What used car for $5000-7000

Cloud9blue · 05-21-2014, 09:04 PM

Trying to help out a coworker, who is new in town and has no idea about cars. I haven't really been kept up to date on economy cars these days, so some opinions would help.

Basically she is looking for a small to medium size car for $5000-7000, preferably AWD (probably hard to find in this price range) if not FWD is ok too. Just need it to be reliable and relatively modern. Mostly local driving and has to put up with chicago winter. Plan on keeping the car for max. 2 years.

My thoughts are on:
Mazda 3
VW Golf or Jetta
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla

Litos · 05-21-2014, 09:36 PM

2006 Honda Accord

BEM-S4 · 05-21-2014, 09:40 PM

It's longer than 2 years but I just leased my gf a 2013 Fiat 500 from the dealer on Randolph. Not sure if it was the last 2013 but it's FWD, brand new and has included maintenance and warranty. The dealer even offers a lifetime power train warranty on top of the Fiat one. It's $125 a month.

E39lolz · 05-22-2014, 06:46 AM

Honda Civic hands down.

Billup · 05-22-2014, 07:24 AM

Civic or Accord.

Cloud9blue · 05-22-2014, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dasmatu

Yugo

KwlAznKid · 05-22-2014, 11:36 AM

any Honda or Toyota in that price range, I'd stay away from the euros, jettas have their own share of problems

bbbbmw · 05-22-2014, 05:11 PM

Honda Element

2011CrazE89 · 05-22-2014, 05:14 PM

My neighbor has a Toyota Corolla. Not sure what year it is but it just flipped 187,000 miles and still going strong.

evo335xi · 05-22-2014, 07:53 PM

Subaru 2.5rs, honda civic, older maxima Camry, rsx

Zach1328 · 05-22-2014, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

It's longer than 2 years but I just leased my gf a 2013 Fiat 500 from the dealer on Randolph. Not sure if it was the last 2013 but it's FWD, brand new and has included maintenance and warranty. The dealer even offers a lifetime power train warranty on top of the Fiat one. It's $125 a month.

Fiat makes me angry! When I type 500e in on Google I want pics of Mercedes beautiful W124 500e model - not a fiat 500e!!

With that being said how about a 1993 500e? Gorgeous, well engineered, heavy tanks! Although they're still above the $7000 price range for a nice one and will not be dropping anywhere from there.

BayMoWe335 · 05-22-2014, 11:07 PM

335i

Cloud9blue · 05-22-2014, 11:39 PM

Great, looks like my thoughts are on the right track -- stay with mainstream japanese models.

Cloud9blue · 05-22-2014, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach1328

Fiat makes me angry! When I type 500e in on Google I want pics of Mercedes beautiful W124 500e model - not a fiat 500e!!

With that being said how about a 1993 500e? Gorgeous, well engineered, heavy tanks! Although they're still above the $7000 price range for a nice one and will not be dropping anywhere from there.

If I am looking for a fun practical beater, W124 would definitely be on my list!

Rotorocious · 05-23-2014, 07:57 AM

Deuce and a half truck

Chihuahua · 05-23-2014, 08:01 AM

Honda Civic, Honda Civic, or maybe a Honda Civic.

05-21-2014, 09:04 PM	#1
Cloud9blue Brigadier General 718 Rep 3,252 Posts Drives: around the potholes Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NY/NJ/MA iTrader: (13)	What used car for $5000-7000 Trying to help out a coworker, who is new in town and has no idea about cars. I haven't really been kept up to date on economy cars these days, so some opinions would help. Basically she is looking for a small to medium size car for $5000-7000, preferably AWD (probably hard to find in this price range) if not FWD is ok too. Just need it to be reliable and relatively modern. Mostly local driving and has to put up with chicago winter. Plan on keeping the car for max. 2 years. My thoughts are on: Mazda 3 VW Golf or Jetta Honda Civic Toyota Corolla __________________ 09 BMW E92 335i: [I] Top Mount EFR 7670 / Dinan / AP Racing / Wavetrac / TC Kline 07 BMW R1200S: Shine Yellow / Akrapovic / Ohlins 19 Volvo V90 T6: R-Design / Bowers & Wilkins / Polestar Optimization 08 Porsche 997 Carrera S: 6MT / CXX / PSE / Tractive DDA
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05-21-2014, 09:36 PM	#2
Litos Banned 222 Rep 2,991 Posts Drives: 2012 Challenger RT Junk Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston/Pearland iTrader: (1)	2006 Honda Accord
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05-21-2014, 09:40 PM	#3
BEM-S4 Major General 4546 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	It's longer than 2 years but I just leased my gf a 2013 Fiat 500 from the dealer on Randolph. Not sure if it was the last 2013 but it's FWD, brand new and has included maintenance and warranty. The dealer even offers a lifetime power train warranty on top of the Fiat one. It's $125 a month. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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05-22-2014, 06:46 AM	#4
E39lolz Private 11 Rep 87 Posts Drives: '13 x1 xDrive35i, '13 Mustang Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Honda Civic hands down.
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05-22-2014, 07:24 AM	#5
Billup Banned 476 Rep 928 Posts Drives: Your mum crazy. Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Baconopolos Island iTrader: (0)	Civic or Accord.
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05-22-2014, 11:36 AM	#7
KwlAznKid Brigadier General 381 Rep 3,037 Posts Drives: BMW/MERCEDES/PORSCHE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles/Fremont USC/UCSD Alum iTrader: (6)	any Honda or Toyota in that price range, I'd stay away from the euros, jettas have their own share of problems __________________ BMW E93 M3 / Mercedes Benz W209 CLK500 BMW E64 650I(sold) / BMW E92 328I(sold) / BMW E46 M3(sold) / BMW E92 335I(sold) Porsche 996 911 C2(sold) / BMW E46 325CI(totaled)
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05-22-2014, 05:11 PM	#8
bbbbmw Major General 2392 Rep 6,083 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southwest iTrader: (0)	Honda Element __________________ <OO (llll)(llll) OO>
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05-22-2014, 05:14 PM	#9
2011CrazE89 Moved on 130 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2011 Z430i & 2015 MB C300 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	My neighbor has a Toyota Corolla. Not sure what year it is but it just flipped 187,000 miles and still going strong.
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05-22-2014, 07:53 PM	#10
evo335xi Lieutenant 38 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ct iTrader: (1)	Subaru 2.5rs, honda civic, older maxima Camry, rsx
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05-22-2014, 11:07 PM	#12
BayMoWe335 Colonel 1228 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: 2010 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: US iTrader: (0)	335i
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05-22-2014, 11:39 PM	#13
Cloud9blue Brigadier General 718 Rep 3,252 Posts Drives: around the potholes Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NY/NJ/MA iTrader: (13)	Great, looks like my thoughts are on the right track -- stay with mainstream japanese models. __________________ 09 BMW E92 335i: [I] Top Mount EFR 7670 / Dinan / AP Racing / Wavetrac / TC Kline 07 BMW R1200S: Shine Yellow / Akrapovic / Ohlins 19 Volvo V90 T6: R-Design / Bowers & Wilkins / Polestar Optimization 08 Porsche 997 Carrera S: 6MT / CXX / PSE / Tractive DDA
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05-23-2014, 07:57 AM	#15
Rotorocious Lieutenant Colonel 105 Rep 1,520 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (3)	Deuce and a half truck
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05-23-2014, 08:01 AM	#16
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4571 Rep 3,389 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	Honda Civic, Honda Civic, or maybe a Honda Civic.
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