Best and Worst vehicles under $6K

[Groves]

What are the darlings of the sub-$6,000 car market? What are the tempting stinkers?

My household knows that when I need knowledge & wisdom, with a side-salad of snark & buffoonery, I seek if from you all.

"I'll ask Chiefs Planet"

Child No. 3 had a 2005 Prius just go belly up. Main battery, we'll probably pay to find the bad cells to make it more sellable. So now they're in the market for a vehicle.

I used to be current in my "No subarus after 200k" and "No Buick Encores with the Ecotech" and "No Jeeps ever" type of 'wisdom', but I'm out of date. I know it's always a tradeoff between condition and miles and reliability.

I need your help.

[booger]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Chrysler did a whole ****ery of their minivans in 2017.

The Pacifica you're thinking was only produced for 5 years and that ended in '08.

With minivan sales down, Chrysler scaled down the offerings of minivans and eventually eliminated the Dodge Grand Caravan in 2020 (It was supposed to happen in 2017). They rebranded the Chrysler Town & Country as the Pacifica in 2017. Then in 2021 they rebranded the L and LX trims of the Pacifica lineup as the Chrysler Voyager. They did some fleet-only shit with that for a bit but it's now back as an option.

It got really confusing for nothing, but the end result was a 15k more expensive minivan. My work maintains a fleet of about 60 of them, and we've been considering going to Kia's and/or substituting some in certain areas with sedans or small or mid-sized SUVs to help lower the costs.

When she mentioned Chrysler Town and Country I mentioned the Dodge Carovan being the same thing and she said her insurance quotes ran 10-30 bucks higher on the Dodge per month I guess because of some saftey features or something? Weird stuff. She also found some Voyagers that she liked the price on and looking at the ratings for those just off a cars.com search I told her better stay away because something is up with them. Must be a very generic base model compared to the Caravan and Town and Country.

Finding fleet vehicles is a potential plus if the carfax is free and those are usually loaded with service intervals. Like years ago when folks liked to buy a used crown vic that was a police car because they were usually very well maintained on a strict schedule upkeep because it was paid for by the city and town or state taxpayer

[booger]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Disagree completely. Those cars go for ever.

the nissan and infiniti 3.0 liters did very well years ago. not sure the cutoff years and all that but my mom had a mid 90s J30 that was a kick ass car she got as a hand me down from my grandpa. Thinking it went 275k before the tranny went out. Very fun to drive for a V6. Fully loaded everything

[BEAVER]

2015 Jetta TDI - 122,000 miles

They are asking 12k for it. It is in excellent shape - leather etc.

I like the idea of a Diesel for the mileage as it will be used for commuting about 90 miles a day.

Anyone have any input on these rides??

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by booger

When she mentioned Chrysler Town and Country I mentioned the Dodge Carovan being the same thing and she said her insurance quotes ran 10-30 bucks higher on the Dodge per month I guess because of some saftey features or something? Weird stuff. She also found some Voyagers that she liked the price on and looking at the ratings for those just off a cars.com search I told her better stay away because something is up with them. Must be a very generic base model compared to the Caravan and Town and Country.

Finding fleet vehicles is a potential plus if the carfax is free and those are usually loaded with service intervals. Like years ago when folks liked to buy a used crown vic that was a police car because they were usually very well maintained on a strict schedule upkeep because it was paid for by the city and town or state taxpayer

Yeah those 22-24 models for the Voyagers should start hitting the market as the car rental places and so on start offloading them. Might be great deals. It is the low-end trim packages but most things come with enough bells and whistles these days it doesn't matter too damned much.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by booger

yeah I agree. The crossover and mid size SUV is based off of a minivan platform anyway with FWD standard/base and the AWD/4x4 is based off FWD configuration with a transfer case etc. So no matter how they desribe it its an a V6 sitting in there sideways in a FWD platform. Whereas my Envoy sits on a half ton pickup frame and its base is a RWD platform but with the 4x4 and extra weight and moving parts which equals probably 2 plus MPG loss.

In the case of an AWD or 4x4 in the FWD platform you just can't expect much extra in those vehicles in regards to four wheel drive. If you want extra performance there you should go with a truck or full size SUV. I really like the Tahoe and Yukon, especially the new look of 2015 when they switched to a square body style like Ford Trucks. Those and the Suburbans are all really good looking vehicles but like a half ton truck the MPG is in the high teens.

