Finding a good, running vehicle on a budget of just a few hundred dollars can be tough. Generally, cars selling for three figures either are quite old, have ridiculously high miles or come with mechanical issues — or they’re some combination of the three. Still, there are cars out there that are capable of serving as point-to-point transportation for just a few hundred dollars.
Here are five cars under $500 listed for sale on Autotrader that would fit the bill.
1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Here’s a super high-mileage Chevrolet Silverado. While it’s a 2-wheel drive model, it comes with a V8 under the hood, although it’s unknown whether it’s the 4.8-liter or larger 5.3-liter engine. Either way, even when they have 270,000 miles on the odometer, as this one does, pickups are inherently useful, and this $500 Silverado could serve as basic transportation or as a decent farm truck, so long as it’s in decent running order. While the interior could use some cleaning, nothing looks to be too badly damaged. It’s also encouraging that the seller went to the trouble of including 17 pictures. This 1999 Silverado 1500 is in Spring Lake, Minnesota. Find a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for sale
2004 Lexus ES 330
Based on the Toyota Camry, the fourth-generation Lexus ES is a subtle, comfortable midsize sedan. Under the hood is a strong V6 engine that puts out more than 200 horsepower, and a leather interior and sunroof came standard. This ES is for sale via public auction in Orland, California. It’s a 2004 model with around 169,000 miles on the odometer and a starting bid of $500. Assuming it runs and drives, there’s a good chance it’ll sell for more than its starting bid of $500 — but, then again, maybe it won’t. Find a Lexus ES 330 for sale
1997 Chevrolet Astro
As far as cars under $500 go, here’s one that elicits some 1990s nostalgia. It’s a Chevrolet Astro van, which wasn’t quite a minivan but a compact version of a full-size van and which offered great practicality thanks to its boxy design. Another public auction vehicle, this one is a bit of a mystery. It’s clearly a conversion van, with retro graphics and a high-top bubble roof. The seller doesn’t list the mileage, nor is there a specific description of the vehicle. All we have to go by are the pictures, and it’s clear right off the bat that this one is in need of a new driver-side window. There’s also a fair amount of rust around the rear window. While there’s no confirmation of whether it’s in good running order, the low starting bid of just $400, combined with the Astro’s inherent mechanical simplicity, means this one might be worth a shot for a mechanically inclined buyer in search of a retro van. It’s in Waukegan, Illinois. Find a Chevrolet Astro for sale
2001 Dodge Caravan SE
Here’s a $500 vehicle that would make sense if you’ve got a lot of people or things to haul around. It’s a 2001 Dodge Caravan SE with 260,000 miles on the odometer and a fair amount of rust and body damage. The hood, front fender, rocker panels and lift gate — really all the metal body panels — have visible rust, and the passenger-side front fender and lift gate are pretty dented. As far as we can see, the interior doesn’t look so bad, although the listing photos only show the rear seats. This well-used Dodge Caravan is offered by a dealership in Bay City, Michigan, with an asking price of exactly $500. The description says that it’s a recent trade and that if nobody buys it, it will be sent to auction. Find a Dodge Caravan for sale
1993 Honda Civic
This one appears to be in good working order, although cosmetically it’s seen better days. It’s a 1993 Honda Civic offered by a dealer in Rockbridge, Ohio. It’s a 4-door model, and it packs a 4-speed automatic transmission. The description also notes that it comes with a clean Carfax report, cruise control and air conditioning. The listing loses a little credibility, though, when it mentions the so-called premium wheels, as this Civic clearly rides on simple steelies. The exterior shows a lot of rust and peeling paint and a hood that appears to be secured by a ratchet strap, which indicates a broken latch. Either way, it’s a Honda, so even with 210,000 miles on the odometer, there’s a good chance that it’ll get you from point A to point B. Find a Honda Civic for sale
Car tips
And if a car has a two digit price tag, chances are it’s a toy such as a Transformer or just a model car which is fun to play with but not able to be driven.
How did these cars even end up in 500 dollars? Damn, my little brother spend 600 dollars on a drone.
Im sure these cars need alot of work,500 dollars is cheap and sounds to good to be true ,probably needs new brakes and whom knows what else,500 dolar car with prbably thousands more needed to be put into it ,or wouldn last very long.Remember you get what u pay for ,so 500 would turn into 5 thouasand or better,hell even bicycles cost 200 dollars or better.
I’d be stunned if that Lexus sold for less than $3k. Even with the minor body damage, everyone knows they’ll last forever