Actual car shopping.

"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
03/18/2019 at 09:50 • Filed to: Dadlopnik, first car

MrsG olem has decided she’s keeping the Soul. That means LittleG olem will need a different car. I figured MrsG olem would want a new Soul. She’s had her eye on a blue one.

Anyways. We have a budget of $2500 out the door. There is no real time frame as LittleG olem doesn’t even have a license yet and even then it’s not a huge deal to continue picking her up after and taking her to practice as we’ve done it for awhile now.

Current criteria:

Must be auto

Must be able to hold her goalie gear (sorry Miata)

Can’t be a Crown Vic (This has been the only suggestion I offered that MrsG olem has outright rejected)

Can’t be a blue Cobalt coupe (I think this would make MrsGolem kill me in my sleep )

DISCUSSION (52)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:12

Can’t go wrong with an Accord/Camry/Legacy. For something sportier and equally reliable, perhaps a G35.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/766040056/overview/ $2,995 146,394 miles Clean Carfax

Want space? a Honda Fit or Outback.

CalzoneGolem > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:17

I’m liking this so far. https://maine.craigslist.org/cto/d/scarborough-2003-hyundai-accent/6828456182.html

Ash78, voting early and often > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/18/2019 at 10:18

Finding one that’s 300 years old can be tough. I think that’s the depreciation curve on Toyonda vehicles.

Under_Score > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:19

Why not a blue Cobalt coupe? Honestly, that’s probably nicer than 90% of the stuff in that range, because it’s newer and it’s blue.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:19

Minivan.

Search over.

CalzoneGolem > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/18/2019 at 10:24

I’m not seeing many Fits in our price range and I’m really nervous about cheap Subarus. I think a F it would be a great vehicle for her.

facw > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:25

Aside from the manual transmission and high mileage, this looks interesting:

2010 Honda Fit base - $2000 (Peabody)

Kinja'd!!!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Ash78, voting early and often
03/18/2019 at 10:29

Well obviously, else go for something less reliable but in this case I’d expect the need is reliable A to B transportation but clean ones are few and far in between. $500 or $1000 more and there are some solid options and I checked, Accords/Camrys around 12 -15 years old less than 140K miles.

CalzoneGolem > Under_Score
03/18/2019 at 10:29

I bought a blue Cobalt coupe because I needed a car and my wife told me to do whatever I wanted. It was a huge thing and she was really pissed at me. I will never ever live it down. I don’t really understand why she hated the car so much. We got a good deal and it was really nice. Figured I’d drive it for a little while and it’d be worth more then we owed on it and we could’ve moved on.

Then I got rear-ended and the car was totaled having only made one payment on it.

I miss that car. The interior was crap but that chassis and gearbox were so nice.

CalzoneGolem > facw
03/18/2019 at 10:30

Manual is a hard pass she doesn’t want to learn to row her own and I’m not going to force her.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:32

Can’t be a Crown Vic

I’m hearing “so a Grand Marquis is fine, right?”

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:32

If a Crown Vic is out of the question, what about a Grand Marquis? Maybe a Town Car?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:33

Accord Wagon!

Kinja'd!!!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/764318586/overview/

CalzoneGolem > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
03/18/2019 at 10:34

I’m not opposed to this I just fear what I’ll find in my price range.

CalzoneGolem > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/18/2019 at 10:37

I don’t think the badge will fool her, but maybe. I think we’re looking for something smaller than a panther.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/18/2019 at 10:38

I think she’d recognize all panthers as a “police car”

Tapas > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:38

Late 90s or Early 2000s Maxima, Accord, Camry or ES300?

facw > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:39

Totally fair. Unfortunately looking at CL what jumps out at me is mostly bunches of old European cars, which while potentially fun, might be a bad choice unless your budget is $2500 per year.

