Ok so instead of a mini van how about a 4cyl???

Instead of a van how about a good deal on a 4cyl car??
What should I buy? Anything to avoid? I have little experience with compact cars so I have no clue what to look at/for.
Needs to be dependable
Needs to need no or minimum work to be a daily
Must be 4 door.
Prefer 4cyl but v6 could work.
Would like to stay American but you can't argue with a 300k track record for toyota's
NO fords
No AWD

Looking for lower miles and to spend under $5k (financing) at a dealer or under $2k private sale.

Salt on the caddy is KILLIN me over here!!!!

I'd look for a Geo Prizm. Cheap as hell, and it's really a Corolla. I have friend who owns two of them, a crappy-ass one with 300K that he leaves unlocked all over the place, and a "nicer" one from the late 90s. They keep his "nice" cars from getting used up. Sure you could get a Civic or something cooler with a 4 cyl, but it would probably be less practical and cost a hell of a lot more...lol

Saturn L200



My friend has had two of them, they take a freakin beating! Stupid canister oil filter but other than that I had no complaints over the many times I've driven both of them with good reason. Decent power for a four banger too. You might hear some negativity from others but I like them. He rarely has to get anything fixed. Good cars and that's my vote for this arguement!

Although, Matt's suggestion of the Chevy Corolla is good too. They run forever but you'll notice the difference in the comfort from the caddy to the prizm more than the caddy to the Saturn.

90-92 Prizm/corolla ........ cheap to maintain, cheap parts, 30 mpg.

Picked one up a year ago for a $1000 , 88' auto with a carb. had 110k on it. I did plugs, oil, filters, filler neck and drove it for a year and have not done a thing since. I think I spent more on paint making my car look retarded than fixing it. Ive needed brakes all around since I got it, up to 123k miles now, average 30 mpg driving it everyday to work. cant complain


Any decent corolla or prizm under $2000 with 150k or less is a good deal. The market for any 4 cyl sedan with decent mileage and in good condition is in the sellers hand. Check www.pepperellautocenter.com ...... they are down the street from my shop. I do pre buy inspections for them, no affiliation. I make & break a lot of deals for them. Most cars are priced right and are a good deal, I'd say about 2 out of 3 are worth buying if your mechanically inclined.

Loved my 94 Accord EX sedan.. 2.2vtec, 5-speed. Got great mileage and had a decent amount of power for what it was. Very comfortable on the highway at 75 too!

Bam?

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/3576354737.html

Bull wrote:

Bam?

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/3576354737.html

YES!

Surprisingly well optioned too! My friends dad used to roll one of those things around! I remember riding in the back seat lol! His was much more....omni and utilitarian.

I would totally drive that thing, lol. I saw that ad a few days ago actually, I type "Omni" into CL for the hell of it every so often.

Could toss some 4-lug early "pizza wheels" from a Daytona on there....

It's clean, low miles, stick, old enough to be neat even though it is a little 4 cyl dinker, and it's 4-door so car-seat friendly. Probably sips gas, too.

A friend back in college had an Omni GLH. Fun little car.