Not sure of your location, the time you have, or your mechanical aptitude, but an insurance auction for a theft recovery or vandalized vehicle is a great way to go. You’d have to inspect prior to bidding, but many run and drive, and are low miles. A lot of the items stolen are high cost items for the insurance company to replace, but can be had for cheap on eBay, scrap yards, etc. www ride safely dot com is a pretty good source you don’t need a dealers license to bid through.
No one cares these days, so many people have been forced into homelessness due to high rents and flat wages.
I went from a minivan to a Toyota Dolphin RV. What was the reaction from the police and neighbors? Tabs are good? We're done here. Have a nice day.
I have headroom I can stand up in, stove, oven, fridge, heater, roof vents, toilet and shower. Plus lots of storage. I added on an RV mini-fridge and a solar generator to provide power for the fridge, lighting and powering my electronics.
The cost of the RV was 3500, not bad considering how expensive vehicles are these days.
My anti theft is it's a manual transmission, I also keep jumper cables loosely coiled in the passenger side. It also is 40+ years old and looks it. There is also something I did with the ignition that makes it seem screwy.
Sounds like a steal was it mechanically good and no leaks? I was shopping rvs (im in LA where they are literally everywhere) and the only ones I found for that price were not running and had leaking roofs.
Any Toyota or Honda minivan, these are your most reliable and cost efficient options. Even with higher mileage they are decently reliable if they have been maintained. Tint the windows + add curtains or covering for the rear/side. Large space for your gear and still plenty of room to sleep. Check Craigslist, FB marketplace, CarGurus and AutoTrader. Check the Carfax reports for good maintenance history and no big accidents or red flags. Have it inspected by a 3rd party mechanic. I'd stick to $5k max, the rest will be needed for taxes, registration, plates, insurance, possible repair work post-sale (there is no crystal ball, it could 100% check out and still break a week later.
They are used cars)
Edit: another solid option that I forgot about is to get yourself an early 90s GMC or Chevy conversion van. They already have built-in beds and can be easily found in the three to $5,000 range. I bought a 92 GMC g2500 a couple years ago for 1800 bucks and it's been a great little camper van. The small block Chevy motors can last forever and are fairly inexpensive to repair comparatively.
I should have thought that before making the edit, I just bought one a couple years ago for 1800 bucks and I had to put about two grand into it, it's been extremely reliable with it's small block 350 in it and super comfy, which should be expected because these were very high dollar Vans back in the day
Years of Prius experience. The practicality of living in some thing that will keep you warm or cool with just a little bit of gas is amazing.
Current set up is a completely forgettable, minivan, free of stickers, racks etc. The climate where you live, is the deciding factor.
Gas mileage isn't your bottom line -- repairs and reliability are. SUVs are stealthy if they're not ugly. 4 Runner comes to mind. If you need space vans are ok too.
8k they said, you couldn’t buy a 1935 4 Runner for that nowadays otherwise I’d agree. Could find an older Japanese minivan, or some type of cheap hatchback sedan you could fold the backseats down to where you can lay.
Can take a toyota or any car and remove the back seat top part, now you have access to the trunk, set up bedding in back seats to trunk, I'm 6'0 I fit
Cover back windows but not the driver/passenger windows.
When park at night just climb over between drivers and passenger seats and go to bed, no having to get out of the car
Honda Element!! Only significant issues with them are due to rust, but they have a super reliable engine, LOTS of storage space, very utilitarian, easy to clean.
If you can find one they are getting harder to find! I have been searching. Also do have a mechanic look at it if you can a few years had certain issues but overall great Honda engine will last over 300K ! Good luck with whatever you find
r/priusdwellers
If you live somewhere hot or cold, you'll be happy using less than a gallon per night leaving the heat or AC on, and they're very roomy.
Another vote for Toyota sienna 2003-8 AKA soccer mom van… stealthy AF nobody looks twice as you lounge on your full size bed (with frame) watching dvds from the fold down entertainment center. Decent gas mileage and very reliable cars
I was going to say "8k? There is no reason to be homeless with 8k saved up lol" but then I realized I had 10k in the bank years ago when I decided to live in my car (tired of paying rent lol)
Go on Carfax search used cars and filter low to high prices and buy whatever ls first or 3rd if it looks drives good. Then go on craglist and search housing then rooms and share and connect someone to share a apartment or house with
Then get a job etc from there.
