Totaled! Need a new (used) car < $10k!

[RS250 Chester]

Same with volvo's, you'd probably enjoy one and some of them are great for dogs, but unless you can work on your own cars they are really expensive to take to the dealer for work.

Our 06 XC90 hasn't given us any headaches. Car is approaching 200K and is still going strong. Of course, at this point, stuff will break and/or needs replacing (leaking thermostat, control arms, struts, solenoid, turbo valve, etc), but as for major stuff (transmission, etc), nothing has happened (knock on wood). Yes, I do most of my own stuff, but only major maintenance was at 125K for timing belt, tensioners, serpentine belt and water pump. Independent mechanic did it for $750.

This has been our favorite car by far.

 

[SuperMike]

Local driving, the Chevy spark is a great idea.

:laughing Have you seen me? :rofl

 

[Climber]

Our 06 XC90 hasn't given us any headaches. Car is approaching 200K and is still going strong. Of course, at this point, stuff will break and/or needs replacing (leaking thermostat, control arms, struts, solenoid, turbo valve, etc), but as for major stuff (transmission, etc), nothing has happened (knock on wood). Yes, I do most of my own stuff, but only major maintenance was at 125K for timing belt, tensioners, serpentine belt and water pump. Independent mechanic did it for $750.

This has been our favorite car by far.

I have a 99 S80, fantastic car for the year it was built. It has had some things to fix, but I replaced the timing belt and tensioners myself, though after testing it I left the water pump in because I couldn't get it past the side wall. I marked the pulleys and the belt with a sharpie, then transferred the marks to the new belt and it worked like a charm.

 

[planegray]

Get the old Trail 90 running ! :banana :ride

 

[Eldritch]

Yeah I like German cars but I really can't afford 'em.



Thank you! :love

Lease German, never buy.

 

[RS250 Chester]

I have a 99 S80, fantastic car for the year it was built. It has had some things to fix, but I replaced the timing belt and tensioners myself, though after testing it I left the water pump in because I couldn't get it past the side wall. I marked the pulleys and the belt with a sharpie, then transferred the marks to the new belt and it worked like a charm.

Those OE Volvo water pumps never seem to fail. Most people replace them just because you are there already when doing the timing belt, but I wonder how many water pump failures occurred after they put in a cheaper part. Just like the Volvo battery, for whatever reason, the one that came with the car can go well over a decade, I just replaced ours last year. Battery showed no signs of wear and tested fine, but I was getting weird electrical stuff happening, so I replaced it, though I don't think I really needed to.

 

[GAJ]

:laughing Have you seen me? :rofl

Can you swing this?

My nephew just bought one with 150k miles on it and he said it looks and drives like new and he gets more compliments on it in Austin TX than when he drives his immaculate Honda S2000 convertible.

My wife's TSX is a 2007 with almost 100k miles and it has had zero problems, is dirt cheap to maintain and looks and drives like new.


https://www.edmunds.com/acura/tsx-sport-wagon/2012/vin/JH4CW2H62CC004343/

The sedans are not as dog friendly though.

https://www.edmunds.com/acura/tsx/2008/vin/JH4CL969X8C019422/

 

[afm199]

Look for a late model Sonic LTZ. Fun, sporty, nicely laid out, and great gas mileage.

 

[tuxumino]

buy a miata and become a hair dresser or go classic

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/d/antelope-1972-ford-pinto-runabout-stk/7033478356.html

 

[SuperMike]

This one's a salvage title but the miles are low and from what I've read, the Audi V6 is pretty reliable (cam chain tensioner issues aside) and easy to work on.

Maybe I can talk 'em down below $5k ...

 

[SuperMike]

This one's a salvage title but the miles are low and from what I've read, the Audi V6 is pretty reliable (cam chain tensioner issues aside) and easy to work on.

Maybe I can talk 'em down below $5k ...

 

[Eldritch]

This one's a salvage title but the miles are low and from what I've read, the Audi V6 is pretty reliable (cam chain tensioner issues aside) and easy to work on.

Maybe I can talk 'em down below $5k ...

I have never talked to a German Cars specialist who did not tell me to run screaming in terror from a used Audi.

 

[SuperMike]

I have never talked to a German Cars specialist who did not tell me to run screaming in terror from a used Audi.

:thumbup Thanks!

 

[Toe]

Glad you’re ok mike!! Good luck with the car hunt

 

[asdfghwy]

Please do not buy a BMW out of warranty. My experience with older/used BMWs are terrible. I love them to death, but my early 2000s 5 series was a money sink. I only lease BMW now. On my 2018 5 series, warranty has already saved me thousands of dollars in warranty work for various things

 

[Aeroslash]

Not sure how big the dog is, but search hatchbacks too:
Totoya Matrix,
Impreza
Mazda3
Veloster
Kia Soul
Civic

 

[SFSV650]

Our 06 XC90 hasn't given us any headaches. Car is approaching 200K and is still going strong.

We bought an '08 XC90 AWD from Angel Motors in Sebastopol / Santa Rosa a year ago for about $8k. It's needed a motor mount and oil changes in the past ~15k miles. YMMV but it's a very appealing combination of safety, power, handling (drives like a car), comfort (incomparable this side of a big Mercedes), and with a third row and seats which fold flat it can and does haul a lot of people and/or crap. The plastic side skirts are very welcome in parking lots too.

Not for everyone but if your lifestyle is anything like mine it's hard to beat.

 

[Cycle61]

As mentioned, get a Forester XT.

 

[Climber]

We bought an '08 XC90 AWD from Angel Motors in Sebastopol / Santa Rosa a year ago for about $8k. It's needed a motor mount and oil changes in the past ~15k miles. YMMV but it's a very appealing combination of safety, power, handling (drives like a car), comfort (incomparable this side of a big Mercedes), and with a third row and seats which fold flat it can and does haul a lot of people and/or crap. The plastic side skirts are very welcome in parking lots too.

Not for everyone but if your lifestyle is anything like mine it's hard to beat.

Volvo makes really good components. The only thing that really broke down on my S80 were the engine mounts, and boy do you need to replace them on schedule! :laughing

 

[scootergmc]

This one's a salvage title but the miles are low and from what I've read, the Audi V6 is pretty reliable (cam chain tensioner issues aside) and easy to work on.

Maybe I can talk 'em down below $5k ...

Do you have an aversion to Asian cars? Your budget and needs would be clearly aligned and the reliability is built in...