Need used vehicle for teenager, what kind do we buy (engine done on current one)

[coffeelover]

Update: 11-26-14

I spent hours this morning with a friends husband, his youngest daughter, and my oldest daughter looking at vehicles.
 I grabbed my friends husband because he is off on medical leave after having back surgery a few weeks ago. He is the car mechanic guy that can work on anything anywhere. He is also a Ford supervisor who knows the ins and outs of every machine you could think of. Kind of funny how we ended up with the vehicle we did now that I think about it. haha.
 My husband is decent car wise but not like this guy. So I hijacked (John) him for the day.

We ended up with a 2002 Ford Taurus for 1500.00.
 It has 142000 miles on it and was meticulously maintained with all the records.

The car was a local cable company's car that was used by supervisors.
 The guy we bought it from has a contract with this cable company and services all of their vehicles. It was very evident when looking in the back and seeing the older Taurus's that the company was no longer using along with the company cable vans that needed servicing.
The car has everything in tip top shape. A little rust, but who's to complain when you have a decently maintained vehicle that will hopefully last my daughter for a long time.

So I wanted to thank everyone for their input and their opinions. I will no longer be driving my teenager around every day of the week to get her to her College, work and pick up from high school.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!




Almost 18 year old's car took a copoot on Tuesday, just got word from mechanic that they think it needs a new head gasket but more then likely engine. Seeing as this car was given to my oldest and she already put a bit of money into it, then had an accident in it 2 months ago.
We are letting it go. It wasn't taken car of by the elderly owner before her, hence why it was given away to her.

So we need ideas on the best vehicle to buy under 2500, personally I would prefer under 1000 because at this point the oldest does not have the money and I will be fronting it until she can pay me back. I realize that under 1000 car will probably last her for a short period so willing to pay more if we have too.


I'm in Oakland county MI if you happen to know of a great vehicle for sale. ( I know it's a long shot though but have to take it to our mechanic, that is a must)

[alsoknownasDean]

Civics and Corollas have a good rep here. Maybe one of the other similar cars too (Mazda 323, Nissan Sentra, one of the big three's offerings). Probably better to be less fussy about make on that budget, and focus more on getting something in good condition.

Much on Craigslist?

[Eric]

What are we choosing between here?  I mean there can't be that many cars for sale under $1K, are there?  Either way, my only definite rule would be to avoid a Chrysler/Dodge product.  After that, I'd look for something that is cheap because it has a horrible body and not because it has a rough engine.

[coffeelover]

Civics and Corollas have a good rep here. Maybe one of the other similar cars too (Mazda 323, Nissan Sentra, one of the big three's offerings). Probably better to be less fussy about make on that budget, and focus more on getting something in good condition.

Much on Craigslist?

They have a good rep here too, but yet are they generally more expensive to fix due to being a foreign car?

Not much on craigslist at the moment. Gonna make a couple of calls tmr to possible potentials.

[ltt]

We bought our teens, although I hope to take it back someday (sigh), a Corolla.  They are very dependable and you should be able to easily get at least 200k miles.  Fairly low maintenance, not very costly to maintain, and insurance isn't that bad...unless teen boy is driving. They don't do that well in snow, but certainly zip around on dry/wet roads.  I have no idea where you will find one for little money.  They seem to retain their value, and people hold onto them.

[coffeelover]

What are we choosing between here?  I mean there can't be that many cars for sale under $1K, are there?  Either way, my only definite rule would be to avoid a Chrysler/Dodge product.  After that, I'd look for something that is cheap because it has a horrible body and not because it has a rough engine.

Cars that are for sale under 1000k are usually wrecked in some way, at least this is what I'm finding out by checking out craigslist.com

Avoid Chrysler and dodge, got it, but why?

My other personal rule is to avoid Ford for cars like the Contour. I had one years ago and it was a piss of shit.
Never have had a good experience with their cars. My daughters car was a Ford Escort, I'm just going to assume that daughters car was so badly taken care of by the previous owners and that is why it didn't last past 105k miles. We certainly took care of it once in our possession.

[Primm]

My question would be not what car, but why a car?

What does she do / need a car for? If she needs a car to drive to and from work, then she earns an income and can save up for her own car. If she doesn't work then she doesn't need a car. If she currently has a job she can't possibly get to any other way (bike, walk, public transport) then I still don't get why you're paying for it. If it's for convenience, then let her be inconvenienced for a while and she'll be motivated to make more money / get a job and get her own car.

Speaking as the mum of a now-21 year old who walked to and from work and school until we gifted him hubby's old bike, now he uses that. Got a job close to where he lives so he wouldn't need a car, and takes public transport if he needs to go further from home.

[MikeBear]

Stay away from any Corolla, or Chevy Prizm (same car, just some parts are Chevy parts) from the years 1998-2003. They develop a problem with burning oil (actually blowing oil through the rings) Toyota covered up the problem, and refused to fix them under warranty. You'll be sorry if you buy one in this date range.

I owned a '98 Prizm, so I know first-hand about this issue.

[Monkey Uncle]

I'm also looking for a car for my college-age kid.  I don't think you're going to find a decent car for under $2,500.  Anything you buy in that price range is going to be on its last legs.

[paddedhat]

Avoid Chrysler and dodge, got it, but why?