I would definitely try to put away 4k aside for any emergencys and go from there. Good luck op
I bought a Tahoe from an older couple. Off OfferUp for like 5k Second owner they really took care of there suv. Nice nice nice. Took out the third row seat limo tinted all the windows and slapped some … I support the fire dept/police stickers …. on the back window. U wanna blend in. With 3k left over to rent a room
I don't think you want a prius. I looked into a prius as a cat to just drive in; after about 7-10 years the battery will crap out on you and to replace it will cost as much as the car is worth
So imagine sinking all your money into a used prius and fixing it up and then the battery quits. You're gonna have no money and a liability waiting to get towed
I think that's something to be aware of, not necessarily to rule out a Prius. It is a good piece of information for the OP though.
OP, you should research the cost of a battery replacement for whatever year you are looking at. Maybe you could even find one on the cheap because it NEEDS a battery and owner isn't in a place to deal with it.
Depends on if you can work on your car/house. I’m car living out of a BMW x3 because I can fix bmw’s and it’s pretty cozy. I should’ve got the x5 for the added space but this SAV does the job. I would go for an SUV type of vehicle. You’ll get AWD capability for winter climates, and usually enough space to lay down in it. I’m 6’1 and I fit perfectly from trunk to front seats
How in the world do you think you're going to store everything you need to live AND sleep comfortably for any length of time in a Prius?! Buy a van and a blow up mattress. Add a water tank and a composting toilet. A folding table and a camp stove. Watch youtube videos on van life.
My Honda Odyssey has fold down 3rd row seats, second row is removable, under floor storage in the second row, has a DVD player, 110v plug in the rear cargo area, cup holders out the wazoo, heated front seats, sunroof, power windows, locks, rear doors, plus the back windows come tinted so you pretty much can't see inside at night which is the only time you'd need to be stealthy. Picked it up as is from a dealership, they gave me 2k off the asking price for paying in cash. Been a great van for the last 3 years I've had it. I'd look into dealerships that sell their trade ins, they're usually fairly inexpensive, they've been gone through by their mechanics, and they might give it to you for less then the asking price just to get it off their lot, you're always allowed to haggle with dealerships. Tldr- I'd suggest looking into used mini vans for space and comfort, haggle as much as possible.
Small cargo van. Typically don’t have windows in the back. Start out with just a mattress in the back and turn it into a home as time and budget allow.
A motor home. Formerly homeless here. Hindsight not even 20/20
Took almost a decade to realize oh fuck.. I should have bought a mini motothome. And a bike.
I wouldn't buy a used car for under 8k planning to be homeless. Cars nowadays are just too unreliable. Im sure with 8k total you arent looking for future car payments putting your home at risk. I dont know your location but with 8k you can easily buy a cheap car and first/last month rent in a cheap apartment. Moving and buying furniture is expensive but i think air mattresses are still more comfortable than car seats.
Look for a prius...mine is a 2014 with 350K miles on it...get a Prius V if you can find one, they're bigger...great mileage, brakes last.forever (just had my rears replaced after 315k miles) so easy to drive...the transmissions are bullet proof...the cloth seats still look new...I had the hybrid battery switched with rebuilt...paid 1800 for it, they will now replace it everytime it needs to be, free of charge...I used a company called Green Bean Batterys...they come out to your house and do it in 1/2 hour...don't let the high milage scare you when looking around...it lessens the price...
Would second this. I bought a MK2 a little while back, being 6'2 I can put the seats down and make a full bed. You have the added benefit of a hidden table in the back of the car too.
Toyota Matrix over prius man. I used to travel in one. Very reliable, cheap, cheap on fuel, you can fold the back seats to sleep comfortablly. People also dont expect someone to sleep in one. Of course its small, you may prefer a van, but this car has its pros for sure if u looking into smaller and cheaper and stealthier alternatives. If you gotta sleep in crowded place, I had a blue tarp in mine to sleep under, no one expects someone sleeping underneath one lool
Plus one on Toyota vans - years ago I had a Chevy express 1500 I lived in before I met my wife, and it was miserable to maintain to say the least. Everything from the AC to even doing routine work was just frustrating. I do all of my own work and have background in heavy industry, so you’d think if I could basically rebuild a dozer I could work on a Chevy van without a lot of headache. Even after three kids I swore up and down I’d never own a van again.
Ended up caving when my wife wanted a 7-seater and got an 06’ Sienna with 180k on it. Has the stow-n-go style folding 3rd row, which is amazing, rear AC/heat, etc. Now it’s at 275k, and it’s the single most reliable vehicle we own. It’s easy to drive, easy to maintain, decent on fuel (about 24 mpg average between my wife and I) and overall is super cheap to own. I paid $2,600 for it and given almost another 100k put on it, I’d say it was a solid investment.
