What are Best Chevy Used Car Models

My son recently graduated college and needs an inexpensive used car to get him started. Something around $5k - $6k. What Chevy models would you recommend that are known to be reliable and get decent gas mileage. I own a 2001 Malibu and I wouldn't recommend that. 2001, 2002 Cavaliers seem to fall into that price range, but I really am not knowledgeable about them. Would appreciate any comments or recommendations. Thanks.

I'd say find a sweet caprice.

I own one, love it, there pretty much bullet proof if you take care of em, and my carburated 305 gets almost 16mpg

That or a mid 90's to 99 monte carlo

yeah i have a 97 monte carlo z34 and it is a good car but if you get a monte carlo i wouldnt recommend the 95-97 z34 because if something goes wrong with it the engine is a real pain to fix anything, i would get a 98-99 z34 they have a better setup. cavaliers are cheap but really crappy and they are girls cars imo

Anything with a small block Chevy v8 will last forever, but if you want gas mileage i would go with anything with a 3800 v6. A powerful, reliable engine that gm has been making for a while and are known for their endurance. Get like a grand prix, or anything along those lines has the 3800.

Cavaliers aren't that bad. My sister used to drive one:cwm27: . They can be modified to be tolerable though. I wouldn't advise a Caprice though. They may be bulletproof, but they are heavy. If you do get him a Caprice, make him promise you that he will never jack it up to fit anythimg over 20's under it. I would recommend an s10 Blazer with a V8 350 swap. The 350 LT1's are very dependable engines. For 5k you could him something with rims, a sound system, nice paint, and an air suspension.

I'm never been much of a Cavalier person, but I was surprised at how positive the comments were in the Cavalier forum. I agree that 3800 V6 is a good compromise on longevity and gas mileage. Thanks for the comments.

yeah the 98-99 monte carlo z34 are 3800 v6

Everyone has their preference. Personally, at over 50 years old, I have chosen used cars depending on what I see on the road. For instance I see a lot of Buick Century's (which I believe also have the 3.8 V6) and Skylark in the mid to late 80s that still seem to be running. I'd stay away from anything sporty for two reasons. First, it usually means it has been driven hard and second, insurance costs. In the 2000s the Cavalier improved a lot. It wasn't very good in the 80s.

I bought my daughter a 1993 Buick Skylark with the 3.8 V6. She got 22-24 miles per gallon in the city and over 30 on the freeway. Unfortunately, she wrecked it so I made her go buy her own. She now has a 2004 Cavalier 4 cylinder and likes it. The 2004 might be just over the price range you are looking for. We went newer due to all the miles the older ones had on them.

Remember INSURANCE rates!!!! Consumer Reports puts out an auto guide I think every April? An excellent source for their unbiased recommendations for a used car.

I wouldn't advise a Caprice though. They may be bulletproof, but they are heavy.
They may be heavy, but they are SAFE. I'd like to see what damage would occur if a Caprice hit a Cavilier. I'll take a full frame car anyday. Like in some of the previous posts in this thread, some things to look for are the 3.8 engine, stay away from the 3.4L engines due to intake gasket problems. There are cars out there like the LeSabre,Century, Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Impala from the 90's to the early 2000s that were mass produced, thus lowering their prices as used cars,since the market is full of these cars. Many of these vehicles come off lease, or are traded in in fairly decent shape, and because of their sheer volume in numbers their prices might be in the range you are looking for. Check any "volume dealers" in your area if you have any. They are a good place to start. In my area, there are some used car dealers who specialize in buying up these trade ins and off lease vehicles and then turn around and sell them for a low price.

Cavaliers > all the other vehicles suggested here

fuck y'all

Cavaliers > all the other vehicles suggested here

fuck y'all

I'd like to see what damage would occur if a Caprice hit a Cavilier.

I've got the Caprice, Young Chuck D has the Cavalier, let's go find out! My car already has one 'kill', a 1990 Accord, so what's another?

http://www.silicon212.org/9c1/images/9c1_frontright.jpg

That's a badass lookin Caprice. You got any times on that thing. I would also say anything with the 3800 or the 3100 I think is a decent motor also. My dad had a Regal with a 3.8 and 202,000 miles on it, he is a mechanic and today he did brakes on a 1992 Cavalier Wagon with a 3.1 and 191,000 miles on it.

