Question to anyone who knows about cars?

Question

I'm pregnant with less than 2 months to go and I need a car to get me and my baby around. I am on a budget so the car can't be over 1000 & it obviously has to be used. What should a car absolutely have working because on an ad I saw it said "transmission needs work",but the car is only 600. Is that a waste of money?I know it may sound like asilly question but I know absolutely nothing about cars. Is there anywhere I can get a car for a good price except craigslist? Basically tell me anything I need to know.Thanks Ahead

Answer 1

"transmission needs work" means that you will need to put at least $1500-$2000 minimum in it to get it working properly.  You are best of finding an older honda civic or accord because even with high miles they will still be dependable.  

Answer 2

You won't be able to find a Honda or Toyota in good shape for $1000. Don't buy any car that needs transmission work. I bought my car 2 years ago with less than 100k on it for $1000 and it's a great car. It's a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, same as the Buick Century. They're underrated and underpriced, and they're known to last very long. Also look at other old Buicks/Oldsmobiles and Old Ford Escorts.  

Answer 3

Well $1000 won't buy you much...the best thing you can do is try and find something out of a yard from an elderly person....why you may ask from and elderly!  They don't tend to want to make a bunch of money selling it they just want it gone, they didn't drive it much, and they maintained it well!  If you get into buying something that needs a transmission you are definetly going to be spending alot of money on fixing it!  

Tell you what the best thing to do would be get a newer vehicle!  Put your $1000 on something newer!  It will be more reliable and thats #1 important especially when you are about to have a baby!  

Good Luck on your search and I hope that helped

Answer 4

"Transmission needs work" could be anything from just needing to top up the transmission fluid to get the transmission to shift properly to the entire transmission needing to be replaced ( which could easily be over a couple of grand for parts and labour, depending on what kind of car this is ).  You can either have this car inspected by a trusted mechanic or garage to see if it is worth buying or move on to another vehicle.

Answer 5

You want to make sure the car you buy is mechanically in good condition. Don't worry about how it looks. Dents and faded paint or the fact that a car is downright ugly should not enter into the equation. Whatever you do make sure you have someone (a professional mechanic if possible) with a fair amount of mechanical knowledge inspect any car before you buy it. If you can't afford to have a mechanic inspect it and you don't have anyone to look at it take these tips. Make sure the car doesn't smoke any color out the tailpipe. Make sure the engine doesn't make any pecking or knocking noises. Look under the hood for any signs of oil or other fluids leaking. With the engine not running check the oil to see if it is low or if there appears to be any water bubbles on the dipstick(if it does you don't want this car). Take the oil fill cap off the engine and see if the under side of the cap has any light colored milky looking substance( if it does do not buy this one). Pull the transmission stick. Rub the fluid between your fingers if it's really gritty, brown, and smells burnt walk away. Also if the engine is cold take off the radiator cap to see if the coolant looks dirty or appears to have oil or sludgy substances in it. Next drive the car. If it's front wheel drive go to an empty  parking lot where you can turn the wheel all the way and do circles make sure to go left then right. What you're doing is checking the front axles. If you hear a clicking or popping noise this could be an expensive repair and dangerous if not attended to before it gets too bad. Make sure to drive the car long enough for everything to warm up. Drive it normally and pay attention to the shifting of the transmission everything should seem smooth. Also pay attention to the exhaust. It should be quiet. You don't want a death trap that leaks carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment.

Finally with the budget you are working with I think you will probably find that larger American made cars will be in the best condition in this price range. Generally Buicks and Chevrolets hold up fairly well and aren't too expensive to repair if something breaks later on after you buy the car. I would stay away from Chrysler products completely and don't buy anything that needs needs engine or transmission work. You will probably find a better car for the money from a private seller than from a dealer. Keep in mind some people will take less than what they price their cars because they just want to get rid of them for one reason or another. I hope this helps.  

Answer 6

Stay away from Dodge Neon and  Intrepid they both have engine issues. You will find them for sale and they may still look nice but lurking under the hood will be about a $2000 monster. Ford tempo or escort is a pretty good car for the money, also a Chevy Cavalier or Pontiac Sunfire. Don't be afraid of miles. In you price range if you find a good running car buy it. But it is a good idea to take it to a garage to have it looked over.

Answer 7

You should be able to find something for a grand. Ive bought a few , Really since you dont know that much about cars u need someone to help u buy. I jfound a 626 for my son for 750. looks like c**p. but runs good and so far hes only put about 300 into it in repairs in a year. That included a wheel alignment and 2 tires. so they are out there.

Answer 8

With that budget you are looking at a real beater. My suggestion is to keep looking. Late 1980's Mazda 626's might be in this price range. Cheaper than Toyota or Honda, just as reliable. Transmission needs work may be a code word for $2,500 repair bill. By the way from this point forward the expression is "my baby and I"