If I she likes the traverse or Acadia or enclave I will probably tell her don't be upset if you find one with FWD only and not 4x4. Those set ups will probably perform comparably to a Chrysler minivan as far as MPG. I think the actual vans actually have a bit more horsepower but the gm mid size suv/crossover is a much better vehicle to look at. And a Toyota Sienna minivan probably makes the most sense for her. But any breakdowns are going to be more costly at the dealer because the good honest mechanic she uses doesn't work on foreign vehicles. He's never had the customer base with those vehicles so it never made sense for him to grow his business to work on them.

Man, I was about to post and recommend a Trail Blazer/Envoy. Those were outstanding if not boring vehicles. I had precisely 0 problems with that 4.3 IL6 you can park it anywhere you want and turn it around in a phone booth. I’d buy one today if I could get a low mileage well cared for one.

I was trying to remember. I think the Traverse we had was AWD. Seemed like it was better in ice and snow than my limited experience with minivans (SILs had a Sienna and whatever the Pontiac one was. Montana?). I’d rather drive it than the minivans, but if I was a house to school commuter, I’d probably rather have the minivan.

RE FWD: people should seek out FWD. when I was in high school I had FWD cars and traversed some absolutely horrid roads that jackasses were getting pickups stuck in. It’s amazing what proper weight distribution will do for you. Only thing there is to worry about is clearance, and in my case, the condition of your tires (your guy here may have hydroplaned pretty hard on the turnpike outside of Topeka because I was running absolute rags. After I got control I pulled over on the shoulder and had to gather myself. )

[Groves]

All is well that ends well. My daughter just purchased a 2008 Accord with 145K miles. $5600 and we’ll see how it goes from here!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[booger]

Originally Posted by Groves

All is well that ends well. My daughter just purchased a 2008 Accord with 145K miles. $5600 and we’ll see how it goes from here!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glad to hear it bro!

[booger]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Man, I was about to post and recommend a Trail Blazer/Envoy. Those were outstanding if not boring vehicles. I had precisely 0 problems with that 4.3 IL6 you can park it anywhere you want and turn it around in a phone booth. I’d buy one today if I could get a low mileage well cared for one.

I was trying to remember. I think the Traverse we had was AWD. Seemed like it was better in ice and snow than my limited experience with minivans (SILs had a Sienna and whatever the Pontiac one was. Montana?). I’d rather drive it than the minivans, but if I was a house to school commuter, I’d probably rather have the minivan.

RE FWD: people should seek out FWD. when I was in high school I had FWD cars and traversed some absolutely horrid roads that jackasses were getting pickups stuck in. It’s amazing what proper weight distribution will do for you. Only thing there is to worry about is clearance, and in my case, the condition of your tires (your guy here may have hydroplaned pretty hard on the turnpike outside of Topeka because I was running absolute rags. After I got control I pulled over on the shoulder and had to gather myself. )

My Envoy is just about hitting its expiration date. I should take it to Bwana so he could help me pack some tannerite in it and launch it into the sky. Too many Iowa winters with salted roads. I’ve had it about 10 years now. Just starting to not be cost effective with some repairs that are adding up. They made those through 09. I might look at a trailblazer if I can find one in decent shape within the right mileage range and hopefully not a ton of rust! Otherwise that vehicle will either be replaced with a Yukon or Tahoe. I need to do more research on specific years and issues etc. yeah that Pontiac Montana was the start of those vehicles. I think the traverse and Acadia got a wide stance and good look to them.

I might have shit my britches driving those worn tires on ice/snow! You can get away with letting them go bald like that down your way. I remember driving a 91 ranger 5 speed 3.0 RWD with 300 lbs of sand bags over the rear axle in the truck bed plus about 10” of snow on a one lane highway in a blizzard. Pre cell phone days. About 45 miles drive home took damn near 3 hours. Stupid idea to drive through but I survived without going into the ditch. Nowadays getting older it’s like eventually I just want to get back to having a good gas mileage vehicle and then a Silverado/Sierra or Yukon/Tahoe or even an old 4 runner and have one for each occasion. Nice to have a backup vehicle. I try with lots of things other than vehicles to have a one size fits all or one product for all specific purposes and situations and sometimes I just can’t make that work. Which is fine but when manufacturing, research and development, and quality control has all taken a huge shit since 2009 and even before that it makes a man have to sit down and think things through a lot more than he wants to do he can try and avoid costly mistakes…which a guy might just run into anyway! ****ing vehicles!!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by booger

