Find me a beater

[GreatBigAbyss]

Instead of a brand new Civic Hybrid with a monthly payment, I'm starting to lean towards a beater that I can pay cash for.  Budget would be $15 tops, but less is better.  I'm not afraid of mileage if it's on the right vehicle. 

I prefer a Japanese vehicle.  Manual would be nice, but not mandatory.  AWD would be a bonus, but not mandatory.  Either cheap and cheerful (like a Civic or Fit), or fun and sporty, like an IS.

To get it started is this a good deal?

https://www.facebook.com/share/174oaJeLj5/

[RRocket]

IS250 can have carbon build up.Rough idle can be a tip off.

Otherwise, good cars.

Want my Prius? Best beater ever!!

[Gurgie]

Get Ron to deliver his Prius out to you

[GreatBigAbyss]

You know, that's not a half-bad idea.

/EndThread

[RRocket]

Get Ron to deliver his Prius out to you

With you as co-pilot?

[Johnnymac]

$15k, I seem to think you could find a decent Lexus LS for that, mind you that isn't overly sporty or fuel efficient, but likely has a V8 and AWD.

Ron's used Prius Prime wouldn't be a bad option, reliable, efficient, cheap to run...but also no AWD, manual or sporty.

Any Subaru WRX/STI will be high mileage and likely abused.

Any Civic Si in that range will be higher mileage but you might be able to find one that hasn't lived a rough life (no turbo on the old ones so less likely to be tuned to the brink).  If you could find one it would have a great manual, be reliable, and fairly frugal.

There are probably some Acura or Infiniti sedans in that price range, both of which should be decent options with some balance of sporty and luxury driving.  No manuals but AWD should be on offer.

[Gurgie]

Get Ron to deliver his Prius out to you

With you as co-pilot?

Where's the "thinking" emoji? 

[GreatBigAbyss]

Haha, come visit Winnipeg.  Great fishing opportunities for Ron (if you like ice fishing), and we have a giant ditch with a lift on it for Gurgie.

[Oliver]

For $15k my instinct would be to find a Golf wagon with 4motion and the manual.

Or a manual Mazda 3.

[GreatBigAbyss]

/EndThread.

Something will be incoming in a month or so.

[Blueprint]

For your budget, you can get a really recent manual Nissan Sentra (a Canuck exclusive in S and SR trims, gone with the 2026). The engine is simple and solid, and fuel economy is great. Fancy suspension, rides great. Not a lot of them out West though.

This one is a 2020 S:

https://www.autohebdo.net/a/nissan/sentra/calgary/alberta/5_68804336_20161115152848604/

[Blueprint]

/EndThread.

Something will be incoming in a month or so.

As Furby said, "You no fun" 

[TheHire]

We happen to have a brilliant little 2019 Alltrack Golf Highline with all the stuff done for just over that. ;-)

[GreatBigAbyss]

/EndThread.

Something will be incoming in a month or so.

As Furby said, "You no fun" 

Yeah, I'm pretty boring.  I don't take long to make decisions as long as I'm presented with something that makes sense and works for me.

[Tortoise]

We happen to have a brilliant little 2019 Alltrack Golf Highline with all the stuff done for just over that. ;-)

That's peak Mk7 wagon. It's a deceptively nice car.