Need someone who is a mechanic or is good with cars?

The car I’m driving now cost $13,000.

The car I drove four years ago cost $1,500. Then it cost an average of $600 per month for repairs and towing. It was a $1,500 car that cost about $10,000.

Here’s a song that might aid you in your decision: “Thousand Dollar Car”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3H-1YQxiXU&feature=related

I’m not sure how car prices are in America, but if they were Australian dollars (exchange is ~0.93) I would be wondering why they are so cheap. All the Honda Accords of that age and price I can find on Aussie websites have 250–350,000 kms. If that is your price limit then a Honda is a good choice, because they are very reliable and solidly built cars, but I would personally spend ~$5,000 for a first car to make sure you got a good one with a full service history. Also remember that when buying second hand cars you can usually get the advertised price down by 10% if you can haggle well.

Things to look for in old cars are a service history, rust around door seals and chrome strips, how smoothly the engine runs, whether there is blue smoke on start up from burning oil, and the integrity of the sheaths for electrical wires. When you drive it, be sure to do a few turns on full lock to see if the universal joints in the steering are worn (they will click if they are too badly damaged), and if possible drive it when the engine is cold to check starting issues. I also think paintwork is a good indication of the state of repair, as a fussy owner will look after the whole car and a bad one will neglect the whole car. Good luck!

I’d pass on all 4 of them. By all means avoid #2. It’s been lowered and set up with aftermarket rims, which means it has been used for cruising. The remainder look like they’re all for sale by dealers or curbstoners. I’m sure they’re all very high mileage, and have checkered pasts. Let’s look at it this way: you have $1500 to spend on a car. You are not going to find a Honda Accord in anything like decent shape for that.

For example, #3 is a 1992 Accord. Kelly Blue Book/MSN Autos puts the price spread for this model at $3,275 – $4,250. What will you get for $1500? Trouble. Your only chance of finding a decent Accord for $1500 would be one with serious, but cosmetic, body damage that otherwise runs well. Around here, I’d be looking for a rustbucket, but you don’t have that problem down there.

My advice would be to look around for a 1990–1993 Ford Escort. It’s about the best car you are going to find for the kind of money you want to spend. It has an engine made by Mazda and is one of the more reliable domestic models from that era.

mate is too easy… the last one. Honda accord 1994

I agree. The last one. Replace the fuel filter.

Out of the four, yes, I’m going with the majority of #4. Newest and costs just as much as #1, but that one is a 2dr with more mileage and another 10 years of age.