My Envoy is just about hitting its expiration date. I should take it to Bwana so he could help me pack some tannerite in it and launch it into the sky. Too many Iowa winters with salted roads. I’ve had it about 10 years now. Just starting to not be cost effective with some repairs that are adding up. They made those through 09. I might look at a trailblazer if I can find one in decent shape within the right mileage range and hopefully not a ton of rust! Otherwise that vehicle will either be replaced with a Yukon or Tahoe. I need to do more research on specific years and issues etc. yeah that Pontiac Montana was the start of those vehicles. I think the traverse and Acadia got a wide stance and good look to them.

I might have shit my britches driving those worn tires on ice/snow! You can get away with letting them go bald like that down your way. I remember driving a 91 ranger 5 speed 3.0 RWD with 300 lbs of sand bags over the rear axle in the truck bed plus about 10” of snow on a one lane highway in a blizzard. Pre cell phone days. About 45 miles drive home took damn near 3 hours. Stupid idea to drive through but I survived without going into the ditch. Nowadays getting older it’s like eventually I just want to get back to having a good gas mileage vehicle and then a Silverado/Sierra or Yukon/Tahoe or even an old 4 runner and have one for each occasion. Nice to have a backup vehicle. I try with lots of things other than vehicles to have a one size fits all or one product for all specific purposes and situations and sometimes I just can’t make that work. Which is fine but when manufacturing, research and development, and quality control has all taken a huge shit since 2009 and even before that it makes a man have to sit down and think things through a lot more than he wants to do he can try and avoid costly mistakes…which a guy might just run into anyway! ****ing vehicles!!

Agreed.

Yeah, I went to Moline for a focus group once and this dude had a probably 12 silverado that was absolutely pristine, except the fender wells rusted out. I'd never seen anything like it. There are benefits to living in the desert.

With that FWD car I had, I had good tires on the front, because that's what you do. But I had total shit rags on the back and during a rainstorm the ass end went. Fortunately there wasn't traffic and I could countersteer wherever I wanted. I didn't evacuate my bowels, but it had to be because I shit before I left or something. That was a close one. And I paid for tires when I got back home

If you go a Yukon or pickup, I'd probably stay pre 2019. Within a year Dad had a 2019 with 50K on it break a lifter (5.3L), I had a 2021 with 22k break a lifter (6.2L), and my mom had a 22 with like 3K dump a transmission (5.3L). We were feeling kind of picked on.

I think they're better now. I have 60k on my 22 6.2L and it's been solid. Fortunately it has a Fleet warranty on it to 100K drivetrain.

At one point I had bought a 15 in 2019 with like 7800 miles on it and that's what you need. Some grandpas garage queen. The wife has an 18 Yukon that has been really good and it drives like a goddamned dream compared to my loaded down pickup I beat the hell out of. If you can swallow the price tag I think you'll be happy there. I bought the wife a 2012 Yukon Denali in 2020 before everything went ****ing crazy for farm stuff. It had 105K on it and I got it bought right, so if it died, I wasn't out much. That damn thing has been a rockstar. I wish I'd have bought 10 of them.

[hometeam]

Since we are all talking about cars in here, just gonna throw out that I am still the GM of a Honda store here in central mo. Come buy cars from me.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by hometeam

Since we are all talking about cars in here, just gonna throw out that I am still the GM of a Honda store here in central mo. Come buy cars from me.

I bet you don't have a single car on the lot priced under 6k

[Rain Man]

I very seldom buy vehicles, and in fact don't own one now. My wife has an SUV that's in great shape with under 50K miles on it, so we're probably 8 to 10 years from buying anything again.

When that happens, we'll be in our 70s, and it'll probably be the last vehicle we ever buy. I've never owned a new car, so I started thinking that maybe I should splurge and buy a new one in the year 2033 or whenever.

Of course, that's assuming that vehicles still exist. Maybe it'll be a matter transporter or something, and in that case I'd definitely buy new. You don't want to cut corners on matter transporters.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by loochy

I bet you don't have a single car on the lot priced under 6k

You would bet correctly.