Efficient, cheap beaters! Used car ads: 35 mpg highway or more for $1500 or less

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by War_Wagon

That dealership is into that thing for nothing, plus I like the $480 "doc fee" they charge.

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

They dream on that Metro.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Yeah, that price is shocking.

The asking price frames the negotiation. If you want $X, ask for $Y and act like it's actually worth more. A $4k car looks cheap if it's parked on a Lexus lot no matter what it is- then the victim (er, savvy customer) walks in and says "$4k? That's too much, I'll give you $2500 for it, and not a penny more!" And the Lexus dealer still gets several times what it's worth.

I had the Albatross (02 XTerra, 217k miles) parked in the backyard. The wife eventually said she wanted it gone, and wanted to get $400 for it. Me? I'd have dropped it at a scrap yard right after I bought the Fit, except it was blatantly illegal, scarily unsafe, unacceptably unreliable and I'd have needed to coordinate a ride home if I even made it to the scrapyard without it stopping or getting stopped. I didn't want to bother calling and seeing about having the scrappers pick it up, and it wasn't costing me anything sitting out there.

So I put it on CL describing its main issues and saying $600 firm. When I got a bite I emptied our stuff from it, put a couple gallons from our lawnmower gas can into it to shut off the empty light and charged the battery. Then I cranked it (took some doing) and managed to get it to the end of the driveway. The guy and a friend (a tech) came about 80 miles to look at it and it was in worse shape than when I parked it: the alternator and compressor were siezed and had shredded their belts while I was driving it across the yard. They gave a spiel about going home, buying parts, then coming back to fix it in my yard.

Throwing all those expenses at me, they asked how much I'd be willing to change the price. I offered to go down to exactly the price my wife wanted. They must have giggled inside over beating me up for a third off the price when they were just going to slap in a used alternator. I actually got money for something so rusted out that even selling it for scrap would feel like cheating- draining the fluids and dropping it overboard for one of those artificial reef projects is reeally all that thing was good for.

They got it back to Mass and cleaned it up. They probably band-aided the exhaust, put a couple used tires on it and somehow got the knock sensor to stop throwing the CEL and asked $4k for it. I'll bet someone talked them down to $2500 and thought they got a deal. If it had been parked next to a Lexus, the victim might not have even tried to haggle.

[War_Wagon]

Yes there is an ass for every seat as they say. I have sold stuff that I am ashamed of too, I'm not going to lie! But one man's trash is another man's treasure, and I am always reminded of Al Bundy talking about garage sales, "They are based on the bigger idiot theory, unfortunately at some point you reach the queen idiot" and points at Peg. My friend and I used to sell used performance parts at the largest local "Hot Rod" swap meet, we'd fill up a 26 foot enclosed car trailer with everything from tires to complete engines. And it was always the bald slicks or the dented chrome valve cover breather that should have been thrown away that sold first.

Some people see cheap and reality goes out the window. Who cares if it's beyond repair, it's 1/5th the price of a new one! I've seen people with car lots go out of business doing that. Just because you CAN buy a 2005 Buick that needs work for $500, doesn't mean you should. To this day I have never been at a dealership and heard someone walk in off the street and say "I'm looking for a mid sized, domestic, V6 powered 4 door sedan, what do you have?" That's the kind of car that gets sold after they find out they can't get financed for the Tahoe or F-150 that they came in to buy in the first place. Yet some businesses stock up on those cars anyway, because they are cheap. And then that business fails. That being said, nobody walks onto a Lexus lot with only $5k to spend, so that Metro will either get wholesaled or go to auction. Auction price on that car is about $800. So minus sellers fees and the dealer would get about $500ish. If someone walked on that lot with $1000 cash I bet they'd drive away with it. Just my 2 cents. It's a free $1000 for the dealer, he basically got it for free.

[War_Wagon]

Already emailed this saying I'll take it. Like I need another car, but it's a Civic wagon! And it's $200! I'll save it, my rotted out VX drivetrain needs to go somewhere. I don't know about the Christmas lights though...this should be interesting to say the least.

91' Civic Wagon

[MetroMPG]

VX Wagon. Nice!! So many blank canvases out there.

[War_Wagon]

I'm on for 1:30 tomorrow. There are a lot of blank slates its true, but '88-'91 Civic wagons that aren't wasted are hard to find, even here. And as you know from my ramblings and my nickname, I love me a wagon! I hope it's a grey interior, it's hard to tell from the pics. Not that I care I'll take it anyway, but if it's grey I will be extra happy!

[MetroMPG]

EPA: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/16544.shtml

• 29 Combined
• 25 City
• 36 Highway

Hmmm....

Year 2001
Saturn S-Series
Kilometers 223000 (139k miles)
Body Type Coupe (2 door)
Transmission Manual

power sun roof 3 door sport coupe,works good, needs front brake pads & rotors,2 like new michelin snow tires with it,not using it taking up room,selling it as is !good well priced car !

2001 Saturn S-Series Coupe (2 door) | used cars & trucks | Kingston | Kijiji

[Daox]

Somebody is using an old picture.

[MetroMPG]

Can't sneak ANYTHING past you!

That was me. There was no pic with the ad... which also says the car is black.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by War_Wagon

I'm on for 1:30 tomorrow. ...

I hope it's a grey interior, it's hard to tell from the pics. Not that I care I'll take it anyway, but if it's grey I will be extra happy!

Any news??

[MetroMPG]

Got this via PM from a shy, non-Canadian/non-US member who wanted to add some perspective...

Your list of 'Cheap' beaters.
I like your posting on cheap beaters. I did not want to hijack that thread and thought of giving you a PM.

You are right to say they are not your typical economy cars found outside of North America. BUT you cannot get that kind of depreciated price in Asia.

I am not too sure about the UK as their depreciation is the highest in Europe. If those cars were bought by cash, doubly so.

For most of us, we still need to get a loan (and therefore compounded interest) for a 10 year old car. And the term would be around 5 to 7 years. IF you add the cost of ownership, those so called economy cars in that list holds merit. So be glad!