As mentioned, on your budget you'll likely be buying a car from a private individual. You might find rural lots with cars in your range, ones that a dealer took as a $200 courtesy trade-in and then jobbed off to someone who was willing to deal with them as a low-margin business. Local "pennysaver" advertising papers are a good source for cheap cars privately sold. If you're at a university, there will probably be a local net news (usenet) "marketplace" group that would give you access to cars that members of the campus community are selling. I've bought two cars under $2K that route in the last six months. (Don't ask -- long, painful story.)

For what you can buy for between $1000 and $2000, you're not going to see a lot of difference in the quality of the car. I'd try to settle on the cheapest car that would meet your needs, saving money for repairs or, alas, having to write the car off and start over.

I don't know what prices will be like around UNC, but I'd think less expensive and in better shape than here in Upstate NY. Still, I'd imagine you'd be looking at cars 10 or more years old with 100K+ miles on them.

Hondas and Toyotas will command a premium. Mazdas, which I think are just as good, will be a bit less. Check out any Geo Prisms you might find, which are just rebranded Corollas but (re)sell for less. Small American cars, like the Chevy Cavalier and the Ford Escort or Tempo will be cheaper. Cheaper still, a mid-sized domestic sedan or even a full-sized (figurative) boat. For a short term investment, I'd lean towards the latter options.

Around here, 6 mos. of basic liability insurance would be maybe $125 or so. Figure, say, $100 for taxes, title and registration -- that's going to depend on how North Carolina manages such things.

Hope this helps. - Tom



posted by 24.58.9...

• Advice on buying a car (not a Saab, though...), Stefano, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 15:48:50
  • Re: Advice on buying a car (not a Saab, though...), Stefano, Sat, 17 Jan 2004 04:26:04
    • caddilacs are nice too, nt moore, Sat, 17 Jan 2004 09:40:16
      • Re: caddilacs are nice too, Stefano, Sun, 18 Jan 2004 05:38:34
        • Re: fees etc, Tom Young, Sun, 18 Jan 2004 06:07:01
  • large american boat sounds great..., rg, Fri, 16 Jan 2004 08:58:48
  • '86-'89 Acura Integra or '88-'91 Honda Prelude, SaabKen in Vancouver BC, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 21:33:23
    • So he can spend all his money changing timing belts?, Vlad, Fri, 16 Jan 2004 07:01:48
      • yeah, a new belt every 90,000 miles (+), Aero'ed, Fri, 16 Jan 2004 09:26:13
        • Re: but realistically, stevec, Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:13:52
  • good to hear that you're coming to the states..., nt moore, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 18:22:25
  • Re: Advice on buying a car (not a Saab, though...), Tom Young, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 17:28:27 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Advice on buying a car (not a Saab, though...), 91Aero.jr, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 16:27:09
  • Cheap cars....., Mike Lynch , Thu, 15 Jan 2004 16:16:33
    • Stefano, buy a Cavalier, I got one+, roman, Thu, 15 Jan 2004 16:49:48
      • Yes, Cavalier and Escort -- best cheap cars (+), Vlad, Fri, 16 Jan 2004 07:10:22

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