Car search update

[rallo 136]

So i went back to mason city, IA eh... population like 40,000 to try and find a car yesterday with a little help from my dad. To update anyone my 90 lebaron shat out on me and i'm in search for a car that is under $5,000 but still fairly newer... around 2001 or so.

 

talking to a lot of dealers, apparently the demand for the rice patty cars (corollas, civic, hundai) it is very hard to find a used one in that price range. Most of the dealers did their typical, show me $7,000 cars that fit my description first etc. or show me 5,000 dollar 2001 dodge neons.. (fock... i thought you could buy a shitty neon for like 12 grand??)

 

so basically i test drove a lot of cars and walked away with 3 cars that i like AND ran well.

 

there was a 2001 buick century with 85,000 miles on it that ran well. they had a starting price of $6,400 which is a little out of the price range, but dealer did not bargain at all and neither did i, because it wasn't exactly the car i was looking for. The car looked flawless, but my dad brought my attention to rust in the wheel-well and some quick touch-up paint spots.

 

there was also a 2002 buick century at another dealer with 87,000 miles that the salesman originally said was 5,900 but when i asked for his card he wrote 5,500 on it so he at least made a negotiation effort. this car also ran well but had some noticeable scratches...

 

that dealer also had a 1998 mercury mystique that ran really well for what was originally quoted at 3,150 the salesman wrote 2,800 on the card. The only thing was this car had 117,000 miles on it and it's 9 yrs old and my main concern is dependablility.

 

my question has anyone out there driven a century or mystique? Or known anyone who has? i mean i'm by no means done looking for cars but the mystique seemed like a decent car that fit my budget, while the others are slightly out of range? How far do you think the salesmen would go on these cars?

[Q.T. 5]

So i went back to mason city, IA eh... population like 40,000 to try and find a car yesterday with a little help from my dad. To update anyone my 90 lebaron shat out on me and i'm in search for a car that is under $5,000 but still fairly newer... around 2001 or so.

 

talking to a lot of dealers, apparently the demand for the rice patty cars (corollas, civic, hundai) it is very hard to find a used one in that price range. Most of the dealers did their typical, show me $7,000 cars that fit my description first etc. or show me 5,000 dollar 2001 dodge neons.. (fock... i thought you could buy a shitty neon for like 12 grand??)

 

so basically i test drove a lot of cars and walked away with 3 cars that i like AND ran well.

 

there was a 2001 buick century with 85,000 miles on it that ran well. they had a starting price of $6,400 which is a little out of the price range, but dealer did not bargain at all and neither did i, because it wasn't exactly the car i was looking for. The car looked flawless, but my dad brought my attention to rust in the wheel-well and some quick touch-up paint spots.

 

there was also a 2002 buick century at another dealer with 87,000 miles that the salesman originally said was 5,900 but when i asked for his card he wrote 5,500 on it so he at least made a negotiation effort. this car also ran well but had some noticeable scratches...

 

that dealer also had a 1998 mercury mystique that ran really well for what was originally quoted at 3,150 the salesman wrote 2,800 on the card. The only thing was this car had 117,000 miles on it and it's 9 yrs old and my main concern is dependablility.

 

my question has anyone out there driven a century or mystique? Or known anyone who has? i mean i'm by no means done looking for cars but the mystique seemed like a decent car that fit my budget, while the others are slightly out of range? How far do you think the salesmen would go on these cars?

 

 

Between the 2001 and 2002, I'd go 2002. First, relaibility ratings appear slightly better (see http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliabil...;model=Century) Second, you get better resale value should it ever comes to that. Not sure how bad the scratches you mention are, but truth is noone's gonna be impressed by any of the three cars you outline.

 

1998 is notably older, so glad it is so much cheaper. Being older, chances seem greater that it may require a significant shop job at some point in the next few years. So, guess it depends what your position would be if it needed a $2K repair ... could you afford it cash wise, and could you afford the time without a car while it's in the shop? See http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliabil...e&trimid=-1 for some typical problems.

 

Good luck!

