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Author Topic: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.  (Read 3496 times)

Offline kawana

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$7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« on: December 10, 2009, 01:33:28 am »
Hey guys, ok so i have a budget of around $7000 but i can go up to $7500 but thats pushing it. Im just a part time working, college student so i dont need anything crazy fancy. Heres what im looking for in a car:

1. Sporty looking ( I dont want girls to look at it, and think its my sisters car lol. )
2. quick (as in not slow, but not 400hp fast.)
3. seats 4
4. auto or manual, dont care.
5. Reliable! Im a student with limited funds, i cant have something breaking down all the time.
6. Not really expensive to insure (im a 21 year old male, so im right at the 'wrong' age as far as insurance goes. But i do have a clean record. Not even a parking ticket )
7. dont really care if its FWD or RWD. (though of the 2, i like rwd more)
8. decent-good MPG. I dont drive alot, but the less i have to spend on gas the better. But i dont want that to mean i gotta drive a 70hp geo metro lol
9. Comfortable, sometimes i like to go on long drives, so something really comfortable to be in is a plus. (ex. leather, a/c etc...)

Hope this isn't being too picky, im flexible on some things like the leather interior etc..

I appreciate your suggestions guys, thanks in advance
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Offline johngenx

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2009, 08:31:09 am »
So you want a reasonably powerful RWD sports luxury car that is reliable and gets good fuel economy?  For $7500.

Buy the newest, best Civic or Corolla your $7000 can find.  You could probably really stretch your money with a Hyundai product, or maybe a pretty new Focus.

Leather? Fast? Economical?    :rofl2:
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Offline safristi

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2009, 08:35:05 am »
Kwana doesn't yer sister drive a Maybach................ :rofl:
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Online tpl

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2009, 08:35:17 am »
Now I might say that an E30 or E36 BMW 3 series that has had owner and indy service for most/all  of the last decade may well prove very reliable , fit the other requirements and in BC does it make much difference to insurance what the car is ?
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Offline johngenx

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2009, 08:42:37 am »
Quote from: tpl on December 10, 2009, 08:35:17 am
Now I might say that an E30 or E36 BMW 3 series that has had owner and indy service for most/all  of the last decade may well prove very reliable , fit the other requirements and in BC does it make much difference to insurance what the car is ?

Yeah, but those cars are very rare, and even the best cared for example is on the verge of a decent sized repair bill.  Yeah, lots of car for the money, but for someone on a super tight budget?
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Online tpl

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2009, 08:53:51 am »
Are they rare in BC away from the rust? And I did suggest one that had been looked after.
You are right of course but reading the whole wish list...
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Offline blur911

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2009, 08:56:27 am »

http://fraservalley.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-Mercedes-Benz-450-SEL-W0QQAdIdZ173252720

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450-SEL, $3,750.00
Tint the windows and throw in a stereo.  You'd be pimpin. 
Insurance would probably be less than for a Corolla.
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Online tpl

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2009, 08:58:31 am »
That pic looks as if something is not ok in the rear suspension.
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Offline DockMan

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2009, 10:08:35 am »
Quote from: tpl on December 10, 2009, 08:58:31 am
That pic looks as if something is not ok in the rear suspension.

....body in the trunk.

I like that Idea though. The car is unique and pimpin'. Save the rest of the funds for a maintenance/repair account. Shine it up!

Also......big back seat.....needed for transporting buddies or other things.
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Offline dash

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2009, 10:23:49 am »
01-03 Maxima meets most of your criteria, except for gas consumption. Shoot for a 4 door, insurance will kill ya on a 2 door.
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Offline vdk

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2009, 02:24:23 pm »
Quote from: tpl on December 10, 2009, 08:58:31 am
That pic looks as if something is not ok in the rear suspension.

Air suspension?
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Offline 1TSX

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2009, 02:36:01 pm »
A 5MT Mazda Protege ES, with a 2.0 would do.
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Offline vdk

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2009, 02:43:47 pm »
Quote from: 2hondas on December 10, 2009, 02:36:01 pm
A 5MT Mazda Protege ES, with a 2.0 would do.

Or a Mazda3.
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Offline 1TSX

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2009, 02:48:31 pm »
Quote from: vdk on December 10, 2009, 02:43:47 pm
Quote from: 2hondas on December 10, 2009, 02:36:01 pm
A 5MT Mazda Protege ES, with a 2.0 would do.

Or a Mazda3.

I dont know how expensive a 04' Mazda 3 is in B.C...I am guessing quite a lot.
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Offline PJungnitsch

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2009, 03:33:44 pm »
Protege5 might work. Should be easy to get a good one for that kind of money.
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Offline Wolverine

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #15 on: December 11, 2009, 09:59:45 am »
Saw a few Fusions 2006/2007 under 8K at Trader.ca, worth taking a look.
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Offline tortoise

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #16 on: December 11, 2009, 03:42:20 pm »
Quote from: PJungnitsch on December 10, 2009, 03:33:44 pm
Protege5 might work. Should be easy to get a good one for that kind of money.

Agreed.  But requirement # 2 means it's out:

2. quick (as in not slow, but not 400hp fast.)

The Mazdaspeed Protege however might work.  Though I think they've held onto their value a little more than they should have.
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Offline blur911

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #17 on: December 11, 2009, 05:16:16 pm »
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Offline Julie

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #18 on: December 12, 2009, 09:40:42 pm »
Those requirements are hard for $7500.  You're not going to get much speed and comfort with high reliability at that price.

I would suggest a well maintained but boring Corolla - she's at least comfortable and has decent torque.  She'll get you through school.  And then you can probably still sell it for a decent price.

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Offline bridgecity

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Re: $7500 budget for a "new" car. Please help.
« Reply #19 on: December 12, 2009, 11:21:11 pm »
I think you're going to have to compromise on your wants list.  Being a student, if I were you, I'd be leaning towards the reliability side of things rather than the fun to drive.

My University car was a '91 prelude.  Ultra reliable, and pretty fun to drive, but at the time wouldn't have met your budget.  I'd be leaning towards the the corolla/civic camp, with as low miles as possible.

2000-2001 preludes are available at your pricepoint (I tried to post a link, but can't without 10 or more posts  :().  I'd find one with a manual, as I think the auto trannies were troublesome.


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