would rest w/windows down is hard plastic.
Due to being busy and the inclement weather I have yet to actually sit in the driver's seat or drive it. Have only been a passenger 2 or 3 times.
Her's is Surf Blue with grey leather interior. I would have preferred tan but grey & black are the only options.
The Jetta is a bit longer than my Golf and just didn't like that size and the sedan part. I like hatchbacks, always have, so that limits the choices I have. But now with fresh synthetic and a topping off of all the fluids, they said car checks out fine but need new wipers and an air filter which I'll take care of soon. So for just over 5 years of ownership, only costs have been new tires, oil changes and a battery. Of course, I also bought the 10K and 20K services up front at purchase time. The price to fix the accident and the warranty stuff right before it ended I can't count. But, the A3 has been so much cheaper which I'm glad. Only have put a new set of tires as everything else was either warranty stuff or the services she bought.
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Option 1: 2012 Prius 3 hatchback, 123k miles, navigation/backup camera. Silver ext. Grey Int.
Option 2: 2013 Prius 3 hatchback, 110k miles, navigation/backup camera. Grey ext. Grey Int
Thanks for the input!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD