Is it better to buy a used/junkyard car and upgrade it, or should I settle for a car that's in better working condition?

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yuiiooop@reddit

There is a difference betweem buying a janky car, used, and new. In school with no money? DO NOT BUY A NEW CAR. You will be in so much debt. Buy a decent used car for 4 to 6 grand and call it a day.

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yuiiooop@reddit

In my area in Canada 4 to 6k us is a large amount for a good used car.

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ImamTrump@reddit

We get 10 posts a day from folk who either have to do thousands in repairs or junk their car. You’re buying what the owner deemed was too expensive to fix for what it is.

You’re not going to find a junkyard gem. The second these are taken they have a network of parts scavengers looking to part the car. By the time you see it on the lot it’s literally for what’s left. These things don’t run most of the time.

Your parents mechanic is where you need to go and see what used inventory they have on sale.

When you’re poor you’re also the mechanic. So keep that in mind when buying anything. Don’t get old German cars though they are cheap, they cost about the same to maintain a year.

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spancor@reddit

Tons of places offer great down payments for that range.

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SNOWR8R@reddit

Buy something 10-25 years old, preferably Japanese if a car or domestic if a truck. A Toyota truck is prob too expensive but maybe not.

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right415@reddit

A 10 year-old Toyota or Honda would probably be a really good investment at this time in your life. A car from the junkyard could potentially be a money pit.

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Hash-82@reddit

Double check the Honda motor.

They had 2 or 3 in the 2015 era that were utter crap.
The other engines were typical Honda tanks.

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eddyb66@reddit

I doubt op has, that kind of money a 10 year old corolla is still around 12k.

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Tough-Composer918@reddit (OP)

yea i'm kinda broke rn, i posted this out of sheer curiosity

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yuiiooop@reddit

If you can get a low interest loan for a decent used car id go that route.

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eddyb66@reddit

Toyota and or Honda is a great option, but everyone is knows that as well and their prices are inflated due to that. There is a YouTube channel car wizard who does a number of what used cars to buy /not buy might be worth checking out his videos.

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Hash-82@reddit

Buying a junker, or near junker, is a losing proposition.

Used can be good... or a nightmare.
Everyone knows Nissan is a steaming pile of crap. But, Nissan still sells a lot of cars.

When you are looking at a car, GOOGLE.
2018 Nissan Rogue 2.5L transmission problems
2020 Ford Escape 2.0L Engine problems
2022 Dodge Charger 3.7L Engine problems
2024 Hyundai Palisade brake problems

Just google the year, make & model with every large component you can think of...

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MS-06FS@reddit

I buy junk and fix it but you have to be ok with some things just straight up not working unless you want to do some massive work. I have an 01 firebird v6 auto that the torque converter doesn't want to lock up on. Gm says in the service manual to replace the valve body. I just dont feel like doing it and the problem hasn't gotten any worse so im leaving it until it gets worse. I also had to replace the rear and because the guy put a posi rear end in it which exploded the second day I owned it so I had to swap the factory rear back in it in my driveway.

I have a 92 dodge dakota v6 auto. It was spark knocking and fish bite missing really badly. When it was dark outside I could see the spark jumping from the distributor cap to the top of the air cleaner. So I replaced the cap and rotor. That wasn't it replaced ignition coil also not it replaced plugs and wires also not it. Months later I replaced the distributor gear and bushing which fixed it. Ive had to put u joints on it to.

I have a 1983 dodge shelby charger 2.2l manual. There's too many things wrong with it to count and list but I've mostly fixed the car got it for $922. It needs a camshaft now then I can drive it on the road. But there are holes in the floor.

All of these cars I've replaced the brakes and tires on as well because they were all sitting before I bought them. The firebird sat for 11 years and I traded a 84 vette for it(that was clapped) the charger has been sitting for 14 years and the truck was my dad and was gifted to me on the condition I fixed it was sitting for 2 years.