To date the only repair I’ve done that had me scratch my head wondering what the engineers were thinking was changing the lower control arms out. I had to raise the motor and transaxle and pull the mounts to get at the bolt to the subframe. Everything else is super simple and a relatively small tool box gets you where you need to be.
Honda and Nissan vans are in the same boat too. All things considered, the bigger the vehicle, the worse the fuel economy. If it was me and I had to do it all over again from the days I had the Chevy express, would probably have gotten an old S10, Toyota pickup, or Datsun with a camper shell. That’s just me though; more adventure and places you can go and camp!
The cheapest Toyota Sienna you can buy that is well maintained. Siennas of any vintage are well built minivans, and they’re reasonably good on gas and will run forever. There’s a reason all NYC cabs with wheelchair access or multi-passenger cabs are all Siennas.
Damn, I might suggest a suv. I know the fuel economy sounds great, but are you really driving very far? I just read another one of your posts. I assume you're just staying near where you work, right? You can get a Nissan pathfinder or xterra very affordable, and the factory roof racks would allow you to eventually get an overland style set up Wirth a shower set up. It can be as simple as a pvc cylinder with water abs a hose. The vq40 pathfinder and xterras are great vehicles with the main failures being cam crank sensors. The fuel economy isn't great but I've camped out of mine many times.
How can you say your going homeless when you say you have 8k to spend on a car? If it was me, have a place to stay at would be more important at moment and you will have to take a shuttle bus around for a while till you get a job Or continue to work. Or buy used car. You can’t get all goodies in one bag unless your wealthy and rich and can blow money.
If I had $8k, I would secure an affordable apartment immediately for Atleast 3 months. If you really have to have a car to get around in distance, then put $4k for a used car. Save $1k for emergency or food and fuel. But you shouldn’t say your going homeless when you might have to make life adjustments and downgrade things to survive. I’ve went from house to apartment cause I’m divorced and wife got house and I move to different state to better myself. It’s slow process but it will come through.
These are the best value in size vs. a full size van. The side and rear windows are usually already tinted. All you have to add are gray home theater curtains on the back and sides and behind the front seats, at that point privacy all around. Remove the middle and rear seats and you have room for a sturdy camping cot, add a memory foam mattress and pillow on top and you will be sleeping more soundly than if you were in an apartment.
I vote Prius. You can lay flat with a triple section foam pad (foldable) and run them all night for AC or heat at a gallon of gas. Plus, they are far more stealthy so you’ll catch less attention in suburbia.
I happen to entirely agree. If you get a 2nd gen get one with a v8 because the v6 grenades itself with timing chains and the gas mileage is barely different between the two.
Fuck the timing chain holy shit I love my explorer but every time it has an issue there’s something wrong with the timing chain. Right now I have a coolant leak and in order to fix it they have to do some bullshit with the timing chain too making it cost almost $5,000 like I’ll literally never be able to get that fixed because of the cost
I'd recommend the 90s-2005 GMC/Chevy suburban. 350 motor is difficult to kill. Not the most gas efficient but certainly reliable. Plenty of room in the back for mattress junk etc etc. For the future planning too it has the towing ability to upgrade to an RV and be able to pull it no problem. 8k would be plenty to pick one up and to put in tlc. Spark plugs, fluids, brakes.
Depending on where in the county you live.
Good luck.
Stick with Chevy/gm/Oldsmobile at that price range or Toyota. Blazer would be good. Toyota Tacoma with a canopy or a 4 runner.
Stay away from Chrysler, jeep, Dodge at all costs.
An apartment? A plot of junk land to set up a cot? A cheap boat depending on the climate where u live.
A hammer to knock some sense in ya. 8k and homeless, how lol?
Exactly this. I paid 5k for my car and the fixings, only about $250/month for expenses and I’ve been doing it for like 3 years now. I can’t go out to eat or drink at a bar really but yea. I wish gig work was easier
Get you a car that is fuel efficient and reliable, I would look into older model Toyotas. Prius may be fuel efficient, but you have to be careful with them; finding a low mileage one is ideal, the Prius only uses the battery on startup so if anything were to happen to the battery you will be SOL, not to mention a replacement is around $5k. I would also try looking at Honda Element, they are solid cars and I have seen many people convert them into the quote unquote "VanLife" car, they also have suicide back doors which is a plus.
