View Poll Results: Which car I should get....
Honda CRX
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1
2.94%
Toyota pickup
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7
20.59%
Nissan 240sx
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7
20.59%
Honda civic
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15
44.12%
Others....(let me know your answer)
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4
11.76%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll
Poll : $3500 budget to buy 'beat-up' car for daily drive to work
#16
Lexus Fanatic
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-Pearlpower
camry isnt difficult to work on![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
(except for the V6 HG issue
)
-tuan92129
ES250 were all V6 motors and had the same issues as the camrys. ES300 is better with that but price out an early ES300 and the same year V6 camry and your gunna see a reasonable gap in price.
most early model camrys and ES250's you see will have replaced motors just because it was so common for the headgaskets to fail. most of the later motors (late model 2VZ) had the issue fixed. the 3MZ that replaced the 2VZ in the 92+ Camrys didnt really have that problem.
camry isnt difficult to work on
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
(except for the V6 HG issue
![Doh!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
-tuan92129
ES250 were all V6 motors and had the same issues as the camrys. ES300 is better with that but price out an early ES300 and the same year V6 camry and your gunna see a reasonable gap in price.
most early model camrys and ES250's you see will have replaced motors just because it was so common for the headgaskets to fail. most of the later motors (late model 2VZ) had the issue fixed. the 3MZ that replaced the 2VZ in the 92+ Camrys didnt really have that problem.
#17
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Stop being a sissy... 68 miles is nothing, and what good's a solid, reliable Lexus if you don't drive it?
That being said, you can get a decent shape 2nd gen (87-91) Camry with probably under 100k miles for well under $3500. It's reliable, but you're not going to look cool in it.
Out of your choices... I voted for the 240 because that's the coolest car. If you're looking for purely economical car, the Civic is the way to go, and it gets better gas mileage than a Camry. If you have to haul things from time to time, go with the Toyota Truck.
EDIT- Just a bit of O/T, my dad just recently started driving my Camry 160 miles a day to work. It only has 86k miles on it and is in mint shape, and he likes it a lot. It's a pretty comfortable ride too, even since I lowered it.
That being said, you can get a decent shape 2nd gen (87-91) Camry with probably under 100k miles for well under $3500. It's reliable, but you're not going to look cool in it.
Out of your choices... I voted for the 240 because that's the coolest car. If you're looking for purely economical car, the Civic is the way to go, and it gets better gas mileage than a Camry. If you have to haul things from time to time, go with the Toyota Truck.
EDIT- Just a bit of O/T, my dad just recently started driving my Camry 160 miles a day to work. It only has 86k miles on it and is in mint shape, and he likes it a lot. It's a pretty comfortable ride too, even since I lowered it.
#18
Lexus Test Driver
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most early model camrys and ES250's you see will have replaced motors just because it was so common for the headgaskets to fail. most of the later motors (late model 2VZ) had the issue fixed. the 3MZ that replaced the 2VZ in the 92+ Camrys didnt really have that problem.
S13/14 240s are popular with the drift guys and are in high demand. It would be hard to find a stock one or a well taken care of one.
#19
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pfantom68 - lol...yes, im being sissy compare to your dad. but compare to friends around me, i look like a looser....spend 3 hrs everyday on freeway. (1.5hrs each way)
pvmike1 - that's exactly what my dad told me....to enjoy the toughness of lexus....
thanks guys for allll the responds. i found this 92 Lexus SC for $3.5K with 150K miles, but AC is not cold, window not working. between 1992 Lexus SC vs 1995 Toyota Camry vs 1990s Honda Accord, which one you guys think the most 'beatable' car ? i'm hoping this beat-up car that im gonna get will last at least......250K miles.....
pvmike1 - that's exactly what my dad told me....to enjoy the toughness of lexus....
thanks guys for allll the responds. i found this 92 Lexus SC for $3.5K with 150K miles, but AC is not cold, window not working. between 1992 Lexus SC vs 1995 Toyota Camry vs 1990s Honda Accord, which one you guys think the most 'beatable' car ? i'm hoping this beat-up car that im gonna get will last at least......250K miles.....
#20
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If you dont have a need for a 4-door at work, I would consider the truck. You can still use it on the weekends for home projects or to move stuff or whatever. Just dont tell your friends you bought it because they will all assume you bought it to become thier personal slave for moving and helping them.
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#21
Lexus Test Driver
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pfantom68 - lol...yes, im being sissy compare to your dad. but compare to friends around me, i look like a looser....spend 3 hrs everyday on freeway. (1.5hrs each way)
pvmike1 - that's exactly what my dad told me....to enjoy the toughness of lexus....
thanks guys for allll the responds. i found this 92 Lexus SC for $3.5K with 150K miles, but AC is not cold, window not working. between 1992 Lexus SC vs 1995 Toyota Camry vs 1990s Honda Accord, which one you guys think the most 'beatable' car ? i'm hoping this beat-up car that im gonna get will last at least......250K miles.....
pvmike1 - that's exactly what my dad told me....to enjoy the toughness of lexus....
thanks guys for allll the responds. i found this 92 Lexus SC for $3.5K with 150K miles, but AC is not cold, window not working. between 1992 Lexus SC vs 1995 Toyota Camry vs 1990s Honda Accord, which one you guys think the most 'beatable' car ? i'm hoping this beat-up car that im gonna get will last at least......250K miles.....
