[lightbrotha2004]

open minded people please reply...I got about two thousand dollars to play wit and the only cars I can find in my area for that price range that I don't have to really fix up are two 2000 dodge intrepids one is a base model with 100k, the other is a r/t 150k, the other car is 1995 lincoln continental 110k, and I think a 2g lumina 120k.

 

[MonteCarloSS86]

Malibu? Cavalier? Sunfire?

 

[lightbrotha2004]

I can't do small cars no matter what. I lived with a Cirrus for a few years and I can't go any smaller and Mali's in the area the are in decent shape are going for upwards of 3g

 

[Neanderthal]

Any Taurus available? Lots of them out there and they depreciate fast.

 

[RoGuE]

Any Taurus available? Lots of them out there and they depreciate fast.

Taurus definitely. Maybe even find yourself an old Taurus SHO to play with. And if that Intrepid is a base then it has the 2.7L which is an engine you probably want to steer clear of.

 

[FAB454]

Taurus definitely. Maybe even find yourself an old Taurus SHO to play with. And if that Intrepid is a base then it has the 2.7L which is an engine you probably want to steer clear of.

IMO SHOs are a pain to work on, any Intrepid w/over 100K isn't worth $50. unless you like walking.

Continental isn't bad, What year/motor in the Lumina?

 

[01sunfire01]

i would go with the lumina monte carlo grand prix grand am

 

[lightbrotha2004]

saw couple SHO's both needed new engines and did see others that were in the range but just didn't get them time of day so to speak...have to give them another look...and the lumina if i remember was a 3.1...if i can i want to find an LTZ with the 3.8. And all Pontiac's (save Bonnevilles), Mitsu's, Saabs, and BMW are high risk on my insurance

 

[Neanderthal]

IMO SHOs are a pain to work on, any Intrepid w/over 100K isn't worth $50. unless you like walking.

Continental isn't bad, What year/motor in the Lumina?

ANY SHO will have been hot rodded. Also despite engine-by-Yamaha I think SHOs had lots of camshaft issues.

You do not want a 2.7 Chrysler motor. If you buy one with 100K+ it's probably been replaced or rebuilt. Check ebay, there are many LH cars (Intrepids and Concordes) and you will note many are for sale cheep because they need a heart transplant.

A Buick Century (or Regal to lesser degree) is something that usually gets easy miles, decent maintenance, and its depreciation chart looks like a rock falling off a cliff.

 

[RoGuE]

ANY SHO will have been hot rodded. Also despite engine-by-Yamaha I think SHOs had lots of camshaft issues.

The only SHOs that had camshaft problems were the 96-99 V8s which can be fixed by welding the camshaft to the cam sprocket. The 89-95 SHO was the V6 that was available with the much preferred 5 speed. Those are pretty reliable engines actually.

 

[Hitman1970]

I actually liked driving the few Grand Ams I did during the late 90s as rentals. What are they going for now?

Mind you back then I was sporting a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage (a former rental that I got with 7000 miles for $6995 in 1991) that was silver with a no longer silver hood as my daily driver.

 

[Ultimate1]

Jeep Cherokee 2WD with the High Output 4.0L I6 will fall under that price, good luck. Out of those 2 though I'd choose the lincoln. It has more soul than the lumina.

 

[1969CamaroSS350]

If you're looking for something that will be pretty reliable, out of those car, the Lumina seems like it's the best bet. The Lincoln, although a nice car, will most likely be a car you will keep spending money on. Lumina's are basic cars that are very reliable.

 

[Uzzy]

Stay away from the 2.7L Intrepids! Otherwise, they're nice cars.

 

[likearock00]

Just out of curiousity, what are you driving now that would make you want to buy another?

 

[lightbrotha2004]

My grand dad's Astro or my fathers Montana. I finally gave up on my little Cirrus. The Astro is running on borrowed time and the Montana is about 5k or a month from giving up the ghost.

 

[likearock00]

If you have one running, do you think driving one until it dies can buy you some more time to save? How much more do you think you could save up if the van does die in 5k miles? Just some ideas to think about.

Do you think you could take out a loan and buy something better? A vehicle nowdays is critical, and I'd hate to see you throw your money away on a old car when you could actually have a decent one for little money every month.

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

How the heck do you have a car a "month from death"... I mean just fix what is wrong with it...

 

[gmlifer]

I would go with the Lumina. I worked for a company years ago that used Luminas for their company cars. I got a new one every 2 years or after 80k. I had great service out of all 3 I drove and they were comfortable and fun to drive.

My nephew has had his Lumina since High School and now has 165k on it and still going strong.

 

[lightbrotha2004]

If you have one running, do you think driving one until it dies can buy you some more time to save? How much more do you think you could save up if the van does die in 5k miles? Just some ideas to think about.

Do you think you could take out a loan and buy something better? A vehicle nowdays is critical, and I'd hate to see you throw your money away on a old car when you could actually have a decent one for little money every month.

Well I was taking out a loan for the $2,000 because i think that is the most my credit will allow. If I were to go with something more expensive I would go almost new with a Fusion, Five Hundred, Impala, LaCrosse Bonneville or something along those lines.

How the heck do you have a car a "month from death"... I mean just fix what is wrong with it...

My father is very rough on cars and does not do requiredmaintenance like he should...case in point i've takin it for the last two oil changes and both times he was well over 10k beyond the limit. The suspension is gone at both ends, the steering is going, electronics are shot that van is about to check out anyday. And we would fix it but they are already putting more into it than it is currently worth. And at the rate he's heading he'll have 5k on it in about a month and a half.

I would go with the Lumina. I worked for a company years ago that used Luminas for their company cars. I got a new one every 2 years or after 80k. I had great service out of all 3 I drove and they were comfortable and fun to drive.

My nephew has had his Lumina since High School and now has 165k on it and still going strong.

Always like Luminas aunt has had hers since i think 95 or 96 (last body style) and its still running. Just too soft for my taste in the low trim levels if I can find one with the LTZ package or swap out some parts with a GP I will do that.