Got a kid looking for a car..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ramonajim · #1 12-08-2011, 03:50 PM

..... in SoCal (Carlsbad to be precise).

Looking for basic Point A to Point B transportation, good for a couple years of same, has about $2K to spend.

Anybody with such a beast (or know someone who does) lemme know.... got a bit of a rush for it, his went belly up last night and he's gotta get back and forth to work.

Thanks in advance!

G-Benz · #2 12-08-2011, 03:56 PM

Regardless of location:

$2K won't get said kid into anything reasonably reliable...that price point is reserved for very high-mileage 10+ year old vehicles that will require (possibly very expensive) maintenance to get to daily-driver status.

Couple that with trying to get the vehicle compliant with the already stringent CA emissions regulations, and it's a money pit before you even get plates for it.

tbomachines · #3 12-08-2011, 04:02 PM

Disagree with G, Look for 90's GM 3.8 V6s....they are in that price range and good, solid, reliable and easy/cheap to maintain. Trade off is that you won't win any style points (buicks...)

ramonajim · #4 12-08-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Regardless of location:

$2K won't get said kid into anything reasonably reliable...that price point is reserved for very high-mileage 10+ year old vehicles that will require (possibly very expensive) maintenance to get to daily-driver status.

Couple that with trying to get the vehicle compliant with the already stringent CA emissions regulations, and it's a money pit before you even get plates for it.

Thanks for the general advice, though I was hoping (long shot, I know) for specific hooks.

And, I respectfully disagree with your generalization. Darling Wife has been daily driving a Miata we bought in San Diego for $500 nearly 5 years ago. My daily driver (also a Miata) was right about $2K, though it was bought in CT. Kidlet in question was (until last night

) driving a Nissan that he bought about 2 years ago for $1K.

Did find a CL post for a nice looking 95 300E that has current smog test cert (less than 90 days old in CA) in his price range..... has some bent metal (right front fender) but otherwise looks clean. One to check out..... looking for more!

JollyRoger · #5 12-08-2011, 04:14 PM

I've had good luck with two cars in that price range with the teenagers, a Ford Escort is a re-badged Mazda Protege, either model is a great car for the price and you can usually find one cheap, you can find plenty under two grand and they are indeed reliable and great on gas. Not a very comfortable car, they are cramped inside but the kid won't give a ****.

G-Benz · #6 12-08-2011, 04:53 PM

I stand corrected.

Unfortunately, most of what I see in these parts for that price are a couple of breakdowns away from being retired to the salvage yard...

Zulfiqar · #7 12-08-2011, 04:56 PM

I found a dead 98 camry v6 with broken timing belt for less than a thou here in houston, fixed in less than 500 bucks - it was great with full original paint everything working, just one little dent on a door.

JollyRoger · #8 12-08-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

I stand corrected.

Unfortunately, most of what I see in these parts for that price are a couple of breakdowns away from being retired to the salvage yard...

I bought a 98 Escort for a grand a couple of years back, and it ran great for years and got passed down to two different kids. Mazda products are the way to go, they don't get the kind of respect the Honda and Toyotas do and are, IMO, just as good. Find someone selling the wife's old wagon.

iwrock · #9 12-08-2011, 05:08 PM

Miatas can be had for $2k or less out here if you put some time into searching.

iwrock · #10 12-08-2011, 05:10 PM

1990 MAZDA MIATA

1996 Mazda Miata Convertible

Plus LA is the land of clean cars in junk yards.

PaulC · #11 12-08-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Disagree with G, Look for 90's GM 3.8 V6s....they are in that price range and good, solid, reliable and easy/cheap to maintain. Trade off is that you won't win any style points (buicks...)

Note that he indicated 3.8, not any other displacement GM V6. The '90's -early '00's Pontiac Bonnevilles often came with bucket seats/console/floor shift/alloy wheels, so they're not completely old-farty...

The Swede · #12 12-08-2011, 05:58 PM

Remember, Pontiac builds (or built) excitement!

Pontiac - We Build Excitement 1987 Commercial - YouTube

spdrun · #13 12-08-2011, 05:59 PM

Bought my last car (Miata) for $2200.
Bought the W123 for $2500.

Neither car needed a lot of work done immediately, and most of the work that they need, I could do myself.

Can't Know · #14 12-08-2011, 06:45 PM

I had a 94 Grand Am that was one of the most reliable cars I ever owned. I did take pretty good care of it, but when I sold it, it had 150K on the clock, ran great and didn't use any oil and still got nearly 30MPG on the highway. It was the 3.1L V6.

elchivito · #15 12-08-2011, 06:55 PM

My kid drove the 240D for two years, 200 miles a week. Including purchase price, gas, oil, repairs and tires, it cost .15/mile for him to drive it. I paid 2200 for it. Never a failure.