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I have bought some trustworthy cars for this ballpark.
in 2004, I bought a 1991 volvo 760 for $600
(then, i sold it for $1000 a year later)
in 2005, i bought a 1986 volvo 240 for $475
(sold it in 2009 for $750)
in 2009, i bought a 1999 ford escort for $500
(a year and a half later, the timing belt broke while I was driving it. I sold it for $300)
in 2010, i bought a 1990 volvo 240 for $500
(two years later, I sold it for $950 and bought a 1993 volvo 240 station wagon for $1000. no real reason other than I've always wanted to own a 240 wagon and I found a good one)
It can be done, but be smart about what you're buying. my old volvo beaters have all been the best cars I've owned. the biggest bill on any of them was i paid $500 to replace a radiator and transmission lines on the 1990 240.... after two years of ownership.
Keeping an old beater on the road is a job for an experienced back yard mechanic at the least. Most people selling 500 buck cars already know it will cost them more than they can afford to make or keep it road worthy.This is where the experience part comes in.
Keep in mind that most states will require you to have a dealer's license if you buy and sell more than 4-5 cars a year.
some states do, some dont...if you sell to the public, they might...but if you sell to a junkyard to be crushed, its another story...especially in Tennesee
Me thinks this person is pulling everyone's leg with all their Threads.....
Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean. Every one of his threads deal with the same subject, "will this $500 to $600 car last for me?" and then he goes on to ask the most lame questions, like "If it breaks down will someone run into the back of me ?" A 6 year old can answer most of the things he asks.
Either this person has never driven or even been in a car, or is simply a 12 year old from Nigeria who is bored of ripping people off and is now having some fun. Is there an ignore button on this forum ?
He also has some little buddy that he teams up with on these threads too.
I doubt if there is any thing that will run all the way to your house anymore for $500, but it is certainly sensible to buy a $1,000 car.
I'd pay more attention to the seller. In a private sale, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a car from someone who lives in a decent, well-maintained house with a cared-for yard and a couple of other nice cars in the family. Chances are this was a car he was going to give to a kid going to school, but the kid held out for something better. I've bought several of those and got years of good transportation out of them. He just wants it our of his front yard, and will take whatever cash you offer him. Or sometimes a guy has several farmily cars, and just bought a new one, and drops the one off the bottom rung for whatever he can get.
I would not buy one from a guy who has several cars that are being repaired in his yard. He just put in the absolute minimum so it would not break down on your test drive, and knew what he was doing.
Buy a car from somebody who doesn't need the money . Somebody who does need the money has been neglecting it.
I bought an old Camry wagon about 9 years ago for a thousand, with bad brakes and no AC, and it was still being passed around the extended family and miscellaneous in-laws up to about a year ago.
Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean. Every one of his threads deal with the same subject, "will this $500 to $600 car last for me?" and then he goes on to ask the most lame questions, like "If it breaks down will someone run into the back of me ?" A 6 year old can answer most of the things he asks.
Either this person has never driven or even been in a car, or is simply a 12 year old from Nigeria who is bored of ripping people off and is now having some fun. Is there an ignore button on this forum ?
He also has some little buddy that he teams up with on these threads too.
Don
I'm thinking his little buddy and him might be one and the same.
I need a car for an hour long highway commute, but only concern is what if the car stops in the middle of the highway.
A one time hour long commute or a daily hour long commute?? Either way, are you seriously suggesting that you would buy a $500 car for a commute like that?
OP, same as in other threads, given your limited knowledge, and the rusty inventory you are looking at there in the upper midwest, the chances of getting a $500 car that will run and drive for you without you having to pay way more than $500 for repairs is about nil.
I though if a car runs at that price you don't have much to lose. Would it be financially safe to buy $500 cars and then ride it until it stops, scrap it or sell it for $200, so that you'll have rode a car for only $300 for the time it ran?
I need a car for an hour long highway commute, but only concern is what if the car stops in the middle of the highway.
If the car stops on highway is there a high chance some other car will collide into you? Or do people usually avoid you and then you can call the cops while inside the car?
If you had asked this question......maybe 17 years ago, I could have said "yes". Because back in the mid 90's, yes you could buy reliable cars for $500....not easy but doable.
Today? About the only chance you'll luck out on a $500 vehicle is if either a relative gives you the "special family member discount".....or if you find a meth head who is hurting for his next fix....though I dunno that I'd trust that anything he/she owns is worth $500....
Also you need to be concerned with more than "what if" the car stops on the interstate....how about "What am I gonna do when the brakes fail and I run over some kids and their parents? Can I handle the man slaughter charges? Can I handle being someones prison *****? Is Bubba gonna go easy on my behind?"
if you had asked this question......maybe 17 years ago, i could have said "yes". Because back in the mid 90's, yes you could buy reliable cars for $500....not easy but doable.
Today? About the only chance you'll luck out on a $500 vehicle is if either a relative gives you the "special family member discount".....or if you find a meth head who is hurting for his next fix....though i dunno that i'd trust that anything he/she owns is worth $500....
Also you need to be concerned with more than "what if" the car stops on the interstate....how about "what am i gonna do when the brakes fail and i run over some kids and their parents? Can i handle the man slaughter charges? Can i handle being someones prison *****? Is bubba gonna go easy on my behind?"
rofl:d
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the biggest bill on any of them was i paid $500 to replace a radiator and transmission lines on the 1990 240.... after two years of ownership.
Is there an ignore button on this forum ?
