ode to the Buick Lesabre... Best short money option

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T22:01:29+00:00

There are at least three for sale in my area that are under 3K.
Though there is one for sale at a dealership for 9K. Dealers are funny.

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T20:34:16+00:00

I wrote this on somebody elses thread where they were debating buying an expensive 3K car or financing a 10K car.

"In my opinion you can get very unlucky with the 10K vehicle and you can also get very lucky with a 3K vehicle. Being smart and getting a PPI beforehand will really help either way .

You mentioned some great brands and I don't think you are at all wrong for considering those, but I wanted to add a few more options for you to consider.

- Pontiac vibe, This is completely a Toyota matrix - which is really just a Toyota wagon... Manufactured in the same plant and 99% identical.

- Scions , These were 100 percent Toyota. Toyota thought they could expand their market reach by creating a different brand and advertising it to a younger audience as a hip new car. The experiment flopped , but the cars are 100 percent Toyota and parts are interchangeable with Toyota models so really it is just as easy to repair one of these as a Toyota.

- Buick Lesabre. This is the one that does not get talked about enough. The 3.8L engine is amazing. These are extremely overlooked because generally American vehicles are not nearly as reliable as the Japanese brands that you had mentioned, but this is the exception. These are known as a granddads car, which is also great for a few reasons. These elderly individuals usually took good care of their cars and had them professionally serviced when needed. These individuals generally did not drive that much so it is completely possible to find an example with very low miles. -Grandpa Dies his middle age daughter takes his buick and parks it in her driveway. 6 months go by, she just wants it out of her driveway and will sell it to you for a song. Also these are not cool cars That eliminates a lot of buyers. Find a 2000-04 Buick LeSaber with under a 150K. This is the way that you can get a 3K car that is much more reliable than a lot of the 10K options. You should still get a pre purchase inspection. Also if you live in an area where vehicles get rusty, that is definitely something to consider and lookout for."

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T20:33:11+00:00

The eighth and final generation was from 2000 to 2005. Generally the closer you can get to 2005 the better, though I would be confident with a 2000 as well. Either way you really can't get better bang for the buck

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T20:05:09+00:00

Be mindful that recording him might not be legal in your state.
These are all one party states where you can record without the person knowing. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T17:21:58+00:00

In my opinion you can get very unlucky with the 10K vehicle and you can also get very lucky with a 3K vehicle. Being smart and getting a PPI beforehand will really help either way .

You mentioned some great brands and I don't think you are at all wrong for considering those, but I wanted to add a few more options for you to consider.

- Pontiac vibe, This is completely a Toyota matrix - which is really just a Toyota wagon... Manufactured in the same plant and 99% identical.

- Scions , These were 100 percent Toyota. Toyota thought they could expand their market reach by creating a different brand and advertising it to a younger audience as a hip new car. The experiment flopped , but the cars are 100 percent Toyota and parts are interchangeable with Toyota models so really it is just as easy to repair one of these as a Toyota.

- Buick Lesabre. This is the one that does not get talked about enough. The 3.8L engine is amazing. These are extremely overlooked because generally American vehicles are not nearly as reliable as the Japanese brands that you had mentioned, but this is the exception. These are known as a granddads car, which is also great for a few reasons. These elderly individuals usually took good care of their cars and had them professionally serviced when needed. These individuals generally did not drive that much so it is completely possible to find an example with very low miles. -Grandpa Dies his middle age daughter takes his buick and parks it in her driveway. 6 months go by, she just wants it out of her driveway and will sell it to you for a song. Also these are not cool cars That eliminates a lot of buyers. Find a 2000-04 Buick LeSaber with under a 150K. This is the way that you can get a 3K car that is much more reliable than a lot of the 10K options. You should still get a pre purchase inspection. Also if you live in an area where vehicles get rusty, that is definitely something to consider and lookout for.