Persoanlly, if you are getting a daily driver beater, don't bother with an old Luxury car. Parts are more expensive, maintenance cost are more expensive, gas could be more expensive, insurance could be more expensive. Just get a beater. I'd choose either the Accord or Camry.
#22
dubsonlexus
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hehe, I got a 96 Honda accord for sale, 85K orignal owner, and I only want 3K for it.
So for 3500, you will be able to get some nice 4 cycl Toyota Camry, Accord, Civic and etc.
I would personally go for 240sx cause that;s hella more fun, but KA24DE is not bullet proof, and 70% of them burns oil, and gas mileage is horrible. I had 3 of those, I know them.
So for 3500, you will be able to get some nice 4 cycl Toyota Camry, Accord, Civic and etc.
I would personally go for 240sx cause that;s hella more fun, but KA24DE is not bullet proof, and 70% of them burns oil, and gas mileage is horrible. I had 3 of those, I know them.
#23
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You know I never quite understood why people put themselves through the torture of driver a 'beater'. I had a '97 Geo Prism in college and I kept it a while after I bought the GS so that I could use it to "drive to work" and what not. I came to dread driving to work. The Prism was a fine car, good on gas, decent shape, etc. but after driving the GS430 for a while I came to enjoy my commutes. I ended up giving the Prism to my little sister who needed a 4-door car because of her new baby.
If I had to get another vehicle to lessen the miles put on the Lexus I'd get a truck. Trucks are useful and would be able to serve several purposes for you...i.e. daily driver + being able to haul stuff.
If I had to get another vehicle to lessen the miles put on the Lexus I'd get a truck. Trucks are useful and would be able to serve several purposes for you...i.e. daily driver + being able to haul stuff.
#24
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#26
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Isn't "driving to work" the primary purpose of one's vehicle? I would just enjoy the GS. 68 miles is a light commute, some people drive 100's of miles a day. Plus, Lexus is built for high mileage so I wouldn't worry about killing it.
That said, if you really are against this, then I'd go for a Civic for the best mileage and reliability.
That said, if you really are against this, then I'd go for a Civic for the best mileage and reliability.
#27
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If you are looking for a fuel efficient choice, Id choose a Corolla over a Civic. If you're looking for something kind of fun, how bout a mid 90s Legacy? The 2.2L engine runs forever and you can even get one with a turbo.
#28
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#29
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I don't understand the point of beaters, especially for highway use. Also for that much driving I would value comfort of the GS over some econobox.
From an economic point of view, the extra mileage on the GS and gas difference from the GS to the beater has to cost more than the insurance on your new beater + gas for that + cost of the car and tax/title/B.S. + the now wasted money you're paying for insurance on the GS (You'll still be paying full insurance on it while it sits to only be driven part time!), also you have the depreciating GS with less use (I'm assuming this since you never said it would be driven by somebody else like a spouse, at least I don't think you did).
I just don't think beaters really save money. Buying a 2nd car as a way to save money just isn't practical for many people.
From an economic point of view, the extra mileage on the GS and gas difference from the GS to the beater has to cost more than the insurance on your new beater + gas for that + cost of the car and tax/title/B.S. + the now wasted money you're paying for insurance on the GS (You'll still be paying full insurance on it while it sits to only be driven part time!), also you have the depreciating GS with less use (I'm assuming this since you never said it would be driven by somebody else like a spouse, at least I don't think you did).
I just don't think beaters really save money. Buying a 2nd car as a way to save money just isn't practical for many people.
#30
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I don't understand the point of beaters, especially for highway use. Also for that much driving I would value comfort of the GS over some econobox.
From an economic point of view, the extra mileage on the GS and gas difference from the GS to the beater has to cost more than the insurance on your new beater + gas for that + cost of the car and tax/title/B.S. + the now wasted money you're paying for insurance on the GS (You'll still be paying full insurance on it while it sits to only be driven part time!), also you have the depreciating GS with less use (I'm assuming this since you never said it would be driven by somebody else like a spouse, at least I don't think you did).
I just don't think beaters really save money. Buying a 2nd car as a way to save money just isn't practical for many people.
From an economic point of view, the extra mileage on the GS and gas difference from the GS to the beater has to cost more than the insurance on your new beater + gas for that + cost of the car and tax/title/B.S. + the now wasted money you're paying for insurance on the GS (You'll still be paying full insurance on it while it sits to only be driven part time!), also you have the depreciating GS with less use (I'm assuming this since you never said it would be driven by somebody else like a spouse, at least I don't think you did).
I just don't think beaters really save money. Buying a 2nd car as a way to save money just isn't practical for many people.
Ok, this the brake down why I was thinking to get 'beat-up' car, i might missing something.....
Drive with GS everyday to work (68miles/day)
- Gas : $180/month (at least)
- 68 miles x 20days (1month--> it could be more, sometimes i work on weekend) = 1360 miles (just for work) -- oil change need to be done every ~3 months = $40
- Car insurance : $80/month
- My GS will have additional at least 16,320 miles every year....which will bring the value down a lot (I think?)
Drive 'beat-up' car :
- Gas : hmmm maybe around $120 ? $100 ?
- Car insurance : no idea yet...(anybody know how much monthly insurance for 1990s Honda/Camry?)
- Oil change every 3 months : ~$15 (non-syn)
- This 'beat-up' car will have additional 16,320 miles every year and I don't care....the value is gone anyway...
Seeing my GS sitting in my garage everyday and drive it on weekend only, with little mileage....is PRICELESS