Buying a car... any advice from the more experienced?

My experience in the $2500 +/- price range is to go with a mid-90s Accord, Camry or Maxima. The closer to 100,000 miles the better. Check Craigslist if you have access to it in your town and be prepared to move fast on the good deals. My son just picked up a one owner 93 Maxima with 94K for $2300. With the Accords and Camrys you don't have to be freaked out even with 150,000 miles on them. The biggest issue on these is to know when the timing belt was changed. Otherwise they are usually good to go.

Jack
 
For off road capability, $3000, and reliablilty, a late 90's Jeep Cherokee with 6 should be your first choice. The six was always offered in the Cherokee right to the end.

Even with 150,000 miles, you'll get another 100,000 with any maintenance at all, most of which you can do. Oil changes, spark plugs, filters, and wires are easy.

IT WILL NOT BE THE MOST ECONOMICAL CHOICE FOR GAS, but you will have much less trouble off road getting into places you want to go. No FWD car will do that, carry the load, or put up with the abuse. Wranglers would be a second choice because demand jacks the price double for the same capability - why pay extra (for less?)

Look for the unappreciated/unpopular cars - they are a bargain, and often in good shape from appreciative owners not caught up in automotive fads. The Cherokee is there right now and true 4WD, not a porkie SUV with front half shafts.
 
Although some don't like CR, the mechanics in my old home town agree with them. Honda, Toyota and Nissan are the only choices for used transportation. I would check Auto Trader on line for prices and local Craigslist. Check around and get a mechanic you can trust and be willing to pay for a checkout by him. A 90 mile commute is going to be a significant cost one way or another.
 
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