Under_Score > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:39

There’s an orange G5 under $2,000 that I found on cars.com. ;)

CalzoneGolem > Tapas
03/18/2019 at 10:41

Yeah. That looks like the pool that we’ll be shopping in. Probably just find the nicest one at the time we actually pull the trigger.

CalzoneGolem > Under_Score
03/18/2019 at 10:42

That might fly as long it is 4 door and doesn’t have a spoiler but I really don’t want to roll those dice.

CalzoneGolem > facw
03/18/2019 at 10:43

I think I’m going to lean towards newer and Asian in my price range as much as possible.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:45

NOT THIS PANTHER

Kinja'd!!!

facw > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:45

I assume that means the Avalon is out? Seems like they depreciate faster than the Camry/Corolla because no one wants an old person’s car.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/18/2019 at 10:50

Ok you got me but I’m going to go with a no on this one.

CalzoneGolem > facw
03/18/2019 at 10:51

I hadn’t considered this. I’m not seeing many available here in Maine in our price range.

facw > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:52

Seems like mid-’00s Odysseys can be found in your price range without too much trouble. There’s also an Alltrac Previa for sale, but as awesome as the Previa is, I think newer and definitely safer would be the way to go for a new driver.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:55

Shut up and get LittleGolem a Mark VI already.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/18/2019 at 10:57

I shan’t!

facw > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 10:58

CL Boston shows 7 2000-2004 models posted in the past week priced between $ 600 and $2500, so they are out there.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 11:05

Kinja'd!!!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 11:09

blue cobalt sedan?

Under_Score > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 11:20

It actually has two doors and a spoiler. If your daughter will drive it, why does your wife care?

Also, where are you located? That could help with finding cars.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 11:39

“my wife told me to do whatever I wanted”

That’s a classic wife trap. I don’t know a single married man, who hasn’t fallen for that at least once. Myself included.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher
03/18/2019 at 11:45

Lesson learned. Also she hasn’t said that to me since.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:08

How about a low-mileage 2nd gen: https://dubuque.craigslist.org/cto/d/elkader-minivan/6839977603.html

I’m sure you want newer though. Can easily find 01+ Caravans for under $2500, just make sure you check into maintenance. If they’ve been taken care of, they’ll run for a long time.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > facw
03/18/2019 at 12:09

I’d stay away from those, they tend to like transmissions more than Mopars of that era, and people seem to think they’re 250k+ van is worth top dollar.

CalzoneGolem > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
03/18/2019 at 12:12

Besides being 1300 miles away from us that would work. I’m pretty sure all these around here have been worked to death or rusted to pieces.

Captain of the Enterprise > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:13

Camry or Corolla in my book, they are great starter cars and cheaper than crossover alternatives. I had a 2005 Corolla which was great and safe when I got t boned at 50ish mph by a work van that ran a red at an intersection. I walked away with a sprained neck and back and maybe a concussion and some PTSD but nothing too major physically.

Now I have a 2011 Camry which has also been excellent.

The Matrix/Vibe might be a great option too with the ease of storing stuff in the hatch and filing the seats down better.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:13

Where are you at?

wafflesnfalafel > shop-teacher
03/18/2019 at 12:15

yeah - not necessarily malicious, but it’s definitely a situation where she wants you to handle it, make the correct decision and take responsibility for it regardless of what happens.

It’s too bad you cant get her something new and hand down the Soul - that would have been a solid solution. I might even let it sit a few days then offer to get her a new Soul again. The used Soul would be perfect for the kid and getting your spouse a vehicle would make her feel good too.

CalzoneGolem > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
03/18/2019 at 12:19

Maine.

maine.craigslist.org

Captain of the Enterprise > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:20

Skip any and all panthers my 05 Crown Vic was absolute trash

Captain of the Enterprise > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:21

On the Avalon’s check the model year the earlier ones had timing belts so you’d want to make sure it’s been done or budget for that.

Captain of the Enterprise > CalzoneGolem
03/18/2019 at 12:23

I don’t understand why she hated it, was it because it was a two door?