Can you help me be a hero to my lil cousin?

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
03/09/2015 at 21:27 • Filed to: None

My little cousin is awesome. He's 14, loves my car and today told me he wanted to buy his first car. He's saved up $400. I'm willing to toss in a few hundred of my own bucks to support the kid but can we find him a cool first car for ~$500? It can be a bit of a project that him and I can work on until he turns 16. He's in Rochester NY but I'm in Toronto ON so a Toronto car would be preferable. He asked to find a convertible but I don't know if that's possible...

DISCUSSION (23)

bob and john > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:31

dude, you and I both know the answer to that...you cant find a converitble for 500 on toronto kijiji.

and 90% of the stuff for 500 is crap like old saturns, parts civics, etc etc etc

Mattbob > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:32

what kind of inspections does it need to pass?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:33

A car for $500 in the Rochester area is gonna be really tough to find in relatively good condition...
Source: Lives about 60 miles from Rochester.

ly2v8-Brian > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:34

Found a Jeep on CL for $1000

http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4924827864…

Clay Smith's Revenge > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:37

I'm assuming that he won't be actually driving for 2 years, right? (Based on the driving age in most states in the US is 16 so I'm guessing Ontario is as well).

Yeah, you can find him something under $500 and help him get it sorted out over the next two years. I'd recommend something like a Mk.I (Mk.II in Europe) Rabbit (Golf)/Jetta (GTi/GLi preferable, obviously).

I had an '83 GTi and it was a breeze to work on and they weigh next to nothing so the 90hp gets it moving.

XJDano > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:38

http://toronto.craigslist.ca/yrk/cto/492178…

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:38

Took a quick scan of the stuff on Kjiji in the GTA. Not much for that price, unless you go for more common cars.

97 Corolla ($800):

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

01 Rio ($500):

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

96 Civic Sedan ($400):

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

93 Civic Hatch ($1000):

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

OPPOsaurus WRX > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:40

you should post this again tomrrow during the day. i'm working so I dont have time to look ut tomorrow i'll be at work so i'll have more time to look.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:41

Well you've got two years so you've got the time for a more major project
http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4912072716…

or this one is a convertible
http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4827806249…

Sweet Trav > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:41

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

only two i got... the 4.3l in the blazer will run 5eva. my mom put 285k on one and my dad put 300+ on his.

AthomSfere > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
03/09/2015 at 21:44

The Ghia!

Even fully restored that MG will have problems, like a leaky roof...

Mattbob > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:46

I don't know where anything is in Canada, but I found these 3. They look good body wise, adn are all fairly Jalop. If you find a convertable for that price I have a feeling it will be fairly rotted out. These look to be good body wise. *edit* these are over $500, but you could probably get them if you offer cash.

http://toronto.craigslist.ca/yrk/cto/492178…

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4908362911…

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4908118017…

Clay Smith's Revenge > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 21:47

Oops, forgot about the azda Protege. I bought one new in 2000. Good little car, good transmission, pretty reliable, and a 5sp example in Rochester for $500 delivered

2001 Mazda Protege - $500

http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4923305847…

RiceOwl > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:01

I'm not sure that I'd recommend a convertible in Rochester, but it's his car. For that kind of money, I'm a big proponent of rough-looking Civics. They're mechanically indestructible, parts are cheap, and you can teach him how to paint and do preventative maintenance.

Round headlight enthusiast > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:06

I'll chip in. This may not be super exciting, but all it needs is a tranny to run, and it's CLEAN for this area. http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4906105540…

Jagvar > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:09

1992 Mercedes 300E - $599

cbell04 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:10

Good luck rust belt cars are such a money suck. I just moved from Rochester about 6 months ago. Upped it to 750 figure they all have problems so should be some wiggle room.

1998 LINCOLN Mark VIII - $750

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/4924070665… l

93 dodge 150 - $700

http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4923251610…

85 ford t bird - $750

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4917642363…

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:39

My friend wanted to buy a $500 project car that we could all work on together over the summer. Unfortunately, we discovered that (unless you are Tavarish) buying a $500 car that is anything other than 51% rust/49% Hyundai Accent is not exactly easy.

JR1 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/09/2015 at 22:40

Might be worth waiting until spring/summer rolls around better options might open up. 505 just got an awesome 505 for 500 bucks and the guy had a few more cars for sale at that price but I think it was in NYC so it would be a bit of a hike.

samssun > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/10/2015 at 02:22

How about having him save for two more years, and get him involved working on your car? If he buys something now, he'll have blown his money on a heap he can't even drive, vs. having two more years of mechanical knowledge and savings when he finally can.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
03/10/2015 at 17:17

My friend bought a running MK1 Golf GTI for $200. I believe it can happen.

Clay Smith's Revenge > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/10/2015 at 17:24

I bought my '83 GTi for $100 and drove it off the lot to the house. It ran badly, but it ran.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/10/2015 at 22:40

"Running"