Knucklehead97 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Been searching around for a daily driver. And I think I've decided I want a small stickshift car. So, I want some peoples opinions! What small cheap cars have you guys had good experiences with? Currently I'm looking at a 2004 Hyundai Elantra with 150k on the odometer. Anybody ever dealt with one? Not sure how I feel about Hyundai, just keeping my options open. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 We picked up a 2007 Ford Focus in February of last year. When looking for one of these, always be looking for the dual cam engines. Ours is a four door hatch back, four cylinder, automatic, and gray. Zippy little car and does great for mileage. Otherwise, it might as well have a big bar code on the side and a label that just says "car". Nothing really fancy about. Perfect car for my wife and I though! It gives me no reason to do anything with it but maintain it and drive it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I have a 2010 Caliber, 5 speed, with 33k on it that I'd sell you. It is my wife's daily. I personally like the car. She just doesn't want it anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 I have a 2010 Caliber, 5 speed, with 33k on it that I'd sell you. It is my wife's daily. I personally like the car. She just doesn't want it anymore. I appreciate the offer, but I doubt that I have the cash for it. Or the insurance payments lol :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 And I'm honestly not looking for anything special. Just a daily. I was asked earlier by someone if I wanted a "muscle or import" car. And I looked at them and said I just want a reliable daily. Just to get to school and work and take a girl out every once in awhile. If I could find a Nissan Sentra like my mom bought last year, I would jump on it like crazy. I just can't kill that car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 What sort of budget are you looking at? It seems like any modern commuter car that has had the oil changed on time should see 200k with out a problem. The only cars I have experience with is my wife's 02 Camry and a 97 Miata that I had before my MJ. I really miss the Miata and regret selling it. It was a total blast to drive every day. They are cheap cars with a lot of online support, and they are fun. The Camry is turning over 235k miles and everything works great except it burns a quart of oil every 3k miles. Brakes, tires, spark plugs, serpentine belt, headlights, starter and battery are the only parts ever replaced. We are fixing to replace it with something AWD/4wd. We would let it go real cheap if you are interested. With a fresh oil change I'd trust the car to take me to Alaska and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 I've got about 2300$ tops. I was hoping to find something with around 150k on the clock or less (tough in that price range, but already found it doable) because I put a lot of miles on a car and would love to find something that will last at least 4 years or so without much worry. I appreciate the offer, though! If you were closer I would definitely talk more with you about the Camry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnc1991 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 A few years ago I was in the same boat. Commuting in a F-350 wasn't ideal with diesel being almost $5 a gallon. Started looking for a beater. Ended up buying an 01 neon with 240k + miles on it. Was used as a commuter it's whole life an was hoping it would make it a year at most. Paid the man $1000 and drug it home. Its been almost 3 yrs and I still can't kill it. It's almost to 300k miles now with minimal maintenance and only a few repairs. I think basically anytging that's simple with a 4 cylinder engine is a good bet. Japanese is probably better as most of them are extremely reliable, but I've been surprised by my little neon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5204214058.html here's the Elantra that kind of caught my eye. Guy said I could have it for 2k. KBB is 1866 on it, so I figure I'll offer 19 and take it home. REALLY clean from the pictures. And new tires. Only thing keeping me from looking at it is the Hyundai part... just never really heard good things about Hyundai and Kia. I'm definitely staying 4 Cylinder. Almost every little car I've seen with a 4 cylinder just can't be killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Get a Honda...as much as I hate those rice cookers they have killer gas mileage.... Got a coworker with a 95 civic and he's getting close to 20 mpg.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 20 MPG out of a civic? I have a buddy that gets close to 40 out of his! I would definitely prefer Nissan, Honda, or Toyota. