Wanted to buy inexpensive safe car for daughter

[BM SoCal]

Wife thinks she has unrealistic expectations and needs to come down a notch. Automatic, safe, reliable, under 12k. PM if you have something sitting around in So Cal or Vegas. I know all members on this site would likely have cared for their vehicles and I know a lot of you have a bunch of rides.

 

[Longhorn]

Wife thinks she has unrealistic expectations and needs to come down a notch. Automatic, safe, reliable, under 12k. PM if you have something sitting around in So Cal or Vegas. I know all members on this site would likely have cared for their vehicles and I know a lot of you have a bunch of rides.

I'm in the same position. Looking for a similar car for my 22yr-old just daughter who just graduated UT Austin.
FYI - my research has steered me away from the likes of the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, etc. The high insurance premiums cancel out the fuel savings. I'm looking for a used Corolla/Accord/Whatever as a result.

Jess

 

[Art138]

My daughter has a diesel jetta (40mpg) which we bought new; it is already at 130 thousand miles with little or no issues. I was recently in Spain where these cars with the diesel engine are used as taxis....one was showing 350 thousand kilometers. And because of the side airbags,insurance is reasonable.

 

[Piccola]

If you want to stay American... For $11,000, I bought a silver Ford Focus in 2008. It has almost 90,000 miles on it already, and when I'm not driving it hard, it gets about 35 mpg. It has been incredibly reliable with no issues. For someone without a lot of money or knowledge of cars, it's very inexpensive to maintain. It's a safe car, handles well, and has a LOT of room in the trunk. Attractive looking as well. Although mine is a manual since that's what I prefer driving, most are automatic. I get more enjoyment out of this car than out of the Mercedes I used to own.

 

[hollywoodstunts]

No question in my mind, an auction P-71 Crown Vic. BEST $3,000 I've EVER SPENT. They are perfectly maintained, and have all the protection you desire. Bought mine with 111,000 and have over 125k now. I love it.

 

[BM SoCal]

No question in my mind, an auction P-71 Crown Vic. BEST $3,000 I've EVER SPENT. They are perfectly maintained, and have all the protection you desire. Bought mine with 111,000 and have over 125k now. I love it.

Love the "cop cars". Added benefit is people get out of your way!

 

[ChipBeck]

.......P-71 Crown Vic.......perfectly maintained, and have all the protection you desire.....

Especially if you get one with the cop still in it.

 

[andymlow]

Used Volvo XC90 - one of the safest vehicles ever built.

 

[BlackICE]

Used Volvo XC90 - one of the safest vehicles ever built.

M1 Abrams is safer, it probably can get rear ended by a large truck unfazed. :lol

 

[BM SoCal]

Ok so who is selling something nice and wants to give me a deal?

 

[RALPHIE]

If you want to stay American... For $11,000, I bought a silver Ford Focus in 2008. It has almost 90,000 miles on it already, and when I'm not driving it hard, it gets about 35 mpg. It has been incredibly reliable with no issues. For someone without a lot of money or knowledge of cars, it's very inexpensive to maintain. It's a safe car, handles well, and has a LOT of room in the trunk. Attractive looking as well. Although mine is a manual since that's what I prefer driving, most are automatic. I get more enjoyment out of this car than out of the Mercedes I used to own.

Washed it yesterday! Easy car to care for...

Drove it home over Tioga Pass last Tuesday - handles great, lots of gears for the turns through the pass; wouldn't have believed how nimble it was.... Lots of fun :thumbsup

 

[Fubar]

M1 Abrams is safer, it probably can get rear ended by a large truck unfazed. :lol

They do have a tendency to attract unwanted, soviet-made, anti-tank munitions (do we say soviet-made any more?), other than that, they are very safe and offer the added protection of a 105mm rifled cannon, a good deterrent for overly persistent suiters.

Personally, I'd go with the focus. I think it gets better gas millage too.