Okay, I want to buy a car....

Hello all,
I'm 16 years old almost 17 and I'm ready to buy my first car. I'm looking for the cheapest running POS you guys know of. I only want to buy an American made car, so especially NO HONDAS!! So what reccomendations. (I want a used one of course) and it has to be somewhat safe. What are your reccomendations? ( I live in New England)

I would watch Craigslist like a hawk. www.craigslist.org There is probably one close to you.

Do you want something as cheap as possible, like $500 cheap? If so it hardly matters what you pick as long as it's a solid car. Do you know how to inspect a used car for problems?

I've bought several cars for under $1000 in my time. No-one can accurately recommend something specific for you, because for something that cheap the condition of the car and how it was cared for by its previous owner/s has much more to do than what year or model car it is. Check out Craigslist, local newspaper ads, or a local paper like Trade-N-Times for the best choices. Most bigger cities also have car lots specializing in dirt cheap cars too.

You might get lucky with a cheap American POS and it could last you for 3-4 years, or you could easily have repairs totalling 3-4 times the cost of the car in the first six months. For under $1000 and American, you'll probably be looking for something like an older Taurus, Escort, Cavalier, Neon, etc.

Hondas are American-made these days.
??

But I agree, watch Craigslist.org. Although you may have missed the buying season around May/June, when all the college students graduated.
They unload stuff at crazy prices, if not outright for free.

Let's see, American POS's that come to mind....
Saturns, Dodge Neons, (bad cylinder heads)
Chevy Cavaliers, Ford Escorts, pickup trucks and municipal vehicles should all be pretty cheap.
Look also for estate sales, some old grandma passing away may have an old cherry in the garage.

(how about German? I have an old Audi 200 quattro I'm getting rid of.)

WNG said:

(how about German? I have an old Audi 200 quattro I'm getting rid of.)

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What year, where do you live, and how much? We don't have a trade deficet with Germany

stephenmadpotato said:

What year, where do you live, and how much? We don't have a trade deficet with Germany

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Where do you live?

Cheap American made POS, but reliable? Good luck.

You might define an actual dollar range, "cheap" means different things to different people.

:buddies:

WNG said:

Hondas are American-made these days.

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They are American Assembled. So many people think the final assembly line is the only part but cars are made in hundreds of factories and several sub assemblies come together at the very end so they are only assembled here. the local honda plan shut down for days after september 11th before shipping was backed up.

Diesel_Bomber said:

Cheap American made POS, but reliable? Good luck.

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The crown victoria is about the most reliable car there is. My parents had one for 280,000 miles original engine, transmission etc.


And I live in MA. But I don't know if I want to get that kind of car, parts are realllyyy expensive

Here, your problem is solved.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/408320307.html

This one has 230k of life left in it:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/car/404770695.html

$600
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/car/403704674.html

I would probably get this

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/408373948.html

or these

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/406573461.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/car/404798860.html

Wow there are just tons of options near Boston. I miss living in Portland, OR and the constant supply of interesting used cars there.

stephenmadpotato said:

The crown victoria is about the most reliable car there is. My parents had one for 280,000 miles original engine, transmission etc.


And I live in MA. But I don't know if I want to get that kind of car, parts are realllyyy expensive

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I'm glad your parents have had such good luck, but one example certainly doesn't make a trend. I've owned multiple vehicles from the big three US manufacturers, as well as many other foreign makes. My experience says you're hurting yourself quite a bit by limiting yourself to domestic automakers.

I don't allow people who drive F*rds to park in my driveway. :nana:

Regardless of what you buy, make sure you change the thermostat and timing belt(if applicable). Cheap insurance.

:buddies:

what about a 1995 Chevrolet caprice?
I don't know if you can get it, how much does it cost or if is it high quality built but if I'd buy this:


or if you prefer an italian?
1992 alfa romeo 155: