AudiOn19s Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Reasonable, economical and practical cars aren't really my thing. What's the best way to spend $4k on something that's decent. Need to find something for my mother-in-law in FL. She's got about 4k to spend but her idea of buying a car is taking the bus to the nearest buy here pay here shop and walking out with a pile of crap that runs for a couple of months and then gives up the ghost. We bought her a car a couple of years ago that she had for 1.5 years down there and didn't take care of so I took it back because it was my money/ car and she wasn't maintaining it. This time around it's on her dime but I'd prefer to find her something that'll somewhat last when driven by someone who won't take care of it. Suggestions? Buddy of mine just bout an older Grand Marquis that's actually not a bad ride. Not exactly economical but at least she'd be safe in something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 You just answered your own question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewtoys Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Volvo 850, literally can't kill them. Mpg not the best but the perfect cheap beater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B3NN3TT Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 My grandma, who is in her 80's, has been driving a 92 Grand Marquis for EVER. Little things broken (passenger's power window failure) but it indeed cannot be killed. She's actually selling it now for around $1200 - but that doesn't help you out in Florida... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon1647545566 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sounds like the bus ain't such a bad idea. $4k in bus fairs will take her a lot farther than she'd get in a cheap car she won't maintain. Maybe a VW Bug..... Can't get more simple or bullet proof than air cooled without computers, right? On the more serious side, since most cars are designed with obsolescence in mind these days, if you don't take care of it, it won't matter what badge is on the hood. I'd say if you are going to roll the dice, just find anything with low miles and safe tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Buddy of mine just bout an older Grand Marquis that's actually not a bad ride. Not exactly economical but at least she'd be safe in something like that. Agreed...that's like a Honda Civic in FL...tons available and easy for OP's to own. http://www.mercedesexpert.com/inventory/view/8227241/1997-Mercury-Grand-Marquis-GS-Naples-FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sounds like the bus ain't such a bad idea. $4k in bus fairs will take her a lot farther than she'd get in a cheap car she won't maintain. Maybe a VW Bug..... Can't get more simple or bullet proof than air cooled without computers, right? On the more serious side, since most cars are designed with obsolescence in mind these days, if you don't take care of it, it won't matter what badge is on the hood. I'd say if you are going to roll the dice, just find anything with low miles and safe tires. This. With that in mind... personally look for an older Jetta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 honda civic. stock honda civic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radio Flyer1647545514 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Toyota corolla (not 99-02) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller11386 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I have this for sale... was the GF's daily driver for a while. She ended up getting something FWD for the snow. This Sc300 has been parked since fall. Let me know if you are interested. Newer tires and its a solid daily with zero rust. http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4828385145.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I have this for sale... was the GF's daily driver for a while. She ended up getting something FWD for the snow. This Sc300 has been parked since fall. Let me know if you are interested. Newer tires and its a solid daily with zero rust. http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4828385145.html Doesn't fit the reasonable, economical, or practical requirement, and isn't a heap. Super reliable.. I second an SC300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 You can find many civics, or a a4 if wanting awd, or I would also suggest if looking for something bigger but not economic a blazer. I beat the loss out of my blazer and it never failed to start or get me anywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbs3000 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Blazer / Exploder / Cherokee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bastard Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Honda. You could use water for oil and the damn thing would still run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 You can find many civics, or a a4 if wanting awd, or I would also suggest if looking for something bigger but not economic a blazer. I beat the loss out of my blazer and it never failed to start or get me anywhere We got her a 1.8T Jetta before and the damn thing ate a coil pack and she thought it was blown up and had no money to fix it so refused to take it to a shop so it just sat. Our next visit it took me 2 minutes to diagnose and $40 to fix it and it was back on the road. Maybe if I could find her a 2.0L but even then VW / Audi does such a crap job with automatic transmissions that they are always a question mark unless regularly cared for....which she just won't do. I do realize that everything requires regular maintenance but I'm looking for that maintenance to be as simplified as possible. Timing belts and coil packs for VW's might be a minor deal and regular maintenance to us but it's a major setback for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0n8 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Wife had a Focus w/ 2.0 when we started dating that she didn't take care of. Hadn't changed the oil in 2 years and ran like a champ with an undiscovered blown head gasket until I changed the oil before trade-in (sorry Nick!). Transmission had issues getting in gear in the cold but that shouldn't be an issue in Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Wife had a Focus w/ 2.0 when we started dating that she didn't take care of. Hadn't changed the oil in 2 years and ran like a champ with an undiscovered blown head gasket until I changed the oil before trade-in (sorry Nick!). Transmission had issues getting in gear in the cold but that shouldn't be an issue in Florida. What the hell dude? Price just went up on that ST! Sounds like she needs to just buy a $500 car, junk them when she kills them, and repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 a 2.0L VW engine still needs cam followers and coil packs every once in a while. and timing belts. buy her a car with a non interference motor off this list. that way when she breaks a timing belt she doesn't have to junk the car: http://www.aa1car.com/library/timing_belts_interference_engines.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I'd say maybe 2.0 Jetta or a Corolla/Civic. What about a W123? Those we're pretty much tanks from what I've seen, not sure where they price at though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0n8 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 What the hell dude? Price just went up on that ST! I don't even know what the price is. Sounds like she needs to just buy a $500 car, junk them when she kills them, and repeat. Best idea. If she wants nice things she has to treat them nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10phone2 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 I will have to add in a 90-92 ls400. For 3-4k you can find them that have 100-130k miles and they are well known to last till 300k if taken care of properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bark Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 2002 Nissan Maxima 100K? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted February 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Tell me more about what to look for in a focus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B3NN3TT Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 Tell me more about what to look for in a focus? A Zetec or a Duratec. The 2.0 SPI single-cam 4-cylinders are unreliable. The 2.0 Zetec is olllld tech, cast-iron, very reliable - but has a timing belt that needs to be serviced every 90,000 miles or so (although it's not an interference engine, so it's not a deal-breaker). The all-aluminum 2.0 and 2.3 Duratec use a timing chain instead, and are probably the better choice of the two. Every Focus from 2005-on used a Duratec, so unless you are looking at a 2000-2004 model, it won't even be a factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 My 2002 Focus was the biggest piece of shit i ever owned. My 1997 dodge neon was a much better car (that should tell you how bad the focus was). I bought it with 88k on the clock. Radio didnt work, speedo didnt work, alternator went out, and had a score of other electrical issues. Not to mention the rust. The engine started 90/10 times so i guess it had that going for it, which was nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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