I don’t find any front wheel drive car really fun to drive compared to a rear wheel drive V8 powerful enough to steer with the throttle.
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I might be as cheap as the day is long, but I’m also not a fool. I could see myself paying up to $10k for a used vehicle, or up to $20k for a new vehicle. Obviously, my preference is to buy an older and cheaper model, and if I was looking to buy a car right now, I’d try to stay under $4k.
You laugh now, but in another 15-20 years, this model will very likely become collectible, and examples in good condition with low miles will be worth significant money. I can think of many models which “bottomed out” in value 20+ years ago, and could be purchased in running condition for about $1000 at that time, and are now worth $6k-15k.
You’re talking about a car that’s 24 - 28 years old
afaik, any car that age is going to need constant work, and a lot of it, just to remain reliable
Don’t get me wrong, when those cars were new, I wished I had the money to buy one
But now, they’re old cars that will probably start up and drive, but you’re going to be battling leaks, worn out brakes, suspension and steering, just to name a few items . . . and for some of the earlier models, depending where you live, you might be struggling to get it to pass tailpipe smog tests
If I HAD a 1997 - 2001 Camry, I’d probably do everything I could to keep it reliable as a daily driver
But I’d NEVER intentionally seek to buy one now
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Heck at that age all the rubber is going bad or already bad, door handle breaking, window not working right, axles going bad, coolant leaks etc etc etc… Or you are constantly maintaining/maintenancing (?) everything, either way, if you work 45-55 hours or more a week will be hard to do, or expensive if paying a shop to do it for you…
A DIYer is almost always a head of the game with a much older vehicle, but if paying a shop, sometimes a monthly payment just makes more since…
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I’m guessing that he probably wouldn’t be interested in buying this 8 year old used car:
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No such vehicle.
Edit-a few, Versa, Sentra, Kicks, or Mirage.
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The Mirage has been discontinued, and with the upcoming merger of Nissan and Honda, it’s possible that some of the cheaper Nissans might also bite the dust.
I doubt it. Part of the merger is expanding the product line. The exceptionally inexpensive cars should remain part of the product line. The MSRP may exceed $20,000 but that should be the result of inflation. Any Nissan car that competes with a Honda might be short lived. Nissan Altima and Maxima might be short lived as would upper levels of Sentra and Versa. IMO one Honda model that might bite the dust is the Ridgeline. I also think the CR-V might stay while the Rogue disappears.
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The Maxima was discontinued a couple of years ago, and according to Automotive News, the Altima and the Versa may soon bite the dust. Of course, the merger might change that situation, but…
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