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

[M_a_t_t]

It's gone. Dude said no one was coming last night and yet he still sold it. Too bad, maybe next time.

[Xist]

That sports bra is special. It is patina!

How dare they have a black car with bad paint on the hood?!

The roof is bad, too!

Selling my daughter's Corolla. It has 240k miles. It is not the prettiest car in the world thanks to faulty paint by Toyota. It is a standard so you can teach your kids how to drive a stick on this car.

Good News: In the past year we've put in a new starter, transmission and clutch. It runs great and is super dependable. Tires are in excellent condition. I think they have about 6000 miles on them and they are rated for 80,000 miles! Gas mileage was in the 35 mpg range on the highway. Everything works on the inside. Airbags, radio, power windows and locks, etc. Sun roof is fun! The price of the car is based a bit on the work that has been done.

Bad News: It is not pretty in the slightest. The paint has vaporized or something on the hood, sides and roof. My buddy said you can get that painted for $600 at a Maaco in the valley. We never tried. There is a few tears on the back of the driver's seat.

2004 Toyota Corolla Sport - $1500 (Show Low)


I wish that websites would reconcile the new EPA ratings, which came out over a decade ago. Google told me the Corolla was rated 32/40, but that was adjusted down to 28/36. They say that I would spend an extra $50 a year compared to my Civic. Someone reported 45 MPG mostly highway, although two people said they got 30 MPG.

Kelley says that it is worth $2,784 with the default of less than 160,000 miles. People don't normally drive 10,000 miles a year or fewer! That dropped to $2,360 when I updated the mileage.

That is in Good condition. I did not have any idea. Is it in Fair condition? I do not have any idea.

Good: Has some repairable cosmetic defects and is free of major mechanical problems
Fair: Has some cosmetic defects that require repairing and/or replacing

The paint doesn't require repair or replacement, but it sure would benefit from it!

Why doesn't Fair mention the mechanical condition?

I will message the owner the first thing in the morning. I do not know what shops are open on Saturday besides the dealership and Big O.

[Xist]

I messaged the Corolla owner as soon as I woke up and he just told me that it sold. The only other interesting car that found was this 1997 Nissan 200SX with 300,000 miles and a manual transmission. The owner says that it just needs new tires and cosmetic work. Boy does it ever!







1997 Nissan 200SX · SE Coupe 2D $900
The 200SX is the Sentra coupe. There are far more Sentra bumper covers on car-part, but nothing in the state. I can get an aftermarket primed cover for $129.36 shipped from eBay, but it also needs the corner light and probably some bits down there like my Accord did.

Rustoleum paint job?

[California98Civic]

Interior and engine bay look quite clean and stock. Not bad. But someone needs to stop eating the paint.

[freebeard]

I saw that rear quarter and thought 'paintless dent removal', but never mind.

I'm thinking about Eastwood's Optiflow primer system: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Eastwood%27s+Optiflow+primer+ system

For an approximate $300 investment, I could bare-metal and primer the '58 Baja, two Superbeetle fenders and a 1940s steel sink top.

[Xist]

Dang kids nowadays!

[Xist]

KBB says the Nissan is worth $770 in fair condition and $1,395 in excellent.

$770 car
$129.36 bumper
$50 Rustoleum paint job
$133.32 Sumic GT-A 175/65R14 82H BSW (4 Tires)
$1,082.68 before installation of tires, disposal of old ones, and replacing whatever else is missing from the corner. It might be fun, but it wouldn't be lucrative.

[freebeard]

$50 Rustoleum paint job

Ten $5 cans or five $10 cans?

[Xist]

It depends on how you want to do it. Some sand down the existing paint (if any!) and use six cans for one layer. Some sand to bare metal, do multiple layers of primer with a roller or spray gun, several layers of paint, and a couple of layers of clear coat, all with extensive painting throughout. I do not know how you can do all of that for $50, but Rustoleum cans are cheap.

There was a huge discussion about this on Mopar and Hot Rod did an article on it (although they spent $98), but I lost my links and really need to work on my projects.

Craigslist was kind enough to notify me of this 2008 Prius with unknown problems. It also has unknown mileage and no pictures. They had the dealer replace the traction battery and now it has some other problem:

2008 Prius with NEW hybrid battery from Toyota. After replacing battery, Another issue popped up. Mechanic says it is the brake actuator. I got a new car so I didn't drive the Prius anymore. Went to go move it and main 12v battery completely dead. Went to jump it and alarm and lights went crazy. Looking to sell this immediately. If you have a 2nd gen prius, then you know this is a steal with the new (not reconditioned) battery, even if that is all you want out of it. This battery was installed by Toyota and still has a 3 year warranty. The car runs but cannot get the alarm to reset, therefore it will not start. If you know how to get past that, then you are golden. I personally do not have the time or energy to try and resolve the issue. So come take it as is. $1000 FIRM, no low-ball. If you are interested, let me know and I will give you address to look at it. Don't have pictures so if you want to see it, you'll wanna be local.

2008 Toyota Prius - $1,000 Phoenix

Who doesn't have a picture of their car?! I am skeptical of someone that doesn't take pictures of their car, but as he says, the battery is worth more than he is asking.

[freebeard]

I do not know how you can do all of that for $50...

Agreed.