Overhaulin' - Gotta buy a cheap car?

Gotta buy a cheap car?

I am going to be looking for a decent used car here very soon. My family has pledged about 2k to help me buy just a cheap used car to help me until I get back on my feet financially. I am hoping to find something that will at run with for maybe a year or 2. For those smart car people out there, what kind of car do you suggest? I had a Honda Civic that I put almost 3k miles on before I killed it. Anything else I should be keeping my eyes open for? Thanks again...dont know what I would do without all you smart people. PS. I meant 300k miles on my honda. Sorry,need to finish my coffee before I start typing!

Public Comments

Good luck !
does this look like a car shop?
Look for someone who has an autobody shop or a person who in business by himself that has a garage.They usually can help you with cheaper cars.
I'd try to find a foreign car, like a toyota or honda with lots of miles on it. shouldnt be too hard to find one, autotrader probably has a lot of them around your area, for less than 3,000 dollars
Stick with the imports: Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc. Try to find a vehicle that has proof of past maintenance, and then ensure you continue the required maintenance. I'd also stay away from stealerships, as they will charge more than a private seller.
In my opinion when it comes to a cheaper used car i dont put too much emphasis into the make and model of it. When it comes to older used cars, it really doesnt matter who built the thing at this point, the main issue should be how well the car has been taken care of. You could go out and buy a used car that might have been considered car of the year when it was built, but since it wasnt taken care of by the previous owners that wouldnt mean anything. By the same aspect you might go out and buy a car that didnt have the best reliability reports when it was built, but the previous owner has taken much better care of it over the years-thus it might be in great shape. I hope im making sense with that. Try finding possibly a good used Toyota Corolla or similar type/sized car. Toyotas have a good history of reliability at older ages. But as i said, the main issue should be what shape the car is in, not what the brand is stamped on it.
You managed to kill a Honda civic in only 3,000 miles? WOW Two grand isn't much to purchase a used vehicle, so it really won't make much of a difference about what kind of car you buy.
Compact imports have always been a good first or cheap car... some American models are a good choice too, i own a 1999 Chevy Cavalier now with 198,637 Miles! and have yet to do any major mechanical work to it...just normal maint... Try a search off of Autotrader.com i used to work them and i can find another website better in my opinion. Best wishes... take your time and keep normal on time maint and ya should be fine. "/JOe
i have a 1994 ford areostar van. V-6 motor, 5 speed trans. it in excellent shape, less than 300 mile on the new brakes front and rear, complete tune-up,plugs,wires,rotor button,dist,cap,fuel filters. i cant drive it any more due to broken back. i cant use the clutch any more, cant drive at all at this time. only reason i thinking of selling my van. it is a very good running one. i want $1,500 bucks cash for it. if interested in it contact me,i'll send you photo's of it.
Buy a Honda (or Toyota) and CARE for it. We have a family friend who bought a Honda Accord (1989) with 200,000 miles on it. He recently junked it with 350,000 miles on it. Not bad for a $1000 car! I drive a 1997 Accord with 205,000 miles on it and I'm not replacing it for another 4 or 5 years. The secret is: 1. OIL - it won't run without it. Check it every day for the first week. Once you see it doesn't leak oil, check it every week for the first month. If it still isn't leaking oil, then you can check it once a month, but if you forget, and run it dry it's goodby engine. 2. Change that Oil - regular oil is only good for 3-4 thousand miles. A good synthetic like Mobil 1 can be good for 10,000 miles, but it is most likely too thin for an older car (my experience is it will just leak out). 3. Find a mechanic you can trust and have him check the car out before you buy it, then take it to him when you have any problems.
If you are interested in buying a car, but feel as though you simply do not have the money, a government car auction might be the best opportunity for you. You can find incredible deals, and it is not uncommon for people to save thousands of dollars. whether you’re in the market for a new automobile or not. You’ll find that, at a government seized auto auction, there is a huge variety of automobiles available for you to bid on. The majority of vehicles at a government car auction have been repossessed from criminals or people who have failed to make payments on government loans. There are also government car auction vehicles that are "retired" police cruisers or other government vehicles that are no longer in service. You can usually find a wide range of makes and models, Not many people know about government seized auto auctions, so there will not be a lot of competition for vehicles that you’re bidding on. There are so many different vehicles to choose from, you’re bound to find one that will become someone’s next dream car. Whether you want to buy a car to re-sell, or you’re looking for a car for yourself or a child, a government seized auto auction is the best place to look for an affordable used vehicle. Why waste time with a double-talking car dealer when you can go to a government seized auto auction, where you can buy a car 90% off Retail Value? OK,You can check out http://www.purchaseusedcar.info/index.php?t=purused ,this site lists top 5 goverment car online auction sites for you to choose,It really is that easy.
Well a sure place to get a great cars would be from auctions, like http://www.carauctiondeals.com , they have thousands of cars old and new on auction Good luck finding a good car