They're your Benjamin's, but I wouldn't necessarily follow that advice. We put ten years and 190K on a new 2000 Intrepid, and it was extremely reliable. It is now a daily loaner at the repair shop we use, gets no love from hundreds of different drivers over the last five years, and has over 300k on it. When my son was in high school he spent $900 for a Neon and proceeded to beat it mercilessly. It took a handful of really cheap parts and kept on rolling. In your case it's all about the very limited pool of usable vehicles available for very little money. You don't really have the luxury of eliminating entire brands from your selection process. Both of my kids drove classic Buick grannymobiles in high school. They handled like a sofa, and were pretty embarrassing to be seen in, but they are also cheap and extremely durable. Good luck with the search.

[MoneyCat]

My little sister needed a super cheap car for college and I talked her into getting a 1998 Chevy Prizm.  The Prizm is a rebadged Toyota Corolla built at a factory in California under a deal between GM and Toyota, but most people don't know that so its resale value is much lower than a "name-brand" Corolla.  She got one for less than $1500 and it's still going strong over a year later.

[jawisco]

I'm also looking for a car for my college-age kid.  I don't think you're going to find a decent car for under $2,500.  Anything you buy in that price range is going to be on its last legs.

I don't agree - for the last 10 years, I have been only driving cars that cost under $2500.

Current car - last 3 years - 1989 Toyota Corolla bought for $2100.  I have put $600 into it during that time (most of that was tires).  Right now it has 170K and is worth what I paid for it.

Before that it was 1997 Toyota corolla - purchased for $1400 and driven again for 3 years.  I put $400 in repairs into it.  Unfortunately, I hit a deer and decided to sell it for $800.

The 4 years before that was a 1990 Toyota corolla wagon- purchased for $1100 and drove for 4 years.  Put $1100 into it.  It was still a great car when I gave to my ex-girlfriend for her move across country.

It is simple - buy a model that lasts a long time (check out consumer reports) and buy something that feels good to drive (doesn't make funny noises, drives straight, etc) and go for it.  There will be the occasional lemon, but over time you will come out way way ahead. 

In those 10 years, I was stranded once on the side of the road.  I do carry AAA+ road coverage, which I guess I should add to my vehicle costs ($70/year). 

[coffeelover]

My question would be not what car, but why a car?

What does she do / need a car for? If she needs a car to drive to and from work, then she earns an income and can save up for her own car. If she doesn't work then she doesn't need a car. If she currently has a job she can't possibly get to any other way (bike, walk, public transport) then I still don't get why you're paying for it. If it's for convenience, then let her be inconvenienced for a while and she'll be motivated to make more money / get a job and get her own car.

Speaking as the mum of a now-21 year old who walked to and from work and school until we gifted him hubby's old bike, now he uses that. Got a job close to where he lives so he wouldn't need a car, and takes public transport if he needs to go further from home.

Teenager works 35 hours a week at a place she can't bike to because there are no sidewalks and very busy unsafe roads. Welcome to MI. She is also in college full time 1/2 hour away and still attends 2 classes a day at her high school. It's not really feasible for me to get her everywhere because inhave very young kids I'm taking care and she doesn't stop mon thru Friday.

[Malaysia41]

My question would be not what car, but why a car?

What does she do / need a car for? If she needs a car to drive to and from work, then she earns an income and can save up for her own car. If she doesn't work then she doesn't need a car. If she currently has a job she can't possibly get to any other way (bike, walk, public transport) then I still don't get why you're paying for it. If it's for convenience, then let her be inconvenienced for a while and she'll be motivated to make more money / get a job and get her own car.

Speaking as the mum of a now-21 year old who walked to and from work and school until we gifted him hubby's old bike, now he uses that. Got a job close to where he lives so he wouldn't need a car, and takes public transport if he needs to go further from home.

I'm with Primm - tell us - does she really NEED a car?  Bikes and/or public transit passes are usually options. 

[paddedhat]

This repeated questioning of "need", when it comes to vehicles, is pretty common on this forum. It leave a lot of us rural dwellers shaking our heads. Bottom line is that there are tens of millions of folks in rural North America that have very little choice when it comes to transportation. My children were raised ten miles from a small town. The route to town is old, poorly maintained, high speed two lane state highways with no shoulders. If you live here for decades, you eventually walk into the general store one morning and hear, " you remember that odd guy with the Elmer Fudd hat, who always biked (or walked) RT 210 from the junction to the old sewing mill, early every morning? Well, he was hit and killed yesterday" Bottom line is that, like most parents, my kids didn't need to risk their lives in traffic, in a culture where I see more black bears on the road than I do cyclists. My kids had school and jobs in town, and one went to a local college which required commuted 25 miles each way, often more than once a day. It is what it is in rural America. You can either dedicate your life to being a full time bus driver for your children, or get them on the road and taking care of themselves. This constant, "do you really need a car"  gets old. 

[coffeelover]

My question would be not what car, but why a car?

What does she do / need a car for? If she needs a car to drive to and from work, then she earns an income and can save up for her own car. If she doesn't work then she doesn't need a car. If she currently has a job she can't possibly get to any other way (bike, walk, public transport) then I still don't get why you're paying for it. If it's for convenience, then let her be inconvenienced for a while and she'll be motivated to make more money / get a job and get her own car.

Speaking as the mum of a now-21 year old who walked to and from work and school until we gifted him hubby's old bike, now he uses that. Got a job close to where he lives so he wouldn't need a car, and takes public transport if he needs to go further from home.

