This week, I’ve been trying to find nicer-than-average cars for less than three grand. And I think I’ve done a pretty decent job. None of our week’s winners are rusty, or beat-up, or look like a pack of wolverines attacked the interior. Now it’s time to take a second look at all of them, and see which is your favorite.
But first we need our fourth contender, and that would be the Ford Escort. The vote was about a 60:40 split, so not a complete blowout, but pretty decisive. The manual transmission was the deciding factor, it sounds like.
I wholeheartedly agree. That Stanza is a nice little car, but I have a good history with that generation of Escort. With an automatic, it’s a perfectly fine little car. With a manual it actually becomes fun, even with the thrashy CVH engine. And I love the idea of putting the Solo cup “Jazz” graphics on it; that’s perfect.
Now that that’s settled, let’s take another look at all four of them, so you can make an informed decision.
1989 Buick Electra Park Avenue – $3,300
The case for it: It’s a big comfy cruiser, built by a company that knows how to make ’em. It’s also a decently reliable car, and it gets better gas mileage than you might guess.
The case against it: Nothing, really, as long as you don’t mind a suspension system made of marshmallow fluff, and styling that screams Reagan-era.
1996 Volvo 850 – $2,850
The case for it: It’s built like a tank, and by all accounts it’s a nice car to drive, too. Volvo has a really good community of enthusiasts around it, so you’ll never want for good advice on how to handle problems, and parts support should be good, too.
The case against it: The air conditioning is broken, and the trunk lid is bashed in a little. Both are fixable, but both should be fixed if you really want it to be nice.
2005 Kia Sedona EX – $2,900
The case for it: It’s a one-owner van that looks like it has been well taken care of. It doesn’t have a lot of miles on it, and everything works as it should.
The case against it: As long as you’re okay with driving a minivan, not a whole lot. Parts availability is a minor concern, but the basic stuff needed to keep it on the road should be available.
1994 Ford Escort LX – $2,100
The case for it: It’s a reliable, economical little car that’s at least a little bit fun to drive, and looks a little bit sporty. It’s in really good shape, especially for an old economy car, and it has a nice blue interior. It’s also the cheapest, and lowest mileage, of the bunch by quite a bit.
The case against it: Well, there’s the seat belts. And the coarse engine. But as long as you don’t mind those, it’s a good little car.
What all these cars have in common is that they show you can still get a decent car for three grand or so. Any of these could be put into regular service right away, and none of them seem like they’d cause you much trouble. It’s all a matter of which one fits your style.
I’m buying the Buick… promptly joint titling it with my best friend since 2002-ish who lives in and runs a very successful business in Williston, ND, having him order the vanity plate WDCHIPR and driving it to Radwood events to see how long it takes observant nerds to see what exactly I ‘did there’ and start arguing with me about why that plate is wrong.
Sure, it’s a boring car, but remember that Jerry worked at a Buick/Oldsmobile showroom, so it’s plausible 😉
I like Escorts. I really like this one. Easy choice.
I’m going with the Kia. It seems like the best deal out of the bunch.
The Buick is nice but I feel it’s a bit overpriced for what it is. I like the Volvo and probably the one I’d most likely to buy, but it is in need of the most work. I also like the Escort, but I already have a couple of manual equipped subcompacts. So Kia takes it for me.
Usually when we get to this point – with a handful of exceptions – there’s a clear winner for the week in my mind. Or at least a clear loser.
Here we are on a Friday, and they all kind make me go ‘meh’. Three of the four I voted against during the week, the fourth ‘won’ but mostly on the technicality of being a teensy bit more interesting with a manual transmission.
The Buick? The 3800 may chug along for awhile more, but the transmission is probably close to its last shift. The rest of the car is a testament to ’80s GM, which is a testament most would like to forget.
The Kia is a minivan, which….eh….I already did that during an earlier part of life. So, it might be a good utilitarian thing, but there’s just no passion and I don’t get the minivan desirability shtick.
The Volvo’s a Michigan car and I live in the salt belt. No, suffering rust is not for me for a second car, unless I have to.
Then the Escort. Which won.
Most of the dishwater dull cars would be used up as winter cars, and that’s kind of how I viewed this week’s showdown. They don’t elicit any passion, or even much nostalgia. Interesting change for a week, but every week of just this? Eh, keep it exciting (and weird).
The fact that any of these can ask four figures is mind-boggling.
Old couples original owner Kia Sedona with all the records. Super clean cheap parts easy to fix.
A handful of years back I impulse-purchased an 850 wagon, red over tan. Ton of miles but enthusiast owned. Figured with no rust and priced under a grand, I couldn’t lose. TL;DR – I did.
I’m going with the Escort. Wish it was a GT, but I’m pretty sure I could cobble it into a close facsimile with the 1.8 out of a wrecked Miata…
The Escort is probably the best deal, but the Buick is my favorite among the four. So I’m splitting the difference(s) and going with the Volvo. It’s a slightly poorer deal than the Escort, but better than the Buick. And I like it almost as much as the Buick but a lot more than the Escort.
GM connection: Volvo used X-cars as mules when developing the 850 because the engine bay dimensions were very similar. Or maybe it was A-bodies, but I think it was a Citation
The Escort has a manual. Really my only deciding factor.
I already DD a practical hatchback with a receiding hairline, great handling and fantastic fuel economy. I therefore would like to experience a comfy Buick.
That Buick looks sweet. And classic. Would love to try one of those. The rest all seems kind of boring compared to that one.
Park Avenue!
I like boxy and I like broughamy too. Close race between the beige Volvo and the beige Buick, but in this case I think I’ll swing towards the Buick.