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Sedan under 10k, what would you buy?

yoyo5280

yoyo5280

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 24, 2007
1,910
0
Melbourne, Australia & Bay Area
Because both my parents work before its time for us to go to school, i'm shopping for a first car to transport my sisters and I to and from school (got to love the lack of public transport in our area.)

Requirements?

  • Must have 4 doors
  • Can't be an SUV, Sedan preferred by parents
  • Safety is a huge priority
  • So are cheap running costs
  • Has to be well under 10,000USD
  • I would prefer something good looking
  • I'll be paying for gas, so better gas mileage is preferred.
The 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEL I found for 5k didn't exactly meet my parents requirements.

So given these requirements, what would YOU buy?


Thanks, Omi
 
The 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEL I found didn't exactly meet my parents requirements.

Yeah of course not. < $10k with > $10k in potential repairs in the next 2 years.
Buy a Honda of sorts, you can never go wrong.
 
Get a Volvo S70. Fits every criteria that you are looking for.

5547670028_large.jpg
 
chrmjenkins said:
I don't think he stipulated high repair costs.
Click to expand...

Haha that's what everyone thinks. Volvo's are like the Honda of Europe. Compared to BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc. Volvo's are really good on maintenance costs. Trust me I've owned 3 so far and compared to my parents Honda Accords...they are pretty darn similar in repair costs.
 
I actually showed my dad some older Accords, but the thing is... the really hold their value, so all the fairly newish Accords in my budget all have uber high miles. Very very high.

OSE240 said:
Get a Volvo S70. Fits every criteria that you are looking for.

5547670028_large.jpg
Click to expand...
Actually, I would totally drive one. My mom and I think its a perfect option (she is loyal to two car companies, Volvo and BMW). She saw the topgear episode where they crashed an old Rover, an old Audi, and an old Volvo into a wall at 30MPH (except the volvo had a broken spedo so it was actually 40MPH). The Volvo didn't 'hit' the wall though, it completely crashed through and disintegrated it, and still was the only car to start back up and drive away again. Her comment was "The perfect car for any teenager"

The problem that my dad is worried about is repair costs on a Volvo. During my lifetime my parents have owned 3 brand new Volvos, so repairs were covered. But the cars computer would always find something to go in the shop for.



jessica. said:
The 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEL I found didn't exactly meet my parents requirements.

Yeah of course not. < $10k with > $10k in potential repairs in the next 2 years.
Buy a Honda of sorts, you can never go wrong.
Click to expand...
Not exactly true, IF the car hasn't been thrashed (which the one I found ended up being) those cockroach Benzes would out last anything. But yes, parts are hard to find in the states.

What about Nissan? They are usually cheaper than Honda.
 
I would look at a used Ford Focus, Civic, Setra or Chev Cobalt.

My sister drives a cobalt and it servers her pretty well and she like it.
The Nissan Verse is not bad for a first car.
All those cars I listed are great HS cars and great first cars. Now Civic and the Sentra are the only ones that could make my list for a 2nd car.
I do not recommend that you get a car with a sportier engine. It will ruin you for life. My first car was a Sentra SE-R. It had some kick so when it was replaced in 04 I got a Sentra Spec V.
Problem when you get a car with a sportier engine is you just never will feel comfortable driving in a car that does not have the get up and go of your old one.
 
yoyo5280 said:
Actually, I would totally drive one. My mom and I think its a perfect option (she is loyal to two car companies, Volvo and BMW). She saw the topgear episode where the crashed an old Rover, an old Audi, and an old Volvo into a wall at 30MPH (except the volvo had a broken spedo so it was actually 40MPH), and when the volvo was the only one to drive away her comment was "The perfect car for any teenager"

The problem that my dad is worried about is repair costs on a Volvo. During my lifetime my parents have owned 3 brand new Volvos, so repairs were covered. But the cars computer would always find something to go in the shop for.
Click to expand...

Tell him he shouldn't worry. Really if you know for sure its the computer...you don't need to go to the shop. Simply track down a computer that needs to be replace and put it in yourself. Seriously it takes 5 minutes to do if you know how to unplug and plug things in. That is if you are mechanically inclined. I had a Volvo 240, and 850 and a S70. Awesome cars and if you keep up on the maintainence, these cars can go on forever. My friends Volvo has over 764,000 miles on it with the original transmission and engine. He just did regular maintainance. Volvo's are great cars, you really can't go wrong with one if you find one that has been taken great care of.

I'm with your mom on her car choice. Volvo's and BMW's ftw.
 
OSE240 said:
Haha that's what everyone thinks. Volvo's are like the Honda of Europe. Compared to BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc. Volvo's are really good on maintenance costs. Trust me I've owned 3 so far and compared to my parents Honda Accords...they are pretty darn similar in repair costs.
Click to expand...

Depends on your location. I've actually seen European cars turned away from small town oil changing services because they aren't equipped to handle them.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
I would look at a used Ford Focus, Civic, Setra or Chev Cobalt.

My sister drives a cobalt and it servers her pretty well and she like it.
The Nissan Verse is not bad for a first car.
All those cars I listed are great HS cars and great first cars. ...
I do not recommend that you get a car with a sportier engine. It will ruin you for life.
Click to expand...

All of those cars seem like pretty good options, though (prepare for spoiled brat comment) I would rather punch my self in the testicles than drive a Chevy car (they make trucks, and only trucks...until the Cruze comes out).

I wouldn't get a sporty engine in a first car, regardless of if I wanted one. My parents would never let me, and for good reason.
The first car is the one I will "inevitably crash into a tree" with.



@OSE240 What I meant is the onboard computer in the S60s and the XC70s would always tell us to go in for maintenance, and no joke, if you left it long enough it would start killing off head lamps :p.
But she loves the cars for good reason. Simple, understated, safe, doors thicker than Jupiter, and heavy steering.