I'm with Primm - tell us - does she really NEED a car?  Bikes and/or public transit passes are usually options.

There is no transit system where we live. In the northern suburbs of oakland county. There are no sidewalks for 1/2 of the distance from our house to her work. Plus her college is 1/2 hour away.
Not feasible for me to get her to all of her different classes, high school and work with a almost 3 year old and 1 year old. To stressful and time consuming and it will interrupt my kids much needed nap time monday thru friday.

[coffeelover]

This repeated questioning of "need", when it comes to vehicles, is pretty common on this forum. It leave a lot of us rural dwellers shaking our heads. Bottom line is that there are tens of millions of folks in rural North America that have very little choice when it comes to transportation. My children were raised ten miles from a small town. The route to town is old, poorly maintained, high speed two lane state highways with no shoulders. If you live here for decades, you eventually walk into the general store one morning and hear, " you remember that odd guy with the Elmer Fudd hat, who always biked (or walked) RT 210 from the junction to the old sewing mill, early every morning? Well, he was hit and killed yesterday" Bottom line is that, like most parents, my kids didn't need to risk their lives in traffic, in a culture where I see more black bears on the road than I do cyclists. My kids had school and jobs in town, and one went to a local college which required commuted 25 miles each way, often more than once a day. It is what it is in rural America. You can either dedicate your life to being a full time bus driver for your children, or get them on the road and taking care of themselves. This constant, "do you really need a car"  gets old.

I agree and thank you for your thoughts.
It's so hard to get my teenager places when I have other kids to attend to.

There is no bus that can drive her home from high school because she gets out at 930 am.

Here's her schedule so those who are judging can hopefully stop.

Monday -rides bus 630 am to high school. High school done 930. Mom picks up, takes teenager home. 1145 drives teenager to work. 530 I  pick up teenager to drive 1/2 hour away to college. Class is usually out between 1030 and 1100. Pick her up and bring her home.

Tuesday- high school bus 630 am, pick up from high school 930 am. Drive her to college 1/2 hour away for class at 10 am. Class done at 1130. drive her to work 1/2 hour away to start at noon. Pick up from work at 830 pm

Wednesday- High school bus 630 am, pick up from high school 930 am. Then drive her to work at 1150. done at work at work between 530 and 630 this day.

Thursday schedules is same as Tuesdays.

Friday. high school 630 bus pick up. Mom pick up from high school 930 am. at 11 am I drive her to a city that is in another direction for her mandatory College Seminar that she has to take for her college program that she is in. That is done at 130 pm. Pick her back up and drive her to work to start at 2 pm. Work done at 830 pm so I pick her up then,


She could probably ride her bike to High school, but work and college is just out of the question.

[MayDay]

We had a 99 corolla that was burning oil like mad, missing a door handle, and 180k miles. We disclosed the burning oil and sold it for 1000$. You aren't likely to get a corolla in your price range that isn't junk.

[Primm]

Not judging, just trying to get you to question the status quo.

And if she's working 35 hours a week and can't afford to buy herself a car, what is she spending all the money on?

For reference, I grew up with 5 siblings on a farm 35km from the nearest town. None of us got a car until we could buy our own. So I do get the rural and isolated bit. Buying her a car is not the only option you have, that's all.

[Malaysia41]

This repeated questioning of "need", when it comes to vehicles, is pretty common on this forum. It leave a lot of us rural dwellers shaking our heads. Bottom line is that there are tens of millions of folks in rural North America that have very little choice when it comes to transportation. My children were raised ten miles from a small town. The route to town is old, poorly maintained, high speed two lane state highways with no shoulders. If you live here for decades, you eventually walk into the general store one morning and hear, " you remember that odd guy with the Elmer Fudd hat, who always biked (or walked) RT 210 from the junction to the old sewing mill, early every morning? Well, he was hit and killed yesterday" Bottom line is that, like most parents, my kids didn't need to risk their lives in traffic, in a culture where I see more black bears on the road than I do cyclists. My kids had school and jobs in town, and one went to a local college which required commuted 25 miles each way, often more than once a day. It is what it is in rural America. You can either dedicate your life to being a full time bus driver for your children, or get them on the road and taking care of themselves. This constant, "do you really need a car"  gets old.

Maybe the question gets old in this forum, but in the real world I would say it rarely gets asked.  So I asked.

I have two daughters who say they 'need' cars.  They gave me all the reasons why they couldn't bike and take the bus, and in the end I had to concede their arguments had merit - mainly due to what you mentioned - drivers in their area of the country don't seem to understand that bikes have every right to be on the road too, and as a result bikers get killed. 

But even as they went through the motions of looking at alternatives, I don't believe they honestly considered these alternatives.  So it's a sensitive issue with me because I see their 'need' for cars seriously compromising their potential ability to build up an FU stash not to mention get on the road to FI. 

[coffeelover]

Not judging, just trying to get you to question the status quo.

And if she's working 35 hours a week and can't afford to buy herself a car, what is she spending all the money on?

For reference, I grew up with 5 siblings on a farm 35km from the nearest town. None of us got a car until we could buy our own. So I do get the rural and isolated bit. Buying her a car is not the only option you have, that's all.

She will actually be paying us back for the new used car, she only has a few hundred saved up. She put over 1000k into the mechanic shop and that doesn't include the at least 500 dollar bill we are going to get on Monday for the timing belt. plus she paid for a tune up and other things that my husband did and not the mechanic shop.  She also pays for own gas and own car ins.

