Family crisis: need super reliable ~$2-3k automatic in Cincy/Dayton area

Long story short: My stepsister lets her shiny happy person husband treat her daughter (his stepdaughter) like E36 M3. Gone on for years. Last night was the last straw (hopefully) and my mom called me at lunch to say they got into a fight. He pushed her down some stairs (which could mean one step, she didn't embellish that much to warrant a really bad fall) & threw all her stuff out into the snow covered yard.

Cops were called, they asked if she would be welcome there overnight and he said they would discuss it. Soon as the door closed he told her to get the berkeley out. She packed as much as she could into her car (that they own) and went to a friend's. Today she's probably moving in with my mom...

So, mom wants to find her a decent car so she can give this one back and say berkeley you for good. She's 21, needs an auto, and just graduated early from college but is continuing her education, possibly out of state. (She's an amazing kid...)

It's a long shot, but if you guys know of, or find, something local here I can check out. Mom offered to pay for it, I figure I will help. I have the means, and can afford $1-2k. Mom helps, that's around $3k. Any leads? Thanks in advance. This has been a long time coming.......

NMNA: 2003 Saab 9-3, vary clean and low miles - $3700

Looks rough but it's cheap. Our 03 Focus has been unbelievably reliable for the 4 years we've owned it.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4918376254.html

After checking out the pictures that ones pretty rough. That's probably a $1k car.

This one looks a bit better if they'll come down a bit:

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4901168251.html

I am too far away to do anything other than mad-dash Craigslist hunting, but please, push that shiny happy person down some stairs for me sometime.

tuna55 wrote: I am too far away to do anything other than mad-dash Craigslist hunting, but please, push that shiny happy person down some stairs for me sometime.

This. He needs to get the E36 M3 kicked out of him--for real. If he were any sort of man (which he clearly isn't) he'd just take the beating and not call the cops. Shame on her mom.

An auto Corolla is a great reliable beater. Ditto for an old Civic. Automatic Civics can still be found in unmolested form because the TUN3RZZZ want 5-speeds.

Good luck. I hope she makes it through life successfully.

I know of a 2000 Rolla manual with a quarter million miles for $1K. I've driven it. It's tight and reliable. In NW Arkansas.

Oh, I know you said "automatic," but for one large, the kid can learn to drive a stick. What did it take all of us? 20 minutes? Less? Here, honey, you let this pedal out SLOW, see? And push this one in a little at the same time.

Roadmaster: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4918935564.html

Corolla: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4900089035.html

Good luck!

Escort wagon 55,000mi $2,000

99 Chevy prizm $1750

2000 Ranger $2500

Seriously, the wagon.

gamby wrote: Shame on her mom.

And this. We just don't get it. I have a rather large menacing friend, probably in the 300's, tall and epic beard, loves metal shows. I'm betting he would love to tune this shiny happy person up. Best part? The shiny happy person had an affair with a fellow teacher at his high school about 7 years ago, had a kid, and mom STAYED with him. (He and the woman also still teach at the same high school, while everyone knows about it). My mom isn't supposed to know and she has kept all this silent for years for fear of not seeing the other 2 grandkids. I think she's at the breaking point.

Thanks for the help. Probably call a few this weekend.

So this is a slight stretch in terms of cost and distance, but there is a 99 Bonneville in the open classifieds posted about a week ago that would be perfect. I would rather spend a bit more and buy from a board member rather than trust a random $2k car from CL. We GRM tend to think different about cars. I tried to convince a friend of the family that they needed this car. If you wake up early on Saturday and take a cheap one way flight to ATLANTA!!! and then drive it home 8 hours away, how is that much different than spending all day going car lot to car lot to find something?

Crown Vic?

I would offer my Lincoln but it lacks overdrive and the air suspension is going on 23 years old.

glueguy wrote: I would rather spend a bit more and buy from a board member rather than trust a random $2k car from CL. We GRM tend to think different about cars.

And that's the main reason I'm here. At this point for the right $$ I'd consider a drive.

In reply to Appleseed:

Yeah, no kidding, get the Escort wagon.

GM A-body or similar, if you can get one, make sure it has either the 3300 or 3800 V6. Good on gas, cheap, and generally reliable. Run if it has the 3.1 or 3.4, though.

A Hondayota is likely going to either have a quadzillion miles on it, be beat/modded to death, or be $$$$.

glueguy wrote: So this is a slight stretch in terms of cost and distance, but there is a 99 Bonneville in the open classifieds posted about a week ago that would be perfect. I would rather spend a bit more and buy from a board member rather than trust a random $2k car from CL. We GRM tend to think different about cars. I tried to convince a friend of the family that they needed this car. If you wake up early on Saturday and take a cheap one way flight to ATLANTA!!! and then drive it home 8 hours away, how is that much different than spending all day going car lot to car lot to find something?

This seems like a good plan. The Bonerville will be more comfortable than old civics/Corollas. And have torque!

This thread reminds me that few things suck more than when you "have to" buy a car.
I will take this reminder to see the wisdom of always keeping a spare, running car around.

When you "have to" buy it never seems like there are good deals out there. When you can take your time, the deals eventually come.

Personally, I think the Saturn Ion currently represents a vehicle that is often forgotten and can be bought cheap. Sure, it is not as refined as its competitors but the Ion can be bought so much cheaper. We are talking basic transportation here.
Stick to the 4 door models because the coupe version offered a horribly unreliable CVT in the early years but the 4 door version always only offered a quality 4 speed auto.

Hey Jerry - any interest in a one-owner 2001 Saturn SL2? It was my wife's DD from 2001 to 2010, and since then I've driven it whenever the weather's too bad to drive the Miata. It turned 140K today. Needs nothing. $2K firm. I'm in Columbus, so that's a bit further away than you're hoping for, but I'd be glad to send pics and answer any questions if you're interested.

I'd actually thought about suggesting an S-series of some form. Mine was always quite reliable (once the lousy plastic original ECTS was replaced...) for the almost 14 years I drove it, and HAD anything gone wrong there are probably more of those things in salvage yards for parts than almost any other model of car.

pres589 wrote: In reply to Appleseed: Yeah, no kidding, get the Escort wagon.

And it's already deleted.

Another Focus Wagon:
http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4920008496.html

If you see something in Columbus I would be happy to take a look at it for you.

In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:

Thanks. I realize the weekend was so busy I didn't call any of these Sunday. And got another call from my mom reading a text forwarded by the kid that was from her parents (forget mom or stepdad now) that sounded very formal as they told her she was no longer welcome to live there. I have yet to hear anything this goddamn kid has supposedly done wrong...

And mom broke into sobs asking me if anyone could take her cat so she could live there (kid's allegic). I seriously want to go over there and make them both fall off a cliff. (Now I have to buy a car AND place a 3-legged half-tailed cat. If I didn't have the pit bull I'd just take it myself, it's temporary)

Getting rid of the cat will not get rid of the cat allergens for a very long time. If it's temporary, deal with the allergy, unless it is life threatening.