Looking for a cheap used gas saver car. Help?

[Cubey]

Hello all.

I currently own a 1997 Ford E150 conversion van but find that it's eating me alive in gas and labor for mere routine maintence. I will be using the van for a hopefully equal trade as it's in perfect operating condition and is fairly low mileage for it's age (123,500 miles). If I have to put a few hundred on top of it, I could do that. So basically, $4000 is probably going to be about the most as far as a sticker price.

I have gone around to a few small used car lots around town but I'm not 100% sure what I wanting. Idealy I'd like a rleiable, low maintenance cost sedan or wagon (yes, I know, i'm strange for wanting a wagon) that gets 25+ MPG. Auto transmission and cruise is must. Sadly, wagons are hard to find. The only wagon I've come across so far was an '03 Ford Taurus for $8000 but that's twice my budget. I don't want payments since that would defeat the purpose of a car. The money I'd be saving on gas would be going to a car payment.

I am planning on traveling around the country (for pleasure) so I will need to carry a tent, clothes, a bit of food, bedding, a small (under 13") TV, a cooler, etc.

I might consider a coupe if the trunk is generously sized and/or has good access to the back seats for cargo.

One coupe I saw for $3900 was a 1999 Dodge Avenger (unsure if it's 4cyl or V6, I'd have to go back and look at it closer than I have) which had cruise. Paint/body was great as well as the interior. However I have read a bit online how this car is expense for parts and labor. So maybe this wouldn't be the car for me.

Can anyone recommend a good '97 or newer car that would fit my needs (Be under $4000 from a dealer typically)? Might help me when I get to the lots and begin looking around since right now the only models I know of that are good and that I might want are ones such as a Ford Escort, Toyota Corolla/Camry, and... i guess that's it. It's annoying to have to come back home to look up the MPG ratings of cars I saw instead of having some idea what I'm looking for before I arrive.

[drdisque]

Try harder to find a slightly older Taurus Wagon. That seems like the ideal car for you.

You might also be able to find a Saturn SW100 or SW200 in your price range.

[Cubey]

I am scrabling to raise money for a car I found today. It's a 2003 Ford Taurus wagon with 145k miles (yes, a bit high, but read on) for only $4500 from a dealer. He the dealer is also going to take in my 97 Ford E150 for $350 trade allowance. I test drove the car today and it was great. Took it out on the interstate a few miles and drove back on surface streets. The Blue Book Value of that car with all those miles is $7,700. The guy wants rid of it because it's a station wagon. They are like poison to a car dealer. They can only pray someone else will want it. I will test drive it again tomorrow and take it over to a trustworthy garage I have used previously and have them look it over for me (free of charge they said!).

I only need to raise about $300 to get it (and not be flat broke).

Basically, with TTL and I wll be paying $1,255 for it, including my trade.

Ths dealer seems very nice and actually trying to help me (yes, I know it's their job to be nice to sell a car..) due to me being disabled (I don't scream out that I'm disabled, I say so when they ask me where I work). Plus he wants the station wagon out of his lot to make room.


He's the ONLY dealer I've been to in town that was interested in my van. One dealer was like "oh, that van will go straight to auction and the aftermarket conversion isn't worth anything to us, it will be valued as a cargo van" which I knew was a bunch of crap. That guy decided a phone call with someone about Mardi Gras was more important than tending to a possible customer. He saw no money from me so he didn't give a damn. I walked out very annoyed.

But anyway, wish me luck on the wagon!