Luminas seem to be known for reliability. Especially the 3.8L (recommended in other posts). You might find a '98 or '99 Lumina LTZ (3.8) for that price. Just bought my '99 LTZ with 64,000 miles for $6500. It gets good gas mileage and has plenty of getty up. If you want to save some cash :) get an early '90's lumina (like a '93 or '94) if you can find one with less than 100K you should be set for a while. They easily get to over 200,000 miles. You could spend $2500 and be good to go for five or six years. They are also good on insurance. I would consider my LTZ a "sporty sedan" it has 200 horsepower. It along with my '93 lumina only run me $100 a month in insurance (and I'm only 22 years old!). The Monte Carlo Z34 (3.8L) would be good, however the insurance would probably be a bit higher. If your son likes the Monte, show him the lumina LTZ, it's basically a "four door monte carlo."

Cavaliers > all the other vehicles suggested here

fuck y'all

don't you mean a "sunbird>than all other vehicles suggested here", since that is what is in your sig??

don't you mean a "sunbird>than all other vehicles suggested here", since that is what is in your sig??yeah no he means CAVALIER because that is whats pictured in his signature.

99 out

EDIT: of course everyone suggestions cars is going to suggest whatever kind of chevy they are currently driving. but I do like the cavaliers alot and also I like to '98-'99 monte carlos like 2JUMPMAN3 mentioned.

unless he put sunbird doors and headlights on his cavy, it's a SUNBIRD! Those two things made the sunbird distinct from the cavy's, (as well as the tail lights, but I can't see those) Also I do believe that the cavy was a 2.2 not a 2.0 like the sunbird. amateur...

yeah no he means CAVALIER because that is whats pictured in his signature.

99 out

EDIT: of course everyone suggestions cars is going to suggest whatever kind of chevy they are currently driving. but I do like the cavaliers alot and also I like to '98-'99 monte carlos like 2JUMPMAN3 mentioned.

unless he put sunbird doors and headlights on his cavy, it's a SUNBIRD! Those two things made the sunbird distinct from the cavy's, (as well as the tail lights, but I can't see those) Also I do believe that the cavy was a 2.2 not a 2.0 like the sunbird. amateur...

Sorry, I have to jump in here on this one. An employee at my work has an '89 Cav and it has 1) those taillights and headlights, and side marker lights, and 2) a 2 liter engine.

dude that is a cavalier my friend trust me I talk to this guy all the time in cavalier section

EDIT: so dont be calling me an amatuer buddy. Sounds like you the one that is the amatuer. dont being correcting me when your the one that is wrong on the subject.

:rofl:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010094.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010087.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010089.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010088.jpg

sissiesssssss

:rofl:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010094.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010087.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010089.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/youngchuckd/P1010088.jpg

sissiesssssss

I rescind my offer to test the structural integrity of your car using mine. Your car needs enough help as it is. Also, a little advice on taking pictures of your car - try not to take them with visible garbage! I live in a less-than-optimal apartment complex myself, yet when I went and snapped pictures of my car, I drove it to the top of the parking garage at Fiesta Mall and snapped them there.

http://www.buysell.com/userphotos/0001239108/9152004_8495858136.jpg

to attempt to prove my point, here is a pic of another 1989 cavalier. Notice the difference in the door. Obviously after the last post it's a cavy but it has at some point had doors of a sunbird put on it, look.... very subtle difference, but none the less, there is a difference

1989 sunbird
http://www.automobile-broadway-2000.com/catalogue_2003/13.jpg

I rescind my offer to test the structural integrity of your car using mine. Your car needs enough help as it is. Also, a little advice on taking pictures of your car - try not to take them with visible garbage! I live in a less-than-optimal apartment complex myself, yet when I went and snapped pictures of my car, I drove it to the top of the parking garage at Fiesta Mall and snapped them there.


but look how good my car looks, compared to the garbage :naughty:

The door trim is a poor reference upon which to base your statement on. If you look closely, the trim on his Cavy isn't even the same as what's on your Sunbird picture. For what it's worth, it could be aftermarket.

