So I gave up on the Jeep as it was going to cost $1500 or so to get safely on the road. Just not worth it especially since that price is me doing all the work on it. So I needed a set of wheels for commuting duty. The requirements are pretty modest:
1. Must be able to pass a safety check with minimal work. I don’t mind replacing a set of brake pads but don’t want to be rebuilding an engine.
2. Must be cheap. On the road for well under $500 is the goal. We’ll see how it goes.
3. Decent parts supply in the local junkyards to keep running costs to a minimum.
A few other factors would help as well like simplicity of the vehicle which limits the number of things to go wrong and helps with the ease of fixing them. Fuel economy concerns probably take out any big land barge style cars. There are a number of reasonable candidates locally with most being late 80s to early 90s economy cars or small, rear wheel drive trucks. This is in the sweet zone for my requirements – anything older has usually disappeared from the junkyards and the newer stuff often is more complex and pricy to buy.
Last time doing this I ended up with a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron. It was rusty and had many, many flaws but around the city was very reliable. I bought it for $160 including a valid safety inspection. The LeBaron lasted me eight months or so relatively trouble free and I put almost no money into it. I doubt I will do so well this time but I've started off with a 1987 Corolla that I bought for the grand sum of $80. It is automatic but can't be too choosey at this price range.
Will take a few more to get it reasonable and on the road but hopefully I can keep the total cost well under three hundred. Off the top of my head I know it needs a rear tail light lens, one small rear window and a wiper blade as well as some sort of exhaust work.
I've got a picture or two at the seller's place but it is ugly.