I say all this to tell you that all of those cars combined have only costed me around 10k total to be drivable. So the purchasing price and parts price for 3 cars is around 10k. If you do all the work yourself. But then you have to have a place to work on it the time the knowledge and the tools. Its very frustrating at times but it can be rewarding. Don't think it'll be easy though.

Also having 3 or 4 junk cars = having one reliable daily driver. Because junk cars are always having issues.

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JCDU@reddit

If you don't know jack about cars then buying something that needs work is not for you.

Most people are buying used cars most of the time - the average car on the roads is 10 years ish old and on its 2nd 3rd 4th owner, there's more "used" cars than "new" by a long way.

If you have no money but plenty of free time then fixing up a scruffy car or fixing up a shitbox can be a way of getting a better car than you could otherwise afford BUT you need to know what you're doing and have at least some money for tools & parts & unexpected surprises.

Whatever you do - remember cars are machines that need maintenance, repairs, and can break and cost you money - do not spend your last dollar buying a car, ALWAYS keep a chunk back to cover repairs & maintenance. Look at how much a set of tyres costs, or a brake job, or a service, stuff like that.

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ImamTrump@reddit

We get 10 posts a day from folk who either have to do thousands in repairs or junk their car. You’re buying what the owner deemed was too expensive to fix for what it is.

You’re not going to find a junkyard gem. The second these are taken they have a network of parts scavengers looking to part the car. By the time you see it on the lot it’s literally for what’s left. These things don’t run most of the time.

Your parents mechanic is where you need to go and see what used inventory they have on sale.

When you’re poor you’re also the mechanic. So keep that in mind when buying anything. Don’t get old German cars though they are cheap, they cost about the same to maintain a year.

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ScaryfatkidGT@reddit

$5000 Toyota

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Top_Independence2676@reddit

The cheapest auto to fix is the ubiquitous one. Plenty of available, inexpensive parts and extensive knowledge on issues.

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Graflex01867@reddit

A lot of the time, if it would have been more cost effective to fix it, then it wouldn’t have ended up in the junkyard. (Not all the time, since sometimes people just want a newer car, or they’re not willing to take the chance that something else will need repairs.)

If you have to ask, then for you, it’s probably not cost effective. (You have to know what things to look for, and have a rough idea on parts costs.)

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navlgazer9@reddit

Everything on Instagram and toktok and fakebook and Reddit and everywhere else is total bullshit designed as clickbait to make money for the creator .

If you have time and money and a Garage space and can learn some mechanic skills , then yes , you can work on an old junker and fix it .

But you have none of those . Yet .

There’s also stuff on Instagram showing how you can plant a garden and save money on groceries.

But it’s not a viable option for most people either .

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DarkSideEdgeo@reddit

Used reliable car. Something proven to last. Toyota and Honda are the first thought but the MAZDA3 and Ford Focus around and before 2010 will probably be cheaper and will rival reliability and cost of maintenance. You can tint windows, drop a stereo in, do shit with spare cash but don't buy junk expecting it to get you to campus and work which should be the top priority.

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SpaceCat72@reddit

Buy an older car that you can work on or maybe a fleet car that is being retired. Either way, look closely at maintenance records . I like vintage beaters. Can do most anything with and on them.

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Agile_Boysenberry508@reddit

No, no, no. Buy one used from a private seller like others said in the comments. You want your daily car to be reliable and cheap to maintain. In the future, and if you have the space in your garage, you can buy a project car to spend time and money on it as a hobby or to learn how to repair cars.

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ChemistAdventurous84@reddit

If a car has actually been drained of fluids and placed in a junkyard to be stripped for parts, you probably can’t get the whole thing and you don’t want it. The catalytic converter will have been cut off and possibly the fuel tank drilled. It will also come with a salvage title. Better to buy something that still runs and drives.

Junkyards often have very cheap cars that were sold to them to be junked but they decided could be kept on the road. I’m not sure if the titles remain clean or become salvage/rebuilt.

