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My girlfriend is getting a car and I'm trying to get her to buy a used car instead of new due to the limited funding. Both of us are going to college so we can't afford something fancy, plus I have to pay for my vic, so she'll be on her own. I looked at some cars around my area for under 10 grand and with about 50,000 miles. There were some good deals:

Cert. used 02 Mitsubishi Galant
01 Galant, just used, not certified.
2000 Cadillac Catera

I am not sure on the reliability of a Mitsubishi and I was told that they have lots of problems. But the prices are tempting. I'm leaning on the cert. used one since it'll have warrenty. The cadillac is nice too, all leather, but gas'd be a biatch and its beige in color. I have yet to show my gf the caddy, but she didn't like the styling of the galant all that much. I tried looking for some quality Honda accords. They were either too expensive or way too much milage on the car. Since it's gonna have to go through numorous winters up here in Minnesota, lower mileage might be a bit more reliable?

 
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dont get the galant. they are piece of sh*t. my friend had one and everything started to mess up and yes the lower the mileage the better.

 
Rep Power: 336

dude get a vic

 
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getting a civic isn't such a bad idea. However, the ones around here that are under 10 thousans are either manual or have super high milage. Girlfriend can't drive a manual, speaking from experience, so she won't be getting one. Besides, I already have a civic, why get two? I guess we'll be looking a big more into the caddy catera. Any other possible good reliable cars out there for cheap?

 
Rep Power: 301

wow...keep in my the gas prices aren't JOKE these days if you're still looking to get the caddy...you'll regret in no time
I'd say stick with HONDA for around 10g (or under) I think you can get a decent mileged Accord (98~02) Lx/Ex

 
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I'm pretty sure there will be better cars than the Galant and Caddy under 10 G's there in Minnesota. My suggestion, look at classified ads on paper or maybe ask around. Buying from a private party would be cheaper than a used car lot.

 
Rep Power: 318

Accord or Camary... Camary's tend to be a little cheaper though. If you want a real reliable car, look for a used, maybe even cert., Corrola. They are boxing looking (IMO) and not real pleasing to the eye, but they are just as reliable as a Civic or anyother car for that matter. I would stay away from the Galant, I've heard way to many stories about those, I won't even look at Mitsu's anymore. Remember, you get what you pay for.

 
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Honda/Toyota are the best cars to get used. Definatly stick with that for a pre owned car.

 
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I'll sell you my vic sedan for $7000!!!!

 
Rep Power: 291

yea...think about a Corolla or a Civic

 
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Well, civic will be out of the question since her younger sister just got a brand new civic LX. From seeing how her little sister is struggling making the payments, that's why my gf is going with the used car deal. She was going to get 06 scion tc, but the payments would be quite a bit.
We're trying to get a used car from a dealer instead of private party. The reason being that her family has and had several used cars bought from people, and they all sucked real bad. Her **** retarded brother made her mom buy him this Salvage IS300, and every couple months he'd have to fix something on it. The other used ones, they're all towed away since they no longer ran.
The thing is that sometimes you never know how people take care of their cars. And I've seen plenty of people just start their car and go when the temperature is like 0 degrees. I think the main idea about a dealer is that there'll be some sort of warrenty just incase it breaks down like 2 miles from where we bought it from, we can get it fixed for free.

 
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If its just a car for a couple years maybe even a sunfire or something..you could pick up an 02 for like 6 grand...maybe less Drive it until it starts to fall apart, as all GM cars do...then sell it when you have some more funds, when your done school

 
Rep Power: 276

If your gonna buy a used car, do it now. Pretty soon the flood damaged cars from LA will be on the market. Probably got about a month or so before you start seeing them.

 
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If your looking to spend under 10k and need good reliable transportation, look towards the high volume cars. You can buy a very nice 02-03 Ford Taurus for under 10k, or something like a Dodge Stratus. Grand Prix, Grand Ams can all be had for very cheap. They aren't the most appealing cars, but you will be able to get a very new one with low miles. I would say your better off with one of these common domestics with low miles than you are buying a older Honda or Toyota with high miles. The high resale value of imports means you are going to get an older, higher milage, not as nice, car than if you spend your money on a high volume domestic family car.

