Buying a used car

[escort lx]

I would like to buy my girlfriend a car. But I only have $2000 to spend and I live in California. What are some good choices? Any help would be great.

[MagicRat]

Most people set some kind of parameters when they consider a car, including:
Style:
Doors (2 or 4)?
Hatchback or trunk. ?
Big or small, ?
Suv, minivan or car.?

Use:
Do you want performance or economy, do you have to haul other people, kids or lots of cargo?
Manual transmission or automatic.?

So, try to answer these questions and we can give you some better suggestions.

However, I can suggest that, for that small amount of money, do not get too picky about color or style. Search for the best condition, lowest-mileage car you can find.

Some car styles are less popular than others and have lower prices, so often you can get a better car for the money. For example, compact station wagons cost less to buy than an equivalent sporty coupe or convertible.
Strangely enough, compact pick-up trucks seem to have a very low resale value.

Avoid very cheap luxury brands. Any Audi, BMW, Land rover, Cadillac, lexus, Lincoln etc that is $2000 will be worn-out and need lots of expensive work. Stick to brands known for reasonable prices and reliability, like Toyota, Honda, Chevy, Ford.

[akboss]

Get her a bicycle. It will be a lot more reliable than any $2K car...

Sorry...ha ha, I've been in this spot too so no worries, there are cars out there. I personally bought a 1989 Toyota Camry LE V6 for $1495 - I loved that old car, but it cost a lot more than that to maintain. I survived with it for 2 years though, albeit with new brakes, rad and tires.

If you're looking in this price range, find the best Honda Civic you can and make sure the timing belt has been changed. Civic came in all kinds of body styles, all mated with proven motors and transmissions - stick with the manual though, cheaper to fix.

[Jamesfranklin]

Good reasons to buy a used car:-

• You'll save money on insurance.
• Bigger bargains are possible for the smart used car shopper.
• Used cars are more reliable today than ever before.
• Some used cars are still under the factory warranty.
• Most new carmakers now sell certified used cars, which include warranties.
• The history of a used car can easily be traced using the vehicle identification number (VIN).
• If you buy from a private party, the negotiation process is less stressful.