Ok, so I got approved for a loan for 7500 bucks. I have been car hunting for a few weeks now, nothing really interesting.
The other day my dad told me he'd sell me his car for the 7500. It is a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Edition with 27k miles. I know under normal circumstances this car is garbage, but my dad is unbelievably anal about his cars. I lived in one of those households where if I even walked within 5 feet of the car I'd get my ass beat. Anyway, I know it is clean, has been garaged, and has been cared for meticulously. I also think it has some factory warranty left on it.

My question, should I get this and have reliable transportation, or hold out and hope I find something worth the money?

I've been looking into some A4's and some mkIII Golf GTI's, but everything has much more miles, and since I am poor I'll need this car to last.

9/26/2005 7:32:26 PM

I think you answered you own question. Take your dad's car.

Project cars are great if you have time, money, and another way to get somewhere. I'm guessing you one have one if any of those.

9/26/2005 7:37:03 PM

I'm sure its not a bad car at all but i don't trust mitsu.

your other choices might be more reliable even with more mileage....
if you are just looking for a commuter a jetta or a golf tdi (diesel) will get stellar gas mileage and since it is a diesel be very very very reliable.... not to mention diesel prices tend to not fluctuate as much as gas during a "crisis"

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 7:39 PM. Reason : .]

9/26/2005 7:38:18 PM

I'm pretty much 0 for 3 on that list.

9/26/2005 7:38:39 PM

buy something cheap until you get out of college

9/26/2005 7:39:05 PM

The point is for this to last me the rest of college and a little while after.

9/26/2005 7:39:49 PM

the mitsubishi will last the duration of college plus some as long as you remember its not a race car and don't drive it like one. the golf would probably be more reliable in the long run but you don't know how its been taken care of while the mitsu you do.

9/26/2005 7:43:11 PM

Yeah, I know in overall quality, Golf>>>>>Lancer.

The main selling point is I KNOW how my dad babies his vehicle, as opposed to buying a Golf GTI with 75k on the clock and it has been ragged out for the majority of it.

9/26/2005 8:26:31 PM

are lancers built in Normal, Illinois like the other poorly made Mitsus?

9/26/2005 8:27:51 PM

i'd go for your dads car...

9/26/2005 8:28:50 PM

i would say go for your dad's car, but i had a lancer rental car for a few weeks. it just seemed a little cheap and poorly built.

but it's gonna be your car, so do what you want.

9/26/2005 8:31:20 PM

^^ drives a c5 daily.... nuff said

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 8:33 PM. Reason : .]

9/26/2005 8:33:14 PM

It is a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Edition with 27k miles.

for $7500. I'd buy it and stick a for sale sign in it if you really don't want it.

9/26/2005 10:31:23 PM

SHUT THE FUCK UP

9/26/2005 11:10:12 PM

?

9/27/2005 2:19:27 PM

Quote :

"since it is a diesel be very very very reliable"

Yeah, because a car is just an engine with some wheels attached to it and there is nothing else to worry about breaking.

9/27/2005 2:29:15 PM

buy a civic or corolla?

of course i'm biased against mitsu.

9/27/2005 2:41:30 PM

I think I'm going to go with the Lancer, despite it being a girl car. I just NEED something reliable, asap.

9/28/2005 1:39:11 AM

Quote :

"buy a civic or corolla? of course i'm biased against mitsu."

9/28/2005 1:52:59 AM

the lancer should be fine with that kind of mileage

9/28/2005 7:14:34 AM

There are quite a few cars in your price range... I would go with a somewhat older car.

Off the top of my head I think these would be good "values" while still quite reliable;

Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Honda Accord
Olds Intrigue

Having less money into a car, and more in the bank is a liberating feeling.
Ahmet

9/28/2005 7:25:08 AM

ahmet, you forgot to put a volvo wagon on the list.

9/28/2005 9:41:13 AM

Well I thought about that, but if you have $7500, and you're trying to get a car as reliable/as late model as possible, you can do better than a Volvo. I am thinking about picking up another 850 turbo (I actually have a slightly modified 740 Turbo wagon right now!), but yeah I'm weird.
Ahmet

9/28/2005 10:52:51 AM

Quote :

"^^ drives a c5 daily.... nuff said "

do you have a point or are you just trying to be a douche?

9/28/2005 11:41:46 AM

also, buy your dads car and stick it in autotrader for a lot higher the day you get it...hell i don't even know what they go for but $7500 sounds a lot cheaper than average for 27K miles. Either it'll sell and you'll make some money or you'll have a reasonably nice, well maintained car to drive...i don't see a downside here

9/28/2005 11:42:52 AM

I'm curious to hear what bullshit gripes you people have against mitsubishi...

9/28/2005 12:54:27 PM

^^well, it might piss the dad off a little. i mean, maybe he is only getting rid of the car that cheap as a favor for his son. like a gift.

i mean, if it was me.... if i do something like that for someone, beyond them getting reliable transportation, I dont care what they do with it. I know some people get wierd about things though

9/28/2005 1:14:31 PM

I was pleasantly surprised with the one lancer (stock rental issue) that I've spent time with - seemed like a good basic car - very roomy, comfortable seats, solid feeling controls and the dash looked pretty good too - granted that's not a gauge of long term reliability, but it made a good first impression

9/28/2005 2:12:43 PM

^^ true...I'd probably be pretty annoyed if I sold a car to my son for cheap so he'd have reliable transportation if he sold it (and had planned to sell it the whole time..) quickly. Oh well, I'd still probably go for your dads car

9/28/2005 2:44:28 PM