can i get a 3 grand car?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

can i get a 3 grand car that looks pretty good. how much is gas? how far can a gallon get me?

Yes you can....I was trying to keep myself within the 2 to 3 grand price range for a commuter car, and I ended up with '93 Honda Civic. You'll have to do your homework - find out which cars are most reliable, which really comes into play when you are looking at an older vehicle. Toyota Tercels, Corollas, Honda Civics, Accords are probably your best bet as far as affordability, reliability and fuel efficiency. You'll save money if you buy from a private seller, but you'll have to really make sure you're not buying someone else's mechanical problems. I bought my Civic in December and the transmission went out back in June. However, I was putting about 500 miles a week on the old transmission because of my commute. I found a mechanic who put in a rebuilt transmission for $1600.

Check out Craigslist just to see what is selling out there. Keep in mind that small 4 cylinder cars are in higher demand now because of gas prices, so the resale has gone up some.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Turboguy 6]

With Gas prices easing a bit the big rush to smaller cars also seems to be cooling. I think the premium on small cars will not be as bad.

My first car was $ 175.00. Of course Henry Ford was probably still alive then. I think you can get a decent first car for three grand, even less perhaps. Stay away from New Car dealers. They won't have anything. They send those right to the auction. I agree with others. Ebay, CraigsList and newspaper classifieds are the way to go. Try to buy from a private owner and don't be in a hurry. When one person wants to sell and one wants to buy, the one in the biggest hurry or the one most motivated always loses.

[joelunchbox 0]

Buy or check out from the library a NADA "blue book" of used car prices. It will give you a very good idea of what people are going to ask for cars. It is on the internet also but I don't have the link and personally, for what you are trying to do a hardcopy would be more useful. In it you will see that dealers pay less for cars and charge more for cars. Of course, they are a business, and businesses have to make money!

Get educated, find a car nut friend, whatever but be ready when a good deal pops up.

[Mags 112]

Our second car was only $3000 - we got her on eBay.

does she have a name?

Hehehehe. Beryl.

Beryl ?

there has got to be a great story behind this name ....

No.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

Our second car was only $3000 - we got her on eBay.

does she have a name?

Hehehehe. Beryl.

Beryl ?

there has got to be a great story behind this name ....

also note that mags has a "rear spoiler"

[ShallowShrek 0]

Our second car was only $3000 - we got her on eBay.

does she have a name?

Hehehehe. Beryl.

is that your car in the little tv box being chased on NBC by the police?

[ShallowShrek 0]

Currently in the stable of the maven and her husband:

1995 Ford Taurus that got us from CT to LA with not a single problem: $1000

1991 Saturn SL1 bought last year in a panic when we had to get from Sacramento to San Diego (at that point one of us had a licence and one had a credit card, but neither had both so it turned out we couldn't rent a car); stored in a rented car park in Pasadena for 10 months untouched and started on the first turn of the key: $1500

1972 Jaguar XJ6 with a Chevy small block dropped in: $1500

And until recently, a 1986 Jeep Comanche that was built like a tank: $900

It helps that my husband is a car nut, but it is more than possible to get a gem for under 3 grand. Only the Saturn was bought from a dealer; the Jeep was off Ebay, the Jag from Craigslist and the Taurus was from a friend. We also helped another VJer, Poiteen, find a car the other weekend off of Craigslist and it too was sub-$3000.

Do some research on what kind of car you want, what kind you need, and then check the advised sources of info. Do you have children? A sporty coupe is probably not for you. Is power and performance more important than fuel economy? Do you want a manual or automatic transmission? Do some research first, and talk to friends and family about what they recommend. Perhaps they even know someone looking to sell at the price you're looking for.

Good luck!

i want auto/ i didnt know they still made manual in the usa? i thought that was for countries over seas.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

You don't know much about the real world, do you?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

i want auto/ i didnt know they still made manual in the usa? i thought that was for countries over seas.

Nope, manual is still very much alive and kicking. I was looking at Mustangs tonight and it costs $1000 extra to have an automatic transmission on a 2009 model.

[b4byd09 0]

It's not about how much a car cost and how good does it look. It's about the mpg rate. some cars run 10 miles per gallon some run 35. "YOOGLE" it.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

"YOOGLE" it.

Is that some sort of Yahoo/Google portmanteau?

Seriously, mpg is only one of the criteria one should consider. Reliability should never be underestimated, nor the availability/price of spares/repairs.

Coolness is always a bonus though!