Humor me on the used car market around you.| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

Grtechguy MegaDork
1/27/22 7:41 p.m.

Looking a car for my 16 year old Daughter (her money) and the West Michigan market is wretched.

I could go for a weekend adventure of Fly-n-Drive with her for the right vehicle.

So, show me....what looks like a good deal in the 2-5K price range in your neighborhood.

She is showing a preference to small/midsized sedans and not interested in trucks.

We live in the snow/rust belt, so options must be suitable (FWD/Awd).

bludroptop UltraDork
1/27/22 8:06 p.m.

I know nothing about Subarus but if I had your situation I'd look at something like this.

"Good reliable transportation. Runs and drives. Automatic, 4WD, A/C, Bluetooth Stereo. Everything Works. Inspected. Paint is good, No rust. 135,000 miles. $4000 obo. 757 403 71two seven. Text Please"

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/d/virginia-beach-2005-subaru-forester-25/7438377209.html

Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/27/22 8:07 p.m.

Here you go, it's basically a Cybertruck.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/4046896338738433/

The fact that this was the first thing that popped up on my FB Marketplace says a lot about my search history.

bludroptop UltraDork
1/27/22 8:08 p.m.

Or this - "runs good" $2000

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/d/hampton-2000-volvo-v70/7438138685.html

Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/27/22 8:09 p.m.

1998 Mercedes C280? 1 owner, clean title, rust free, all works, $5k. Get some snow tires :)

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/916424512342481/

$5k will get you an Outback around here, take your pick. And good lord, there are a lot of Mercedes sedans. An S430 for $3500?

untchabl HalfDork
1/27/22 8:38 p.m.

Nicest Prius you can find from somewhere in the southern US and put snow tires on when you get home.

thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand UberDork
1/27/22 9:29 p.m.

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/d/portland-2007-mercury-milan/7428756980.html

This my wife's old car. $3k for you. Located in Portland, OR.

John Welsh Mod Squad
1/27/22 9:48 p.m.

untchabl said:
Nicest Prius you can find from somewhere in the southern US and put snow tires on when you get home.

If you do, see my Prius Buyers Guide

OHSCrifle GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
1/27/22 9:54 p.m.

I'm wishing I had the knowledge and skills to steal a car that somebody gave up on like Professor Brap did with that civic with a messed up clutch. I'm half tempted tow something like that home anyway father/son project.

John Welsh Mod Squad
1/27/22 9:55 p.m.

This Gen1 Scion xB has been on my local CL for a week now. '06 w/109k asking $4k

That strikes me as a very good deal. I saw it the day it went up and I figured it wouldn't last until the next day. Yes, I can see a spot of rust at the rear door but by local standards, that's nothing. I recognize the apartment complex it is photographed at. A nicer community where the one story apts have attached garages. It's only 2 miles from my house if you'd like me to look. Sandusky, Ohio

John Welsh Mod Squad
1/27/22 10:09 p.m.

I hate tell you but bad timing. Were going into tax return season which is traditionally 2 months of some of the highest prices of the year on sub-$10k cars (or all cars.) Then, the double whammy of the traditionally highest months in a year of the highest prices already.

The best selling new car is the Rav4.  The mid size SUV is king and if you want one, your gonna need to bring a kings ransom. Deals will have to be found on the fringe.
They say the sedan is dead...look there.
The manual transmission is dead...look there.
Two door cars are dead...look there.

Yes, you live in a climate where awd is an understandably desirable. Look at the fringe. There were a lot of awd Fusion/Milan/MKZs. They sell for less than an Escape and they are generally the same drivetrain minus the lifted wagon body.

I think the hardest car to sell is probably a Chevy HHR with a manual trans. Who's the customer? Retro looks that only appeals to boomers combined with a manual trans avoided by boomers who now have bad knees/hips. I'm not a fan but really what's under there is GM parts bin for all the good and the bad that brings. If i just needed cheap transportation, I'd look there.

Crxpilot Reader
1/27/22 10:28 p.m.

https://clovis.craigslist.org/cto/d/tucumcari-audi-a6-quattro-42l-awd/7432926421.html

Interesting, but may or may not be too appealing.

John Welsh Mod Squad
1/27/22 10:40 p.m.

Another thought for fly and drive. I went to the website for the Grand Rapids Airport to see what southern towns you can fly to directly. Of the few listed, one that stuck out to me was Alegant Air (cheap flights) flies directly to Nashville. Southern enough to buy rust free but no so far south that its a 24 hour drive back home (8.5 hours drive back to GR.)

You might want to point your CL/FB to Nashville.

jgrewe HalfDork
1/27/22 11:43 p.m.

Allegiant flies into St Petersburg. If you find something down here I can lay eyes on it and pick you up at the airport if you buy it.

FYI it was in the low 70's here today...

If you use Search Tempest a local zip code is 33710

CarKid1989 SuperDork
1/28/22 5:01 a.m.

This is not even my post but we have been looking for a used car too. It's so frustrating. We were going to upgrade a car just prior to covid starting and figured we could use our civic for a few more years to save a few extra bucks. Then Covid hit- I watched the market pre Covid and now again and it makes me sick.

Some helpful information here.

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) PowerDork
1/28/22 6:09 a.m.

If she likes the Chevy HHR, I may be willing to sell you mine...well, it's my sons. It's a 2009 or 2010, I honestly forget which. It currently has 91k miles on it. I bought it 3+ years ago when it had 41k miles on it. It's LT trim, so has a few more features on it. It was originally sold as a rental fleet vehicle. Wasn't there very long, then was with the same owner for 7 or 8 years, who barely drove it. I used it as my DD for 2 years until my son needed a new DD and he's been driving it. No, he doesn't beat on it, he's not that kid. Everything works, heated leather, sunroof. No bluetooth or SiriusXM. Silver in color. Southern car, so no rust. Cosmetics outside aren't the best...it's all one color and such, but the one running board has a gouge out of it, and it has a small dent on the hatch. Runs great.

John Welsh Mod Squad
1/28/22 9:21 a.m.

This morning, on the way home from taking the young'en to school I flipped through that apt complex to see if I could catch a glimpse of the Scion. Not spotted. But, they have garages too.

Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
1/28/22 9:47 a.m.

Crxpilot said:
https://clovis.craigslist.org/cto/d/tucumcari-audi-a6-quattro-42l-awd/7432926421.html

Interesting, but may or may not be too appealing.

Ignoring the potential maintenance headaches, the issue I'd have with that car would be the fuel mileage. The 4.2L wasn't known for being frugal. Never mind the idea of a 16 year old driving a car with that much power.

It's definitely neat to see what you guys find. There are a few used car lots near me that sell cars in that price range, but I haven't looked that closely at them. I remember one of them having an Outback that didn't look too bad from 40 feet at 40 MPH.

ProDarwin MegaDork
1/28/22 9:55 a.m.

bludroptop said:
I know nothing about Subarus but if I had your situation I'd look at something like this.

"Good reliable transportation. Runs and drives. Automatic, 4WD, A/C, Bluetooth Stereo. Everything Works. Inspected. Paint is good, No rust. 135,000 miles. $4000 obo. 757 403 71two seven. Text Please"

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/d/virginia-beach-2005-subaru-forester-25/7438377209.html

Gone.

As I expected... that price is stupid cheap for a Forester with that mileage, even Auto.