Buying new DD

[denpo]

So my crappy 1rst Gen Kia Rio finally gave my up and I'm looking for a replacement.
My requirement are pretty precise :
-Hatchback (I often need to move big stuff)
-lenght no more than 166" (to fit my parking space)
-maximum 3k$ (I need to save $$$ for the upcoming Vette paint job).

So I'm looking for cars like :
-Ford Focus ZX
-Kia Rio (2nd gen, I'm done with the 1st)
-Kia Spectra
-WV Golf
-Chevy Aveo
-Chevy Optra
-Hunday Accent Hatchback
-PT Cruiser
-Mazda Protege 5 (a tad too long)
-Suzuki Aerio
-Toyota Matrix

I know it's mostly crappy cheap econobox, but I ride my bike to work, so it's just a Grocery getter (I meant a Corvette part getter :bonkers, very few miles per years.

So my question is :
Does anyone here had experience with any of those cars, are there some I should definitely stay away from?

For now I learned the Aveo is a really crappy third world car (like my 1rst gen Rio), and that the Golf could cost an arm in parts to maintain.

 

[TimAT]

MY wife's car is a 2005 PT Cruiser. I got it when I got her. (Package deal?) Anyway- the only problem was the multi-function switch shorted and killed the battery, it took them, (Chrysler), 97 days to get a replacement. And it's not running right now- I'm not home to figure out why, but I suspect the crank sensor. Other than that, it's been pretty good. And I can get in and out of it without much trouble.

 

[Kid Vette]

My wife has a 2006 Aveo that we bought new. It cost a little over 9k and all we've done is change the oil and replace brakes and tires. No, you're not going to impress anyone with this car but its transportation.

 

[denpo]

Thanks Tim, I'll consider the PT, plus Kathleen think it looks cool (just don't ask me what I think).
Kid, no worries about trying to impress anyone, my other car is a Vette after all, I'm compensating well enough like that :mullet:.
I'm even ruling out Red car.
I'm aiming at manual car, since not everyone can drive them here they got for much cheaper.


.....

Ok, I admit, I considered going crazy, but the guy is telling me in broken french something about a fried engine harness, fishy as hell.

 

[MYBAD79]

that Corado would be cool, dump the body kit and it's a great ride..... the G60 engine is fun..... parts are too expensive though.....

I bought a '93 Mustang for $1800, needed new tires and AC..... incl paint I have probably $3500 in the car.... bought it with 137000 miles, now at 202000..... only thing broke was the clutch release bearing... I installed a new clutch incl pressure plate and release bearing, was under $100.... other than that I changed oil every 5000 and it did get a new set of spark plugs at 150000.....

it's a Ford but damn, never had a cheaper and more reliable car..... :smash:

 

[denpo]

that Corado would be cool, dump the body kit and it's a great ride..... the G60 engine is fun..... parts are too expensive though.....

I bought a '93 Mustang for $1800, needed new tires and AC..... incl paint I have probably $3500 in the car.... bought it with 137000 miles, now at 202000..... only thing broke was the clutch release bearing... I installed a new clutch incl pressure plate and release bearing, was under $100.... other than that I changed oil every 5000 and it did get a new set of spark plugs at 150000.....

it's a Ford but damn, never had a cheaper and more reliable car..... :smash:

Yeah, that could be fun, if only I had time and space to TLC yet another car.
More realistically, for my budget, the Chevy (Daewoo) Optra is problably the best bang for the buck. Anyone ever had and Optra?

 

[JeffP1167]

I can tell you a after a chevy aveo rearends a camaro at 30mph it's crunched bad

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I had an HHR (ex-wife's now) - I really liked the car, good mileage, but even better cargo capacity.... and they're starting to fall into your price range.

 

[denpo]

I had an HHR (ex-wife's now) - I really liked the car, good mileage, but even better cargo capacity.... and they're starting to fall into your price range.

Alas 10" too long.
I went out checking the cars today, Optras turned out to be pretty baked, weird sound, oily motor. Both just had the head gasket redone recently, smells like a weak point.
However I went to check a Metallic blue PT Cruiser, and that was a nice surprise.
50k miles, all options but sunroof and leather seat, AC blow ice cold, everything work, not a single scratch. The dealer ask for 3000$, If I can barter it down to 2500 I'll take it. The far feel solid cozy and roomy, I like it!

 

[MYBAD79]

had a rental PT Cruiser once, it's a nice roomy car... I was not impressed with the engine and autobtrans though, that one you're looking at is a manual ??
for $2500 really not a bad idea.... what year?

 

[denpo]

had a rental PT Cruiser once, it's a nice roomy car... I was not impressed with the engine and autobtrans though, that one you're looking at is a manual ??
for $2500 really not a bad idea.... what year?

