Car for son

[deb0704us]

We've been shopping for a car for our son to drive. I want him to drive a Pontiac Grand Prix (or Bonneville) of course, but he's looking at many different cars and he is driving me nuts. Every time he comes up with a new idea I go on here and research the make/model for safety ratings, repetitive problems, recalls, etc. His latest ideas are a 2001 or 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T, or a 2002 Olds Intrigue. So far I've seen good things about the Dodge Status R/T, and not so good things about the Intrigue. What do you car experts here think? We need to buy a car quickly as the '95 Lumina died and he is paying for a rental car to get around in.

[theblurr87]

what's your price range? also since you are buying used the care taken for the car will factor in significantly.

[deb0704us]

I figure we can afford around $10,000 with a $2,000 down payment. Want payments only around $150 or so.

He found a 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T, 2door, automatic, 50,000 miles, and got the dealer down to $9,000. This sounds like the best deal so far, but car has scratches that will need to be fixed, and I'm not sure if there is any warranty. I would like it to have a 90-day warranty.

I looked up Intrigues and it sounds like they have a lot of transmission problems and are not very popular and have a low trade-in value.

[93cobra]

I just picked up a 2000 Grand Prix GTP Daytona Pace Car for 7,500 off e-bay. I was able to check the car out before purchasing it as it was only 60 miles away. I was amazed at the condition
it was in. Hard pressed to tell it from new. E-bay also handled the financing. 4.79% and after six months as long as your payments are on time they refund you the interest you paid. No money down either.

[kustomkid54]

If your buying the car, Who cares what he wants? Tell him, look at your Grand Prix that your driving. You could look at GTPs so he feels like he can go fast.

[deb0704us]

You're right. Who cares what he wants? I never told my dad I wouldn't look cool driving his old '71 buick skylark! It had four wheels and ran, what more could you ask for?

[WRBsGTP]

The stratus is a good car--very dependable. I bought my '99 used with 14,000 miles and I paid 12K for it. It's got 72,000 miles now, and I gave it to my mother when I bought the GTP. The car gave me NO problems for the 4 years I owned it. Good dependable car--but nowhere near the power, handling and style of the LE GTP.
Get him a Grand Prix!

[kustomkid54]

You know being the baby of five kids. I heard all my life, "You want a car you better start saving". I did. I bought my own.
If my Dad would have said, here's a 1953 Nash. I would have been in really happy. Kids only know, what are you going to give me. Tell him to buy a newspaper. Not only can he find a car, he could find a job.
Sorry Guys, bad day at work.

[93cobra]

Here Here your right! My kids try to lay a guilt trip on me about cars. I told them both maintain a B average and we'll see what happens. They didn't so guess what happened.

[stlwagon]

I just bought my daughter a new Hyundai Accel for $10,800 but I made her put down $2000 of her own money. Didn't think she'd fully appreciate it if I'd paid the entire amount.

[ericvrose]

Originally Posted by 93cobra

I just picked up a 2000 Grand Prix GTP Daytona Pace Car for 7,500 off e-bay. I was able to check the car out before purchasing it as it was only 60 miles away. I was amazed at the condition
it was in. Hard pressed to tell it from new. E-bay also handled the financing. 4.79% and after six months as long as your payments are on time they refund you the interest you paid. No money down either.

Man that price makes me sad. I have the same car in the same condition and I would have hoped it would be worth alot more than that. But great for you. Congrats on getting it.

[93cobra]

I got lucky.The car was purchased by a father for his 19 yr. old son. The son road in a friends Volvo and decided he wanted a Volvo. The father being a very ethnic Greek pleased his son with getting him the Volvo. The father told me he lost 2,000 dollars on the car.He had a connection with a friend that owned a dealership who got the car for him in the first place. So, don't feel bad. I got real lucky. Circumstances let me get a car that I couldn't find anywhere else for under12,000.

[kustomkid54]

On Christmas of 1985, I gave my son a 1970 Roadrunner. I rebuilt motor and trans. The outside looked like crap. Insides were clean, very clean. The other part of his gift was, 2 new 1/4 panels, two doors, a trunk lid, both bumpers and all the crome. I held the title. Told him that he would have to replace all parts and have car painted. He must spend only his money to finish. He had one year. If by the time he was 16 and IF car was done. I would take him to get a lic. But if the car wasn't done. I know he didn't want it and it would be sold.
I took him for his lic. And paid the insurance for one year. He waxed car every week, changed oil every 2000 miles. And drove it like an old lady on the street. Now on the strip I helped there.

[93cobra]

That's a great story. My son's 16. I'm thinking of motivational avenues. I like yours

[deb0704us]

Bought the 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T for $9,000 this weekend. Dad and son co-signed for it so son can start building some credit history. Dad put $1500 down and son put $1500 down. Son works FT and attends college PT, so he does have money coming in. Son will be making the $148/mo payments for 60 months! I bought him the 2-year warranty, since they were only getting a 30-day 50/50 warranty, and I believe he is the third owner of the car with 51,000 miles on it. I drove it yesterday and it seems to run fine other than what I call a spaceship-landing sound in the final phase of braking, which they are going to look at on Tuesday. The paint is chipped in the front and there are some scratches on the sides which they are going to fix too. Guess I'll be checking the Dodge board once in awhile.