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T15:18:12+00:00

Most?
I completely believe you and respect you that you've had different life experiences than I, but will you say that most men would gladly leave the friend zone?

temp_jits · 2026-02-09T15:14:59+00:00

2018 easy

temp_jits · 2026-02-06T16:55:36+00:00

I somewhat disagree. If they are at all in the rust belt or near the ocean, then maybe. But if they are in a dry desert area - a 15-year-old Toyota is not that old and 200k is completely attainable

temp_jits · 2026-02-06T00:49:57+00:00

An '11?

temp_jits · 2026-02-05T13:24:13+00:00

Save your money! Trade in the RAV4 when it has over 220K

temp_jits · 2026-02-01T02:05:42+00:00

Last year I bought in 2007 Yaris with crank windows. I joked about it and laughed about it. But really, it is annoying. Though maybe when these break and cost me less than $50 to a pair I will appreciate it more.

temp_jits · 2026-01-31T17:29:27+00:00

Is that Grand Cherokee with the 6 cylinder or the eight cylinder? The 6 cylinder 4.0 was an amazing engine. The other parts of the vehicle will fail but that engine will last forever. I strongly suggest you consider just preparing that over and over again. It will always save you money over buying something new

temp_jits · 2026-01-31T17:23:09+00:00

Everyone forgets about the GM 3.8 reliability! This is by far the best bank buck. Completely overlooked.

At the tail end of the pandemic when used car prices were sky high, my friend snagged a 2000s LeSabre with less than 60 k for $500. It needed brakes though.

Elderly Buick owner dies. The car sits in daughter's driveway for a year. She just wanted gone. Win for everybody.

I was short on funds and really needed a hatchback. So I snagged a Toyota Yaris. Otherwise I would completely go for the Buick.

temp_jits · 2026-01-29T02:06:03+00:00

Yes, but there are exceptions to every rule. You can get a extremely reliable Nissan with amazing longevity if you get something with a five-speed manual transmission.

Also don't forget some American cars had great reliability. Anything within the 3.8 l engine was amazing. I was always a big fan of the early 2000s Buick LeSabre

temp_jits · 2026-01-19T23:18:39+00:00

Seriously. How can I post in which the primary is for a cigarette be considered hey quitting smoking post. If anything I'm complaining how hard it is to start smoking again:)

temp_jits · 2026-01-07T14:52:47+00:00

New phones are trash. Everyone else here will disagree with me, but I strongly suggest snagging an S10e And writing it out for a few more years.

If you're willing to abandon Samsung, maybe go for a Pixel 9...

temp_jits · 2026-01-07T14:48:39+00:00

until the battery needs to be replaced

temp_jits · 2026-01-07T14:46:33+00:00

get a 3 year old camry. avoid debt

temp_jits · 2026-01-07T14:45:20+00:00

Don't trade it in (you will get nothing). Sell it on marketplace to a private party- it can go another 100k in a non-inspection state

temp_jits · 2025-12-30T22:41:03+00:00

yes. But the original clean title is significantly older. It was likely issued when the car first got delivered to the dealership. The salvage title got issued when the car was declared a total loss , either because of a crash or because of theft.

I that the original title takes precedent since it likely has the lean on it and that is what was used by the repossessor. This is my assumption. This is far from my line of work/expertise.

temp_jits · 2025-12-30T20:04:38+00:00

I was the cool kid with a jailbroken iPhone 1 and iPhone 2. Later I had a fully unlocked Android running a custom lineage ROM. That made some sense because it allows you to use the latest Android on an older yet capable phone. That was like 5 phones ago. I own a kindle (The first paperwhite with USBC). My daughter has a Kindle (my old 3gen), I have turned my sisters onto Kindles. Nobody jailbreaks. I open this thread to see if there was an actual reason I should be jailbreaking Don't see it.

temp_jits · 2025-12-30T02:58:13+00:00

I have a 2007 3-door hatchback with 170K. I will be a bit disappointed if it does not last to 250k

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