My $500 Ford Focus vs a $3500 Honda Civic - night and day

I bought a 2003 Ford Focus for $500 with 180k miles and it died in three months from a blown head gasket. Then I found a 2002 Honda Civic with 200k miles for $3500 from an old guy near Spokane who kept all the records. Should I stick with Honda for my next cheap car or is there another sub-$5k model that's just as reliable?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenixb666d ago

$500 for a running car and you expected it to last? Come on man, that's not even a down payment on most people's tires. Three months is honestly impressive for a beater that cheap, you got your money's worth. That old guy near Spokane with all the records is like finding a unicorn. Those are the best kind of deals, the ones where the owner actually cared about maintenance instead of just dumping oil in when the light comes on. Stick with Honda or look for a Buick with the 3800 engine. You can find those old LeSabres or Park Avenues under $5k all day and they'll run forever if the transmission isn't already toast. Just stay away from anything German at that price point, you'll be walking more than driving.

ross.sean6d ago

Dude, @phoenixb66 nailed it with that Buick 3800 recommendation. I had a 2004 Ford Taurus that cost me like $600 and I swear the check engine light was more reliable than the actual car. That Civic you found with records from the old guy is basically the holy grail of cheap car buying. I did the same thing once with a 1999 Camry from a retired teacher in Oregon, had every oil change written down in a notebook with mileage stamps. Those little 1.6 or 1.8 Honda engines will run forever if you just keep an eye on the timing belt and coolant levels. For under $5k, you really can't beat a well cared for Japanese sedan or a grandma owned Buick with the 3800. Just stay far away from anything with a German badge or a Nissan with a CVT transmission at that price point or you'll be learning more about your local bus schedule than you ever wanted.