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ApprehensiveWash7969@reddit

Oh wow. Your post spoke to me. I did just that. I bought an old beat up 03 Honda Civic Hybrid and built it up. I paid $1500 for it and put in about $6k in repairs and maintenance. 2 Years and about 30k miles later I have an excellent commuter. And with gas prices as high as they are it's saving me a lot of money. In fact, the money I have saved in gas has pretty much covered what I spent on it. The longer I keep it the more i save. Still looks like crap but drives like a champ. Also, probably not the best if your trying to get a date. But hell, if she is willing to get into a car like this she maybe a keeper!

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AgonizingGasPains@reddit

Depends on your skill level, tools, place to work on it, time to work on it, level of frustration tolerance, how many band-aids you have, etc. Only you can answer that.

I can say that I was always the guy who bought the $500 "beater" to fix up as my commuter. I looked for ones that had one thing go wrong that someone just "gave up" on ("Oh no, that starter replacement is going cost me $600? I don't have $600, I'd better take out a loan for $35,000 and get something new!!!")

However, I lived on a farm, have the tools, previously worked as an aircraft mechanic, a diesel mechanic, and was educated as an engineer. It can be more cost-effective, it can also be a nightmare.

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IR_Acaboom@reddit

You can go to dealerships and talk to the service advisors, some of them may know of a older person getting rid of their town car due to age, you usually get a fantastic deal reliability, low mileage and price + you get to give money to a older person

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mds818@reddit

You want A to B vehicle? The newer, the better - as pristine condition as possible.

You want a vehicle for yourself, to enjoy it? Pick whichever you like the most, everything else is irrelevant.

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lupus_denier_MD@reddit

I got you. Use FB marketplace to buy a used car with little to no problems. If there’s problems, don’t overestimate your technical ability either, take things with small problems like spark plugs, battery, belts, etc. avoid salvage title cars no matter how tempting the price is, and you should be good. And do a ton of research on a car before you buy it to make sure you’re not buying a ticking time bomb.

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musicpeoplehate@reddit

Buy the best car you can afford to begin with. Every used car has problems and those will be more than enough headache to keep you busy.

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4158264146@reddit

Find something $2-$7k. Research the engine and transmission reliability. Any used car you buy from a private seller you should have the fluids changed and filters changed. Get an inspection before buying if possible. Check belts and hoses for cracks or signs of deterioration. Are you comfortable working on a car? More so would you be able to recognize if there was an issue with bushing, shocks, etc.?

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Healthy-Theme8261@reddit

See if tires need changing if so that's gonna be at leas 400$

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Temporary-District96@reddit

Only you can answer that depending how much wrenching knowledge you have and time you can put into it yourself. PLUS knowing what kind of car and condition is worth fixing.

Tbh after having my first car as an engine swap plus endless fixing, I'm glad I finally had enough money for a brand new car. But that was only cause I had the means. I still work on my own car but the ease of working on a car that hasn't been molested before with missing parts that I didn't even know was supposed to exist, made the experience a lot more bearable.

If you end up with a used car, make sure it's a brand and model thats dependable and have easily accessible parts. Maybe stick to Japanese. Germans tend to need a lot of specialty tools. Domestic isn't as reliable as Japanese in general.

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Triple-Depresso@reddit

Buy a used a car, something like Corolla, civic, or miata, ideally 8-10yo

There are going to be things you’ll need to change on it, oil, brake pads, brake fluid, tyres, bushings etc

Do the maintenance yourself, get a feel of what working on a car is like, then you’ll know for sure if you actually like working on cars

The internet glorifies the idea of working on your own car, until your drenched in sweat trying to put back the caliper you took off then find out you cross threaded both the screws and now you have to get them tapped and hopefully not have to buy new parts

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Talentless_Cooking@reddit

Don't make decisions based on social media, it's not real. Buying a junk car will nickle and dime you to death. Buy a decent used car and keep it going, at least you have a strong base to work with.

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landob@reddit

neither one

buy a used car from a private seller.

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