17 Answers

Randy, honestly at $1k I don't really think manufacturer and model would make much difference. I would look for a car that is safe as priority, mechanically sound, not much to go on but if you look for a particular make and model you will be looking for a long time.. Remember this: 'You only buy the manufacturer once, when it was new, after that you are purchasing the previous owner." So in other words, you could find a Mercedes that is beat to death and unsafe for 1k or you could buy an old ford in better shape for 1k.. Obviously the Mercedes owner let it go to crap where the ford owner took care of it.. Still most people are 'name conscious' therefore these people would always pick the ragged out Mercedes based on its name, not condition.. 

Don't look for name, look for condition!!

We've had 3 VW's and have not had a problem ,still have 2 ,the old one is a 1990.

Answer to digger, she has had a bad start at life Diabetic and Bipolar, now under control but she did qualify for some disability that pays her medical needs , had to go on welfare for food and rent.

Works only part time and trying to save enough to get a car so she can get off welfare and don't have to depend on someone else to get to work so she can get a better job.

I will be hard to pay for gas and insurance if she had a car payment, until she can get full time work.

A good dependable car that got 40 mile a gallon would be an answer to prayer.

I had great luck with my little Dodge colt and my sister always had great luck with Honda Civics... also an old Ford F-150.    I don't know if this will help.  I hope she finds her car.  ... every girl needs a car!

anything made by toyota , thats if you can find one for a thousand dollars, my wife had a 1985 corrola sr5, it ran awesome. great on gas!

Yvonne57

I was thinking Toyota too. They keep going like the energizer bunny!

It you don't live in a big city she could ride a bike or a moped, or a motor scooter, something like a Vespa.  I ride the first 2 around here, but not on busy streets.

Anything that runs. Seriously, I've had good luck with my '03  P T Cruiser. Why don't  you chip in and give her a couple more thousand ?

She got a 98 Toyota for $500, God is good he answered our prayer.

If you're only spending $1000 you can surely expect repairs in the near future. Get something that will not cost a fortune every time it goes to the garage. I'd probably be looking at Ford or GM products. I do agree with Vinny that how it has been cared for is more important than manufacturer.  

You can't buy anything in my area for 1K. Nothing.

Suzuki had mine for ten years brilliant

There has to be some good used cars out there other than the 1985 corrola sr5?

Randy, I'm a big believer in leasing. Many people never consider this option because they assume that it's "not for them" because it is too expensive. That MAY be true in some cases but I believe that if one cannot afford a low monthly payment, they certainly won't be able to afford the inevitable "unexpected" repairs that will arise. Then what?

I don't know what your daughter's particular car needs are norwhat her financial means are. For instance, she has saved up $1,000.00 but does she have any recurring income i.e. a job?

If so, why lock up all the savings if she can afford a low, fixed expense that has no additional expenses associated with major repairs that would be covered by a bumper to bumper warranty?

I can go on ad-nauseum about the merits of car leasing but some of the reasons may not apply to your daughter, so here are a few questions that will narrow my explanation.

-Steady reliable disposable income ?

-Can she afford $200 per month? not including gas, insurance,oil changes

-Does car size or model matter?

-estimated annual mileage per year?

By the way, I do not currently,nor have I ever been a car salesman.

What ever it is check it out good.................toyota,  nissan, or honda has been good if with alot of miles.but still ckeck the car out mechenicly....................GOOD  LUCK !!

a good clunker!  u could be lucky.

A Ford.

A BUS