Recommend me a small sedan that I can get for $1,000 or less?

"WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe" (wesbarton89)
09/25/2014 at 14:21 • Filed to: None

Okay, so, at tax time, I'm gonna get a second vehicle probably. My Durango is too much of a gas hog to daily drive, so it's gonna be relegated to a winter vehicle/grocery vehicle/big item hauler. I'm looking at some ideas for something smaller, preferably a sedan with a slushbox. We do mainly city driving, plus my fiancé can't drive a stick, so a manual wouldn't work too well for us. I've got some ideas that I'm looking at. I just want something efficient on gas, reliable, or with easy to fix/replace parts and something that will baby.

I'm thinking a late 90s-early 00s Jetta, Subaru, or maybe a Neon, or final year Cadillac Catera. Also in the running are a Mazda Millenia, a Nissan Altima or Sentra, same model years as others. I do not want a Cavalier, Sunfire, or any Ford. Nothing but bad luck with those in the past.

I live in Maryland, so anything near Maryland, PA, DC, WV or VA. What can you all come up with? And if it's slightly above the $1000, go ahead and suggest it, I can always bargain with the seller.

DISCUSSION (43)

ShowerThoughtsofJohnMayer > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:23

88-91 4 door civic

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:27

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

Can you do any mechanical work?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:30

Mazda Protege, Dodge Neon, Ford Escort, Toyota/Honda/Nissan anything.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:30

Neon would work pretty good for you. Also, 90's Buicks are about a dime a dozen. But with your price range the stuff aint gonna be super pretty.

mcseanerson > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:33

Kinja'd!!!

Mazda Protege with a 1.8BP motor. Basically a FWD Miata that will baby.

My citroen won't start > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:35

I'm silly: http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/4599445144…

Actually trying to help: http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/4654722806…

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
09/25/2014 at 14:35

Thanks, doesn't have to be pretty, as long as the powertrain is good. It's primarily going to be a beater and a get-around car.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > ShowerThoughtsofJohnMayer
09/25/2014 at 14:36

A Civic would not be bad. I've driven a couple Hondas and they seem to do pretty well. Very reliable from what I've seen.

Jagvar > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:37

It's not small, but Crown Vics fall into that price range. They're great workhorses, run forever, and parts are cheap and plentiful. Here's one in your area for just a grand.

Kinja'd!!!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:38

Late 90's Jetta I'd be leery of an auto-trans

Neon-same

at this price point you really run the risk of needing major repairs within the first month of ownership. Someone at my work just bought a prism for example, needed new fuel pump, had a wobbly rim, burned 2 quarts of oil every 300-400 miles. He ended up giving up on the thing. I think he ended up with a better thousand dollar car this time, one with far less problems, a 90's Grand Am, so thats perhaps an option? Grand Prix, Grand Am, Bonneville, etc.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > My citroen won't start
09/25/2014 at 14:39

OMG, I had a J30 JUST like that one. I loved it. Excellent suggestion. Didn't think one could be found that cheap. Also, I kinda dig that Saab, no lie. Convertibles are fun to drive. Looks rough, but I still like it a little.

Your boy, BJR > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:40

You could probably find a B13 sentra or like tercel or some shit for under a grand.

Sweet Trav > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:40

S-10's and rangers can be had with that mileage and a double cab.

outside the box.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > mcseanerson
09/25/2014 at 14:43

Not a bad looking little Mazda. I had a Millenia S that was really nice. I like the Proteges too, though. A no-frills, does what it needs to do kind of car.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2014 at 14:44

A Camry or Corolla, mid 90s, would work too. Thanks!

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:44

These are just a few I found on my local CL. Not amazing, put solid for sure.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/464855…

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/465021…

boobytrapsandtreasure > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:46

You could hit the jackpot with a Mercedes W123 diesel. I've seen them in working order for as little as $800.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Jagvar
09/25/2014 at 14:47

My dad is a cop, so he would approve, though do I really want to deal with people driving super slow in front of me, being paranoid? Lol, though I will consider it. Maybe a bit bigger than I'd like, but, certainly worth a look. Thanks!

Milky > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:47

Define small.

Kinja'd!!!

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Sweet Trav
09/25/2014 at 14:49

I'm trying to steer away (haha, steer, cuz its about a car) from trucks, but a double cab S10 wouldn't be bad. Maybe a little cramped. I don't care for the way Rangers drive, honestly. One of the first vehicles I drove on the road was a '99 Ranger with the rear jump seats. It wasn't bad, but I've driven much better in the way of trucks. I appreciate the suggestions though.

Your boy, BJR > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 14:49

Beware with SAAB-SCANIA Saabs (pre GM)- They are either made more hardcore durable than a W123 or Hilux, or made like british Leyland's special ed division built it half assedly. There is no in between. This one has 161k miles and is said to run well, sight unseen, I'd say it leans more towards "hardcore reliable". Another thing to look out for is leaky trans with the auto. They have a skid plate so it'll take a little more than just getting on your hands and knees to check for leakage. Also, remember, the newest one of these is 20 years old. Time catches up to everything, no matter how well made. And these parts are getting harder and harder to find.

I realize i just went into absurd detail about a car that isn't even a realistic choice.