The average running costs on an S70 would be what... (estimate?)
 
yoyo5280 said:
Because both my parents work before its time for us to go to school, i'm shopping for a first car to transport my sisters and I to and from school (got to love the lack of public transport in our area.)

Requirements?

  • Must have 4 doors
  • Can't be an SUV, Sedan preferred by parents
  • Safety is a huge priority
  • So are cheap running costs
  • Has to be well under 10,000USD
  • I would prefer something good looking
  • I'll be paying for gas, so better gas mileage is preferred.
The 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEL I found didn't exactly meet my parents requirements.

So given these requirements, what would YOU buy?


Thanks, Omi
Click to expand...

How old are you? First car? I would probably recommend a nice used Focus / Neon / Taurus early to mid 2000's should likely set you back 5k ish. Easy to maintain, cheap parts, etc. Go for the fancy stuff later, or as a second car when a large repair bill won't kill you, mercedes are great cars but I would not own one out of warranty!
 
yoyo5280 said:
Not exactly true, IF the car hasn't been thrashed (which the one I found ended up being) those cockroach Benzes would out last anything. But yes, parts are hard to find in the states.

What about Nissan? They are usually cheaper than Honda.
Click to expand...

Well, I would not buy my kid a Benz as his first car knowing I'd likely be on the hook for the repairs. Even if I weren't he'd hate the repair costs.

I think Nissans are also great. Was a Nissan only girl until I ended up with a Ford, quickly got rid of that and wound up in a Honda.
 
OSE240 said:
Haha that's what everyone thinks. Volvo's are like the Honda of Europe. Compared to BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc. Volvo's are really good on maintenance costs. Trust me I've owned 3 so far and compared to my parents Honda Accords...they are pretty darn similar in repair costs.
Click to expand...

300$ for the HID (and only one bulb), 400$ for the rear wiper motor. Mechanics salary included.

It sure is cheap :p

EDIT: it's a 2004 XC70, if you're wondering. On another note, at the dealer, the Volvo hourly rate is lower than Subaru.
 
lewis82 said:
300$ for the HID (and only one bulb), 400$ for the rear wiper motor. Mechanics salary included.

It sure is cheap :p

EDIT: it's a 2004 XC70, if you're wondering. On another note, at the dealer, the Volvo hourly rate is lower than Subaru.
Click to expand...

Haha where are you getting your car repaired at haha. I got both of those for 25% of what those cost :p. Then again I do all my own work on my cars. Saves money.
 
yoyo5280 said:
All of those cars seem like pretty good options, though (prepare for spoiled brat comment) I would rather punch my self in the testicles than drive a Chevy car (they make trucks, and only trucks...until the Cruze comes out).

I wouldn't get a sporty engine in a first car, regardless of if I wanted one. My parents would never let me, and for good reason.
The first car is the one I will "inevitably crash into a tree" with.



@OSE240 What I meant is the onboard computer in the S60s and the XC70s would always tell us to go in for maintenance, and no joke, if you left it long enough it would start killing off head lamps :p.
But she loves the cars for good reason. Simple, understated, safe, doors thicker than Jupiter, and heavy steering.

The average running costs on an S70 would be what... (estimate?)
Click to expand...

Well for me, I get parts from the dealer at a fraction of the cost of what they usually sell to inexperienced customers. This dealership that I go through sells them at what an employee working at the dealership would pay. I do my own work my car so the labor factor is free. I worked at a Volvo dealership a few years ago and had S70s come in with minor repairs for really the same as you would for a Honda. So far a my parents Honda has gone in for service (40K) and they have spent around a grand or more. Expect that a teeny bit more if you get a Volvo that has been really taken care of.

Now if you want an ideal car that is way less than 10K. Get a Volvo 240. Cheap as hell to run, great gas mileage, SAFE, 4 doors and to me I think it has a great classy look to it

This one is mine. 26 years old and still running like it was from the showroom floor when my parents bought it in 84. Goes to show maintainence goes along way.


photo2.jpg


I wouldn't really get any domestic cars (no offense to anyone). To me they feel cheap, break down more than they should and won't really last that long compared to a Euro or Japanese car.
 
jav6454 said:
Tried the Cobalt?
Click to expand...
Never. I'd rather haul my sisters on a wheel-less bicycle.
lewis82 said:
300$ for the HID (and only one bulb), 400$ for the rear wiper motor. Mechanics salary included.

EDIT: it's a 2004 XC70
Click to expand...
XC70s love knocking out their lights don't they?

OSE240 said:
Well for me, I get parts from the dealer at a fraction of the cost of what they usually sell to inexperienced customers... Expect that a teeny bit more if you get a Volvo that has been really taken care of.

Now if you want an ideal car that is way less than 10K. Get a Volvo 240. Cheap as hell to run, great gas mileage, SAFE, 4 doors and to me I think it has a great classy look to it


I wouldn't really get any domestic cars (no offense to anyone). To me they feel cheap, break down more than they should and won't really last that long compared to a Euro or Japanese car.
Click to expand...
Despite years of driving Volvos in my mums family, we aren't exactly experienced customers. And listening to car talk, they don't sound that easy to maintain yourself... :/

Love 240s, but I'd rather stick with S70s,S80s, or S60s.
jav6454 said:
Then try a Forenza, or Jetta. Else, a Toyota....
Click to expand...

My dad really, really likes Jettas. So do I.
But they seem to be more unreliable than Volvos...
 
Used Subaru WRX sedan - can probably get a 02 or so for under 10k with a reasonable number of miles.

Good gas milage (mine gets 28mpg)
Very inexpensive to maintain
All-wheel drive (if you encounter snow/weather)
Reasonably safe
and...FUN TO DRIVE
 
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