Looking for used car for Mom

[jjanders]

Someone totaled my Mom's car a couple days ago so I'm helping her look for a new one.

She is coming from a 1995 Corolla, she does not car about power, looks, or anything like that, basically she needs two things:

- Auto trans
- Reliability

We went looking around and here are some of the choices we've found, was hoping to get some opinions

- A few 2005 Hyundai Sonatas (4 and 6 cyl), ~60K, listing for around $8,800 pretty sure we could get them around $7.5K. Not sure about reliability of V6....unfortunately haven't seen any used Elantras

- A few 2005 Ford Focuses with around 50K, around same price as Sonatas above. The Focus seems to be recommended here a lot, not sure which years/motors are good/reliable, though.

- 2003 Corolla S around 60K, this would probably be over 9K and a little out of her price range (she would like another Corolla though)

Thoughts on the above? Anything else we should look at? Haven't seen many used Mazda3's, Cobalts, or stuff like that in her price range.

 

[angry hampster]

lincoln town car. seriously..2000-2004 should be easy to find in that range.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
lincoln town car. seriously..2000-2004 should be easy to find in that range.

Man speaks the truth. Bulletproof luxurious car. Saw a privately sold 03 Executive Series with 90k miles for just under 10 grand. Lincoln Towncar is the best bang for buck going.

 

[herm0016]

another very good car is an olds 88 or buick leSaber. they have the 3800 engine, one of the most reliable, fuel efficient engines ever built. i avg about 30 on the highway and around 25 in the city. I have a 99 olds 88 with 120k on it, it still looks great and runs awesome with absolutely no mechanical problems. you can find them for around 5k. I have put about 45k miles on mine.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune

Originally posted by: angry hampster
lincoln town car. seriously..2000-2004 should be easy to find in that range.

Man speaks the truth. Bulletproof luxurious car. Saw a privately sold 03 Executive Series with 90k miles for just under 10 grand. Lincoln Towncar is the best bang for buck going.

I've actually seen them going for much lower than that. Best deal in luxury cars on the market IMO.

 

[Demo24]

Except a Town car isn't exactly going to get very good gas mileage and judging by the cars they are looking at that is also a priority.

I'd say look for some Camry's or accords. I suspect you might be able to deal enough to get them down to your price range.

 

[jjanders]

Yeah Towncar is a bit big, looking more at Corolla/Camry sized.

We found a Solara w/ 80,000 miles for around $9K, was hoping to get something with less miles though.

However my Mom only drives like 6K a year so it's probably not that big a deal

 

[Vette73]

Look for a Pontiac G6 as well. Can be had cheap.
Nissan Sentra? Saturn Ion? Chevy Malibu?

 

[jjanders]

Yeah local GM dealer has a couple 2005 Malibus w/ around 30K miles, they are listing for around 10-11, not sure if we can get them down to around $8500 or so.

The V6 Sonata is the one my Mom currently likes the best after driving some, just not sure of the Hyundai V6 reliability/maintenance costs

 

[DeviousTrap]

Used Ford Fusion:

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/ctd/1055601210.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/1059891501.html

 

[VinylxScratches]

You could probably get another Toyota Corolla around that price with low mileage.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: jjanders
Yeah Towncar is a bit big, looking more at Corolla/Camry sized.

We found a Solara w/ 80,000 miles for around $9K, was hoping to get something with less miles though.

However my Mom only drives like 6K a year so it's probably not that big a deal

Buick Century or Regal. Get a Regal GS if she wants some extra pep.

 

[MovingTarget]

How about an Impala/Malibu? I'd go for a grand marquis personally as those really are bulletproof (former owner, btw). Gas mileage really isn't all that bad...

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: angry hampster

Originally posted by: jjanders
Yeah Towncar is a bit big, looking more at Corolla/Camry sized.

We found a Solara w/ 80,000 miles for around $9K, was hoping to get something with less miles though.

However my Mom only drives like 6K a year so it's probably not that big a deal

Buick Century or Regal. Get a Regal GS if she wants some extra pep.

The 3.8L v6 is legendary for its reliability....

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Buick Regal LS 3.8L & bulletproof

PT Cruiser 2.4L 4cyl

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Buick Regal LS 3.8L & bulletproof

PT Cruiser 2.4L 4cyl

the PT cruiser gets terrible gas mileage for a 4cyl and personally, I think it's hideous

 

[sindows]

Ford Fusion/Mazda 6/ Mercury Milan

 

[RU482]

05 Buick Century.

 

[desy]

Honda and Toyota will be very hard to find used at a bargain
4 cyl Sonata, Fusion are OK
Late model Focus or Elantra's would also be good
Pontiac Vibe is a hatchback Corolla, usually cheaper than a Matrix