Are Good Cheap Vehicles Extinct?

The beginning of another week, and the second week of my kids summer vacation, or so far their break from school. We currently have no means to take them on a vacation, but we are working on it. I am hoping that our kids will have something to tell their teachers that they did for the summer than just stayed at home.
I feel like a bad parent. Last year we didn't do anything either. Not even camping.

In the next few days my wife and I are going to look at a full size van. The person is asking $3000, which is probably resonable, but rather high for our budget.

Finding a good vehicle for our budget is proving rather difficult. Because of the Cash for Clunkers, the supply of used vehicles is smaller and the good ones are more expensive.

Our choices are find a good reliable small vehicle that could get us my wife and I out of town when needed, or a van that can fit our whole family. The problem that I have run into is that a van that can fit seven or more in good condition is priced conciderable more than a car.

I am hoping for a little luck. We got lucky with our current van. We paid $700 for it and it has lasted three years. Now, it is near death.

We are in a difficult spot. We have to be very careful what we do buy because we can't afford to get it wrong. If we get something and it requires something major a short way down the road, we are screwed.

Since we are not going to win the Powerball anytime soon, and no one is just going to give us a vehicle, we will have to do our homework and think through our decision if we ever do find something worth considering.