So it seems as though a few new members may join the fleet son. Since the T&C is totaled my mom is looking to replace it, and my brother is also looking for his first car. The have different requirements and spending limits.
Mom:
Her spending limit depends on what she gets when the claim is settled, but most likely $1,000-$1,200 is her limit. We do appreciate the utility of teh van (I want us to get another), so Chrysler vans are on list for sure. Other vans might be considered. However I think she wants to downsize some. She does like the practicality of the minivan, so a wagon would be the next natural choice. However, there's not very many wagons i can think of that are in the 90's range. Ford's Taurus/Sable wagons come to mind, and are pretty cheap, but how are they in terms of reliability?
Brother:
His spending limit is a little better at $1,600 for his first car. He wants something that will get around or better than 30mpg on the highway, since when he starts college he'll be doing a fair amount of commuting. He likes the first gen LH cars, he seemed to like the LHS, and possibly the Intrepids. He's not that picky though and could be swayed into anything that gets reasonable fuel economy and falls within his budget. I don't think it matters if it's coupe or 4-door/hatch.
Thoughts or suggestions?
One final note: he'd be willing to get a cheap fixer-upper providing the cost of the car and repairs don't exceed $1600...so if you can think of any suggestions for that please do.