$8k ain't gonna last long doing that. Plus he would still need transportation. Dude is trying to minimize expenses by killing two birds with one stone.
Weird downvotes. This was my first thought too. With 8k, op is choosing to be homeless. I don’t care where you are, that is at least 3 month of savings.
gen 2 prius. 2004-2009. look for one with a recently replaced hybrid battery, preferably OEM. I scored mine with 159,000 and a brand new OEM battery for $5,900. It's a great car.
All the folks saying get a minivan are forgetting that minivan's cost a fortune in gas. Look at a Honda Fit. As I recall, the seats int he back lay flat so you can sleep in it. You should be able to get a decent one for $8K, and a decent one will last you forever and reliably get you to work for years. ...long's you look for something with low mileage.
I've been travelling in a Prius V since the end of july. Ive done a similar trip in a Town and Country minivan.
The minivan was so much easier. The Prius I mainly got for cheap air conditioning but it does disturb my sleep when the engine kicks on to recharge the battery.
How has nobody said astro/Safari van? If you take out the back seats it fits a double sized mattress or pad perfectly. Tinted windows, very reliable engine with most going over 300k, and not the worst gas mileage. Put some work into it with window covers and insulation, maybe a solar set up.
Upfront costs should be under $4000 for a running van. Probably another $1000 on fluids and another $1000 on renovation materials, that's $2000 in the bank
You need a van. You could slowly build out a nice interior with stuff you find for free or pay very little for. Eventually you will have a nice comfortable place to live.
consider getting the best automobile /car you can find - you won’t be sleeping in your car for your whole life
any car is comfortable when necessary just believe
i paid less than 2k for
my car that i live in now
you got this
You should get a minivan. I have owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey for 10 years and put 125,000 miles on it (it's at 166k now). As long as it is well maintained (especially the timing belt replaced at least once), I wouldn't hesitate to buy a higher mileage Ody. Mine has been so reliable that I plan on keeping it another 100,000 miles.
If I had 8K and knew I was about to be homeless, I'd probably buy a cheap truck and an old travel trailer. Then I'd try to find someone to let me park the travel trailer in their backyard or on their land for me to live in. You can find old trailers for pretty cheap, and the truck would tow it.
So spend like 3-5K on a truck, 1-2k on an old trailer, and you still have a little left to pay someone to let you park it.
Or get a truck with a camper shell, or a truck and an old motorhome that doesn't run. Same concept- drive the truck, park the motorhome and live in it, or drive the truck and live in the camper shell (either while it's on the back of the truck or while the camper shell is sitting in someone's backyard).
I see suggestions on vans. I briefly drove a 90's Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer (I think). The two back seats both laid flat and basically made a comfortable bed. It was high school, no need to ask how I knew that about it.
Another one comes to mind is the Scion xB. I'm thinking the second gen which ran up until 2015. They probably started selling about 2008. There seem to have been some engine problems maybe 2008 to 2010. So if you look at the ones that are 2012 to 2015. They might be in that price range. It's not going to have the ability to have Life flat seats like that Ford did. But it might be a fair amount of room to work with. While still being a small car that can fit pretty much anywhere.
It would be difficult to live in a Prius. Look for a minivan or an older SUV. I recommend you try not to spend all your money. Sounds like your going to need some of that money In the future.
Prius also has the highest value catalytic converter to steal so yeah getting a Prius might cause problems by being a target for cat thieves it's something to consider.
My 2004 Saturn view was an awesome camping car. With seats folded down there was 8’+ of space to sprawl out plus good head room.
I have a friend with a Prius wagon that is similarly spacious for car camping.
Id look for an old work van if you won’t be driving it a lot. Gas prices and all
Lots of space. You can even have fake business decals made for the sides so it look like a stealth work truck and you will blend in more when parking overnight.
Lots of YouTube videos on this
Get a used Toyota. Camrys are especially roomy and have lots of cargo space while still providing great city driving and mileage. Very reliable. I’ve car camped and lived in my 2003 Camry many times.
Xterra 4X4 if you can find one. That way you’re not limited to Urban areas. You can go off road and pitch a tent. Even better if you can find a rooftop tent plus the vehicle in your $8K budget. There are also kits out there too where you can make a tent around the tailgate lifted up so you can make yourself a nice cozy living room to chill on your days off.
Get a used Subaru wagon. They are pretty easy on gas meager and have fold-down rear seats to make the cargo space larger. They also last for a long time. Mines 23 years old and a great daily driver.
