Must have manual transmission, 4 doors, and functional air conditioning.

Looking to spend $3-6k (cash), and to buy in the next week.

Under 150k miles preferred, but for the right price, it's not a necessity.

4/4/2012 7:01:39 PM

I have a 1993 Automatic Accord with following issues:

Leaking Cam Tower Seals
Slipping Transmission
Fucked up Engine mounts
Stuck open thermostat (the good way, no heat in the winter though)
Stuck left rear window
Clock that reset to 1:00 randomly
A badly vibrating right wheel
The left front brake sticks if the car sits for too long

MAKE AN OFFER

4/4/2012 11:33:37 PM

must be 4 doors?

4/5/2012 4:34:41 AM

errr double post

[Edited on April 5, 2012 at 4:36 AM. Reason : f]

4/5/2012 4:36:23 AM

Quote :

"must be 4 doors?"

Yep, the musts really are musts. Getting car-seats in the back of a 2-door isn't much fun.

Quote :

"I have a 1993 Automatic Accord with following issues: Leaking Cam Tower Seals Slipping Transmission Fucked up Engine mounts Stuck open thermostat (the good way, no heat in the winter though) Stuck left rear window Clock that reset to 1:00 randomly A badly vibrating right wheel The left front brake sticks if the car sits for too long MAKE AN OFFER"

There's a right price for anything, I suppose. How about -$100?

4/5/2012 4:55:53 AM

Still looking.

4/9/2012 1:33:16 PM

I got a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 with 142000 miles, and it runs good, but doesn't have an AC. I just to see what you would offer for it if you want to buy it. I will start the price halfway between good and fair price points based on KBB data which ~$2200 (without the AC). If you interested just let me know. I just want see what I could get for it that's to say I am not set on selling it, but I just might. I just changed the oil in it, and it has four decent tires on it.

4/9/2012 2:42:47 PM

It's a two door. I'll also say I've owned a ZX2, and I have no wish to repeat the experience

4/9/2012 5:05:44 PM

I have a Sentra, but it's an automatic.

But otherwise close!

[Edited on April 10, 2012 at 8:50 PM. Reason : Four doors, like 75k miles; 2004 with AC]

4/10/2012 8:39:39 PM

^ how much?

4/10/2012 10:10:41 PM

Thinking somewhere around 5k -- it's actually a 2003 and there's a slight dent in the rear bumper. Sorry about that -- I took my other car to San Antonio, so it's currently in Raleigh getting driven every so often by a friend. Out of sight, out of mind, but I'll be back next Tuesday.

4/10/2012 11:35:06 PM

No longer looking.

Had a couple deals fall through after my mechanic looked them over and told me not to buy, and then realized I get serious discounts on a new car because of where I work. Not really a fan of Nissan, but I was out-the-door today for $11,500 on a new Nissan Versa 4-door sedan with a manual. It's a lot bigger in the back seat than the Corollas and Civics I had been looking at, and I should be able to get 40mpg out of it. Plus, it came with a maintenance package for the first 2 years that I didn't pay a dime for.

That will likely far outlast two $5k used cars I'd buy with 125k miles or more on them, with no headaches about whatever the previous owner did to abuse them. Thanks, all.

4/11/2012 3:48:33 PM

sounds like you made out pretty good

4/11/2012 4:12:32 PM

I hate seeing old on the main board page so bttt

4/11/2012 7:15:47 PM

did you get manual everything on that Versa?

also, the hatchback >>> sedan

4/11/2012 7:59:03 PM

Sedan >>> Hatchback for those with kids, and additionally, a few times a month I need to be able to lay down and get a nap because appointments are far away and far apart in time. The driver's seat reclines 100%, even with the car-seat in. There aren't many cars that can do that. Plus, the sedan gets a lot better mpg, if I recall. And while I'm no fan of the sedan's styling, the hatchback just looks gay.

4/11/2012 9:39:25 PM

Congrats on the new car.

But 2 things. First, as mentioned the hatchback >>> sedan. Much more cargo space in the hatchback.