Alas no, it's auto, and I agree, it feels underpowered.
It's a 2003, but looks really clean everywhere, which is really surprising given our salty winters.

 

[68/70Vette]

I bet'cha that everyone on the forum has about half dozen anecdotes about buying used cars for daily drivers (DD).

So here's mine. Looking on Autotrader I found a 1998 Mercury Sable station wagon. It's's the same as the Ford Taurus station wagon, except the Mercury version comes with all the bells and whistles, including all leather interior. I think it was 2005 that I bought the car. I bought it from a broker for $5000, it was a really cheap price because NO ONE wanted to buy a Mercury station wagon. My daughter in law drove it for about 5 years, no repair bills...it was a little gas thirsty with it's 200 hp V6 engine. Parked on the street, someone's front strut rods failed, the car swerved out of control and totaled the Taurus. I think we collected about $4800 from the insurance company. 5 years of really cheap transportation.

Bottom line: So for forum readers, keep your eyes open for cars that people, for irrational reasons, don't want, but cars that nevertheless are good cars. Maybe there's an AMC Gremlin in your future!!!

 

[mrvette]

I bet'cha that everyone on the forum has about half dozen anecdotes about buying used cars for daily drivers (DD).

So here's mine. Looking on Autotrader I found a 1998 Mercury Sable station wagon. It's's the same as the Ford Taurus station wagon, except the Mercury version comes with all the bells and whistles, including all leather interior. I think it was 2005 that I bought the car. I bought it from a broker for $5000, it was a really cheap price because NO ONE wanted to buy a Mercury station wagon. My daughter in law drove it for about 5 years, no repair bills...it was a little gas thirsty with it's 200 hp V6 engine. Parked on the street, someone's front strut rods failed, the car swerved out of control and totaled the Taurus. I think we collected about $4800 from the insurance company. 5 years of really cheap transportation.

Bottom line: So for forum readers, keep your eyes open for cars that people, for irrational reasons, don't want, but cars that nevertheless are good cars. Maybe there's an AMC Gremlin in your future!!!

U got really lucky on that, my wife got slammed hard and lost her '99 Escort, think for a second we could find ANY car here in Jax for a replacement ride, for the lousy 2 grand they gave us for the car??

we out 450 extra just to find something clean for her, decent paint, then I put 70 bux into the water pump, and 200 into the alternator....plus various other little projects for little to no money.....bastards....700 outta pocket....

:bomb:

 

[denpo]

So here is it. Picked it up yesterday :
2003 Pt Cruiser 50k miles, fucking pristine.
I could lower the price down to 2700$.
Still smell new plastic inside (or maybe it's some dealer trickery...)
No rust at all, probably never driven in winter and kept garaged.
Little hint from the PO's driver licence # : the guy was born in 1937, and I got it because he just bought a new car.:bonkers:

He probably treated it like we treat our vette.

Sorry for rather crappy dusk-time photo, but eh, it's just a DD afterall.








The cruiser is a couple of inch longer that my limit.
I guess now you understand why I cared about the size.
Parking can be quiet a hassles in the neighborhood, they clean the streets every week (one side per day) and you have to hunt down a parking spot when the whole neighborhood parking capacity have been reduce by half.
Not having to care about being fined is a luxury here, and I'm shamelessly enjoying it.

Well, I'm all US car now.

Thanks for all the advices guys :beer:

 

[MYBAD79]

looks good.... great parking job..... what do you do? just roll down that hill until you hit the blue door ?? LOL
:lol:

 

[denpo]

looks good.... great parking job..... what do you do? just roll down that hill until you hit the blue door ?? LOL
:lol:

Yeah, that's pretty much the procedure. As soon as I see the door flexing I back off.
The little misalignement of the last panel is because one day I went forward when leaving.... who said DUI?? :lol:

 

[68L71]

That is one shitty driveway

 

[denpo]

That is one shitty driveway

 

[68/70Vette]

Amazingly good deal. I'm going to be in the market for a cheap DD soon. It'll be for the wife's daughter in law. She and the wife's granddaughter just entered the country so the grand daughter can go to school here. I drove a PT Cruiser rental for several days. It was OK. The wife's relatives are from Thailand.

 

[denpo]

Amazingly good deal. I'm going to be in the market for a cheap DD soon. It'll be for the wife's daughter in law. She and the wife's granddaughter just entered the country so the grand daughter can go to school here. I drove a PT Cruiser rental for several days. It was OK. The wife's relatives are from Thailand.

I whish you the best of luck. I'm theorizing it's the right moment to buy a car, here it's pay-your-taxes time, so the market is really soft.