[Hurricane Ditka 0]

Can you afford payments? Because if you buy a $5K car you risking putting as much money in repairs as you could be on a newer model.

 

My advice, take that 5K and either use as a down payment on something newer. OR put nothing down and use the 5K on your payments.

 

Bottom line is a newer and more reliable car with some warranty depending on the year/dealer/etc.

 

or

 

Buy a motorcycle.

 

or

 

The best thing you could do with 5K when shopping for a used car is to check the want adds or autotrader. Dealers will have too much markup to get your value out of 5K.

[BiPolarBear 485]

I worked for a Buick dealership and have sold many new and used Buick Centurys. They are very well made cars and rivaled (around 2001) Japanese cars in an index showing the number of problems owners experience with their cars. The Mercury would not fair nearly as well. I wouldn't buy it with 117K on it.

 

Buicks are generally purchased by older people.

 

The bargain is the Neon. It is going to get great gas mileage and should be cheap to maintain. I am guessing that they have far less miles on them than the Buicks. We have a Neon right now for $3,995. I don't remeber the miles, but they are low.

 

When you don't have a lot to spend, don't buy into everybody elses biases. By a car for a bargain price that is not all used up. People also sell Dodge Stratus' at bargain prices. $5K Toyotas and Hondas are going to be very high miles for $5K. You mentioned Hyundai in the same context as the Japanese cars. They should be selling for a lot better prices. A Hyundai Elantra would be nice and might even have some powertrain warranty left.

 

Good luck to you.

[GitmoGuy23 0]

At the beginning of 2003 I bought my wife a brand new (only 25 miles on it)2002 Hyundai Accent for 8k. You can't beat the 10yr.\100,000 warrenty +free lifetime oilchanges and city inspections. The only trouble we have had with it is the electric windows went out twice which they fixed free.

[swamp dog 0]

Can you afford payments? Because if you buy a $5K car you risking putting as much money in repairs as you could be on a newer model.

 

My advice, take that 5K and either use as a down payment on something newer. OR put nothing down and use the 5K on your payments.

 

Bottom line is a newer and more reliable car with some warranty depending on the year/dealer/etc.

 

or

 

Buy a motorcycle.

 

or

 

The best thing you could do with 5K when shopping for a used car is to check the want adds or autotrader. Dealers will have too much markup to get your value out of 5K.

 

agree. that's sort of no-man's land with cars. i'd either go cheaper or get something 1-2 years old rather than do the middle ground.

[RLLD 4,207]

I would only get the LeBaron if John Voight owned it...

[GitmoGuy23 0]

I would only get the LeBaron if John Voight owned it...

 

 

And it would have to have the licence plate #1 SON

[Riddlen 1]

The 02 century is agreat car. I feel like if you looked around, you should be able to get one for 5500ish with 80-90K mileage

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Go online. That's how I found my 740. You will get more for your money and if you are willing to drive a few hundred mile you will have plenty to choose from.

 

autobytel.com

 

cars.com

 

autotrader.com

[SigEp316 0]

dude...don't go buy another American car. Especially since you're looking at somethign with high mileage.

 

Try to find a Nissan, Honda, or Toyota...they may have higher mileage and be older, but they'll last w/ minimum cost.

[rallo 136]

The 02 century is agreat car. I feel like if you looked around, you should be able to get one for 5500ish with 80-90K mileage

 

that's what the dealer's first "offer" was after the window price was 5,900 for the 2002 with like 88,000 on it or so.

 

i mean it had noticealbe scratches, especially on the passenger side door..., but it was in decent shape and ran well. my guess is that the guy would go lower

[SUXBNME 1,493]

dude...don't go buy another American car. Especially since you're looking at somethign with high mileage.

 

Try to find a Nissan, Honda, or Toyota...they may have higher mileage and be older, but they'll last w/ minimum cost.

What he said.

 

I don't know if you already covered this, but if you can, buy from a private party. You will find what you are looking for (Toyota, Nissan, Honda) in your specified price range.

