I need a cheap commuter car....

I've had good luck with Ford Escorts. Bought a 91 for my son 3 years ago for $1100, I'm driving it now as a winter beater. It needed front brakes and tires otherwise it's still going strong at 129K. AC doesn't work but that doesn't matter much in the winter.



We found a better one for him last year, a 95 with 150K for $1600. We had to fix the alternator, cost $15 otherwise it's still going strong at 190K. AC works too.



Escorts are kind of fun to drive if they are stick shifts, are great in the snow, and good on gas, 30mpg or better easily. Easy to work on too. Plenty of parts available in junk yards.
 
A Jngrbrdman said,



The way you can determine how long a car is going to last is by looking at how many beat up ancient versions of it are still driving around.
Click to expand...



But I take that in a different direction: buy an old cop car. There's a reason why taxi companies use them. Do some research, get a good example, and you can have a decent driving, roomy, and reliable car for right around your $1K. Cheap and easy to fix, too. Yes, there are a lot of trashed junkers out there, but there are some nice ones too, especially those owned by P71 (Crown Vic) and 9C1 (Caprice) enthusiasts. I've had a few 9C1's and every one has been great for what it was.
 
And 9C1's are pretty quick for a 2 ton car (lt1 equipted ones), but ex cop caprices and crown vics go for about 3 grand. My perscription is a B-body, pre 91 (caprices, bonnevilles, parissienes, roadmasters, safari's, etc etc). I have 1985 Parissienne with a 305 in it, it isn't fast, but it's really comfy. Also, it was driven by a grandpa (as most were) so it has seen some really easy miles on it. My girlfriend got caprice also, which runs really strong and is in fairly good shape for $700. Also, if the 305 were to malfunction, SB chebby parts are DIRT FRIGGEN CHEAP! I have had my B-body for over 70K with no problem at all caprt a loose belt, otherwise thats it! You can get them for $2000-500.
 
My first car at 15 was an '87 Civic hatchback.



Clutch '96

Upholstry was bad in places = $15 seat covers

muffler was rusted out years before = Sawzall + $40 muffler from Autozone.

trim was falling off = pulled it off

Paint was horrible = well the paint just stayed horrible

AC didn't work = changed belt, unfreed the compressor, charged with a kit from $30 Autozone



Sold it to one of dad's friends as his son's first car.



Dad bought it back a year ago for $250 b/c he wrecked his truck. He keeps the back seats folded and has driven it for a year and a half.



Dad's a contractor/house builder. Any time he needs a truck, he pulls his eldest one out and uses that.



Odometer died in '98 when we sold it at 248,000. It's been around once since dad's been driving it again. God only know where it is between 400,000 and 500,000.



FYI the only work it's ever had done to it other than the "routine changes" (of which mufflers are on Honda's) It's only had:



water removed from in the cylinders '96

helicoil for 2 spark plugs '01



I'd say that's pretty damned good.



Can't go wrong with an old Civic. Just don't wreck. Only God can help you if it runs into somehthing larger than a trash can.

Like driving a Go-Cart...



**********



DO NOT buy a used truck for $1000!!!



It's standard market throughout the US that a running work truck costs $2500. 2000 is a steal. I simply wouldn't touch one under 2 grand. Problably not anything left to give at that point.
 
I bought my 88 Taurus wagon for $775 - and that came with a $200 solar panel on the roof powering a rooftop exhaust fan (keeps the car reasonably cool when parked in the sun, but looks weird)



Broke a water pump after 1200 miles from purchasing, but after 150k, that's not surprising - other than that, it runs just fine (well, it SHOULD - I haven't gotten around to that water pump yet, maybe this weekend...)
 
I bought a 85 ford ranger that was 2wd in 1995 as a freshman in college for $1700. Only problem I had was a broken odometer and speed ometer. I had the truck for five years and probably put $100 total into that truck. Maybe a 93 ranger for you?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top