Used Cars Under $3K Suggestions?

[IanDMacDonald]

Looking for suggestions on a decent used car as an extra vehicle to keep the mileage low on our lease vehicles. No brand preference, but looking for mid, to full-size or possibly suv. Gas mileage is a concern, so a used Expedition is not on the list, lol. Maybe a 2000+ Chevy Impala, or Ford Taurus/Sable? Whatever you're thinking, let me know. Thanks.

[donebysunday]

Toyota

, any model, I'm sure you know what to listen for and how driving should feel.

[madmax-im]

Volvo

I've been a Volvo man since 2007 and I just picked this one up back in Aug...meticulously maintained with 197000 miles on it...$2500... '97 Volvo 960 their flagship ...the last of the RWD cars...the newer front wheel drive cars I'd avoid. This is my baby...Gas mileage is 22 mpg combined... safety and reliability are legendary as is ride quality...so smooooth

[tcoop]

I just bought a 1988 Ford F-250 4X4 super cab with a 460. Seats 6 and can carry a bike or two if needed for under $2500 and gets a whopping 11mpg!!

OK it's probably not on the list either.

Not sure how many seats you need, you could look for a VW golf diesel Mine gets 40+ mpg and has been very reliable (Jetta, Passat, etc.).

Toyotas that I have had in the past (Corolla and a truck ) get good gas mileage and ran great.

I also like the Ford Tempo that I used to own. It survived 5 teenage drivers!

I would also suggest getting one you don't mind being seen in. I had a Chevy station wagon fulfilled the needs for the family (8 seats) but hated to drive it. made me feel like an old man (I know vanity and all that).

It all comes down to your needs, smaller economy car with great gas mileage or a larger car to fit the family that gets ok mileage.

[jetmechmarty]

In that price range it isn't going to matter. Anything that has had regular maintenance and survived should be OK for a while. I have a 1998 Dodge Neon. I got it for free 8 or 9 years ago with 110,000 miles on it. It was smoking and I drove it that way until it developed a bad oil leak 20K miles later. I did a quickie rebuild without removing the engine. It cost me only a few hundred bucks and I drove it a long time. My wife drove it while I was traveling for work after her car got wrecked. The transmission failed and we had somebody rebuild it. Later, I gave it to my daughter. She drove it a long time, until the water pump failed and took out the timing belt. I had somebody fix it again. I gave it to my other daughter. She crashed it twice, used it as a trash bin and left it for dead. I cleaned it up and I'm driving it. It now has 278,000 miles on it. I probably haven't spent much more than $5K on it over all this time. It is bad ugly, but I'm not one to care. I just want to get there. Oh! The heat and air conditioning work fine. I can hang meat in there in the summer!

If your looking to drive a clunker, that assures me a lease is a very bad deal indeed.

[Diskman01]

Any late 90's early 2000s Buick LeSabre or Park Ave with the 3800 Series II engine would fit the bill nicely. Parts are cheap, easy to find, and they are fairly simple to work on. Mine seems to pull a solid 35MPG on the highway between Sioux Falls and Duluth on the interstate. All in quiet smooth comfort.

Prices on these sleds is pretty reasonable too. Can probably get all leather (Park Avenue) and loaded for 3K or less with these beasts. Make sure that the lower intake gaskets have been repaired on the 90's models with the 3800 II engine. Or, you can do the update yourself for about $150 and 2 evenings. Would be a good time to switch from DexCool to regular green coolant too.

Change the trans fluid every 15 - 20K miles and it will drive for decades.

[jetmechmarty]

If your looking to drive a clunker, that assures me a lease is a very bad deal indeed.

OMG, I can't believe I did that.

[crazy steve]

First-gen Ford Focus sedan; yes, this is a smaller car, but they ride/handle remarkably well (much better than the same-size imports), with a manual trans maintenance costs are low, and deliver great gas mileage. My ex had one, and at 250K it still didn't use any oil and delivered almost 40mpg on the highway. A nice example can be had for 3k or less easily...

[IanDMacDonald]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I just got rid of my gf's '06 Buick Lacrosse, which had the Series II, which did not do well on gas. I had a '98 Park Ave. Ultra, which had the supercharged Series II, and that was horrible on gas. Looking into anything newer than 2000, so anything goes. Chrysler Sebring/LHS/Concorde, Chevy Impala, Buick Regal, Ford Taurus/Sable, etc. So, basically mid to full-size.

[Bikes]

, any model, I'm sure you know what to listen for and how driving should feel.

^^^^++1

Have had Toyotas since 75......twenty five years as a foreign auto tech....
Getting ready to turn 200k on my Tundra.....
Rav4 or Camry.....
Second choice would be Honda......

[madmax-im]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I just got rid of my gf's '06 Buick Lacrosse, which had the Series II, which did not do well on gas. I had a '98 Park Ave. Ultra, which had the supercharged Series II, and that was horrible on gas. Looking into anything newer than 2000, so anything goes. Chrysler Sebring/LHS/Concorde, Chevy Impala, Buick Regal, Ford Taurus/Sable, etc. So, basically mid to full-size.

before I bought my Volvo ...for a year I drove a '04 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 200 hp 3800 Series III 6 cyl engine...it got very good gas miileage on the Hwy close to 30 mpg... in town only about 20 mpg. on the hwy @70 mph the tach reads 2000 rpms which i thought was pretty amazing the first time I saw that...its all in the gearing in the trans...

[Jerry]

My '01 Honda Accord ES (purchased used in '04 with 64K on it) has the 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission. Recently turned 345,000 miles. Regular maintenance, new timing belt and water pump at 180K, transmission fluid changed twice. Only problem I had is that the front brake rotors would start to warp every 35K miles, switched to a drilled design that seems to have cured that. PS, PB, A/C, CD/Cassette deck, cruise control, moon roof, power windows and locks, alloy wheels, ABS, (ES package) has stuff to make it a comfortable commuter car. Averages 32mpg at 75mph, uses no oil between changes. Still running original exhaust. Only problem I have is the power door lock switch on the driver's side has broken and I have not yet replaced it. On second replacement battery. Not a lot of character but is an economical and comfortable full-size sedan. Only thing I miss is heated seats which my F-150 has. I do use an over-the-seat heated pad in cold weather.

I commute about 112 miles a day so the mileage adds up fast.

[IanDMacDonald]

Hey Jerry- The Accord is on my list. Thank you.

[mikubuilder]

Ian, I don't think you will find an Accord in that price range that doesn't have 200k miles on it...I just did a swap for my F150 work truck, and picked up Lincoln Town car, fully loaded Cartier edition, a little bit better on gas than my truck, but the ride quality is a huge upgrade(obviously). My choice would be a Buick, you can find them around in your price range, and usually not too abused, especially if you can get it from someone in a retirement home

[motoman]

Hey Jerry- The Accord is on my list. Thank you.

........Toyota Camry would be at the top of my list..........4cyl. or V-6.