Chevy Cavalier

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L.D.S.

The Bakersman
Aug 14, 2006
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Mizzourah
#22
For 4 grand you can buy MANY DIFFERENT CARS. Not just a Civic or a Cavalier. You can pick up a 90's model Dodge Stealth for less than that. They are sister cars to the 3000gt by Mitsubishi and much like the Civic, their parts in abundance. You can also easily find a mid-90's Buick Roadmaster, Chevrolet Caprice Classic, or Oldsmobile Classic with a V8.

They get anywhere between 18-28 mpg, are four doors, and the 94-96 models have the extremely reliable (less Optispark) LT1 motor. My Impala has 125k miles on it and drives just the same as it did with 50k miles. Don't allow the Honda boys on here to tell you that's the most reliable car on the planet. I've had cars that weighed more than a thousand pounds than a Civic, had twice the litre's and pistons, and beat them in gas mileage.

Every car has a lemon factor. Your best bet is to take someone who knows a lot about cars when you go shopping for a car. It will save you months and years of money pit issues.

Mazda's 929's and 626's are fairly reliable and their in abundance. You can find these car all over the place for less than you'd think. They are fairly nice looking cars that came with plenty of interior options. Take your time and don't buy the first thing that comes down the tube. And in my personal opinion, don't buy a Cavalier. Just because there's a shit ton of parts out for it doesn't make it any easier to fix. The same goes for a Civic.
 
Jun 19, 2004
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#23
My mom bought a Cavelier a year ago with 100k for $2000, only thing that went out was the alternator, which ran $100 new and took maybe 5 mins. at the most to replace.....
 
May 5, 2006
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#24
Good lookin out, I still haven't pulled the trigger yet. I know this one guy who works at an impound that can hook me up. At an impound if you don't get your impounded car out within 30 or so days, your car gets auctioned off by them which go for hella cheap. I think imma do that. The original poster should try that to.
 
Feb 26, 2006
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#25
You can pick up a 90's model Dodge Stealth for less than that. They are sister cars to the 3000gt by Mitsubishi and much like the Civic, their parts in abundance.
my mechanic told me mitsubishi used the same engines as dodge. only the 3000gt and evo have different engines.
 

MKB

Sicc OG
Dec 19, 2002
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#29
liability is just a matter of how well you take care of it. all cars will run forever as long as you maintain it.
Thats true of you beat the hell out of your car and never keep up on the maintenance you can't expect the car to last forever. And every car has its issues my neighbor had like a 2001 Honda Accord that he bought brand new and at 60k miles the transmission went out. I guess a certain year Accord had major problems with the transmission and they will just keep going bad around 60k miles.
 

phil

Sicc OG
Apr 25, 2002
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#30
ill give you a little help here. if youre selling a car, use nada, kelly blue book, etc... but if youre BUYING a car, always go to edmunds.com and get the true market value for the car youre looking for. excellent bargaining tool. i got a lexus es 300 for 1500 but the blue book on it is 3500.
 
Jan 15, 2007
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#31
i bought it from a dealer, outside and inside looks clean just a tiny lil dent on the back and they threw in brand new tires and i paid 3500 for the car then 450 for all the dmv shit ... i know it aint the best lookin car but it got low miles and looks like the last owner took hella good care of it.... thanx for all the info tho.
 

Joey

Sicc OG
Jul 2, 2002
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#32
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/637862285.html

Go with a camry its your best bet, their are tons of them on craigslist, for 4000 $ gravy one's too....A camry should last you 250,000 miles if you dont hammer it in the ground...good gass milege also...I use to sell cars man,,,,,We use to sell caveliers to people with bad credit...Dosent mean its a bad car, but it shouldnt be your first choice...
 

Joey

Sicc OG
Jul 2, 2002
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#33
i bought it from a dealer, outside and inside looks clean just a tiny lil dent on the back and they threw in brand new tires and i paid 3500 for the car then 450 for all the dmv shit ... i know it aint the best lookin car but it got low miles and looks like the last owner took hella good care of it.... thanx for all the info tho.
Didnt see your post.....Good luck! and congrats on the ride..!
 
Jan 5, 2006
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#34
i copped my last car from craigslist.. $800 for 97 explorer.. with 84k miles. Just needed to flush out the radiator.. and replaced the heads.. an extra $200 later it was running like new. So i paid $1000
 

MKB

Sicc OG
Dec 19, 2002
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#35
i copped my last car from craigslist.. $800 for 97 explorer.. with 84k miles. Just needed to flush out the radiator.. and replaced the heads.. an extra $200 later it was running like new. So i paid $1000
You can always get a cheap ass car if you can do the work on it. Most people don't want to touch a car and a lot of people only want to take it to a dealer for repair. My dad bought a 2000 intrepid with a blown engine and the guy that sold it told him the dealer wanted like $6000 when the car is only worth like 5,000. He is gonna swap in the bigger more reliable 3.5l engine for the 2.7 once he finds one and he should have a nice car for around $1,200 once everything is done.
 
Apr 25, 2002
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#36
Thats true of you beat the hell out of your car and never keep up on the maintenance you can't expect the car to last forever. And every car has its issues my neighbor had like a 2001 Honda Accord that he bought brand new and at 60k miles the transmission went out. I guess a certain year Accord had major problems with the transmission and they will just keep going bad around 60k miles.
Yesir, there was a recall on 2001 Accords cause of the transmission will go out. I see a lot of them for sale and most will say new transmission etc....
 
Aug 12, 2002
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www.veronicamoser.com
#37
don't buy a grand am. that's my only advice for you.

if you're going to buy a honda buy it from an older person. they seem to take more care of their vehicles than a person who's into the import scene.


buy whatever you want. as long as it has low miles, good on gas, and gets you from point A to point B you should be fine.
I had an '01 and never had a complaint...had it for 4 years.