[paddedhat]

Not judging, just trying to get you to question the status quo.

And if she's working 35 hours a week and can't afford to buy herself a car, what is she spending all the money on?

For reference, I grew up with 5 siblings on a farm 35km from the nearest town. None of us got a car until we could buy our own. So I do get the rural and isolated bit. Buying her a car is not the only option you have, that's all.

Since you and I are close in age, and I have been a long term car nut, let's irritate the "youngins" and talk about back in the day. My love was air cooled VWs. In my teenage years I owned over twenty of them. I could always find a running street legal one for $300-800.  I could fix them without the need for professional help, or any even modestly technical equipment or tools. A junkyard motor or tranny was often less than $100. Today, a decent twenty year old Civic runs five times that, yet minimum wage is a few pennies over double what I made at that age. Tires are 4-5X as much, fuel is 3x, and insurance is at least 4X as much. My attitude toward safety is also much different. A hard rear hit in those old VW Bugs would often cause the seat tracks to snap, leaving the driver dead or paralyzed from neck injuries. Having seen a family members virtually destroyed, and permanently disabled  in car wrecks, the standards for my kids cars are different. Their cars have side curtain air bags, ABS, traction control and high crash ratings. I couldn't live with myself if my daughter was T-boned by a truck is some hoopty piece of shit car, and ended up maimed or killed, since I insisted that she pay for her own vehicle and insurance. Particularly while sitting on a  seven figure investment portfolio. My own dad was a hard assed Marine who ran his family like that. No thanks, I'll pass on that attitude. Finally, it's a different world today. There are some kids that will get lucky enough to have high paying jobs and the ability to totally manage the considerable expense involved in having a safe, decent, fully insured vehicle, but for most, it isn't likely. My kids worked in grocery stores and restaurants in their high school years. It was typical to see them working 4-5 days a week, after school and weekends, and grossing $5-7K on their W-2s. By the time you end up with a net of 70% of this, and divide by 52 weeks in the year, there isn't much there.

[Monkey Uncle]

I'm also looking for a car for my college-age kid.  I don't think you're going to find a decent car for under $2,500.  Anything you buy in that price range is going to be on its last legs.

I don't agree - for the last 10 years, I have been only driving cars that cost under $2500.

Current car - last 3 years - 1989 Toyota Corolla bought for $2100.  I have put $600 into it during that time (most of that was tires).  Right now it has 170K and is worth what I paid for it.

Before that it was 1997 Toyota corolla - purchased for $1400 and driven again for 3 years.  I put $400 in repairs into it.  Unfortunately, I hit a deer and decided to sell it for $800.

The 4 years before that was a 1990 Toyota corolla wagon- purchased for $1100 and drove for 4 years.  Put $1100 into it.  It was still a great car when I gave to my ex-girlfriend for her move across country.

It is simple - buy a model that lasts a long time (check out consumer reports) and buy something that feels good to drive (doesn't make funny noises, drives straight, etc) and go for it.  There will be the occasional lemon, but over time you will come out way way ahead. 

In those 10 years, I was stranded once on the side of the road.  I do carry AAA+ road coverage, which I guess I should add to my vehicle costs ($70/year).

Just curious - how many miles did these cars have on them when you bought them, and what was the status of typical high mileage repair/maintenance items?  Had previous owners recently done work like brakes, struts, timing belt, exhaust system, water pump, fuel injectors, etc.?  Did you come out better than you would have if you had bought a 5-10 year old Corolla for $6-8k and driven it for another 10 years or so?  If I read your numbers correctly, you've put a total of $3,800 into your cars over the last 10 years (purchase prices + repair costs - resale value). 

I ask all these questions because it is very pertinent to my current situation.  Four years ago, my son got a 2001 Hyundai Elantra with 83k miles on it for $4k.  Since that time he/we have put a couple thousand (don't have the exact amount handy) into brakes, battery, tires, timing belt, water pump, and other items.  Right now at 106k miles, it needs a $450 repair to the rods that control rear alignment, $900 worth of new struts, and who knows how much to replace an exhaust system that is about to rust out.  The engine also has been making a whining noise for a while.  Not sure if that will turn out to be an expensive repair.  At this point we are looking to replace the car because we aren't confident that it would make it another 50-75k miles even if we invested in all the repairs.  If we were to keep it we'd have a net of probably $7k in it ($8-9k purchase + repairs, minus $1-2k resale), and we aren't confident it would keep going.  I can't help but think we would have been better off in the long run if we had spent the extra $4k on a Honda or Toyota that was a couple years newer, which at this point would still have a lot of life left in it.

Coffelover- sorry for hijacking your thread, but I think this conversation is probably pertinent to your situation as well.

[Dee18]

The "teen needs a car issue" has been a big topic in our family for the last couple months.  In the end, I decided not to buy my teen a car.  She will be heading to college in the fall and I think most college freshmen don't need cars.  The $2000 she has saved from her part time job is supposed to be for her spending money in college so I don't want her to deplete that.   But most of all I realized (1) I do not want a second car to take care of and (2) I do not want my daughter to think every person should have a car.  So we plan out the week ahead to share my car.  Some days she drops me at work on her way to school; some days I drop her off.  Sometimes I am left with no car and that does feel odd, making me realize what a car clown I can be.  I am not saying OP should not buy a car; I would if I were in a truly rural area, but I do think many people I know...including many with big debt...are buying their teens cars because that has become the norm in some communities.  Best of all, during our many rides together in the car, she really does talk to me.  :)

[mcluvin]

A Corolla has worked out well for my daughter.  The front bumper is very easy to replace.  The car has been pretty rock solid.  I'd vote for a Civic or Fit as well, but I tend to find better deals on comparable Toyotas.

