Today's Mid Week Match-Up is a request from our friend Dr J (aka Julian) -- who you may remember from his time on the DT Radio Show. His son's Mazda 626 just cashed in its chips for the last time, so with a healthy budget of 1,000 smackeroos and a short commute (2.5 miles), let's help find a car for his kid (a high school senior.) in the Los Angeles area.
I found a real winner with this 1990 Buick Reatta offered for $1,300 in West Covina, CA via craigslist. With a cash offer you could probably haggle this guy down to less than a grand and drive home with another of GM's miserable failed attempts at making a sports luxury coupe.
What do you recommend? Comments below.
With a 2.5 mile commute in Southern Cal, I'd recommend this Schwinn Continental for $165 and save up another $2K over the summer.
ReplyDelete[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/01313_cHs8UveJZG0_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/].
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/bricklin/unspecified/1821649.html
DeleteOh man, I rode a Schwinn Varsity for a summer and it was SO DAMN HEAVY. Pretty sure that it wasn't steel tubing, just solid steel. Oy. That said a bike is the perfect answer for that commute, but is much less fun for the kid.
ReplyDeleteAs we're talking <1k, what location are we looking in since this one won't be worth going too far afield for?
Oh yeah, Los Angeles, California area.
DeleteEither this -
Deletehttp://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/5637052210.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00W0W_eudOsaegYyT_600x450.jpg"]
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00W0W_eudOsaegYyT_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
DeleteW-D just did one of these.
DeleteOr a vertible -
Deletehttp://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5629373828.html
[img src="http://images.craigslist.org/01717_aRJe1lV3W3U_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/5634333897.html
[img src="http://images.craigslist.org/01616_fyk2Ugh3xKK_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/01717_aRJe1lV3W3U_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
Delete[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/01616_fyk2Ugh3xKK_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELzA8zfcR8Q
DeleteI'd be on my way to get that Saab if it wasn't 2500 miles away
DeleteSome examples from the "A GM car will run badly for longer than most cars will run at all" school of beater shopping.
ReplyDelete1. Van or Astrovan? If he's going to college out of state next year, it would be great for packing everything. Also can double as temporary living quarters.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/5637109672.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00l0l_3CVAgHOQdWE_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
2. Saturn SC2 that has been miscategorized as an automatic.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/5637126779.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00D0D_PPKKJIL0JX_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
3. And the ultimate in mechanical cockroaches! It scurries, it looks like it's carrying several diseases, girls run away at the sight of it, but it may be the only thing to survive a nuclear war!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/5632074952.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00B0B_8l2WfWtcsMB_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
you can't beat a Cavalier for cheap wheels
DeleteI used to see Cavaliers as throw away pieces of garbage. The accessories and other components will fail long before the engine, transmission and brakes do... these damn things are like cockroaches.
Deleteget a bike, but get a good one
ReplyDeleteI used to work at a bike shop, giant builds a great bike. They also build a decent % of the other big name bikes.
No wait, get a Surly!
DeleteIf you dont know surly then check them out. Kick ass bikes designed by crazy bike people. Plus better street cred at college
But the selection of Pugsleys is just a bit lacking in LA this time of year.
Deletehttp://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/5626511509.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00c0c_eCHfzLIPv5N_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
tim...surly, you must be joking....
DeleteI still say buy a used bike for $100 - $200 and save your summer job money, so you can move up to the $3K used car bracket.
Deletehttp://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/5624300650.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00B0B_kaPMqR9s5Dc_1200x900.jpg" width="400px"/]
Maybe a compromise between bicycle and car:
ReplyDeletehttp://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mcy/5636209389.html
[image src="http://images.craigslist.org/00p0p_k2yRhmxLMED_600x450.jpg" width="400px"/]
Gianni is correct. The bike can then fit into the dorm room if he goes away to college. Don't reed to pay for a parking spot, insurance ect. Will then have 3-5k to get a real car.
ReplyDeleteIf he is set on a car get the Saab convertible posted above so he can learn how awesome they are and how to wrench.
Bike is answer, however I will vehemently disagree with you that you can't get a real car for $1000 - you won't be driving the newest car, but you can find something that will safely get you from A to B for years with a bit of hunting.
DeleteLong time CLer first time using a set price search!
ReplyDeleteVolvo in my hood