Tough Desision

[GA-Guy]

I had a difficult decision dropped on me a couple days ago. My elderly aunt wanted to do something nice for me before she's gone so she told me that she would buy me a car. Budget $10-12K tax, tag, title and insurance.

Now, I have been driving this Camry for 4 years and ~76,000 miles. Bad compression on cyls 3&4, worn suspension, bad emission controls, cracked exhaust, minor body damage etc... and I still love the damn thing. My initial reaction was " I'd rather fix my Camry with that money" but she's probably not going to let me go through with that so, I guess I'm looking for a new ride.

I'm thinking of getting something comparable to the G3/4 Camrys. Compact-midsized sedan with a 4cyl and MT prefferable. Reliabillity, fuel economy and ease of maintainence are paramount.

I have checked out a couple Civics and Corollas and I can honestly say that I do not like Civics. I do not like them aesthetically, or tactily. Corolla is prefferable but seems to be hard to track down a G9/e120/130 with low milage around here. G10/e140 is out of my price range. I am planning on testing som Sentras too. Will also be looking into Subaru.

Chrysler/Dodge have a bad reputaion for reliabillity (neon; I'm looking at you) so out the window they go. Car makers that have gone out of business (pontiac, saturn, oldsmobile, etc...) are also a no-no due to lack of replacement parts. German cars (Audi/VW, BMW, Mercedes) are also out because of maintainence costs. Ford/Chevy are on my watch list but I am a bit wary.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. New Camrys (G6) are completely out. Monsterous, hulking, buick-sized behemoths mascarading as economy cars. Not my cuppa tea. Same goes for newer Accords, Maximas etc...

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

[SilverSoarer]

You got 76K in 4 yrs - chances are you are ahead.

Suspension is $240 in parts to replace. Exhaust welding/repair is not that bad under $200.

How much can you get for trade-in + 10-12k will determine what you can buy in terms of a used Corolla or Camry.

[GA-Guy]

Yeah, pizza delivery will rack up a lot of miles. Retired from that profession currently so my anual milage should be lower than that from now on.

I do find myself lusting for Tokico springs/struts and a redtop beams + 5spMT though.

Edit:

chances are you are ahead

What do you mean by that?

[ghettosled]

keep the camry as a beater and buy a second vehicle.

[Mister_Perkins]

For a 1996, the dealership will only give you 400-500.00 towards a trade in.

I second Keeping the 96 as a beater, and getting a nice car. With that money, you can buy a Gen 3/4 and have the entire car re-done to OEM Quality and have it last forever.

[Safari Wagon]

Accord? Integra?
Subaru?

[SilverSoarer]

Originally Posted by GA-Guy

Yeah, pizza delivery will rack up a lot of miles. Retired from that profession currently so my anual milage should be lower than that from now on.

I do find myself lusting for Tokico springs/struts and a redtop beams + 5spMT though.

Edit:


What do you mean by that?

Standard total operating costs are (at the minimum) $0.10 per mile.

76k equates to $7600, if you paid less then that when you bought the car you are ahead financially.

[carsrus]

12k can get you a nice ride. I bought a 3 year old fusion for 12.5k out the door with 36k miles. My buddy has a dealership so I got auction pricing plus I threw in 500$ for him. Its been a great car so far. Great MPG, also looks sharp.

Dont limit yourself. Used car dealers have gone nuts since Cash for Clunkers. 12K can easily get you a nice, low mileage car. Dont pay 12k if it was over 50k miles. At least if its not luxury and a loaded econo car is far from luxury. Look for a used car dealer that is willing to take you to auction. They'll buy the car, deliver it to the dealer and sell it to you without their 20% markup. You be amazed at the actual cost of used vehicles. Stealerships make big money.

[bigbird]

sounds liek an easy decision. if teh insurance costs are low then keep the camry as a dd/beater till it dies and get yourself something newer but reliable and nice. i got my top of the line accord for 12K and it's reliability makes it a perfect dd/fun car. there are other cars that will do that of course but thats the direction i would go.

[Silent Runner]

Nobody suggested a Gen4 Camry? Personally, the more I look at them, I'm even starting to like the Gen5. In whatever, trim. Even Corollas started looking like little 7/8th scale Camry's by then, and would prob be in that price range.

[GA-Guy]

Originally Posted by SilverSoarer

Standard total operating costs are (at the minimum) $0.10 per mile.

76k equates to $7600, if you paid less then that when you bought the car you are ahead financially.

It was a lot less than that even with all the work that's been done to her(engine,trans,tires,brakes etc...). I've been getting about oh, 23-28 city and 30-35 hwy (with bad comp on 2 cyls) so I guess my expectations for gas milage are kinda high. Then again Gen3 w/ 5S is rated 21/27 so I guess it depends on how you drive.

Like I said, I'm still looking and will keep y'all posted when I make my decision.

[GA-Guy]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

Nobody suggested a Gen4 Camry? Personally, the more I look at them, I'm even starting to like the Gen5. In whatever, trim. Even Corollas started looking like little 7/8th scale Camry's by then, and would prob be in that price range.

Gen4 Camry?hmmmmmm......maybe. My next-door neighbor has one and I was gonna ask him to let me test drive it (not for sale, research).

I think those corollas came out in 02 or so. That's the G9/E120/E130? corolla I mentioned. Chassis codes. Like I have a G3.5/XV10 Camry.

[fenixus]

the updated EPA (yes it has changed) for '96 gen3 with 5s-fe is 18/25 MPG (automatic trans).

somehow '00 gen4 5s-fe auto is rated at 20/28 MPG.

www.fueleconomy.gov

Originally Posted by GA-Guy

It was a lot less than that even with all the work that's been done to her(engine,trans,tires,brakes etc...). I've been getting about oh, 23-28 city and 30-35 hwy (with bad comp on 2 cyls) so I guess my expectations for gas milage are kinda high. Then again Gen3 w/ 5S is rated 21/27 so I guess it depends on how you drive.

Like I said, I'm still looking and will keep y'all posted when I make my decision.

[GA-Guy]

Damn the EPA has a heavy foot... Glad I don't drive like them or I would have blown up the motor a long time ago.

[fenixus]

seems around here, most peeps drive just like EPA does
both my cars are getting numbers just as EPA says