[coffeelover]

We haven't yet gone to look at any vehicles.

Called about a couple, a Cavalier with 112000 miles for 2500, a Mercury sable for 1300 with the same amount of miles and a Sebring with 143000 miles for 1900. The sebring has had a ton of work done to it, the guy bought it for his daughter as a salvage title and redid everything in the car. Ball joints, engine, all the big stuff.

Waiting to here final word that the current car is 100% done. Mechanic thought so on Friday but now he wants to talk to another mechanic in the shop to be sure. I don't think the car is salvageable. Just my thoughts and 2sense on it.

[Monkey Uncle]

We haven't yet gone to look at any vehicles.

Called about a couple, a Cavalier with 112000 miles for 2500, a Mercury sable for 1300 with the same amount of miles and a Sebring with 143000 miles for 1900. The sebring has had a ton of work done to it, the guy bought it for his daughter as a salvage title and redid everything in the car. Ball joints, engine, all the big stuff.

Waiting to here final word that the current car is 100% done. Mechanic thought so on Friday but now he wants to talk to another mechanic in the shop to be sure. I don't think the car is salvageable. Just my thoughts and 2sense on it.

Hmm...all three of those models would make me very nervous in that mileage range.  Especially the Sebring, as Chrysler products tend to be at the bottom of the heap when it comes to long-term reliability.  If I had to pick one, I'd probably go with the Cavalier simply because of its fuel economy.

[DollarBill]

Reliability is over rated (and expensive). Any car can be considered reliable if you take care of it. Just pick one you like in the price range and do a good inspection. Even new cars break.

[coffeelover]

Reliability is over rated (and expensive). Any car can be considered reliable if you take care of it. Just pick one you like in the price range and do a good inspection. Even new cars break.

My brothers new cruze, well 2 years old and with less then 40k miles broke down. The engine oil was complete sludge. He had all the proof that he got on time oil changes and even the best kind of oil that was recommended for the car. The dealer ship ended up redoing the engine and only charged him 250 for it. It would have cost him thousands normally.

So yeah a fairly new cruze and that happened. Just never know.

[Forcus]

Just my $.02.

(1) Even if the engine is "done", what about the rest of the car? No shame in popping in a used engine. You didn't say what car it is, some are easier / cheaper to pop in an engine than others. For instance, good used engines are everywhere for my car, because they are wrecked or rusted before the engines go (200k+). I can put in a new (used) engine, in about 8 hours, including all new fluids, for less than $500 (my labor free).

(2) I'd highly suggest a Focus, but only one with a Zetec (it will say Zetec on the valve cover, along with 16V) engine. I can find them all day long for $1000 - $2500. In Michigan I've seen sedans, 3 and 5 door hatchbacks (but usually 3 door), usually some rust (especially sedans). But they are stout and cheap to replace parts on. You'll be looking at probably 130k - 200k miles for that price range.

[Pigeon]

The "teen needs a car issue" has been a big topic in our family for the last couple months.  In the end, I decided not to buy my teen a car.  She will be heading to college in the fall and I think most college freshmen don't need cars.  The $2000 she has saved from her part time job is supposed to be for her spending money in college so I don't want her to deplete that.   But most of all I realized (1) I do not want a second car to take care of and (2) I do not want my daughter to think every person should have a car.  So we plan out the week ahead to share my car.  Some days she drops me at work on her way to school; some days I drop her off.  Sometimes I am left with no car and that does feel odd, making me realize what a car clown I can be.  I am not saying OP should not buy a car; I would if I were in a truly rural area, but I do think many people I know...including many with big debt...are buying their teens cars because that has become the norm in some communities.  Best of all, during our many rides together in the car, she really does talk to me.  :)

I'm in a similar position, and we also decided against a car for dd.  But if I were in the OP's situation, I would probably come to a different conclusion.  We live in an area with no decent public transportation options and roads that I would not want my kids biking on.  My kids don't work during the school year (our decision, not theirs), other than some casual babysitting, but during the summer figuring out how to get her to her summer job was a complete and utter PIA.  She is the only kid she knows who doesn't have a parent-provided car, but I don't see the sense in having a car sit around depreciating when she goes to college.

[coffeelover]

Just my $.02.

(1) Even if the engine is "done", what about the rest of the car? No shame in popping in a used engine. You didn't say what car it is, some are easier / cheaper to pop in an engine than others. For instance, good used engines are everywhere for my car, because they are wrecked or rusted before the engines go (200k+). I can put in a new (used) engine, in about 8 hours, including all new fluids, for less than $500 (my labor free).

(2) I'd highly suggest a Focus, but only one with a Zetec (it will say Zetec on the valve cover, along with 16V) engine. I can find them all day long for $1000 - $2500. In Michigan I've seen sedans, 3 and 5 door hatchbacks (but usually 3 door), usually some rust (especially sedans). But they are stout and cheap to replace parts on. You'll be looking at probably 130k - 200k miles for that price range.

