My daughter is trying to buy her first car in Katy with the $8000 she got for graduation and work. However finding anything decent in this market is crazy with everyone trying to sell garbage for inflated price. We have been trying private market but we wasted time traveling to cars all wrecked and falling apart but advertised as excellent condition. Any idea where she should be looking. Due to timing she has to find something in the next month. It appears that all dealers are buying anything decent and then marking even higher,

Anybody trying to sell a 4 door sedan, or little SUV (trying to stay away from KIA and Hyundai due to motor concerns). Must be reliable as she is leaving for college out of town.

Odd color for some but saw this on Katy Nextdoor. Hopefully this share link works

2011 Focus

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trying to stay away from KIA and Hyundai due to motor concerns

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I don't understand this statement. Kia/Hyundai have practically reinvented themselves over the last 15 years or so. Much bigger concern to me would be going with a supposedly "safe" brand like Nissan and experiencing all the joys of a CVT.

Yeah be careful with the focus. Some years had the auto-manual trans in them that have been very problematic. You will also want to check the motor mounts. Pretty likely some of the motor mounts will need to be replaced. I think the 2011 had a regular automatic (hydraulic). The auto manual started in 2012 if my memory is correct.

It's just a bad time to be buying used cars. With limited new supply, more people buy used, and that clears out the market from top to bottom regarding value. To find a deal you'll have to perhaps look outside of places that people normally advertise and take a look at more varied options, right now at least.

Back when I bought my Fit, I paid cash and bought it knowing it was going to be rough looking due to the failed clear coat Honda would not admit to totally botching from the factory, but it has been economical and reliable, which is what I wanted.

You might try looking in smaller towns where sellers have fewer buyers.

Try Sewell's value line. This is a bit over budget but might be worth a look.

https://www.sewell.com/VehicleDetails/used-2008-Honda-CR_V-2WD_5_Door_EX_L_Automatic-Houston-TX/5046216510

akaggie05 said:

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trying to stay away from KIA and Hyundai due to motor concerns

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I don't understand this statement. Kia/Hyundai have practically reinvented themselves over the last 15 years or so.

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Hyundai had engine recalls for 2011 - 2014 models. Many people believe the years should be expanded because there were a lot of issues too.

I had an engine replaced in an Elantra GT. It was under warranty. When I called the dealership, the guy knew exactly what was wrong wend I told him the symptoms over the phone. He sent a tow truck and made me a car reservation at Enterprise all before we ended the conversation.

It was a lot more common than anyone knew. Hyundai / Kia did an excellent job at keeping this from blowing up in the media.

Hyundai blamed metal shavings from the machining process however, many people believe it is a design flaw because the engines go through a thorough cleaning process after machining and the oil filter is there to catch debris.

Tell her to get this and join the Aggie off-road club.

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/d/san-antonio-2000-jeep-wrangler-tj/7326667653.html

I have a 2011 Mazda CX-7 I'm selling, but I'm in Tennessee. 142.5 k miles, we've used synthetic oil the entire time.

Crown Vic?

That is correct as I did not want to bash the companies as I really liked what they had been doing and was actually planning to buy one. My dad who owns a mechanic shop and tows for the dealership warned me. After doing research I decided it impacted too many of the models and years that were in my budget which is why I excluded those from her options. It is not the company as much as those particular engines and they were used in several of the entry market vehicles.

Thanks for the suggestions from everyone. Hopefully we will run across the right vehicle soon.

1993 Olds 88 Royale with 70k miles. Also, anybody want to buy a 93 Olds Royale??

Gottlieb said:

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1993 Olds 88 Royale with 70k miles. Also, anybody want to buy a 93 Olds Royale??

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Tell me more....

Wife's grandmother stopped driving a couple years back. Old became a garage shelf (needs paint buffed). Landau has started cracking, but otherwise decent for age. Basically only drove to Littlefield for groceries its whole life.

Car came down here to bcs and got lots of gasket love from the lack of being driven. My girls are too young to hold it and have it sit the way it did before.

88, Side

88, Dash

88, Interior Rear

Grad, no intent to hijack, apologies.

Gottlieb said:

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Wife's grandmother stopped driving a couple years back. Old became a garage shelf (needs paint buffed). Landau has started cracking, but otherwise decent for age. Basically only drove to Littlefield for groceries its whole life.

Car came down here to bcs and got lots of gasket love from the lack of being driven. My girls are too young to hold it and have it sit the way it did before.

88, Side

88, Dash

88, Interior Rear

Grad, no intent to hijack, apologies.

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what do you guys want for it?

username at gmail dot com

Think of all the guys she will attract if she shows up to college in a fast, shiny red Mach 1!

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3198680

NeuroticAg said:

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Think of all the guys she will attract if she shows up to college in a fast, shiny red Mach 1!

