Looking for a new car

[Will Wood]

Need a new car.
Since I just got in an accident, I want to pick something that while it's base price remains low, so does the insurance for it. Gas milage is a nice second..

What would anyone recomend under $2,000 for a good car to pick up to get the best deal on insurance? I only plan to have it for a few years, maybe 4 or so. And I would really only be driving it during the summer, not while I'm in school. So I'd say it would really only get "average" use about half of the year.. so it doesn't have to last forever.

[Gr0dy]

you could probaly get a honda civic insurance is low but im not too sure about mileage. Also maybe a ford escort, my mom has had an escort for about 8 years now, really no problems except a few flat tires from letting my brother drive it and the a/c broke once but it was an easy fix.

[Linkwarner]

I dont know exactly what you want, do you want to drive faster then the pack, fall behind, or just have a good car?
92 Mitsubishi Eclipse

[TheDuelist]

A nice Toyota Corolla would do fine. They are great cars. I know several people who have driven them for several hundred thousand miles without problems. Change the oil and do regular PM and you should never have a problem.

[imstoiched!]

You don't leave much maneuver room in you requirements.

For under 2K, your gonna be looking at an 80's to early 90's car and that's a stretch for the 90's part.

Honda's have AWEFULLY good re-sale values but can be found if you know where to look.
Toyotas are a good bet. Tercel and Corollas.
Mazda 323's and Proteges +
Don't forget stripped down small size trucks back before they had extra cabs and stuff

Try a brand-specific forums 'cause the usually have a classified section. While there, you can also research the model you are interested in.

[thecavemankevin]

i know where you can find a perfectly good....err, semi good...err.....Let me show you the new model S2000 by Honda, they call it the F.U.B.A.R. S2000. Here is a pic of one, and i happen to know a guy here on AO that might be able to hook you up with this very model (although he is banned right now, so it might be difficult to get ahold of him).

[Thordic]

I liked my Saturn SL2. The resale on them is crap because everyone looks down at Saturns, but my Saturn was reliable and got good gas mileage (I got up to 40 mpg on the highway).

It was also fun to drive. Its only 124HP, but its a 2400lb car, so its not too slow and it handles really well.

I beat the absolute hell out of mine and it never complained. I am absolutely amazed that car didn't fall apart considering what I did to it.

I hit a wheel on the highway (not just a tire, but the whole rim too) at 55+ MPH and all I need was an alignment. I drove the car down to the fields at the old PBX Battlegroundz (Not the best idea if you didn't have 4WD) and hit a few rocks along the way. I did a 360 on a snowcovered highway and smacked up onto the curb. I got the car airborne a few times on this hill near my house where theres railroad tracks on a steep hill.

The suspension was absolutely shot but never failed on me. Plus, since the car is all Rubbermaid, you can kick the crap out of it and it bounces back.

[Lohman446]

Need a new car.
Since I just got in an accident, I want to pick something that while it's base price remains low, so does the insurance for it. Gas milage is a nice second..

What would anyone recomend under $2,000 for a good car to pick up to get the best deal on insurance? I only plan to have it for a few years, maybe 4 or so. And I would really only be driving it during the summer, not while I'm in school. So I'd say it would really only get "average" use about half of the year.. so it doesn't have to last forever.

As far as deals on cars go I paid just over that for my 02 Taurus (but then again Im a dealer). The resale value on Taurus's suck because, well there a Taurus. Just don't get out of the base engine - the 3.8 in the 90's sucked, the SHO engines never proved to be good, and there have some been issues with the transmissions mated behind the 24V engines. YOu asked for good used car, low insurance - gas mileage isn't great, I get right around 30MPG but its not that bad either. It seems to me, value for money, that the Taurus seems to be the buy around here. There are nicer cars, faster cars, better cars, but some of us don't have any desire to spend any amount of money we don't have to on a car.

[brianlojeck]

you know, my wife's 1990 ford Escort hatchback still runs decently, and bluebooks under $500, so you could buy 4 of them for your 2000 budget. she just got a Matrix, but her dad drives the escort to work every day. this car has nearly 300k miles on it, 52k of which were put on in one year.

my 1990 Bronco II still runs as well, similar bluebook, although it got a new $2000 trannie about 5 years ago. This truck has over 300k on it.

ford has a bad name, but both these cars have treated me well.

[evildead420]

Fords suck, Saturns suck, Toyotas are great, hondas are good too. Parts are more available at a honda or toyota. Fords and saturns cost alot to fix.

[Lohman446]

Fords suck, Saturns suck, Toyotas are great, hondas are good too. Parts are more available at a honda or toyota. Fords and saturns cost alot to fix.

Maybe where you live

[Thordic]

Toyotas and Hondas are also more expensive, as far as used cars go. Resale value is high. Resale value on Saturns and Fords is lower. He could get a newer car with less mileage for a better price.

Also, I havn't noticed any maintenance for my old saturn / current mustang being any higher than that of anyone I knows hondas or toyotas. I declare shenanigans.

[brianlojeck]

shenanigans indeed.

He is right on one count though... Toyota's do rock pretty hard. I've been completely impressed with my wife's Matrix. This is, however, about a factor of 10 more money then the poster is asking for.

my advice would be to get a rear-wheel drive vehicle built on a full frame with power nothing. auto/manual is left as a decision for the reader. if you're looking for cheap you want as few fancy parts as you can find, because there's less to go wrong... maybe an old truck or a small suv (blazer/jimmy/broncoII, etc...)

[Bear_Claw]

You want a reliable Vehical cheap on inshuance and easy on fuel for under 2k.

Look at a early 90's late 80's Ford ranger with a 2.3 four banger and the 5 speed Trans.
Thats about as reliable cheap vehical your gona find.

[PyRo]

3rd gen camaro, you cannot kill them