I started looking for another car, since mine started having some problems.  I am generally looking in the 1995 to 2000 year ranges, and am looking for something decent (70k-90k miles or so) that I can get 200k miles out of.  I don't mind spending money if I think it is a decent car, but expect to spend around $3500 to $6000 for a decent car.  

With that said, are the majority of sellers insane, or am I cheap?  

I see some cars in the high range like what I want, examples of some Subarus/Hondas/Toyotas.  70k-90k miles, look decent for $5500-6000.  That is probably overpriced for a 10-13 year old car though, or is that decent?  Didn't they cost around $12k new or so 12 years ago, with awd Subarus running around $14k?  

A majority of cars that I see for sale must have insane sellers though. Here are some examples: 1996 Subaru with 153k miles for $5000, 1997 Honda with 187k miles for $4900, 1998 Toyota with 200k miles for $5500.  Is a 10-13 year old car with over 150k miles, some with well over 150k miles worth $5000?

How much would you spend for a decent used car?  Give me some ranges of what you think the prices should be.

I feel the same way these seller's are idiots but not a stupid as the buyers that are willing to pay.  So most buyers don't care neither and they get the loan and pay the asking price, thereby elevating the going price for the 10 year old used car.  Just don't do it too.  

Most of the people think Honda's and Toyota's are perfect pieces of metal that never have a problem so therefore they are worth more than half the purchase value after 10 years.  Don't buy into this either.

Quoted: and think their car is EXCELLENT shape. Neither of those apply in 99% of the time. I have yet see a car in Excellent shape, even brandnew cars see weather effects, etc.

I also have yet to see an excellent car.  Most are fair with small dings, some rust, dirty interior, etc.  

How many people actually do the scheduled maintenance?  I would say many people don't change the oil religiously at 3-5k miles, air filters at 15-25k, etc.

how bout a 2500 dollar subaru?

Quoted: how bout a 2500 dollar subaru?

Depends on the particulars.

Quoted: I don't mind spending money if I think it is a decent car, but expect to spend around $3500 to $6000 for a decent car.   With that said, are the majority of sellers insane, or am I cheap?

You're cheap. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

A rule that really holds true in that price range is that cash is king. Have your cash ready, listen to the seller and see if he gives clues about money woes, and don't be afraid to low-ball. I bought a used car at 55% of asking price just by following those simple guidelines.

Good luck.

have any local car auctions around your area, excellent deals to be had there

Between Edmunds and KBB I've seen several thousand dollars difference on identically spec'd used cars. It just depends on what you find and which place you look for pricing.

It's all bullshit when comparing bluecollar income to used car prices. In 1977 I made 500.00 per month milking cows. I Bought a 1965 mustang with 6 banger for 500.00. In 1979 I made 800.00 per month landscaping and paid 3,000.00 for a 75 Cougar. A new CJ7 jeep in 1976 was 6,000.00. Now if you make 1500.00 - 2,000.00 per month you are going to pay ....10,000 - 13,000 for a used vehicle?????? What the fuck? If you can find a good running car for 3,000.00 good luck..... Those who say all is comparable to 30 years ago are full of shit.

Things are worth what you can sell them for...  The comedy is when people overprice a good, then wonder why it doesn't sell.  If good yet high mileage used cars are going for top dollar in your area it's futile to 'declare' the value of it to be lower than what the going rate is...  It doesn't matter that it was 15K when purchased and now they are asking 8K X years and Y miles later.  All that matters is that 8K is a whole lot cheaper than buying a new vehicle that cost 25K now.

To your question, that kind of money MAY get you into a '90s buick with 3.8.  These are probably the best for the money, as young people hesitate to buy them because they don't fit their image.  They are actually good cars.

We all want things to be cheaper, but it is very dangerous to try and control the supply and demand curve.  I'm sure if you asked Hillary, she'd be glad to put a price control policy together that would solve all sorts of discriminitory and unfair high prices...

I have the same problem, but mainly with motorcycles. Used bikes sell for relatively high prices here. Sometimes I wish I lived in a poorer part of the country. A lot of people say "buy a used 250cc bike for $500, that way no big loss if you wreck it!". Well, there are bikes available around here for under $1,000 now and then, but they typically come in the form of a bent frame and a large cardboard box full of rusty parts. Oh, and the words "great project bike" are usually somewhere in the ad.

If that's what people can get for their machines, more power to them. But it makes looking for an affordable vehicle a long term chore.

Galland

Quoted: If good yet high mileage used cars are going for top dollar in your area it's futile to 'declare' the value of it to be lower than what the going rate is...

I don't think they are actually selling though, as I will see them in different places for sale for months.  Just seems like they put them up high and hope someone buys.

I had 3k to spend on a late 90's early 2000's small car for a 16 year old girl.  Forget it, there was nothing out there.  I ended up spending 6500 on an 2001 Corolla with 45,000 miles

Look into a late 90's Olds Intrigue, Olds 88, etc.  The GM cars with the 3.8 liter engine.

My Intrigue will get just over 30mpg on the freeway and it goes down the road so much nicer than my Corolla.  

The older GM cars are a great deal.  Go find Grandma and Grandpa's car!!!!

vmax84