Also:

Quote :

"but I was out-the-door today for $11,500 on a new Nissan Versa 4-door sedan with a manual. It's a lot bigger in the back seat than the Corollas and Civics I had been looking at, and I should be able to get 40mpg out of it."

You know the Versa doesn't compete with either the Corolla or Civic right?

4/12/2012 12:40:01 AM

also, NMSJ

4/12/2012 12:56:21 AM

I thought the Versa and Corolla were in the same class-ish.

4/12/2012 2:12:20 AM

Quote :

"But 2 things. First, as mentioned the hatchback >>> sedan. Much more cargo space in the hatchback."

Much more cargo space, yes. But that's not as important to me as backseat space and driver space. Throw in the other deficiencies of the hatchback, most notably the requirement to wear a skirt while driving it, and it's not really a close comparison for my needs.

Of course Corollas and Civics are way better. That's what you get for more money. I don't want to spend more money. Total cost of ownership still favors the Versa, and it's not by a little bit. Also, remember I wasn't in the market for new Corollas or Civics - those are way more cash than I want to part with. I was comparing 150,000-mile, unknown-previous-owners, 10-12 year old corollas vs. just double the price for a brand new car.

4/12/2012 4:37:35 AM

Quote :

"Much more cargo space, yes. But that's not as important to me as backseat space and driver space. Throw in the other deficiencies of the hatchback, most notably the requirement to wear a skirt while driving it, and it's not really a close comparison for my needs. "

Surely you're aware that interior space for the front and rear seat passengers is IDENTICAL whether it's a hatchback or sedan. As to the skirt comment, that's just a typical "american" slam against a superior vehicle layout.

Quote :

"Also, remember I wasn't in the market for new Corollas or Civics - those are way more cash than I want to part with. I was comparing 150,000-mile, unknown-previous-owners, 10-12 year old corollas vs. just double the price for a brand new car."

True that. And I can see that TCO would be low, as when C&D reviewed this car recently they called it one of the worst cars you can buy.

[Edited on April 12, 2012 at 8:57 AM. Reason : k]

4/12/2012 8:56:19 AM

Quote :

"And I can see that TCO would be low, as when C&D reviewed this car recently they called it one of the worst cars you can buy"

They called it one of the worse 'values' out there. Why did they say that?

Quote :

"The plastic is hard and cheap. "

Quote :

"The strut-type front suspension, the torsion-beam rear axle, and the rear drum brakes are engineered for dependable long-haul service not driving euphoria."

Quote :

"Things are worse inside, too. The new interior is constructed entirely of concrete-hard plastics, with the only soft materials being the carpet, the seats, and the headliner. As evidenced by the amount of road noise, the doors seem to have zero insulation. As your author climbed inside, the cord to his radar detector—a tool which proved unnecessary—fell against the door skin. The resulting ping sounded like someone had dropped an empty soda can. Eager to drown out the road noise and horrific engine note, we cranked up the tunes on the optional nav-equipped head unit, only to find an astonishing amount of distortion from the speakers at half volume. As a whole, the only positive from the Versa sedan is its enormous back seat, which offers tremendous legroom. But good luck finding anybody to sit there more than once."

Its underpowered engine gets you 0-to-60 in 10 seconds.

I'm on-board with all of those things. My requirements were 4 doors, manual transmission, A/C, and as little money as possible for as many miles/years as possible. It hits a home run. I take that back. It's a triple. If they could take away the power windows and locks, stability control (legally required), and a dozen other little things, and offer it another $1-2k (or more) less, I'd be all over that.

Car and Driver cares about an awful lot of things that I simply don't. I've never driven a car that's less than 10 years old, so my expectations end at reliability, mpg, and size.

