Picking a car for nephew

In reply to STM317 :

Saabaru is gone, I texted the seller earlier this morning (completely independent of this thread.) Also, I didn't know they made an N/A version, thought all of the Saab badged cars got the WRX motor. 

In reply to Furious_E :

I don't doubt it. I would've been very very tempted if it were near me.

914Driver said:

Dude, you're in Carlisle, nothing in the Car Corral during their events?

Plenty... if you want to pay the Carlisle Auto Show premium tax.  I've yet to find any bargains there.

STM317 said:

So, after a quick scan of your CL link these are interesting things that I've found (Not necessarily things that I'd have a 16 year old buy, but possibilities for you to consider):

$1300 VW GTI

Thunderbird- 4.6L V8 and IRS

This Celica has teenage boy written all over it

Escort ZX2- stick trans and room in the budget for some repair work or cosmetics

Mazda 6- non-running. "might be a mechanical issue". What could go wrong?!

$1k DSM- "had it over 100 with no issues"

Stereotypical, ricer Civic

DIY V8 swappable Miata

Tastefully modded Maxima with a random no-start issue

Really clean Saab-aru that "needs work to pass emissions"

Again, some of these aren't perfect options, but a few might at least be worth a call or text to feel out the owners and see how serious the fixes might be.

I have directed him to this post.  Thank you.  I had linked a few of these to him in an email.

John Welsh said:

dean1484 said:

This looks like the best option to me. 

 

https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/great-running-2006-suzuki/6371956169.html

 

 

Suzuki Reno is just a rebadged Daewoo.  Though at that price it seems like a bargain the reality is that it is still likely overpriced.  I would avoid.  

You want to see something embarrassing...that small Suzuki Reno with auto trans has an EPA rating of  19/22/28.  Those are pretty horrible numbers for a small car.  It just points to a generally inefficient engine.  

I agree that it looks like a relatively solid bet, but Suzuki pulled out of the US.  Parts are already getting hard to find/expensive and people are dumping Suzukis like pocket lint.  It makes them cheap, but a bit scary should anything go wrong.

Buy the ZX2 and I will throw in a full,low mileage bolt in suspension.   Also fits other cars.

Oooh.... tempting.