Buying a Car: How Hard Can It Be?

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
12/25/2015 at 20:45 • Filed to: None

So over the past few weeks, I have been looking at cars. I just want a good car that’s easy to work on, roadworthy, reasonable to insure, and costs less than $5000. It turns out that this task is far harder than I expected. I’ve always wanted to learn manual, so all the cars I’ve been looking at are stick-shift. However, if there’s a plush luxobarge or a good SUV, I’ll happily settle for an automatic. Two weeks ago, I went to look at a Dodge SX 2.0 (Canadian Neon). It looked promising. Only a few scratches, and the price was right. However, when it was taken out on the road, all was the opposite of right. It oil starved and fuel starved up hills, and had a gnarly misfire. I decided to walk away from that one. Nothing interesting popped up until yesterday, when I found a 2007 Ranger at the same dealer my parents bought their Matrix from. It was a charcoal grey 2.3 5-speed, with a layer of filth and a tonneau cover that had been to hell and back twice. It seemed promising, so I set up a second appointment to see it when it was all cleaned up. Much to my dismay, I got an email today saying the price had gone from around $4000 to almost $6000. On top of that, it needed new brakes all around, and the transmission had issues. I’ve decided to pass on that one too. I’ve switched priorities, and am now looking at ZJs. Hopefully, I will have another installment in the car-buying chronicles next week.

tldr; cheap crap is still crap, and you never know who to trust.

DISCUSSION (23)

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 20:49

Watch out for crappy ZJs, they’re plentiful.

George McNally > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 21:05

We just bought a 2004 Nissan Sentra one owner with 70k miles in excellent condition and a full dealer service history. Paid 5 grand for it......if it lasts 3 or 4 years- I’ll be happy.

Jack Does Cars > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 21:30

My mother had a 1996 ZJ Grand Cherokee Limited 5.2 V8 with Quadradrive. White with gray leather interior, with the gold exterior styling package.

That was the best vehicle we have ever had. Sadly, most of them have been trashed in recent years. While I don’t doubt you can find a clean one, I know it will be tough. I’m looking for an XJ or a ZJ myself.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 21:51

Keep the faith. You might want to consider a 6-8 year old Hyundai/Kia. They aren’t fancy, but they are pretty reliable and you should find plenty in your price range. A few months ago I sold my 2007 Santa Fe 5-speed manual. Best offer I got was $4000 (US). It was boring, but it was a solid, safe crossover that never broke down and never leaked anything. Some things were easy to work on, others not - but getting it serviced was cheap except for a clutch that was different for a small 3 month production run of 2007’s.

Porsche was my first word > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 23:02

What kidn of car are you looking for? If it’s for manual and fun have a look at the E30 3-series.

Also a good drivers car is the Focus.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Porsche was my first word
12/25/2015 at 23:28

I can’t afford an E30, and early Foci have some fairly large quality issues.

Ryanator122 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/25/2015 at 23:59

The 2.3 Duratec focus is supposedly unstoppable. Trouble is finding a clean one. I tried.

Porsche was my first word > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/26/2015 at 00:19

So you need 4 doors and decent space?

There are some E30 or E36 (own a E46 myself, great car, about 160.000 miles with no problems other than self induced) for about 5000. It’s not the biggest car though. But I have to admit I don’t know what the insurance cost is in the US.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Ryanator122
12/26/2015 at 00:52

The engines are good, but the rest of the car falls apart around it.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Porsche was my first word
12/26/2015 at 00:53

I can’t find a good one for under $5k where I live :(

AM3R shamefully returns > jkm7680
12/26/2015 at 02:01

I DROVE THE ALLROAD

Local Miata Bro > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/26/2015 at 07:36

Well miata is always the answer for a reason.....

jkm7680 > AM3R shamefully returns
12/26/2015 at 09:30

WAS IT AMAZING?

salisfury > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/26/2015 at 10:24

If practical is your thing and you don’t have a huge commute then look at a first generation xterra. Not as popular as 4Runners but essentially the same to drive and work on and a lot cheaper. Just make sure the timing belt has been changed. Can be had with a stick as well. Never has it left me stranded in its 187k miles and the interior has held up remarkably well.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Ryanator122
12/26/2015 at 12:43

I must have been lucky, because I found a 2.3 focus without any of the typical focus rust (my friend has a same year as mine with his rockers going to shit), lower miles, 5mt.

Ryanator122 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/26/2015 at 13:46

Meh. You're gonna cut that crap all out when you switch to racing shocks, bushings, no door cards, etc...

AM3R shamefully returns > jkm7680
12/26/2015 at 15:24

It wasn’t the same one you posted, that one wasn’t available for some reason. The one I got to drive was pretty cool, had a fuckton of miles though. 10/10 would winter DD. The suspension was fine but it had mismatched tires (2 of which were nearly bald) and it was wet so I didn't wanna push it.

jkm7680 > AM3R shamefully returns
12/26/2015 at 15:49

Awesome, how did it drive?

AM3R shamefully returns > jkm7680
12/26/2015 at 16:00

I thought it was really smooth, wasn't super slow, and was generally pretty comfortable. The utility would be awesome as a daily driver too. Really would be a sweet winter vehicle.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/26/2015 at 17:02

I’ll agree with SquealingBelt wholeheartedly - I’ve got an ‘09 Accent - nothing special, but if you’re willing to get one of the stripper models with few options (or in my case NO options, lol), they are very reliable, cheap to buy and cheap to repair/fairly easy to work on. The ‘06-’10 generation of Accent or Rio would be a great bet (they are basically the same car underneath with different bodywork. If you can find a hatchback Rio or Accent, even better as they are really practical (although Accent hatches like mine were only ever sold as 2-doors in this generation - the Rio hatch from this generation was a 4-door).

Also, that gen of Accent/Rio would be GREAT to learn a stick-shift on. Light and very forgiving clutch!

People harp on Hyundai/Kia for being boring, but they really are genuinely decent little cars, if a little uninspiring. :)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/27/2015 at 00:17

I’ve only driven two manual Hyundais - my Santa Fe and a Veloster - but you’re right both had a very light clutch with a long engagement range that should be easy to learn on. (This may be due to Hyundai using a CDV on the slave cylinder that slips the clutch when it is dumped a but that’s a topic/argument for another time.) My wife who hadn’t driven a manual in over 10 years was able to drive the Santa Fe after one 15 minute lesson in a parking lot. I’ve driven Hondas that also have light clutches, but are much touchier about where they hook up. The Forestser that I replaced the Hyundai with has a clutch so much heavier that it took me about a month to get used to.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2015 at 07:23

Completely agreed! The clutch on my old 2002 Subie Impreza wagon was certainly not uncomfortable, but orders of magnitude heavier than my Accent.

Thanks for the inadvertent info - didn’t know about valve on the slave cylinder....then again, I’m pretty easy on my Accent and have never dumped the clutch.

Only downside to the light clutch in the Accent is that I find it can be hard to “feel” sometimes if I’m wearing shoes or boots with thick soles...the lightness means the engagement point is less noticeable.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/27/2015 at 20:55

I’m not sure if there is a CDV on the accent actually - I just know that Hyundai has definitely used them on Velosters, Tiburons, and other models so it might be there if they are using the same slave cylinder.

FWIW, Hyundai is far from the only one using CDV’s these days - in fact the majority of MT’s might have one for all I know. Never looked into it much.