Ok so my car now has basically become a money pit, and the transmission is going bad and I think I want to bail on it now rather than sink more money into it. My first question is: Do you think anyone would be interested in buying a car that needs a transmission? I'm looking to get about $500 out of it. It's a 1996 Dodge Neon with a private party value of $1460 according to kbb. So do you think $500 would be a reasonable expectation to get out of it? If I buy a car from a dealership, I guess this will be a moot point since I can just trade it in.

My next question would be: What would you suggest as a dependable car that I could get for at most $7000? I'm looking at a 2000 Ford Focus in that price range. Any thoughts on Focuses (Focii?)? I wanted to buy a Honda but I can't seem to find anything decent in my price range. I want something that is going to be reliable because I'm tired of driving my car not knowing from one day to the next if it's going to get me to work or not.

5/21/2007 5:32:28 PM

$7k is more than enough for a reliable honda.

of course it depends on how old you want it to be (98 accord or something).

if you want newer, i don't see anything wrong with a focus.

what about a yaris or someother tin can?

5/21/2007 6:13:24 PM

Quote :

"It's a 1996 Dodge Neon "

I used to call these cars Strap-Ons for a reason!

You can find a good Honda Civic for under 7 grand, though it might take some looking around. The only thing I don't like about buying a used Honda is that preventative maintenance such as the timing belt might be close to due or overdue on a prospective car...and that's maintenance that HAS to be done if you want the car to continue to run well or at all. It's also not cheap maintenance (around 400 to 700 bucks). I always make sure that the work has been done before buying.

Ford Focus isn't a bad car, and a lot of folks really like them. All the same, the build quality isn't on par with either Honda or Toyota, but I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say it'll take care of you if you take care of it. BTW, you can't go wrong with a Toyota Corolla either.

5/21/2007 8:15:06 PM

you might want to take a look at the acura integra too. I bought a 99 integra gsr with 91k miles for 5500, and the timing belt has been replaced also.

5/21/2007 11:44:03 PM

^^Yeah the Dodge Neon hasn't been that great to me. It's left me stranded twice. I don't think the newer generation ones are any better because a girl I know has one and hers was a year old and the transmission went out when she was driving on the highway.


^I haven't come across any of those, but I'd be open to it.

What about a Mazda Protege? I found a '99 for $4900 with 113,000 miles on it. Do Mazdas have the same durability and reliability as Hondas? All the consumer reviews I've read on the '99 Protege have been good, but I'd figure I'd ask you guys.

5/22/2007 10:49:00 AM

look for a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla

any car can last and be reliable, if steps are taken and maintenance is performed, Hondas and Toyotas just seem to stand up better to neglect that most people seem to dish out on their cars, in my experience.

use http://www.autotrader.com to locate what you're looking for

ive found and bought 2 cars from there

5/22/2007 10:55:05 PM

i wonder on here buys and sells a lot of cars?? hmmm

5/22/2007 11:37:31 PM

not you. or me.

5/22/2007 11:38:45 PM

I got my 2001 Civic Ex for $7k... it has 100k on it and just had the timing belt changed... its not perfect but I definitely see it hitting 250k without too much investment

5/22/2007 11:47:54 PM

oh no. not us.

5/22/2007 11:48:00 PM

or me

i'm about to pick up my 4th car in the last 8 months.

5/23/2007 12:03:59 AM

i own 3 now, wife owns 2, im looking at another and we have both sold 4 in the past 12 months. get some.

5/23/2007 10:10:26 PM

that's pretty strong. It's been 2.5 years or so since I've owned 3 at once, and that was only for a few months.

since the end of last september/beginning of october, I've owned a supercharged S2000, a BMW 330Ci, and an Evo IX. Selling the Evo and buying a CJ or TJ Jeep (or MAYBE a YJ), an early Bronco, an FJ-40, a 1st gen K5 Blazer, Jimmy, or Ramcharger, or maybe an IH Scout/Scout II. Jeep/FJ/early Bronco are most likely, though. I have my eye on this right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290119267092&rd=1&rd=1

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 10:25 PM. Reason : but I've profited pretty big on all of those cars. What NOW, Joel?]

5/23/2007 10:24:40 PM

ill admit i lost on my BMW but made that $ up since.

5/24/2007 5:41:48 PM

amateurs. i own:

3 trucks
3 cars
1 bus
3 demolition derby cars

i've had at least 30-35 vehicles since i turned 16.

5/24/2007 5:52:32 PM

^ now I don't feel so bad for owning my fleet

5/24/2007 6:01:24 PM

^^ fine. i fold.

I've owned:

7 cars/trucks
3 motorcycles
1 jet ski

prob tally up one more car/truck and one more motorcycle in the next few months

and probably another jet ski in about another year

5/24/2007 8:03:15 PM

Currently own

2 trucks
5 cars
1 van
1 motorhome
1 motorcycle
1 atv

others from the past-
8 trucks
7 cars
2 motorcycles

5/24/2007 8:45:18 PM

http://home.crownauto.com/Preowned-Inventory.aspx

tell me what you want, and i'll get it for you.

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 9:19 PM. Reason : ]

5/24/2007 9:19:16 PM

^^ ok, i had an ATV, too. forgot about that.

5/24/2007 9:33:08 PM

2000 ford focus had a ton of recalls. those earlier ones are not reliable

5/26/2007 1:01:01 PM