Need Car suggestion ($7k or less)

  • Thread starter Thread starter V10
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So many threads asking the same questions give or take a thousand dollars. Maybe there should be one stickied thread for on-going discussion.
 
dsgerbc
If you want to know how high insuring 17 y/o with a cavalier coupe could be - try getting a quote for some NYC zip. If he lives in close to downtown Indianapolis, the coupe/sedan difference becomes real money.

Most-stolen statistic is obscure until your car gets stolen.

Used cars break. Not right after the purchase, of course. But if you blow all your money and it breaks before you can save more - it will suck quite badly. So prudent rule from the real world - don't blow all your cash on a new used ride. Of course there's always the world where parents can and are willing to cough up a few grand to fix kid's car, but not everyone is so lucky.
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I have a friend with full coverage on an 05 cavi coupe and he doesn't pay that much at all. Chances are that if something breaks 6 months after he buys the car he'll be able to fix it because if he can raise this much money he's got a job. Used cars really don't break that often at all if you buy smart. I know a kid with an 89 ranger that he bought at an estate auction with an unknown amount of miles and has never put that much money into it other than things that were his fault. As long as you actually inspect the car, not kick the tires and listen to the salesman you'll be fine. I've you've been stung on a car oh well it's on you to know what you're paying for.
 
ryanb98
Nothing's cooler than driving around drunk with 4 friends in your badly slammed, fart-canned (insert typical teenager car here) while smoking suspicious substances and listening to annoying loud music. :lol:

Seriously, don't do this. Get something tasteful yet 'cool', don't fart-can, or slam your car. Keep it clean.

About suggestions, maybe an E30 or E36 Bimmer?
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Did not mean it that way at all, if your friends are like that, get new friends please. I know most teenagers are like that but my idea of cool is someone that helps and gets along with others, which then is reflected in your car which can help your friends get where they want to be.
If you were being sarcastic, then ignore the reply.
Also, I don't think the E36 is what he is looking for, and the E30 is too old since he stated it had to be post 1990
 
motortrend
Did not mean it that way at all, if your friends are like that, get new friends please. I know most teenagers are like that but my idea of cool is someone that helps and gets along with others, which then is reflected in your car which can help your friends get where they want to be.
If you were being sarcastic, then ignore the reply.
Also, I don't think the E36 is what he is looking for, and the E30 is too old since he stated it had to be post 1990
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I was being sarcastic, don't worry. ;)
 
savage388
Used cars really don't break that often at all if you buy smart.
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If you define 'being smart' like in buying the car that didn't break for a year or two after this fact has been observed - then yeah. In reality any used car is a lottery. There are numerous tricks to make a dying engine run for a short while for a test-drive. There are ways to quiet down dying tranny for a short while. Some of them can be picked up by a real inspection, where you actually make those shops that sell 'pre-purchase inspection' do a real compression/leak-down test of the engine. Some of those tricks - won't be picked up during inspection. And then there's shoddy prior repair, that won't show-up at all until it makes your engine blow-up. A buddy of mine bought a car (with proper compression check, etc), was happy for a few months and then his supposedly bullet-proof engine threw a rod. Turned out that car oil pan replaced quite some time ago for whatever reason and there was like 5x the proper amount of sealant applied to the pan, which eventually broke loose, clogged the oil passage and killed the engine. No 'inspection' short of tear-down would pick that up, but crappy repair jobs are done to used cars every day.

So, like I said, claiming that '7k car is not a gamble' is just ignorance, lack of experience, unwillingness to learn from the mistakes of others, wishful thinking etc.
 
motortrend
Also, I don't think the E36 is what he is looking for, and the E30 is too old since he stated it had to be post 1990
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E30s were made until 1991 for sedan and coupes and 1992 (or 1993?) for convertibles, so it can fit in his criteria.

As others have said, start off with something like an Accord or a Camry. It may not sound very exciting, but they are cheap to own, reliable, and are great cars to get more driving skill from. Avoid high-powered rear wheel drive cars, both insurance and the car will kill you. Remember, car ownership is expensive, with insurance, gas and maintenance.
 
motortrend
If it's a cool car you want definitely get a 4 door car, there's nothing cooler than hauling your friends around, albeit at a small charge (gas is expensive :sly: )
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No, no, no. Since when was it cool to be the guy who everyone asks for rides? I'm the only one in my group who has a sedan so I always have to drive places. It sucks. I love driving and sometimes take the "long way" to school but when you've got six hands reaching for the AC, radio, etc its terrible. Hate it.
 
SpartanG
No, no, no. Since when was it cool to be the guy who everyone asks for rides? I'm the only one in my group who has a sedan so I always have to drive places. It sucks. I love driving and sometimes take the "long way" to school but when you've got six hands reaching for the AC, radio, etc its terrible. Hate it.
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Or when you have 4 doors and the back seats are never used. It just hurts mileage and is a great place to collect junk.👎
 

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