# Used car for under $6000 **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** used, wagon\ **Created:** [April 13, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657 "2011-04-13T00:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lisaht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lisaht](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisaht)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/1 "2011-04-13T00:00:31Z")
My van was totaled in a car accident. It was fixable but the insurance said it was not worth it. I can’t afford a new car or even a newer used car. I would like to get a station wagon type vehicle, but only have about $6000 to spend. I want it to last another 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/2 "2011-04-13T00:43:41Z")
In that price range I’d look for an Ford Taurus wagon, or the Mercury Sable wagon. ---
**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/3 "2011-04-13T02:46:34Z")
Subaru ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/4 "2011-04-13T03:04:50Z")
Do you have a size in mind? Gas hogs will be easy to come by. Intermediates will hold more weight, cost more to run but may be easier to find. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/5 "2011-04-13T03:11:23Z")
Yes. Spend $3000 on the car and save the other $3000 when you have to replace the head gaskets. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/6 "2011-04-13T03:14:08Z")
Actual wagons are pretty hard to find after SUVs and minivans. I’d actually suggest a minivan. They’re comfy and roomy and as fuel efficient as your basic 6-cyl wagon. And since they carry that “ewww - I wouldn’t be caught dead in a minivan” stigma they have very low resale values - as in they’re cheap to buy used. You can get into a used minivan in decent shape fairly easily for about $6K. It will have somewhat high mileage - but so will anything else you’re looking at. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/7 "2011-04-13T17:49:06Z")
A Crown Vic or Grand Marq…Bullet-proof cars and the trunks hold more than most station wagons… ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-for-under-6000/63657/8 "2011-04-14T12:32:20Z")
There are some wagon type vehicles. They are disquised as 5door hatch backs. Maybe a compact given you can only afford $6k, you can’t afford the gas either. Hatch backs Focus from Ford, civics and Toyota matrix, Vibes would be worth looking for but expect high mileage and repair over 5 years. Heck, if any of us could get a repair free car over five years for that little, we’d all jump at it. Expect to pay more one way or another.