4/12/2012 3:24:16 PM

Quote :

"I thought the Versa and Corolla were in the same class-ish"

think along the lines of toyota yaris, honda fit, ford fiesta, etc

4/12/2012 4:05:03 PM

^^I'm glad it works for you. It is pretty great to have a vehicle warranty too

4/12/2012 4:55:58 PM

11.5k otd is awesome. good job

4/16/2012 6:49:28 AM

Quote :

"superior vehicle layout"

^ +1

4/16/2012 9:32:46 AM

Took delivery of this Versa last week. It took a while because they have to special order any base Versa - nobody makes any money off it, so they don't even keep it on any lots from what I've found. It was tough even finding a dealer who would order it for me.

It's everything I thought it would be - cheap, basic, and brand new.

What I'm most happy about is its interior space. For < $12k, I have more rear legroom than a new Maxima. The trunk seems twice the size of my '02 Corolla. Halfway through my first tank, I'm averaging well over 40mpg.

Bad stuff that would bother other people: road noise on the highway is a bit high, acceleration is non-existent, it has none of the stuff that makes life easier (power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise, not even a tachometer for a manual transmission), no trunk light, and a few other things.

I've never had a new car before, so I'm not accustomed to many of those things anyway. I just hope I can treat this thing right and have it last a long, long time.

6/17/2012 3:15:24 AM

Quote :

" Halfway through my first tank, I'm averaging well over 40mpg"

don't trust the computer. you gotta calculate it yourself when you fill up

6/18/2012 9:02:45 PM

Quote :

"acceleration is non-existent"

My 93 Mazda MX-3 goes 0-60 mph in 10.2 seconds.

It's more like 11 seconds these days.

Quote :

"Indeed, the Versa took its time, jogging from 0-60 in 10.7 seconds"

http://www.motorweek.org/reviews/road_tests/2012_nissan_versa

So yeah I know how you feel, even if you have about ~25% more power (88hp to your 109.)

[Edited on June 18, 2012 at 9:31 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 18, 2012 at 9:33 PM. Reason : .]

6/18/2012 9:28:34 PM

i'd have to fix the no tach issue, other than that nice, cheap ride

6/19/2012 11:24:46 AM

Quote :

" Throw in the other deficiencies of the hatchback, most notably the requirement to wear a skirt while driving it"

6/19/2012 1:00:34 PM

Quote :

"Not really a fan of Nissan"

maybe you'll learn

6/19/2012 1:15:19 PM

Quote :

"Throw in the other deficiencies of the hatchback, most notably the requirement to wear a skirt while driving it, and it's not really a close comparison for my needs."

Since when does hatchback == chick car? I've never been aware of this tidbit.

I think in almost every case where a car is offered as a hatch and a sedan, the hatchback is better-looking and more useful. (Take the Fiesta, where the sedan just looks absurd. Or the previous generation Mazda 6, where the fastback profile of the hatch was really good-looking.) Oh noes, I must have ovaries.

My Forte is the 2-door Koup version, but if I was looking for more doors, I definitely would have gone with the hatchback over the sedan.

[Edited on June 20, 2012 at 10:39 AM. Reason : k]

6/20/2012 10:37:54 AM

Quote :

"don't trust the computer. you gotta calculate it yourself when you fill up"

First fill-up and actual mpg was 45 - same as the mpg display, within a few tenths, anyway.

I'm not even a real hyper-miler. I just accelerate reasonably and follow the speed limit. It's rated for 28/36, and I got 45 on mixed-use.

Quote :

"Since when does hatchback == chick car?"

Since always? It's not always just for chicks, but it does seem limited to those who are chick-like. The average weekend bicyclist, Chapel Hillians, tight-shirted Eurosexuals are included in my description.

Why do I think that? The styling itself gives off that impression, and nearly every driver I see merely confirms it.

As for the Versa sedan - I think it looks great from the front, mediocre and a bit awkward from the side, and simply horrendous from the back. I have found myself parking in reverse even more than usual.

Quote :

"maybe you'll learn"

I hope I do.

I'm looking into how to fix the tach issue. The main reason it bothers me is that I won't be able to notice when my idle speed changes, bounces, etc.

6/21/2012 7:46:00 PM