 
Rep Power: 277

If she doesnt want a vic, then I would recommend her to get a corolla. They're equally as reliable and fuel efficient as vics. I also dont like the boxy looking ones which are 7th gen or below (ne year under 99). But the 8th gen and above are nicer looking. I personally like the 8th gen with the circular front headlight (01-02) over the 9th gen. Good luck choosing a used car.

 
Rep Power: 254

Why don't you look at a Nissan Altima or something? You can easily find one for under 10g's and with low mileage. maybe even a sentra. whatever you do, I would stay away from Ford and Mazda.

 
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High mileage Accords? The last 2 Accords I owned were used with around 90,000 miles on them when bought. I put another 150,000 on them with only regular maintenance. I wouldn't worry too much about Accords. They are solid cars.

 
Rep Power: 336

ok just cause her sister has one she can't? man she reminds me of my gf. so damn picky. o well. put your foot down, are you paying for it or is she? cause if its you get a corrola or a civic and tell her to deal scince its a free ride. my gf has a 99 GTP this thing sucks premium like nothing. stick with a 4 banger if you can. and yes stay away from ford and mazda. my friend has a tarus thats a 01 and her car is half the value of my civic with all the crap loaded in, its horrible

 
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Stay away from the Catera, lots of problems with them.

 
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I've heard that too, but just wanted someone else to say it first

 
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Well, I just talked with her and she said that she really really really really liked the Scion tc and the used cars on the market right now, at least the one she'd consider owning, are way overpriced. She is thinking that she might just get a car next year instead. She has a phoebia against used cars since 90 percent of her family owned cars were bought used and have problems. For example, her brother bought this 90 pontiac, and its so messed up that you have to constantly step on the gas or other it'll stall and its an automatic.

But good news though, she has already saved up like 4000 bucks, and that only took her like 2 months. She thinks that she'll save till 10000 bucks and get a 06 Scion tc next year or something.

 
Rep Power: 340

Cateras have nothing but problems, I was gonna get one for my first car off a family friend then read about all the problems with them online... changed my mind real quick

 
Rep Power: 291

it looks like she wants to get a car that looks good rather then a reliable one....go get yourself a copy of the consumer reports auto guide at your local library or on-line.

I would avoid a used North American car like the plague since $$$ seems to be an issue. I would take a higher mileage used japanese car.

What's wrong with the scion XA? way cheaper than the XC.

 
Rep Power: 346

tC's are great but you won't be able to find any cheap ones. you won't be able to find any cheap Celicas or Preludes either unless you find a high mileage one or really know where to look. Everyone here though is right, you could get a high mileage Accord and still not worry about it. I've seen many Accords/Camry's last beyond 200k miles before needing more money than what was worth it in repairs.

 
Rep Power: 336

ding ding ding!!! he got it ladies and gents!
ok every chick wants a car to look nice and don't care about reliablity. my gf has the same problem. her mustang gave her nothin but problems till she wrecked it. chicks **** me off when it comes to cars. wait till you find out if a tc has problems or not, cause it is the first year out. good luck.

 
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How about a 2 or 3 year old Hyundai.

 
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Yeah, even an off lease Neon or something might get them by.

 
Rep Power: 286

Tell her to get a Corolla. You said she doesn't need some fancy, but your looking at a Cadillac?? Stick with a cheap realiable car.

Civic or Corolla. I personally don't like the look of Corolla's, but for reliability wise, I'd choose a Corolla over a Civic. I think Civic's look a lot nicer than Corolla's though.

 
Rep Power: 330

pretty much anything japanese will last a long time and be cheap to operate. my choices would be accords/civics/corollas/camrys

 
Rep Power: 336

if you get a fake honda i will rofl till i die of dehydration from the tears i lost while crying from laughing so hard at you. hyundai sucks compared to honda/ toyota.