Thanks for your input.  The car she had was an Escort. That had been in an accident as well. We are still looking around for vehicles. taking our time but hopefully to have one by next week after the holiday. Her school schedule will be back full time and I just can't do it with my 2 youngest in tow.

[jawisco]

We haven't yet gone to look at any vehicles.

Called about a couple, a Cavalier with 112000 miles for 2500, a Mercury sable for 1300 with the same amount of miles and a Sebring with 143000 miles for 1900. The sebring has had a ton of work done to it, the guy bought it for his daughter as a salvage title and redid everything in the car. Ball joints, engine, all the big stuff.

Waiting to here final word that the current car is 100% done. Mechanic thought so on Friday but now he wants to talk to another mechanic in the shop to be sure. I don't think the car is salvageable. Just my thoughts and 2sense on it.

I think Dollar Bill is correct that it is important to take good care of your car, but I also think that buying a Sebring, Sable, or Cavalier is just asking for trouble. 

A dependable Honda or Toyota that has 200K miles will last longer than those cars you are looking at if they are in relatively equal condition otherwise. 

When you are buying well-used vehicles, it is even more important to purchase quality vehicles that are well constructed and built to last.

[coffeelover]

We haven't yet gone to look at any vehicles.

Called about a couple, a Cavalier with 112000 miles for 2500, a Mercury sable for 1300 with the same amount of miles and a Sebring with 143000 miles for 1900. The sebring has had a ton of work done to it, the guy bought it for his daughter as a salvage title and redid everything in the car. Ball joints, engine, all the big stuff.

Waiting to here final word that the current car is 100% done. Mechanic thought so on Friday but now he wants to talk to another mechanic in the shop to be sure. I don't think the car is salvageable. Just my thoughts and 2sense on it.

I think Dollar Bill is correct that it is important to take good care of your car, but I also think that buying a Sebring, Sable, or Cavalier is just asking for trouble. 

A dependable Honda or Toyota that has 200K miles will last longer than those cars you are looking at if they are in relatively equal condition otherwise. 

When you are buying well-used vehicles, it is even more important to purchase quality vehicles that are well constructed and built to last.

What are your thoughts on a Ford Focus? There seem to be a lot for sale in our area at reasonable prices and with miles between 120k to 180k.

[Greenroller]

I would maybe spend a bit more and get an older subaru. They are awesome, and I would feel good about putting my child in one ( from a safety standpoint). I have owned many vehicles and feel subaru is where its at.

[DollarBill]

We haven't yet gone to look at any vehicles.

Called about a couple, a Cavalier with 112000 miles for 2500, a Mercury sable for 1300 with the same amount of miles and a Sebring with 143000 miles for 1900. The sebring has had a ton of work done to it, the guy bought it for his daughter as a salvage title and redid everything in the car. Ball joints, engine, all the big stuff.

Waiting to here final word that the current car is 100% done. Mechanic thought so on Friday but now he wants to talk to another mechanic in the shop to be sure. I don't think the car is salvageable. Just my thoughts and 2sense on it.

I think Dollar Bill is correct that it is important to take good care of your car, but I also think that buying a Sebring, Sable, or Cavalier is just asking for trouble. 

A dependable Honda or Toyota that has 200K miles will last longer than those cars you are looking at if they are in relatively equal condition otherwise. 

When you are buying well-used vehicles, it is even more important to purchase quality vehicles that are well constructed and built to last.

What are your thoughts on a Ford Focus? There seem to be a lot for sale in our area at reasonable prices and with miles between 120k to 180k.

It's funny you asked...I bought a 2012 Ford Focus hatch back for $10K w/ 60K miles on it (Love it). I've already put 15K miles on it in the last 6 months. I feel more comfortable buying a car/truck that sells a lot because I know there are more parts out there. I would rather drive a car with larger sales so most people/businesses can't take advantage of me. For the older models look for the Zetec engine...it's a tank! I would rather buy a high mileage newer car than a low mileage older car. All the rubber is still new.

[tomsang]

Cars that are for sale under 1000k are usually wrecked in some way, at least this is what I'm finding out by checking out craigslist.com

I have had great luck at finding cars under $1,000k on craigslist. In fact I have never driven a car over $1,000k.  Are you looking for a new Lambo:)

[coffeelover]

Cars that are for sale under 1000k are usually wrecked in some way, at least this is what I'm finding out by checking out craigslist.com

I have had great luck at finding cars under $1,000k on craigslist. In fact I have never driven a car over $1,000k.  Are you looking for a new Lambo:)

IN my area the only cars that seem to be under 1000k are wrecked or not running. They usually have significant damage from an accident or the ad says it needs an engine, or car isn't running and person doesn't know why.

[tomsang]

Cars that are for sale under 1000k are usually wrecked in some way, at least this is what I'm finding out by checking out craigslist.com

I have had great luck at finding cars under $1,000k on craigslist. In fact I have never driven a car over $1,000k.  Are you looking for a new Lambo:)

IN my area the only cars that seem to be under 1000k are wrecked or not running. They usually have significant damage from an accident or the ad says it needs an engine, or car isn't running and person doesn't know why.

I was joking:)  A $1000k is a million dollars.  A k is a $1,000 dollars.  Just busting your chops on the $1,000k. :)

[nereo]

Do you want to give your kids a lasting lesson on how expensive cars can be?  If so, get them  any used SUV with pathetic fuel economy.  Tell them they are responsible for 100% of the fuel costs, and then track it to show how much they spent in a year.

edited to make my example more clear.

