Most Reliable Under $2000?

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[midnightsky]

In light of recent events which I will not go into detail about, I am looking for a "beater car" and would like to know if anything on my list brings up red flags in terms of reliability.  First thing I know to be careful with is modified cars which may or may not have been maintained mechanically.  Beyond that I know to let cars run at least 10 mins and if possible longer to ensure the vehicle continues to run without problems the owners may be trying to hide.  And of course TEST DRIVE anything being considered for a long period of time if possible and pay for gas if required to ensure a good feel for the car.

Ok here's my list so far of cars I've viewed on Kijiji for under $2000

-Mazda MX-3
-Honda CRX Si
-Mazda MX-6
-2000 Ford Focus(high km but looking to be in great shape)
-Nissan NX1600
-Acura Integra
-Honda Del Sol
-Ford Probe
-Toyota MR2

The point of the vehicle I buy is that it MUST be reliable and hopefully not break down on me, I will not likely be doing any racing in the vehicle I get tho depending on the condition of what I get I could see myself tempting a WAX event.  Two condition is that the vehicle I acquire MUST be a MT, auto is BORING, and the interior MUST be in half decent shape, no nearly destroyed seats and nasty smelling interiors from having dogs in the vehicle and/or not cleaning it properly, get these all the time at work and the odor is just nasty.  Beyond that anything goes, color doesn't matter, make/model doesn't matter, rust doesn't matter, as long as the above criteria has been met(clean/MT/reliable).

[rvanderpyl]

My last three civics have gone over 400,000 each with only standard mainteance, so I would definitely look at them, only issue is that for that kind of money the bodys are likely to be pretty rough

[Talonman]

If I am selling a car for $2000 or under the buyer will get a ride in the car but no way they are going to drive or go on a long test drive on my insurance, hope you can find a seller that will.

[HiTempguy]

If I am selling a car for $2000 or under the buyer will get a ride in the car but no way they are going to drive or go on a long test drive on my insurance, hope you can find a seller that will.

Um, pretty simple solution is for you to sit in the passenger seat while they take the test drive...

I've actually never bought a vehicle where test drivers were not allowed, I wouldn't buy it unless I could drive it first, PREFERABLY without the owner in the car. Of course, I usually give them something of my own which is worth significant value while I am away. I find it a little bit funny the way it sounds like you would treat "would be testdrivers" matt, considering what you do to that Talon

Anyways, any Honda for under $2k is likely to have too many kms even for a Honda. If you find one though, buy it. I have never been dissapointed in a Honda.

[Spence]

I'd say save your money for a bit longer, a $2000 car usually has a ton of problems, some of which can cost up to $2000 to fix.

[Talonman]

Well for me a cheap car is sort of a "here it is" sort of deal.

The last 2 or 3 cars I have sold have had no test drive or me driving, and the last two cars I have bought have been out of the US sight unseen so no drive for me either.

If you were to sell your car for $25000, a guy comes along to test drive alone, what can he give you worth that and if he does not just steal it what if he rolls it into a ditch and writes it off, he walks away and you can't keep anything he gave you anyway as it's not yours and your insurance pays for the car and what if others are involved, no thanks.

[midnightsky]

Well for me a cheap car is sort of a "here it is" sort of deal.

The last 2 or 3 cars I have sold have had no test drive or me driving, and the last two cars I have bought have been out of the US sight unseen so no drive for me either.

If you were to sell your car for $25000, a guy comes along to test drive alone, what can he give you worth that and if he does not just steal it what if he rolls it into a ditch and writes it off, he walks away and you can't keep anything he gave you anyway as it's not yours and your insurance pays for the car and what if others are involved, no thanks.

For starters you go with the guy, that's plain and simple, NEVER let someone test drive your car unless your in it.  As well, if they want your $25,000 car you take them for a test drive with you driving to prove it functions properly ect ect, BIG difference between a $500 beater and a $25,000 car.  Then, pending they are still very much interested and have the money ect u allow them to go around the block once WITH YOU but at this point u can let them drive it since you have already took them for a ride and have used your judgment to determine if they have the cash or not.  Used car sales since day 1 have always been "use your best judgment" for both buyer and seller.

[midnightsky]

I'd say save your money for a bit longer, a $2000 car usually has a ton of problems, some of which can cost up to $2000 to fix.

I can't wait any longer and that budget won't get any bigger anytime soon, I'm stuck with a $500-$2000 beater for a long time and it really doesn't matter what I want because you work with what you got under w/e circumstances your in and for my situation this is what MUST HAPPEN.  On the plus side of things, if I only spend $500 and it runs for even a few months I could still turn around and sell it for $500 unless it's major maintenance required(engine/tranny), and if it's minor I'd probably just fix it myself anyway. 

[Talonman]

The would be buyer having the money and me having the money are two very different things

[Morison]

Look for an old rear drive Volvo.
Dead reliable and will last until you actively kill them.
They handle surprisingly well (I came second rwd in wax  with my 740 GLE wagon many years ago.)

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/f-volvo-cars-vehicles-cars-W0QQCatIdZ174QQKeywordZvolvoQQSortZ3QQmaxPriceZ5Q2c000

There's a couple of 740 turbos in there that could be good 'beaters'

[randedge]

An MR2 isn't really a viable beater as there are very few parts/parts cars around.

[midnightsky]

An MR2 isn't really a viable beater as there are very few parts/parts cars around.

my thoughts exactly, any parts I need won't be easy to find, thx for confirming this, I will probably skip the MR2 viewing tomorrow.

[midnightsky]

Look for an old rear drive Volvo.
Dead reliable and will last until you actively kill them.
They handle surprisingly well (I came second rwd in wax  with my 740 GLE wagon many years ago.)

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/f-volvo-cars-vehicles-cars-W0QQCatIdZ174QQKeywordZvolvoQQSortZ3QQmaxPriceZ5Q2c000

There's a couple of 740 turbos in there that could be good 'beaters'

I think my dad might be trying to pawn off his 400,000km Volvo automatic on me but I refuse to drive auto so if I got a volvo I'd have to find one in manual.  I won't argue about the Volvo lasting, my dad has done nothing but stick highway KM on that thing and it's still running.

[randedge]

my thoughts exactly, any parts I need won't be easy to find, thx for confirming this, I will probably skip the MR2 viewing tomorrow.

Well, you should still look at it if it isn't too much trouble.  They're sweet cars!
Might just fall in love. Y'never know

[midnightsky]

Well, you should still look at it if it isn't too much trouble.  They're sweet cars!
Might just fall in love. Y'never know

I am going to take heed to the advise I have been given, stick with something there is lots of parts available for, it's either going to be an Acura Integra or a Honda CRX, i lean heavily towards the Integra but the CRX i hear is alot of fun and like driving a go-kart, the one i am going to look at today has coilovers too, might have to try auto-x with them maybe even WAX