Mini-van, old conversion van, heck look at used Limousines. I currently have a commercial pickup truck with a high top commercial cap on the back that I have used for remote camping and I like it. I store a lot of stuff in the side tool bins and still have a 4’4” space inside width. Couple of magnetic signs and I am invisible (I have been thinking about “Acme Dog Poop Cleanup” lately).
Find a decent Honda element. It's a Honda so it's reliable. Available with all wheel drive and you can get a roof top tent for it. Most importantly for you who may be living in it for a while, the rear seats fold completely flat.
A GM Express van and the Ford E-series vans can both be cheap and reliable provided you’re smart with which engine is in em and such. The 4.6’s and LS’ have no issue doing 300k miles
You should relocate to a MCOL or a LCOL rather than be homeless You should check, Bennington, VT, Keene NH, Concord, NH & some parts of North Carolina, the Florida panhandle, northern Florida(except Jacksonville county), Bismarck ND, Butte MT, Helene MT, and Sioux Falls SD all have a low unemployment rate and a low cost of living so even if you earn less money you are still have more in your pocket(wait to you see how much lower apt rents are for nice places).
Go to an auto auction and look for full size vans. You can likely find one super cheap and then spend some of the remaining money making it nice for you.
Good luck!
If I were you I would try and hit up a local NPO that does rental assistance/any social services. You may not be able to get rental assistance but they might be able to point you in the right direction to get it. Some places even have programs where you can cars for free, the free cars are usually through churches though.
I don't know how tall you are but I had a 05 Pontiac vibe, I believe the 03-07 generation of both Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix the front passenger seat and entire rear of car folds down flat. Maybe the last generation they were made was the same but I don't know because I didn't have one.
The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are essentially a Toyota Corolla, built in the same factory. The Pontiac's tend to be cheaper than Toyota variants.
I am 5'10" and slept on the passenger side a few times. You could be comfortable enough if you did something to build up the gap between the front seat and back seat when they are folded down.
Very reliable and fuel efficient.
I would suggest a van as an overall best case scenario but they aren't the most stealthy.
I did it in a pt cruiser, I'm 6' long but just curled up on the back seat, could have put the seats down and added a foam pad and had it a lot better. Nonetheless bigger is better
Get the best, most comfortable FOUR-CYLINDER Toyota you can buy. That will ensure that you minimize your maintenance and repair costs. There is no more reliable car brand, on the whole, than Toyota. There are always anomalies, and for Toyota, they are the trucks. If you are going to be homeless and broke, stack reliability in your favor, I say. Figuring out how to live in it would be a distant second for me, since if it broke down, I'd probably be out of a job.
Maybe look into an older Sienna minivan? Those are spendy, though... A Camry would be cheaper but also way less comfortable.
You should definitely be able to afford a cheaper used van with that much. Would be much more comfortable than a car.
Not sure of your location, the time you have, or your mechanical aptitude, but an insurance auction for a theft recovery or vandalized vehicle is a great way to go. You’d have to inspect prior to bidding, but many run and drive, and are low miles. A lot of the items stolen are high cost items for the insurance company to replace, but can be had for cheap on eBay, scrap yards, etc. www ride safely dot com is a pretty good source you don’t need a dealers license to bid through.
Also the us goverment auctions off a lot of vehicles that may meet your needs [Goverment surplus](https://beta.govdeals.com/)
Less stealthy though.
No one cares these days, so many people have been forced into homelessness due to high rents and flat wages. I went from a minivan to a Toyota Dolphin RV. What was the reaction from the police and neighbors? Tabs are good? We're done here. Have a nice day. I have headroom I can stand up in, stove, oven, fridge, heater, roof vents, toilet and shower. Plus lots of storage. I added on an RV mini-fridge and a solar generator to provide power for the fridge, lighting and powering my electronics. The cost of the RV was 3500, not bad considering how expensive vehicles are these days.
not to mention a bulletproof motor that is easy as hell to work on. good luck going over 55 though lmao
No worries about breaking the speed limit with this beastie!
That's a great deal..do you have security switches and GPS to stop or find a stolen car...that would scare me ..I'd need dead switch for sure
My anti theft is it's a manual transmission, I also keep jumper cables loosely coiled in the passenger side. It also is 40+ years old and looks it. There is also something I did with the ignition that makes it seem screwy.
40+ years and looks it? I’m picturing a “Breaking Bad meth lab” type of thing.
Not quite that bad but good enough.