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I would look at this Honda CRV: http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5243096577.html At $2K, the price is attractive for a 2007. But have to wonder if it seems too good to be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Last summer one of my co-workers was driving a similar vintage Elantra with around 250,000 miles on it. Frankly, I was shocked. But she drove it all the way out here from the GTA (about 1500 miles) and then made it back there at the end of the summer. It wasn't much to look at, but it ran well enough. But beyond that one experience, I would tend to stay away for much the same reason you are. But no real reason, just the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 COROLLA :D I swear my opinion isn't bias but In truth both of the toyota my family has owned have been good to us. we only ditched our 89 tercel at 300k cause someone rear ended my dad and killed the car(this was about 11years ago though). and my corolla has been trouble free for the three months that i've had it, and i may or may not drive like a race car since it's the best handling car i own. but really any late 80's to mid 90's japanese car in decent shape is a good buy, at least in my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 I would look at this Honda CRV: http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5243096577.html At $2K, the price is attractive for a 2007. But have to wonder if it seems too good to be true. waiting for a text back on this one. It's got me wondering what tranny is in it considering it says manual yet in the pictures its an auto... who knows. Really wish the Hyundai was a Honda. It would be sold if it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5238876385.htmlanyone got any experience with 4 cylinder S10's? Gas mileage, reliability, ect? Be a step down from the MJ for sure but I would enjoy still having a place for my tools/ability to carry big stuff. Also 89k for that cheap is amazing. Just deer damage, easily fixed from a junkyard run eh? Opinions!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Well after researching the 4 cylinder that came in S10's, I've decided against it. To low gas mileage and power for a pickup truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I had a 98 4 cyl Sonoma ext. Cab with a 5 speed...I loved it...double the gas mileage than my Comanche (4cyl) and WAY more reliable.... In a year alone I put over 30k miles and it still ran like a beast even with 31" tires.... Most common problems was the fuel pump where the rubber hose connects to the plastic line deteriorated and I had to replace it and the valve cover with the internal pcv line up top When it stops working you'd have to source the valve cover from a jy....id still have it till this day but I traded it for a 98xj..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Hmm, I may actually look more into it then. Everywhere I looked said the 2.2 was way underpowered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Well you can't really expect much from a 4cyl.... It's not a Subaru or lancer to expect 300hp.... But its dependable, gas efficient, and it takes a little to make it look half decent.... I once had 20-80 pound bag of concrete...yes the rear was close to hitting the floor but the engine and trans didn't complain and I drove it 40miles to my destination with no problems Not the best pic but here's a pic of my old one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 i've had an 05 auto civic for the better part of 5 years now and put about 100k miles on it. besides the head gasket failing at 130k, its been a very reliable car. i have consistently gotten 35-38mpg since the day i bought it. i need a daily commuter car since i was putting 150 miles on a day in an MJ. if i had to do it all over agian, i would buy a civic but a manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSimon Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 When looking at old cheap cars with high mileage, brand is not as important as care and maintenance. A well cared for Neon could be a much better car than a beat on Civic. You'll have to sort through a lot of junk before you find a suitable DD in your price range .... but they ARE out there. And why not a Cherokee? You can easily get a nice XJ in your price range. You get 4x4, excellent dependability, and they are super easy to work on. Not to mention good re-sale value. A $2k XJ right now will still be worth about the same in a few years if you take good care of it. Clean, good running XJs kind of bottom out at $2k. Gas mileage isn't that great, but gas is cheap right now and I'd bet you don't drive all THAT much to really feel the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 ^^^ This. Look see what's #4 in this list. http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/the-ten-most-dependable-cars-you-can-buy-on-ebay-for-le-1640355343 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 I actually do drive a bunch. 25 miles one way just for work and I should start school soon which is further. I would love to have a Cherokee, but I just havent had good luck with Jeeps lately and want something different to drive for work. I'm currently sitting on the trunk of my moms Sentra waiting for a tow truck to get my moms Liberty which the starter that burnt out... I love how much response I get even on situations that don't involve Jeeps :D http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5244279991.html Hate that it's a Kia. But love the mileage and miles on it. http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5229568046.html That's what I REALLY want to get. But, the high miles on it is to risky for me. I love BMW's and always have wanted a small stickshift hatchback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/5245186736.html Texting the guy about this one in the morning. Good year, reliable brand and model. Not sure the miles, but we'll see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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