What Can You Buy That Costs Less Than A Bus Pass?
After taking a look at product planning and marketing for new cars, it’s time to take a step back into the supposed domain of Generation Why; used cars. And not just any old CPO Audi or two year old Civic either. We’re talking beaters.
As a pure thought exercise, I wanted to see what kind of car could be had for less than the cost of a monthly transit pass in Toronto. An adult Metropass, purchased monthly, is $126 ($115.50 if you commit to buying one every month via a subscription). Assuming a budget of $1512, I hit the Kijiji, a craigslist-esque site owned by Ebay, but widely used for selling cars in Canada, to see what was out there. Yes, I know, gas prices, maintenance, insurance all matter. Thank you for that bit of wisdom. That’s not the point here.
$500-$1000
1989 GMC Jimmy: 342,000 km but supposed “very clean”. $500
1996 Honda Odyssey: Supposedly has 100,000 km and a new engine. Sounds dubious, but I like them because I got shuttled around in one for a lot of my childhood. It’s basically a tall Accord wagon with a third row. $500
1992 Ford Aerostar: That bitch made him take THREE Aerostars! $500
1990 Suzuki Sidekick Custom Buggy: This is real Canadiana. Probably not road legal. $500
$1000-$1500
1999 Honda Civic: Manual, fairly low mileage, lots of new parts. Can’t go wrong. $1200
1994 Ford Taurus SHO: Oh yeah, my Grandma had one just like that! $1400
1997 Ford F-150: You may need a truck in your life. $1000
1997 Acura EL. The sub and amp are $150 extra. Remember that.
$1500 – The cream of the crop
1989 Volvo 240DL: The classic “beater” car. $1500
1990 Acura Integra GS: Lots of new parts. Automatic. $1500
1987 Ford Crown Victoria: “Senior couple selling their well pampered Crown Victoria.” It’s Brown. Paging Sajeev.
2000 Nissan Maxima: These apparently have automatic transmission failures. Get it checked by someone more knowledgeable than your friendly neighborhood TTAC writer.
This is just a small sample of what can be bought on the cheap. There are literally thousands of beaters available under $1500. Not all of them are crap. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see a man about an Audi 5000 Quattro Turbo with a 5-speed…
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I still see old 240's here plying the roads and there have been several parked near my apartment on Seattle's Capitol Hill though some look to be well past their prime by the looks of them. Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas, Nissans, Hyundais, they are all popular here along with just about everything else to one degree or another. I got $1000 trade for my 1992 Ford Ranger with issues and just shy of 237K documented miles but the body, interior were still in very decent shape for its age. Heck, even the paint was in great shape as well, no peeling clearcoat on it anywhere, not even the matching canopy and the body was mostly straight too, what dings/dents were very, very minor at that. Yes, it still ran, but like I said, it had its issues. Leaking oil badly, the AC didn't work, leaky cooling system, a loose wheel bearing, a loose U-Joint, worn out serpentine belt and a battery on its last legs and had a dying idle air controller valve, but it ran! :-) Bought a Mazda Protege5 to replace it.
I've managed to keep my 1986 Audi 5000 Quattro Turbo alive since 1999. However, it has cost me significantly more than the $1500 purchase price. It is a labor of insanity...