The amount of miles on the Buicks scare me. Chances are, it's a money pit just waiting to happen.

[swamp dog 0]

dude...don't go buy another American car. Especially since you're looking at somethign with high mileage.

 

Try to find a Nissan, Honda, or Toyota...they may have higher mileage and be older, but they'll last w/ minimum cost.

 

it's dangerous to make--or believe--blanket statements.

 

i had a honda civic that was nothing but trouble--blown head gaskets and a chronic electrical problem.

 

i have a 99 ford taurus i've used first as a primary car and now a secondary car for 6 years and haven't had a lick of trouble with it.

 

the key is find a good deal on a car and get that car thoroughly checked out. don't limit your search based on blanket statements.

[SUXBNME 1,493]

An example--97 corolla

 

it's dangerous to make--or believe--blanket statements.

.

 

While what you say is true, there is a reason why SigEp said that. The majority of american made cars, (the types rallo is looking at, anyways)with that many miles on them, is something to avoid. They were not built that well to begin with, and once they start hitting that high of mileage, parts break down more frequently then most of their Japanese counterparts.

While what I said is also a "blanket statement" of sorts, it still rings true.

I have been in the industry for 20 years, so I am speaking from personal experience.

Also, my head hurts

[guitarmonkiy 0]

American Cars -

 

German cars are much more fun.

 

My Car

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 40]

My GF was looking in the same price range last year. I have 2 emchanics as clients and asked them what she should buy. They both said Toyota or Nissan. I asked why not Honda and they both said that while equally reliable, should you need repairs, the parts for Honda are significantly more expensive.

[rallo 136]

American Cars -

 

German cars are much more fun.

 

My Car

 

well if you need a large tax write-off you are more than welcome to ship me that car

[guitarmonkiy 0]

well if you need a large tax write-off you are more than welcome to ship me that car

 

 

Haha, I'd rather give up my first born child.

[rallo 136]

An example--97 corolla

While what you say is true, there is a reason why SigEp said that. The majority of american made cars, (the types rallo is looking at, anyways)with that many miles on them, is something to avoid. They were not built that well to begin with, and once they start hitting that high of mileage, parts break down more frequently then most of their Japanese counterparts.

While what I said is also a "blanket statement" of sorts, it still rings true.

I have been in the industry for 20 years, so I am speaking from personal experience.

Also, my head hurts

 

so i see that you are heavily backing the japanese cars... which was my initial inclination (to get like a corolla or some small hundai)

 

but say i can't find a satisfactory car like that... would you think better of a buick as compared to the mercury mystique or and cavalier or sunfire etc... i mean i always see a lot of old buick park avenues on the road. I mean that could either be cuz old people love these cars... or cuz they are simply built well and last.

 

 

one thing i know for sure is that i drove a couple of ford escorts and those cars don't seem to hold up to well

[Recliner Pilot 61]

 

one thing i know for sure is that i drove a couple of ford escorts and those cars don't seem to hold up to well

 

 

Escorts aren't meant to hold up well. When they run out of gas you just pick it up, crush it on your forehead, and go buy another one.

[guitarmonkiy 0]

Escorts aren't meant to hold up well. When they run out of gas you just pick it up, crush it on your forehead, and go buy another one.

 

[Giants Fan 85]

You can get a pretty nice Jeep Wrangler for $5k. If you care about resale value .... there's nothing like it, AND easy to fix/find parts.

[SUXBNME 1,493]

so i see that you are heavily backing the japanese cars... which was my initial inclination (to get like a corolla or some small hundai)

 

but say i can't find a satisfactory car like that... would you think better of a buick as compared to the mercury mystique or and cavalier or sunfire etc... i mean i always see a lot of old buick park avenues on the road. I mean that could either be cuz old people love these cars... or cuz they are simply built well and last.

one thing i know for sure is that i drove a couple of ford escorts and those cars don't seem to hold up to well

IMO, you are better off with the Buick then the Mystique. Try not to consider the Cavalier or Sunfire as options if you can.

Can you buy from a personal party, or do you need the dealer for the financing?