[paddedhat]

Do you want to give your kids a lasting lesson on how expensive cars can be?  If so, get them an older ford F150, Scion xB, or any used SUV with pathetic fuel economy.  Tell them they are responsible for 100% of the fuel costs, and then track it to show how much they spent in a year.

I get your point, but question your examples. I have owned two examples of the legendary straight six F150 2wd with a granny gear manual. Not only are they as reliable as an anvil, but as easy as a 1950s tractor to work on, and parts are silly cheap.  I can't imagine a better post-apocalypse vehicle. As for the Toyota product, really? I have a TC that my daughter drives, trouble free, economical and rock solid. Maybe the fuel is a big issue if you are comparing a gas hog to a VW TDI, and are driving a lot, however,
I'll take a stone reliable vehicle that gets 15-20 MPGs over a piece of junk that gets 30, any day.

[coffeelover]

Do you want to give your kids a lasting lesson on how expensive cars can be?  If so, get them an older ford F150, Scion xB, or any used SUV with pathetic fuel economy.  Tell them they are responsible for 100% of the fuel costs, and then track it to show how much they spent in a year.

My daughter feels paying the 75 a month or so she was paying for gas was to much. I don't think getting her an older f 150 is the answer. Thanks for your thoughts :)

[nereo]

Do you want to give your kids a lasting lesson on how expensive cars can be?  If so, get them an older ford F150, Scion xB, or any used SUV with pathetic fuel economy.  Tell them they are responsible for 100% of the fuel costs, and then track it to show how much they spent in a year.

I get your point, but question your examples. I have owned two examples of the legendary straight six F150 2wd with a granny gear manual. Not only are they as reliable as an anvil, but as easy as a 1950s tractor to work on, and parts are silly cheap.  I can't imagine a better post-apocalypse vehicle. As for the Toyota product, really? I have a TC that my daughter drives, trouble free, economical and rock solid. Maybe the fuel is a big issue if you are comparing a gas hog to a VW TDI, and are driving a lot, however,
I'll take a stone reliable vehicle that gets 15-20 MPGs over a piece of junk that gets 30, any day.

ok - i edited my previous post.  the reason i included the xB is that I googled "cars with crappy mpg' and it game up as one of the worst (23mpg overall, 16mpg highway).  It surprised me too.  and i guess i have an inherent bias in the f150s, since they are the most popular vehicle sold in the US - they are reliable though.
My post was based on what my friends' parents did for him in highschool/college.  They bought him a used car in exchange for a promise that he would pay for all the fuel and maintanence.  two years later he was working full-time in the summer just to pay for his 'free' vehicle.  He eventually wised up.  Hopefully the kids in question are smart enough not to need this lesson at all, but when i saw everyone was recommending practical, mustachian cars I thought "what many kids need is the exact opposite - show them how rediculous a 'cool' car is and the first car they buy themselves will be a smart one."

[Sid Hoffman]

I'll take a stone reliable vehicle that gets 15-20 MPGs over a piece of junk that gets 30, any day.

100 times over!  I also agree with the guy who said any car going for $1000 or less is wrecked in some way.  At the very least, you are playing the lottery when you are looking at cheap cars, and the cheaper the car, the more the odds are stacked against you.  April 2014 I completed considerable research and browsing of ads to end up with a Ford Escort wagon for $1800.  Almost immediately it required over $500 in repairs and hundreds more in the time that followed.  We're not even done with 2014 yet and now my car has no A/C, no heat, and numerous other little problems.  It has cost me just over $900 in repairs so far.  Remember: this is one of the good ones!

I don't want to hear all the stories about how people have, or know someone who has paid a tiny sum of money for a car that never broke down.  You're playing the lottery, especially on cars under $5000.  Sure, there's some guy that paid $100 for a car and then had no problems and just did oil changes for the next 80,000 miles.  Same as how there's some guy that paid $1 for a lottery ticket and won a million bucks.  The odds however are not with you.

As a general rule, for my area $2500 is about as cheap as the decent condition compact cars get before it's obvious that they have nearly a 100% chance of problems of some kind or another.  $3000 to $3500 gets you at least up in the 30-40% chance of problems range, I would say.

As for the math, my Escort has averaged something like 23mpg, largely due to the fact it's an automatic and is almost entirely used for very short trips.  In the roughly 2600 miles I've driven in 8 months, that works out to about $340 in gas versus the $2700 for the car+repairs and $370 for 8 months of insurance & registration.  In other words, the car itself has cost about $3070 while I have only spent $340 on gas.  That goes right to the point about wishing for a solid, reliable car even if it had bad gas mileage rather than my current car with "meh" gas mileage and horrible reliability.

[coffeelover]

I'll take a stone reliable vehicle that gets 15-20 MPGs over a piece of junk that gets 30, any day.

100 times over!  I also agree with the guy who said any car going for $1000 or less is wrecked in some way.  At the very least, you are playing the lottery when you are looking at cheap cars, and the cheaper the car, the more the odds are stacked against you.  April 2014 I completed considerable research and browsing of ads to end up with a Ford Escort wagon for $1800.  Almost immediately it required over $500 in repairs and hundreds more in the time that followed.  We're not even done with 2014 yet and now my car has no A/C, no heat, and numerous other little problems.  It has cost me just over $900 in repairs so far.  Remember: this is one of the good ones!

