Is it possible to find a car for $1500-$2000?

It's possible but not probable that you will find one at that price that will keep you on the road for any length of time without having to take to a mechanic or having problems. If you plan on buying a very cheap car here, instead of shipping your own, it is always a good idea to take it FIRST, to a reliable mechanic to have them check it out.

Reliable transportation is a MUST, so it pays to purchase something that will provide it, even if you must spend more, intitially.
You'll be glad, in the long run.

I think you'd have to go to $5,000 to find something that MAY be reliable for a while, but even at that price, there's a good possibility that you'd soon have a major repair. And keep in mind that many times parts have to be ordered from elsewhere, so you could be without a vehicle while you're waiting on a part.

It helps if you can do some of the repairs yourself.

The problem I see is that when people say they just want something that runs and gets from a to b and they dont care how it looks they have this vision in their mind of a perfect running car with some dents in the body. When they come to see the car they realize that they want something nicer and start adding the cost of fixing the little things on the car and realize that 1500 dollar car will be a 5000 dollar car when they are done making it the way they want.

I guess its all in the expectations but I would budget 5000 for a car if you want something decent.

Possible, of course. One you can actually drive for more than two weeks, probably not. You'd have to find someone leaving island who is depserate to sell their vehicle. If you double your car budget, you have a much better chance of finding a reliable one.

The key is to hook up with a reliable mechanic (several people on here will have suggestions) who'll take a look at whatever you're interested in for a small fee and give you the rundown on present and foreseeable future problems. I've always bought used cars here and bought my last, 3-4 years ago, for under $2K. The only initial investment I had to make was for new front tires and then, two years later, invested close to $2K in major front end parts and a steering pump (parts shipped from the mainland) including labor. Well worth it and I could easily sell it today for over $3K. Sure she has a few dings and scratches but I've owned cars that looked a whole lot worse!

It really just depends...we bought a car for our kids some years back, pretty disreputable looking, prior owner said he used to use it to take his dogs to the beach! Kept it about 18 months, and I used it as well as they were in school off island...lousy exhaust system, leaked in the rain, rust would fall on my head when I drove over a speed bump or a pothole, but it ran, and we sold it to someone who was pleased to get it, for about the 1400 we paid for it....didn't do anything besides tires and oil etc from what I recall...

Hi Tolie,

Just sent you a PM...

I just came across ads by 2 rental car companies selling off some of their rentals.

Budget: Prices range from $9,999 for a 2010 Ford Focus to $21,999 for a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4. 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unltd for $20,999.
Off Season Sale. Reduced Prices. Call Jimmy at 643-0101

Avis: Prices range from $9,200 for 2010 Kia Sedona to $23,000 for a 2011 Jeep Cherokee.
Fleet Sale Pricing. Sale prices on valid thru 9/30/2012. Contact Natasha Matthew @ 774-4616Edit

if thats all you want to spend, might be good just to bring your car

I just came across ads by 2 rental car companies selling off some of their rentals.

Budget: Prices range from $9,999 for a 2010 Ford Focus to $21,999 for a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4. 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unltd for $20,999.
Off Season Sale. Reduced Prices. Call Jimmy at 643-0101

Avis: Prices range from $9,200 for 2010 Kia Sedona to $23,000 for a 2011 Jeep Cherokee.
Fleet Sale Pricing. Sale prices on valid thru 9/30/2012. Contact Natasha Matthew @ 774-4616Edit

Not a good idea to buy a rental car even if you have it thoroughly checked out. Think about it. It's had about 5k "owners" before you get it. No one treats a rental car like their own. Especially on the roads here. They are beat to death. 10k miles is like 100k.;)