I know Saabs.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
09/25/2014 at 14:53

I love the description on the first one there, that's effin hilarious! And, yea, a bit rough looking, but those leather seats look amazingly comfy. Second one looks pretty decent as well. Too bad I'm a ways away from Michigan.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Milky
09/25/2014 at 14:54

Ooh, that's pretty. I like the look of that. I'm looking at midsize basically though. Something with room, but not a big land yacht.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > boobytrapsandtreasure
09/25/2014 at 14:56

That's an enticing thought. Diesel prices are dropping around here as well. That's a good suggestion. Biggest thing I'd be worried about though would be the maintenance on a Benz. But, if I find a well-kept example, then it's basically a non-issue.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Your boy, BJR
09/25/2014 at 14:56

Good ideas. Thanks!

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2014 at 15:00

Thanks! I will keep that in mind.

Milky > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 15:04

But bro, 1UZ V8

DarklordCaterpie > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:08

I would go for it I own a 97 ls400 and while it is an enormous car and is only ok on gas, it never breaks and is extremely comfortable and quite.

Do you do a lot of highway driving?

Manuél Ferrari > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:10

Mercedes 190E

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > DarklordCaterpie
09/25/2014 at 16:10

I do about 20-30 miles a day of highway driving, and maybe about the same of city driving, but I'd definitely be comfortable in one of those.

DarklordCaterpie > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:14

Mine does around 28 mpg highway and about 20 city but it does need premium gas, but that being said I've put 40k's on the thing without issue.

thebigbossyboss > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:24

Hm. If you don't want a GM or Ford I can't really recommend anything since my small cars have been GM's and Fords!

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > thebigbossyboss
09/25/2014 at 16:29

Well, I've had good luck with some GMs. I had a 98 Cutlass and a 99 Intrigue, both of which I loved to drive. Very decent vehicles each, but Ford cars, I've just had bad luck with. The only GM car I've ever had an issue with was my Cavalier. I got taken by a dealership, it was a total lemon, and I learned a lot, but that car was horrible.

thebigbossyboss > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:36

J bodies (cavalier or sunfires) are one of those cars, some people swear their reliable, and other people wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.

The most reliable cars I have seen around here have been Mid 90's Accords. Every car from the mid 90's rusted away (because Ontario), except those things. I see them at least weekly if not more. So maybe have a look at those?

Neons can be good. I have heard some horror stories, but I have also heard stories like

"I got it to 200K miles....I changed my oil 4 times."

Mazda Protege also a fairly decent beater.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Manuél Ferrari
09/25/2014 at 16:43

Those aren't bad looking. I like them.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > DarklordCaterpie
09/25/2014 at 16:48

I could deal with premium gas. That's not bad mileage. I think I get maybe 12-15mpg on my Durango, so 20/28 would be much better, even with premium. Premium is $3.50 give or take a little where I live. The Durango costs me $85 to fill up from empty, and runs me around 300 miles on a full tank. I think I'd see some improvement on a Lexus like that.

Manuél Ferrari > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 16:48

I've never owned or driven one but I've done a lot of reading up on them. They intrigue me.

You can get them cheap. And they're supposed to be good cars. Apparently Mercedes dumped a ton of money into designing that car. They wanted to make a small car that had the same quality of their bigger cars. And back then their quality was much better than it was in the late 90s / early 2000s

The 190E is tiny by today's standards. Which makes it cool. The only tiny Merc out there that isn't an SLK.

I've seen them very cheap, sometimes under $1000

I think these cars might appreciate one day. People are going to get sick of paying a ton for E30 BMWs and look for the next closest thing.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > thebigbossyboss
09/25/2014 at 16:53

Neons are all around, and I'm sure easy to get parts for. My Cavalier had way too many issues. Water pump went out three months after I got it. Alternator went out the following month. It threw a rod after I drove it 26k miles. Of course, the warranty ran out at 24k. Horrible car.

I see a good many of those Accords around, but not for sale very often.

http://westmd.craigslist.org/cto/4656425037… here's one, but it's a stick, which, unless my fiancé learns to drive one by then, kind of excludes this one, also no price either.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 17:09

Geo Prizm, Corolla Twin, much cheaper though

DarklordCaterpie > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/25/2014 at 19:15

It has a 22.5 gallon tank so you'd still be looking at about 80 a tank but I usually only fill mine up every 400 or so miles, just drive conservatively and you'll be fine.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > DarklordCaterpie
09/25/2014 at 19:17

Yeah, seems about right. That's a big tank, though. My Durango has a 25 gallon tank on it. But, with the Lexus, it wouldn't be as bad, because I could go longer without filling it up at least.

DetroitIron > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
09/29/2014 at 00:02

Buy Japanese. Anything Japanese in the 90's. Nissan Maxima. Lexus LS400. Honda Civic. Acura TL's are cheap from then too.

I had the 90's chrylser cloud cars. They eat brakes and control arms. A v8 Crown Vic will put your truck's MPG look like a joke.

So... "buy Japanese," WesBarton89-san.

Jesse Shaffer > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
10/11/2014 at 23:56

Twin cam, stick-shift dodge neon:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/mundane-corrod…