How Cheap Should You Go For A Reliable Car?

Image: Bradley Brownell

It’s time for you to buy yourself a new daily driver, and you want to be a little more frugal this time. The market for used cars is still a bit on the wild side, but prices seem to be coming down. Consider, for a moment, that you need to use this car every day, but still want to have a little fun with it. However you choose to prioritize fun over cheapness is up to you, but reliability is paramount here. How little are you spending? What cars are you looking for? What, to you, makes a good cheap car?

Cheryl Hines’ First Ride : A Dodge Dart Swinger Without A Radio

I’m an old-school midwestern kid of European descent, so I’m absolutely wracked with guilt when I have to spend any amount of money on any specific thing. I yearn for a good deal, and love finding a diamond in the rough. I’ll haggle with the best of them, and I can definitely give up some creature comforts to save a buck, or go a little faster. I revel in crank windows and no stereo. I like cheap shitboxes, and I always have.

I don’t have any photos of it anymore, but I once traded a Wendy’s Baconator and a six pack of beer for a Ford Aspire with no back window, no back seats, and no third gear. I drove that car for years and it was awesome. My current cheap car favorite is the above Dodge Neon ACR, which wasn’t actually all that cheap, but it has cloth seats, roll up windows, and wouldn’t even dream of cruise control.

So let’s hear it. Sound off in the comments with the cheapest car you would drive, or a time you bought a particularly cheap car. If you can beat trading a burger and beer for a running and driving car, I’ll buy you a Baconator myself.