I don't want to hear all the stories about how people have, or know someone who has paid a tiny sum of money for a car that never broke down.  You're playing the lottery, especially on cars under $5000.  Sure, there's some guy that paid $100 for a car and then had no problems and just did oil changes for the next 80,000 miles.  Same as how there's some guy that paid $1 for a lottery ticket and won a million bucks.  The odds however are not with you.

As a general rule, for my area $2500 is about as cheap as the decent condition compact cars get before it's obvious that they have nearly a 100% chance of problems of some kind or another.  $3000 to $3500 gets you at least up in the 30-40% chance of problems range, I would say.

As for the math, my Escort has averaged something like 23mpg, largely due to the fact it's an automatic and is almost entirely used for very short trips.  In the roughly 2600 miles I've driven in 8 months, that works out to about $340 in gas versus the $2700 for the car+repairs and $370 for 8 months of insurance & registration.  In other words, the car itself has cost about $3070 while I have only spent $340 on gas.  That goes right to the point about wishing for a solid, reliable car even if it had bad gas mileage rather than my current car with "meh" gas mileage and horrible reliability.

Oh you're scaring me here.
I've been looking at a Toyota Solara I found on craigslist. Car seems great and only has 112000 miles on it. They're asking 3500. I want to jump on it but husband is leery

[Forcus]

Oh you're scaring me here.
I've been looking at a Toyota Solara I found on craigslist. Car seems great and only has 112000 miles on it. They're asking 3500. I want to jump on it but husband is leery

I haven't heard anything particularly good / bad about Solaras but you might want to check insurance first since it's a "sporty" (I use that term loosely) two door.

BTW what year is that old Escort? If 98+ it might have a Zetec engine. Used engines less than $500. May also have a Mazda engine, which is also cheap to replace. I'm just a fan of the known quantity, unless it has other glaring issues, you might be better off popping in a cheap used engine. I've bought cars before that ended up needing 3x the purchase price just to get them reliable.

[Sid Hoffman]

Oh you're scaring me here.
I've been looking at a Toyota Solara I found on craigslist. Car seems great and only has 112000 miles on it. They're asking 3500. I want to jump on it but husband is leery

Many dealerships as well as independent mechanics will do a PPI, or Pre-Purchase Inspection for anywhere from $100 to $350 depending on how in depth you want the inspection to be and what rates are like in your area.  If you are truly interested in the car, I'd suggest you see if the owner is willing to have a PPI done at your expense.  Sure, a $200 PPI for a $3500 car sounds like a lot at first, but I'm pretty sure the Solara uses a power convertible top.  A good inspector or dealership can probably determine if the top (and rest of the car) are good, or if you're likely to be looking at expensive repair bills shortly after purchase.

As I mentioned in my post, $3000 to $3500 tends to be a bit of a hurdle, and often the cars in that price range have fewer problems, but anything is always possible.

[paddedhat]

I'll take a stone reliable vehicle that gets 15-20 MPGs over a piece of junk that gets 30, any day.

100 times over!  I also agree with the guy who said any car going for $1000 or less is wrecked in some way.  At the very least, you are playing the lottery when you are looking at cheap cars, and the cheaper the car, the more the odds are stacked against you.  April 2014 I completed considerable research and browsing of ads to end up with a Ford Escort wagon for $1800.  Almost immediately it required over $500 in repairs and hundreds more in the time that followed.  We're not even done with 2014 yet and now my car has no A/C, no heat, and numerous other little problems.  It has cost me just over $900 in repairs so far.  Remember: this is one of the good ones!

Interesting. A couple of years ago I did the research and bought a pair of Ford Focuses for my two college attending kids. They were both 2007 models, in excellent shape, one was $5600 the other $6500. In the next two years both cars proved to be absolute shit. The more expensive one puked a transmission and it ran $2K for a factory rebuilt unit. The other one need a metric shit ton of work, including a total rebuild of the suspension and AC issues. I got lucky in the end, the cheaper one never got any of the repairs it really needed, and my kid found a less than savvy buyer who bought it for $4K. The one with the new trans was totally, and I mean completely destroyed by a hail storm. The insurance paid $8800 for that one.  In the end the kids drove them for two years and it cost me very little, but I still don't know why articles, including here on MMM, claim that these things are a great used car value?

[Beric01]

My parents never bought any of us cars. We were expected to get ourselves where we needed by bicycle (which we did). If we wanted a car, we could buy one - with our own money. Borrowing the family car could be done with advance permission and by paying for gas. Needless to say, none of us opted to buy a car. Just not necessary when a bike can get you where you need to go. Biking to school when I was in college made a lot more open to biking everywhere as I am doing now.

[paddedhat]

My parents never bought any of us cars. We were expected to get ourselves where we needed by bicycle (which we did). If we wanted a car, we could buy one - with our own money. Borrowing the family car could be done with advance permission and by paying for gas. Needless to say, none of us opted to buy a car. Just not necessary when a bike can get you where you need to go. Biking to school when I was in college made a lot more open to biking everywhere as I am doing now.

Another thread where you proclaim your awesomeness as a bike rider while totally ignoring reality. Thanks, you were a real contribution to the last one you jumped in on. ( this is where I would insert the "roll eyes" smiley if there was the option) The OP has repeatedly made it clear that biking is NOT a safe option for her child, but as in the past, why let facts get in your way.