Question OPPO

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11)
03/03/2017 at 22:54 • Filed to: None

Any good, well built, very reliable American cars for $5k or so? The only ones I can think are Panther siblings.

Must be unibody, automatic, and not a sofa.

ZL1 for your time.

DISCUSSION (59)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 22:58

Buick:

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/6000991339.html

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:01

3800 powered Buicks, the working class hero.

CAR_IS_MI > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:05

Alfalfa > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:05

Are you using ‘cars’ in the sense of any four-wheeled road vehicle? If so, there are plenty of durable trucks to be had at that price if that’s your thing.

Edit: just saw you added unibody. Nevermind

dogisbadob > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:07

You can get a Camry or Accord for 5k, and they are American cars :)

Might be possible to get a Sonic or Spark still under warranty.

This Spark has just a little bit left under the factory warranty (GM cut warranties to 60k from 2015-on, but this 2013 still has a the balance of its original 100k warranty, albeit a small balance thereof)

for Michigan > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:07

Not a sofa.

3800 Buicks are wonderful sofas, but that seems to be exactly what dtg11 doesn’t want.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:10

Yes but sofas, are so fucking nice to sit on.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:12

Not this

for Michigan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/03/2017 at 23:13

Not gonna disagree. I love driving my brother-in-law’s Park Avenue.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:13

I’ve ridden in Buicks, way too floaty/boaty. Also not very well built, they’re pretty cheap feeling.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/03/2017 at 23:13

I’ve ridden in Buicks, way too floaty/boaty. Also not very well built, they’re pretty cheap feeling.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:14

There you go, the sport version of the park ave.

for Michigan > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:14

I have no experience with those, but early ‘00s Pontiacs seem like the opposite of well built to me.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:14

For $5k it’s as good as it gets.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > dogisbadob
03/03/2017 at 23:14

WAY too small. Good suggestion, but I’m picky.

TheJWT > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:16

Kinja'd!!!

Two of my car

gawdzillla > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:16

Get a LS1 Camaro.

5k all day.

Hack you might be able to get a 04 GTO if you are lucky

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > TheJWT
03/03/2017 at 23:17

I said reliable :p

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > CAR_IS_MI
03/03/2017 at 23:17

That’s what I was thinking.

crowmolly > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:18

Grand Prix.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:18

Fine... P E R F O R M A N C E

Kinja'd!!!

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:20

$5k, for an American car maybe. But for $5k these are available:

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5961743229.html

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/6027317080.html

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/6023999680.html

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > gawdzillla
03/03/2017 at 23:21

Maybe with a salvage title, maybe.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > crowmolly
03/03/2017 at 23:21

Been in one, didn’t even bother test driving. Very cheap.

for Michigan > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:22

Is that your father’s Oldsmobile?

for Michigan > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:23

As Bman76 said, for $5K, that’s as good as it gets.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:24

No, but it is awfully similar to my grandfather’s Oldsmobile, lol.

(I get the reference.)

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:26

$5k, for an American car maybe. But for $5k these are available:

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5961743229.html

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/6027317080.html

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/6023999680.html

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:26

Buick Regal GS. Not the world’s best interior build quality (but very easy to repair) and difficult to find in good condition but if you take care of them they’ll stay a comfortable yet composed-riding somewhat sporty people-hauler that gets fairly stunning (26+mpg highway in the real world) fuel economy while delivering some supercharged highway fun. Definitely not the worst-looking cars of the early-2000s, either.

Kinja'd!!!

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/03/2017 at 23:28

YUM I LOVE TRANSMISSIONS

for Michigan > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:28

My grandfather drives things that are similar to Oldsmobiles.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:29

Alternately. Pontiac Bonneville SSEi. Find one in good condition and you’re set. Supercharged, reliable, slightly less comfy than a Buick but far more composed. Still not uncomfortable. Interior looks a bit dated (HOLY MOTHER OF AIR VENTS) but the exterior styling is pretty damn great, especially those awesome full-width tail lights. I’ve driven ones with 40,000 miles and all the options, though that cost $11k as of last year, and it was just as nice as any new Malibu, Cruze, or what have you.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:30

Eh. The 4T65e-HD isn’t horrible if you don’t thrash on it all the time. Tune it for more aggressive line pressure (the soft shifts are their undoing) and it’ll last forever at stock HP numbers.

for Michigan > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:31

And that’s why this Michigander drives a Japanese-built, 10-year-old Mazda, despite the stink-eye from my family. There’s just nothing American that can compete with a Japanese car at that price point.

Grindintosecond > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:34

The Camry is american built. Thats reliable

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/03/2017 at 23:35

You might be biased.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:36

Actually yes. The first-generation Fusion has a good reputation for reliability and you can find them under $5k all day long.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > for Michigan
03/03/2017 at 23:38

Kill with fire.

Jay Lauer > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:39

Sounds like you need my Buick. 96 with 88k miles. $3999 and solid as a rock.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:42

4th gen! I’d recommend a 1st gen focus. I’ve heard their fairly fun to drive, but never driven one myself.

Kinja'd!!!

Geez. It’s almost as hard to find a pic of a stock 4th gen Camaro as a Civic.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/03/2017 at 23:47

I had a LeSabre. They’re alright. Dashboards like to curl up like a potato chip if the car is left outside often. Has the softest/boatiest ride of any of the Buick family.

for Michigan > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
03/03/2017 at 23:49

He’s on his second Montana. Had a pre-facelift one that he liked so much he replaced it with a newer one when it died. I will never understand his love for those things.

Rico > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/03/2017 at 23:51

Cheap

Reliable

American

You can only pick 2.

C62030 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/04/2017 at 00:05

“Interior looks a bit dated”

“Stalin had his problems”

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/04/2017 at 00:33

The only thing I can think of is an SN95 mustang.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > C62030
03/04/2017 at 02:01

“$5k American car”

arl > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/04/2017 at 06:55

A quick autotrader search shows about 15 Dodge Charger R/T’s 2006-2008 all under 6K around the country. I know, I know - FCA reliability - but those 5.7 motors and 5 speed autos are bullet proof. If you get one without electronic bug-a-boos, these are pretty quick, comfortable cars with E-Class suspension design heritage. They ride very nice.

TheJWT > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/04/2017 at 09:54

Chevy 305s will outlive both of us

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Rico
03/04/2017 at 10:11

Very true

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > TheJWT
03/04/2017 at 10:11

the rest of the car won’t

TheJWT > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
03/04/2017 at 10:12

Nah, just the headliner from the leaky T Tops haha

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > arl
03/04/2017 at 10:13

hmmmm, I’ll have to check CL

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Jay Lauer
03/04/2017 at 10:13

mmmm no