looking for a second car,daily driver

[pokertramp]

What would you do? I don't want to spend $850 on a used car and call it a day and end up with problems. I do not really care to have payments either but I could put that $850 down and get a nice used car with around, say, 130,000 and know it is in good shape and have about a $80 a week payment. My credit is shot and the only place I can go is a buy here pay here where they don't do credit checks. They only ask for proof of income and references.

Tell me what you think I should do...here is the car lot....I won't be doing this for a few months just getting ready in case I need to drive to Boston every day, 130 miles a day.


http://stateroadauto.com/inventory.php?vars=reset

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

i'd say any of the nissans out of that group of vehicles

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I will say any Nissan that has a 4 cylinder that is not an SR20, and a manual transmission. My favorites (may not be on the list) would be a D21 Hardbody pickup, D22 Frontier pickup, or a 1991-99 Sentra with the 1.6 liter GA16DE engine.

 

[pokertramp]

Yeah I love Nissans and I miss my D21 truck,,totaled it damnit...not my fault at all.

I wish I could drive a stick but I can't with the way my leg is now...So automatic for me...

So you think I should stay away from just buying a cheap car and get one with low payments for about 1 year??

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would stay away from dirt cheap cars as a general rule. They are always cheap for a reason and end up becoming a second project car. You just need something reliable and cheap to run, so I would make payments if you can find something decent. However, I would try to find a way to finance it without the buy here pay here lot. Those places are always full of patched together junk that is little better than a cheap beater. A private party sale has a better chance of getting you a good car for reasonable money. If you are going to have to go the buy here pay here route, stay with cars you know are good and reliable. Nissan truck, Sentra or Altima, Honda Civic or Accord, or even an old Toyota Tercel or pickup. Something that in general breaks down very infrequently if not completely neglected. The reason I state the above obvious cars is that they have very good electronics and engine management systems that tend to be stable and reliable. Something many domestic cars in your price range do not have and which will drive you to the poor house quickly. I would also avoid any European car that is not an older diesel Mercedes Benz with an indirect injection engine. Those are the most reliable vehicles ever made, especially the type W123 and W126 models with the OM-617 engine.