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3198680

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would look great to the 68 GMC truck my other kid drives. I think the older vehicles are much better deals other than the fact she will be 4 hours away and does not know how to work on them.

Yes I would be interested. How to contact for more info?

try www.pittstopautotx.com in College Station

he has a nice 05 Explorer listed and an 04 Toyota Highlander Limited with a little hail damage and good miles , under 140k, that's not listed yet and he has 2010 Camry but it's got 197k miles

his email is pittstopdetailbcs@gmail.com

My VMI daughter bought herself a 2012 VW Tiguan 4Motion (AWD) for about $9K last July. I think it had about 70,000 miles on it.

She's driven it to Virginia and back (California) and it's been pretty reliable for her delivery gig economy job running around Los Angeles. I was skeptical but it's worked out pretty well for her.

She plugged in her search parameters and after a couple weeks of searching, found this one as a trade at a high end German new car dealer.

I realise that a lot has happened in the past 10 months and this info is probably useless in 2021. Good Luck.

~10 year old Toyota Avalon or Camry with 80-100K miles would probably fit your bill. Good, safe, reliable cars

Right here my friend, just put it up yesterday

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=587276345

tamucowpoke at hotmail

Located in West Houston

I have an 03 GMC Envoy base model that will be for sale soon. It was my MIL's, then my daughter drove it.

I leveled it 1.5" in front and left the rear stock. Put oversize AT tires on it. It's a 2wd though. All of this was to make it look less Karen and more college girl truck.

I'm not quite ready to sell it because I need to do some work on it so it shows well. The rear brakes are squealing and I have all the stuff, just need time to do the work. Then a deep clean and maintenance check and I'll be ready.

It's got the Atlas inline 6 which is a pretty bulletproof motor. Basically the straight 6 LS. Never really had a problem with it, never left us stranded. It has it's quirks, but it's also going to be pretty cheap. And it has 96 or 98 thousand miles, I can't remember exactly. But under 100k for sure.

This

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3201562

Neighbor has a 2008 RAV4 that with 108k miles that is gonna hit the market soon. Has some paint peeling on roof and a couple of other cosmetic issues. I can get more info if you'd like.

Where did the old days of buying your kid a landboat (in my case, it was a 1977 Mercury Cougar with a fire ant bed in the trunk that I bought for $100 with bald tires and windshield wipers that didn't work) and letting them drive it until it died or having to share a vehicle with your mom (in my case, a 1986 Toyota Van in which the shocks were shot and it leaked transmission fluid - so I had to put a collecting pan underneath the vehicle whenever I was at school and then put it back in the reservoir) go?

Yeah, and let her take the train to the Ag and Mechanical college! If she misses the train, she can always hitch hike. She got a thumb, don't she??

Seriously, she's buying the car with her money she got for graduation and saving. Maybe she drove a beater in HS, but she now wants something reliable to take to college. Hardly a silver spoon situation.

That Acura TL that aggiedata posted would be perfect.

I just want to say thanks for all of the suggestions so far. We have looked at some and have scheduled appointments for the others that were suggested above. She definitely has options. This will actually be her first car to ever drive as she was not comfortable driving for several years while in high school. She has been holding the money in savings for a few years for when she was ready. She has been in college without a car. Therefore the most important factor is that it will be reliable for the next 3 years since she will be alone and 4 hours from where I can help her. She has been very responsible and I am very proud of her but since she is using her own savings she also wants the nicest car that fits my reliability requirements. I don't want to dictate what she buys but I am providing the boundaries. Overall it is a very good learning experience as all the fancy things she thinks she finds online are not what they appear.

I also believe it is important for the kids work and earn what they have. I originally found them an old 68 truck the we spent a couple of years redoing for my kids to share. Her younger brother still drives this daily. I grew up without money and built my first 3 vehicles so I like to share that "joy" with them.

Also, aftershock, I would be interested in hearing about that Rav4 so I can pass on to her.

aggiedata said:

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This

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3201562

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Hey Thanks. Bryan and Traci did come look and test drive it and said they had some others to look at. Very nice family.

texsn95 said:

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aggiedata said:

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This

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3201562

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Hey Thanks. Bryan and Traci did come look and test drive it and said they had some others to look at. Very nice family.

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I didn't put two and two together that it was the same car you posted above. Good luck with the sale! That's also a good commuter car for someone.

I'll see if I can get some details on the RAV4 and get them over to you.

I have a (near) Aggie Maroon Maxima, 2013 with 106K that I'd consider parting with for around that amount. Its in very good condition, clean, and I have service records going back to around 30K when I got it. 7500K oil change intervals with Mobil 1. It will need new tires, however, by the end of this year. Excellent highway car; decent to good on gas.

91ag, interested. where are you located and can you send photos to aggiefamily4 at SBC global dot net