Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

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Cousin Strawberry
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Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Cousin Strawberry »

Coming back to Canada, I'm going to need a winter beater and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation?

I will be living in Alberta so front wheel or all wheel drive is essential.

I've narrowed it down to:

1999-2001 Volvo V-70
2002- Nissan Altima
1997- Toyota Camry or Corolla
1997- Honda Accord

Main considerations are economy, reliability, safety, comfort.

I've owned trucks since high school until I moved here and found that I really like driving a car more! So much easier to do everything and the fuel bills are friendlier...I can always rent a truck to haul crap.
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JelloPuddingPop
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by JelloPuddingPop »

Not sure about the others, but I'd advise against the Volvo. They are great cars new, however have a shorter than average life due to electrical gremlins, transmission problems and a too-lightweight for the car suspension system. I owned an XC 70 (basically the same car with AWD and turbo) and it really became a money pit in years 5-6 (and was in for warranty repairs for electrical issues earlier). I got rid of it soon after, and was part of a few Volvo forums which looked to have a similar experience for more than a few (I know forums usually lead to this but hey...)

Because of the Volvo name, they seem to hold their value really well which leads to paying more for a car that might need a lot of work done which is usually pretty expensive for this type of import car.

Nice to drive though, and lots of room.

My .02
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Eddy Punch Clock »

I agree with Jello.Volvo's also cost a fortune to work on. Can't go wrong with the Toyota or Honda.

You should probably get a pick up truck though if you want to fit in. ;)
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Cousin Strawberry »

Interesting about the Volvo. My wife is from Sweden and when we go there i noticed about 60% of the vehicles were volvos. They all swear by them a reliable and well built cars so I lumped them in with the other trusty import boxes. I also really enjoyed driving my father in-laws V-70.

Eddy, I think I better steer clear of the truck though.... Next thing you'll know I'll be sporting a 10 gallon hat and all angry at the Canucks for cheating the flames out of a playoff berth again
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Arachnid »

I'm a Subaru man myself...
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Cousin Strawberry »

Arachnid wrote:I'm a Subaru man myself...
How have you found the all wheel drive to be? I almost forgot about them and they also have a great rep. I need a cheap ass winter beater though and I think there's not many under 5. I consider my winter beaters disposable urban commuter vehicles. I keep something I really like tucked away from the salt and crap...
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Topper »

Trucks are good.
Over the Internet, you can pretend to be anyone or anything.

I'm amazed that so many people choose to be complete twats.
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Arachnid »

Uncle dans leg wrote:
Arachnid wrote:I'm a Subaru man myself...
How have you found the all wheel drive to be? I almost forgot about them and they also have a great rep. I need a cheap ass winter beater though and I think there's not many under 5. I consider my winter beaters disposable urban commuter vehicles. I keep something I really like tucked away from the salt and crap...
Well mine is a 93' and in the land of salt & fat it has held up incredibly (I got it in 2006). Used it in a couple of rallies :D The AWD is awesome, won't go back to a Suzuki...they are expensive to fix and unreliable. Look for an older model to hit under 5k.
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by LotusBlossom »

Uncle dans leg wrote:Coming back to Canada, I'm going to need a winter beater and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation?

I will be living in Alberta so front wheel or all wheel drive is essential.

I've narrowed it down to:

1999-2001 Volvo V-70
2002- Nissan Altima
1997- Toyota Camry or Corolla
1997- Honda Accord

Main considerations are economy, reliability, safety, comfort.

I've owned trucks since high school until I moved here and found that I really like driving a car more! So much easier to do everything and the fuel bills are friendlier...I can always rent a truck to haul crap.
Friend of mine has a 1994 Volvo, and swears by it. He uses it during the winter, he lives in Revelstoke, so the snow plays a factor in why he doesn't use a new car during winter. He's had it since about 2000 and hasn't looked to replace it so far. He's maintained it quite well (as well as you do for a winter car) and has owned it for 11 year now and going strong.

Another friend drives a 1995 Accord presently, and has beat the shit out of it on a daily basis but it still keeps on going. Something to be said about the Honda.
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by BCExpat »

Uncle dans leg wrote:Eddy, I think I better steer clear of the truck though.... Next thing you'll know I'll be sporting a 10 gallon hat and all angry at the Canucks for cheating the flames out of a playoff berth again
I've seen a few guys driving trucks around here, sporting Canuck flags. The lengths to which Canuck fans will go to piss us Albertans off :D :drink:

Oh, and I agree with Eddy - you can't go wrong with a Toyota or Honda.
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Cousin Strawberry »

LB- those older volvos are bullet proof and where they built their reputation. It's why I've been considering them and thought maybe they were still ok until the 01 model. I really don't know for sure and epinions website rates them fairly well. It seems like they're usually well made but the odd exception, like jello's I suppose, are exceptionally shitty.

Probably better going Japanese I suppose. Per...anything to add in defence of your national car?

BCExpat-I'll make sure I deck out my beater with a huge ass flag and come on over to strathmore every time the nucks beat your flames. Maybe that's better if I had a truck though....
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by LotusBlossom »

Uncle dans leg wrote:...

Probably better going Japanese I suppose. Per...anything to add in defence of your national car?
...
I had a 1991 Honda Civic hatchback, that I believe one poster in here had the pleasure of sitting in once (poor friend) and used that as a 'winter car'. It was the best $1000 I ever spent. It brought me to SFU and back a few times over the year, damn Burnaby Mountain! Just kept being the crap out of it until it finally gave in when I was teaching my sister how to drive stick.

I named her "Catherine", she was brilliant.

I still drive a Honda these days...but as a summer car...2 seater, convertible...I love the S-2000.
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BCExpat
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by BCExpat »

Uncle dans leg wrote: BCExpat-I'll make sure I deck out my beater with a huge ass flag and come on over to strathmore every time the nucks beat your flames. Maybe that's better if I had a truck though....
You won't be alone. Just yesterday, I passed a 3/4 ton Dodge 4 x 4 with a huge Vancouver Canucks logo in the back window. Man, they are everywhere :shock:
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by Arachnid »

Just be careful of fakes flakes and snakes that say they know about cars that don't exist :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Best Used Vehicle for Under 5K

Post by LotusBlossom »

Arachnid wrote:Just be careful of fakes flakes and snakes that say they know about cars that don't exist :lol: :lol: :lol:
I'm pretty sure this was directed at me :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: ..but yeah here she is.

We call her "Miho" like the character from Sin City. She's Japanese, she's pretty quick, and has some artillery under her hood.


I blurred out the plate of course... 8-)
PS: Topper, Brian and Clam can confirm that's me in the car...so yeah... :mex:

Image
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