What USED car would you recemmond for under $4k that is NOT honda or toyota?

[Dealz-4-U]

Hi,
Im looking for a used car that is under $4k that is not an import (for insurance costs) that is a good car that will last me a good while...

I was thinking:

1997 - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix (or Grand Am)...

Or

1997 Oldsmobile Alero

1996 Chevy Lumina

ETC.... You see, those kind of cars.

Any insight on this or help, I would greatly appreciate.
Please also tell me your experiences if you have any.

Thanks :)

[Mr D J]

I would say Mercury Grand Marquis or Ford Crown Victoria if you can find one under 4k. These cars last forever. I was riding in a cab recently in Grand Marquis and it has 555k on it and was still going steadily.

[Jon Lai]

You'd save more from the durability of a Toyota than from the minor insurance costs... for a <$4K car, you'd only be paying for 3rd party insurnace anyways. Believe me, old American cars will eat up a lot of your money just tuning and fixing them up, while the usual Toyota will only need oil changes ever 5K km.

[sshe11]

something like a Toyota Tercel will be low on insurance and reliable ..

[flanker]

Golf TDI (Mk3)
you can't really get any decent toyota or honda for under 4k.

[Priceslasher]

Try and get a sunfire..or a cavalier maybe even a ford focus..

[cereal83]

an older Ferrari?

[VivienM]

Hi,
Im looking for a used car that is under $4k that is not an import (for insurance costs) that is a good car that will last me a good while...

I was thinking:

1997 - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix (or Grand Am)...

Or

1997 Oldsmobile Alero

1996 Chevy Lumina

ETC.... You see, those kind of cars.

Go for the GM W cars (Grand Prix, Lumina, Intrigue, etc) rather than the Ns (Alero, Grand Am, pre-2004 Malibu, etc.).

[Dealz-4-U]

Go for the GM W cars (Grand Prix, Lumina, Intrigue, etc) rather than the Ns (Alero, Grand Am, pre-2004 Malibu, etc.).
what does W and N refer to?

[herbie08]

If you buy any GM car under 4K, have the car thoroughly checked or be prepare to get the transmission done ($2K), electrical, etc. Spend the extra and get an import, your repair bill will easily exceed the cost of within 2 years if you go domestic. I have had first hand experience with myself and my relatives who owned pre-2000 GM cars, your car will be in the garage more than on the road. (we are talking about a 2 Grand AM, 1 Grand Prix, and 1 Alero, all lemons and had way too many problems).

[VivienM]

what does W and N refer to?

The fourth digit in the VIN... aka the platform. The W cars seem to have better reliability than the Ns.

[pontiac_driver]

If you buy any GM car under 4K, have the car thoroughly checked or be prepare to get the transmission done ($2K), electrical, etc. Spend the extra and get an import, your repair bill will easily exceed the cost of within 2 years if you go domestic. I have had first hand experience with myself and my relatives who owned pre-2000 GM cars, your car will be in the garage more than on the road. (we are talking about a 2 Grand AM, 1 Grand Prix, and 1 Alero, all lemons and had way too many problems).

^ the infamous head gasket issues can be added to the list, another 7-800$

[VivienM]

^ the infamous head gasket issues can be added to the list, another 7-800$

By the time the car gets to be worth $4000, it's probably had its intake manifold gaskets fixed once or twice already... so how high is the chance of them breaking a third time (given their lifespan is about 80-110K... if the fixed ones weren't used in the repair?) within a year or two of the OP buying it?

[new_vr]

If you buy any GM car under 4K, have the car thoroughly checked or be prepare to get the transmission done ($2K), electrical, etc. Spend the extra and get an import, your repair bill will easily exceed the cost of within 2 years if you go domestic. I have had first hand experience with myself and my relatives who owned pre-2000 GM cars, your car will be in the garage more than on the road. (we are talking about a 2 Grand AM, 1 Grand Prix, and 1 Alero, all lemons and had way too many problems).

But expect a $4000 import to be awesome:confused:

[mlc2000]

Alero's were not around in 97. They debuted in '99, I know, I leased one.

Worst POS ever. It was known as the Alemon.
Got more mileage going up and down the hoist at Courtesy Chev Olds.

I doubt you'll get any great car for $4000, domestic or Import.

A good car for you would be the 1999 Chevy Cavalier, one of the better years according to MSN Autos http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=1999&make=Chevrolet&model=Cavalier

You can pick one up on Autotrader for around $4000.
Mileage will range between 110-200,000 kms.

[tidus888]

You'd save more from the durability of a Toyota than from the minor insurance costs... for a <$4K car, you'd only be paying for 3rd party insurnace anyways. Believe me, old American cars will eat up a lot of your money just tuning and fixing them up, while the usual Toyota will only need oil changes ever 5K km.


something like a Toyota Tercel will be low on insurance and reliable ..

i think the OP don't like Toyota or Honda!

anyways!!... used POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CROWN VIC).

you can get one for 3-4k and they have pretty good service records on them =)

just look at most of the Cabs! =)

[DJ_Peanuts22]

anyways!!... used POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CROWN VIC).

you can get one for 3-4k and they have pretty good service records on them =)

just look at most of the Cabs! =)

x-cop cars are cool.... you can drive as fast and slow as you want without being hassled cuz everyone will be scared of you :razz:

[tidus888]

x-cop cars are cool.... you can drive as fast and slow as you want without being hassled cuz everyone will be scared of you :razz:

so true.. when ever i see one i slowly inch up to make sure itz not a cop before proceeding!

[CanAm]

Best cheap car ever is the Plymouth Volare. Slant 6 with the 727 tranny. They go forever and are dirt cheap to fix. Best car I ever own. We dragged it out of a friends yards, tuned it up. I then drove it all over the US, then gave it to my brother, he sold it and it is still going.

[onecoolloser]

CROWN VIC! Might drink up a little too much gas though.

[SkiD]

something like a Toyota Tercel will be low on insurance and reliable ..

That isn't rusted out or without smoke coming out of it's tailpipe?

[billdozer]

x-cop cars are cool.... you can drive as fast and slow as you want without being hassled cuz everyone will be scared of you :razz:

QFT.

Make sure you get a black one, so people think you're an unmarked cop car since you don't have the decals on the body.

[MkmBandit]

hell yah on the Interceptor. If you're brave you could always get a Mercury Marauder

[VivienM]

hell yah on the Interceptor. If you're brave you could always get a Mercury Marauder

Marauders for $4K?

[Narci]

Nissan Sentra?

[dlander]

Mazda Protege

[weales]

You can have my '83 chevette for $50, use the rest to throw in some kind of Frankenstein engine/tranny and have the ultimate rusted sleeper.

[Madrid2k]

Mazda Protege

If you want a reliable used car - go with late 90's Mazda Protege. I think 1999 on, the Protege had greater platform sharing with Ford.

Otherwise, the Protege is a relative bargain. It has really undeserved depreciation. It's actually worth a lot more than what you can get a used one for.

My nephew has a 1991 Protege with 300,000 kms, and it's engine runs like butter.