The door trim is a poor reference upon which to base your statement on. If you look closely, the trim on his Cavy isn't even the same as what's on your Sunbird picture. For what it's worth, it could be aftermarket.

I'm not looking at the door trim, who said that's what I was looking at? Look closer, you'll see.....

I'm not looking at the door trim, who said that's what I was looking at? Look closer, you'll see.....

The actual doors on both cars should be the same, minus trim. J-cars were the same in those years minus grille, light details and maybe interiors.

The actual doors on both cars should be the same, minus trim. J-cars were the same in those years minus grille, light details and maybe interiors.
:1:

correct.

I give up, the difference in the doors between the sunbird and cavy are around the side mirrors. The mirrors themselves are different, and on the sunbirds there is a slight upcurve on the door right underneath the mirror whereas on the cavy, the door stays straight. That was always the difference

http://www.buysell.com/userphotos/0001239108/9152004_8495858136.jpg



you sure thats an 89? i've NEVER seen an 89 RS...

EDIT: of course everyone suggestions cars is going to suggest whatever kind of chevy they are currently driving. but I do like the cavaliers alot and also I like to '98-'99 monte carlos like 2JUMPMAN3 mentioned.
I wouldn't go and lump "everyone" in your discussion. If you look back at my post I didn't suggest any vehicles that I currently drive, ( 97 Chevy Venture, 94 C1500 pickup, and a 95 Buick Roadmaster.) In fact I said to steer away from the 3.4 engine found in my Venture and other GM models due to intake gasket problems. I also didn't reccomend pickups as they wanted cars and vehicles that get good gas mileage. I've worked in garages and have seen what vehicles come in and the type of repairs that are consistently performed on these vehicles. I also do a lot of reading into these vehicles to know what to expect. I also based part of my suggestions on what vehicles businesses purchase for their fleets. One place I worked at serviced a few companies' fleet vehicles. Many of these cars saw close to 200 to 250,000 miles of service. The cost to maintain these vehicles fell into an acceptable range, and they not only had good fuel economy, their cost to insure was less than other vehicles. Phantomcobra also had some good suggestions as he sees what other vehicles are on the road that seem to last a long time and stay in good shape. He then considers them for purchase.

I give up, the difference in the doors between the sunbird and cavy are around the side mirrors. The mirrors themselves are different, and on the sunbirds there is a slight upcurve on the door right underneath the mirror whereas on the cavy, the door stays straight. That was always the difference

You are correct, for RS and Z24 models. Standard Cavaliers don't receive the blackout treatment.

k, switchin gears for a sec, anyone know how to put a pic in your sig, I've been trying, but I can't, I keep gettin a lil red x. Does the pic have to be on a website or can you upload it from your pc? sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a sec....

k, switchin gears for a sec, anyone know how to put a pic in your sig, I've been trying, but I can't, I keep gettin a lil red x. Does the pic have to be on a website or can you upload it from your pc? sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a sec....


theres a size limit... but i had my sig before they put it in place so i'm allowed to be over the limit unless i change it... :naughty:

k, switchin gears for a sec, anyone know how to put a pic in your sig, I've been trying, but I can't, I keep gettin a lil red x. Does the pic have to be on a website or can you upload it from your pc? sorry for hi-jacking the thread for a sec.... go to the "user cp" select edit signature and type the text you want in the box. To insert an image, click on the link at the top (it looks like mountains). Then you must enter the URL for the image (the web address that hosts your pictures). So in response to your specific question, YES, the image must be hosted. You can have images in the "Gallery" section of automotiveforums. You might try to upload your photos there and then use that URL in your signature.
You can also post an image (avatar) to appear along the left side of the page along with your username, status, join date, etc (see my Lumina LTZ). You do this by clicking on the "Avatar" link in the USER CP. The image used here must be small (100X100) otherwise it will tell you that your image is too large. You CAN upload pictures from your computer for an avatar. It gives you the option to "Enter URL" or to "Browse."