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As a result of recent changes in my family situation, the only car I have access to any more is my Miata which is my daily driver.
On occasion I need to haul my 9-year-old daughter and her friends somewhere or I need to haul some stuff, like a piece of furniture, that I can't accommodate in the Miata.

My budget is very constrained, like max $4000 including any initial repairs need. Less would be better. I was thinking something like a 90's vintage hatchback or small wagon of some kind. Doesn't need to be particularly fun to drive. It'll only be used when I need the capacity, which is infrequent. Doesn't need to be pretty, but can't be so scary ugly that my daughter's friends parents will be alarmed when I pick them up.

I'm giving strong consideration to this car.

Used 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback, 5 speed for $2000.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3192713943.html

The guys at Performance Chassis are going to do a prepurchase inspection on it for me today.

I drove the car and it seemed to be in fairly good shape. It has 2 known problems. One is that it hesitates and hiccups occasionally. The current owner took it to Atlantic Tire and they diagnosed it as a bad mass air flow sensor, which seems like a reasonable diagnosis given the symptoms. But their repair estimate seemed way high, $885. They want $450 for the MAF, $100 to put it on (couple of screws?) and another $100 to service the throttle body and some miscellaneous stuff to fill out the $885. The car drives ok and only occasionally hiccups and is not turning on the CEL. I see aftermarket MAFs for this car on eBay for around $60, but I don't know about their quality.

The other problem is the shifter is way loose and sloppy. You really have to hunt for the gears. I think that is worn out shifter bushings and I'm assuming that should not be an expensive repair.

The car has an almost new set of tires and in addition to the recent work listed in the ad, it the current owner says the timing chain was replaced at 135K miles.

Any thoughts, warnings, suggestions regarding this car or suitable alternatives ?

Thanks
Jim

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2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
2004 Subaru Forester XT

Unplug the MAF and see if it runs better with the default settings. If not, it could be a more extensive problem.

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2003 Subaru WRX Sportwagon = daily driver/boost and booster seats
2000 BMW 540iT = wife's kid hauler
2012 Toyota Highlander = the boring reliable vehicle

If it is the MAF I can get a good price on a good used one.

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[color=#FFFFFF][/color]http://www.usedmiatapartsonline.com for all your used miata parts needs
http://www.wagnersauto.com for your salvage needs
2000 miata se Estreet,going to rally
2004 mazdaspeed miata bsp #77
shifter kart also(someone buy this $1500)

Shift bushings on the Suburu 5mt are pretty easy and cheap. Turn in concepts have good prices on them

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Talk to Jeremy Gast about the MAF sensor. $880 is bullshit.

The shifter problem may not be bushings, it may be that the spring is missing, if that transmission has the spring. If so, I can give you the part number, since I have a spare one from when I replaced the one on my 98 Impreza.

Thanks for the input guys. I just got the inspection report back from Andrew at Performance Chassis and this one is a non-starter. Aside from the MAF and shifter, it has serious oil leaks, needs a new water pump and probably timing belt as well. Maybe more with a more thorough inspection, but that alone was enough to eliminate it. Also found evidence, (cobwebs and such) that make it look like the car sat idle for an extended length of time and that it spent part of its life in Vermont and Maine.

Given that I like the mechanical skills to put it right, the repairs needed will put this one beyond my budget, so I'm going to pass. If you folks run across any good candidates I'd appreciate hearing about them. Basic requirements:
* under $4000 including repairs
* some hauling capacity, hatchback, station wagon, maybe even extended cab pickup
* AC that works
* doesn't have to be pretty, but can't be scary looking
* reasonably dependable for around town
* manual transmission preferred but not required

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2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
2004 Subaru Forester XT

I've had good luck with 3rd-gen Taurus/Sables, of which I have owned three, and I'd consider a 4th-gen as well with your budget. They are incredibly common, reasonably comfortable/capable, relatively bulletproof, and parts are cheap. One of mine was a wagon, the others sedans.

I haven't owned one, but I know people who swear by Saturns, and I see clean models in your price range all the time. They made a nice little wagon and made a lot of manual transmission models, which is a plus for me. It's kind of a small car, but I'm comfortable scooting around town with the kids in one. My wife and I looked at one a few years ago as a daily beater.

One other car to consider is the Grand Marquis/Crown Vic. I have owned two of them, and while they are huge gas-guzzling boats, they are dirt cheap, plentiful, parts are incredibly cheap (I bought a new upper ball joint assembly with control arm for $6), and they run forever. Don't buy a used cop-car version though, every one of those that I looked was beat to death.

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"Every ship is a minesweeper, once."

subaru legacy wagon. or...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_K_platform

chrysler k car wagon. hidden k car turbo potential and wagon body.

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hey yall,watch this...

Well, I bought a car this weekend to at least temporarily meet my needs. The price was too good to let it pass and the general condition of the car for the money appeared good. It's a 1993 Toyota Camry automatic with 200K miles. The guy had all his maintenance records and had replaced timing belt, water pump and all 4 tires within last 10K miles. Only thing that needs attention right away is front interior door handles and power window regulators. I found replacement parts for all of those for <$100 total. The car was only $995 so I figure I can't go too far wrong.

Once my budget recovers I'll still be on the lookout for something a little newer, funner to drive, maybe a Ford Focus or a Civic HB. An older Taurus wagon also has some appeal for the additional carrying capacity.

I think this picture of the car must be a few years old as the paint has faded some since then, but it still looks close to this.

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2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
2004 Subaru Forester XT

great find for the money there Jim....

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

Yeah, excellent buy. My daughter had that exact car (color as well) dents on ever panel Before Rear ended somebody, totalled it and still sold it for $500

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

mazda protoge 5 wagon. cheap, wagon, four cylinder, handles like a dream.. because the miata got its parts off the protoge. fwd , i think it has a lsd front end too. might be wrong .

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hey yall,watch this...

No LSD in the front, but otherwise a good little car.

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In need of car.

Mazdaspeed protege had LSD, but not the p5.

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

you could go with a subie 2.2l obs wagon. great car .

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hey yall,watch this...