What Used Car Can Buy for the Price of the Downpayment on a New Car?

"James R." (jpryan) 11/06/2014 at 22:35 • Filed to: None

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If you are like me than you spend a lot of time on various carmaker's websites building up potential new cars/just wasting time because why not? There is not much on the market that is within my price range that appeals to me enough to actually buy it. However, after college it would be nice to pick up a truck to tow my ever-so-unreliable Civic around with for when a track day or some other event pops up and to hopefully tow some actual track build with in the near future.

So while the title says "What Used Car Can Buy for the Price of the Downpayment on a New Car?" This post can be more accurately described as, "What Used Car/Truck Can Buy for the Price of the Downpayment on a New Truck?" If this post goes over well there will be more like it that may be car for car or truck for truck.

It is a safe bet that the downpayment on a new car should be 20% of its asking price. This may not always be an option to today's new car buyers. Especially when you take into consideration that the price of the average new car is $30,000 ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Edmunds.com found that in 2013 the average downpayment was actually closer to 12%. An average of those two numbers (12 and 20) puts us at 16% and that will be the key number here. What can you buy for 16% of $30,000 (average price of a new car)?

As previously mentioned this first one will be about what tow capable vehicle can be had for the downpayment on a new one? Assuming the aforementioned 16% of $30,000, that gives us $4800.00 to play around with. Off to Ebay we go.

Now, it will have to be reliable, have decent power, good towing capability, preferably comfortable, and $4800.oo or less. Taking all of those things into the consideration the best Ebay has to offer at the moment, in my opinion is;

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Seller is asking for $4779.00 for what can only be described as the most underrated tow rig of all time. It can handle towing 5'000-6,000lbs without a problem which is more than enough for what will be asked of it. It has all the seats, all of them, it even has the jumper kind that face the wrong way. It is super comfortable, rides like a boat, and can hold its own on the highway (LT1 V8 Mowter) Chances are the seller will take a bit less than the $4779.00 asking price which leaves some room for mechanical fixes if any are needed and adding a tow hitch.

Just look at those wrong way facing seats. Who wouldn't want to ride in them?

Potential Savings? $25,200 or enough to buy a trailer and build another car to play around with....

Anything else that may be a better option? Let me know.

TheMightyTexMex > James R. 11/06/2014 at 22:49

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$3500 (i don't even put that much down)

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/4740202675… html

P.S.: Anyone kind enough to follow me so I can be un-greyed?

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > TheMightyTexMex 11/06/2014 at 23:07

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for oppositelock?, I can do that, I can't follow you for jalopnik though

James R. > TheMightyTexMex 11/06/2014 at 23:20

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But how much can it tow?

TheMightyTexMex > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 11/06/2014 at 23:39

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Thank you! Here's a miata to show my appreciation:

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > TheMightyTexMex 11/06/2014 at 23:44

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I didn't follow you for oppositelock, It looks like someone else did, but thanks for the miata.

What I would do though is find someone like Arch Duke or $kaycog (she gave me authorship) and ask for oppo authorship.

TheMightyTexMex > James R. 11/06/2014 at 23:49

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Ok, ok, you win....

WAIT!

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/4697472092…

$2500.

RWD? Check. Diesel? Check. Manual? Check. Brown? Rust is brownish.

Wagon? Meh, but I bet this thing can seat at least 7 on the bed!

Also, think of all the turbos you could buy for it with the leftover cash!

TheMightyTexMex > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 11/06/2014 at 23:51

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I'd give it a try, i just don't want to sound like a beggar lol

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > TheMightyTexMex 11/06/2014 at 23:59

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you won't as long as you just ask politely.

KirkyV > James R. 11/07/2014 at 00:25

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I'd probably go for an EP3 Civic Type R. There's a decent number of relatively high-mileage - that is, around the 100k mark - examples around at that price point, in good shape with warranties and full service histories, and these cars can easily manage more than 200k miles without any major fuss.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…

James R. > KirkyV 11/07/2014 at 00:34

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Yea but can it tow?

James R. > TheMightyTexMex 11/07/2014 at 00:36

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If it's got the 7.3 idi it's gonna need turbos....

KirkyV > James R. 11/07/2014 at 00:55

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Oh, sorry, didn't read that bit. Uh... Mondeo TDCi ST 155?

It's rated to tow 1800 kg/3970lb.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…

This specific car has more miles on it than I'd like, but there are lower-mileage examples available within the price-range—this one just had the best pictures.

James R. > KirkyV 11/07/2014 at 14:37

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Oh wow I was not aware of this cars existence! Too bad we cannot get them state side :(