A basic 10+ Chevy Cavalier with a few dints will cost you about that much. Don’t expect anything beautiful at that price.
NEON, Contour, etc. Millions of them made for CAFE compliance in making more units produced (it’s not about fuel economy, folks). Dirt cheap and all retired before their time due to simple lack of demand …all due to the aforementioned prolific nature of auto manufacturing. Each will have its Achilles Heel, but once conquered (probably be previous owner) tend to be reliable for the $$$ invested.
First do you have any skills with repairs.I find cars all the time for 500 and less,look in yards.I find alot that need a little or nothing,it has gotten a little harder with the economy and all but look,Ask people I rent out garage space and some of these guys get 100-200 dollar cars that are great.This week alone a two door escort 23,000 miles 100 dollars,it needed tires and belts due to age,oil change and collent flush.A/c works car has one scrape and the paint was thin and cracked.A tarus 150 dollars 43,000 both came from someone who knew someone.both were from older people,no one in the family would drive such trash so they got them cheap.escort is painted and looks great,tarus is buffed out and looks great also.I have sat in junk yard parking lots waiting and have gotten some real gems,they chase you if they know what your doin.
Agree; my 92 year old mother-in-law finally gave up driving and sold her loaded 1994 Pontiac Sunbird with only just over 40,000 miles on it for $800. The body was still in good shape, and engine and transmission in top shape, but this is basically a car (4 doors) that nobody wants.
You may have to up your anti. Whats the value of $400 in 1980 today? I bought a 1970 Torino S/W for $400 off a guy in Hartsdale and commuted between White Plains and Albany and Chicago for six years and sold it running for $200 in '86. Just the usual muffler and brakes stuff went into it. Oh, and a rebuilt carb for $35. You can find an inflation chart on google.
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I think that’s true to a certain extent, but I think once you’re talking about the kinds of cars found in the sub-$1000 range things even out a little. People with the attitude that Hondas or Toyotas are the only decent cars out there are definitely not the kind who are going to be driving a 20-year old car around. But the domestics are still probably likely a better bet simply because the parts are so much cheaper (and you will be buying lots of them on a $500 car).
Although I do have to admit that I drive a 24-year old Accord I bought for a little over 500 bucks a few years back and have put 40,000 miles on it (including a 4,000 mile roadtrip to the southwest I just got back from) without doing anything other than routine maintenance to it. I think that’s a bit of an abberation though.
“People with the attitude that Hondas or Toyotas are the only decent cars out there are definitely not the kind who are going to be driving a 20-year old car around.”
They do where I live! A anything else with 200,000 is $500. A Honda or Toyota with 200,000? $3000+. It's a college town, and people completely overblow the "extra" reliability of a Honda or Toyota, and assume it'll just last forever with no maintenance required because it's a Honda or Toyota. Even the corporate twins suffer -- a "Toyota Corolla" will go sky high while a "Geo Prizm" will barely sell for anything, even though it's the same car.
For $500, you can't count on finding some car that is easy to repair just based on make & model -- the age and mileage will be too high. If it was well-maintained, and there's nothing expensive broken or on the verge of breaking, it'll be cheap and easy to repair. If it's ready to blow a head gasket or lunch the transmission, it'll be a costly lemon once it does. My preference has been 1) Luck out and find cars from people who are leaving town, and list some car on Craigslist because they want to get rid of it immediately. 2) Find a car where something cheap to fix is broken. My specialty was finding cars that ran find but wouldn't idle, and clearing out the (plugged up) idle air control.
Re: your question about an old VW Beetle, I’d say that’s the LAST car you would want. They may be easy to work on to a point, but they’re also underpowered, lack any amenities, aren’t very safe in any kind of crash, have manual steering and non-power brakes, and the electrical systems stink. Add to that that they are all ancient already and even a well-maintained one (if you could find it in your price range since they’re considered classics) will be ready to break down on you. And lets not forget the heaters that either don’t work or asphyxiate you, and the joy of a carbureted car in the winter time.
It occurs to me that … you should visit some of your local independent mechanics, ask them about the cost of doing a “pre-purchase inspection” for you and request any advice they might have.
One may know where a vehicle is that meets your needs … AND BUDGET.
There are lots of great cars out there for that kind of money. Geo Prizm comes to mind. Look for a mid-90s with some dings on it. Vancouver doesn’t have problems with rust so you’re O.K. there. I’d ask around at some local car repair places. You’d be surprised what you might find. Something that has the paint peeling off due to the bad paint jobs of the late 80s early 90s will sell for dirt cheap. Remember that the way the car looks has a much larger impact on price than the way it drives.
I actually sold a running Geo Prizm a few years back for 400.00
Avoid a VW like the plague. They will bankrupt you in repairs. A Ford Escort makes a good cheap car. The Geo Prizm. One of the Chrysler “cloud” cars (Cirrus, Stratus, etc.) can be had for a song. The Neon and Cavalier are awful cars that require lots of repairs. A late 80s Toyota Camry will last forever and if you get one that has been dinged up some will be cheap.
Nope, not in my experience anyway. My Beetle was anything but easy to work on. Lots of maintenance, pull the engine to get to the generator, temperamental, and so on. Plus you need a VW air cooled engine mechanic not just anybody. Did I mention all the rust problems?
Also in my experience, the foreign brands such as Honda, Toyota, and German brands tend to cost more in maintenance and parts such as for timing belt replacement. I’d agree the best bet is an unloved Ford, Chev., etc. variety still running good. Parts are plentiful and cheap, and any mechanic can work on them.
Sorry to say, what you get for $500 will most likely be unsafe and in need of constant repair. If you live in a city, perhaps you could look into a Zip car membership. If not, a bike or even a motorscooter would be a better and safer choice if you must have your own transportation. A young friend of mine just went through a search for a used car for $1,000. We could find nothing that was worth the money–and we live in a large urban area.