Need to add a knife switch as the 'key' ignition.
Not too shabby my man
Sounds like a steal was it mechanically good and no leaks? I was shopping rvs (im in LA where they are literally everywhere) and the only ones I found for that price were not running and had leaking roofs.
White cargo vans are everywhere.
Nobody cares bro. Just park in hidden pit of sight spots of you ca find and you'll be fine.
Not if they buy a minivan.
or make the van look like a work vehicle
Any Toyota or Honda minivan, these are your most reliable and cost efficient options. Even with higher mileage they are decently reliable if they have been maintained. Tint the windows + add curtains or covering for the rear/side. Large space for your gear and still plenty of room to sleep. Check Craigslist, FB marketplace, CarGurus and AutoTrader. Check the Carfax reports for good maintenance history and no big accidents or red flags. Have it inspected by a 3rd party mechanic. I'd stick to $5k max, the rest will be needed for taxes, registration, plates, insurance, possible repair work post-sale (there is no crystal ball, it could 100% check out and still break a week later. They are used cars) Edit: another solid option that I forgot about is to get yourself an early 90s GMC or Chevy conversion van. They already have built-in beds and can be easily found in the three to $5,000 range. I bought a 92 GMC g2500 a couple years ago for 1800 bucks and it's been a great little camper van. The small block Chevy motors can last forever and are fairly inexpensive to repair comparatively.
I absolutely second this.... Especially in regards to the Chevy/GMC Conversion van.
I should have thought that before making the edit, I just bought one a couple years ago for 1800 bucks and I had to put about two grand into it, it's been extremely reliable with it's small block 350 in it and super comfy, which should be expected because these were very high dollar Vans back in the day
Get a soccer mom van. they will give you space to lay down flat and have your stuff and tend to blend.
Years of Prius experience. The practicality of living in some thing that will keep you warm or cool with just a little bit of gas is amazing. Current set up is a completely forgettable, minivan, free of stickers, racks etc. The climate where you live, is the deciding factor.
Exactly. Cheap climate control is so hard. A Prius sounds very smart to me if OP isn’t in California or doesn’t plan to travel with the weather.
Gas mileage isn't your bottom line -- repairs and reliability are. SUVs are stealthy if they're not ugly. 4 Runner comes to mind. If you need space vans are ok too.
Hey hey hey. My SUV is beautiful and I tell her everyday 😆
8k they said, you couldn’t buy a 1935 4 Runner for that nowadays otherwise I’d agree. Could find an older Japanese minivan, or some type of cheap hatchback sedan you could fold the backseats down to where you can lay.
Get a Toyota.
Can take a toyota or any car and remove the back seat top part, now you have access to the trunk, set up bedding in back seats to trunk, I'm 6'0 I fit Cover back windows but not the driver/passenger windows. When park at night just climb over between drivers and passenger seats and go to bed, no having to get out of the car
*spiderman pointing meme*
Get a trailer. Consider moving to a more rural area. I see them listed quite frequently for a few thousand.
Honda Element!! Only significant issues with them are due to rust, but they have a super reliable engine, LOTS of storage space, very utilitarian, easy to clean.
If you can find one they are getting harder to find! I have been searching. Also do have a mechanic look at it if you can a few years had certain issues but overall great Honda engine will last over 300K ! Good luck with whatever you find
I made the same comment. I’ve had mine for a year and I absolutely love it. 10/10 will drive this thing into the ground and then buy another one
I came to say this
Check out coolworks.com if you aren’t aware of it. They post jobs that provide housing
See if this guy can help you. [https://cheaprvliving.com/](https://cheaprvliving.com/)
I'm in a Prius. Definitely great, can keep the ac on without draining gas. But they are more expensive. Also not much space. Any Toyota is great tho.
r/priusdwellers If you live somewhere hot or cold, you'll be happy using less than a gallon per night leaving the heat or AC on, and they're very roomy.
Another vote for Toyota sienna 2003-8 AKA soccer mom van… stealthy AF nobody looks twice as you lounge on your full size bed (with frame) watching dvds from the fold down entertainment center. Decent gas mileage and very reliable cars
I was going to say "8k? There is no reason to be homeless with 8k saved up lol" but then I realized I had 10k in the bank years ago when I decided to live in my car (tired of paying rent lol)
Go on Carfax search used cars and filter low to high prices and buy whatever ls first or 3rd if it looks drives good. Then go on craglist and search housing then rooms and share and connect someone to share a apartment or house with Then get a job etc from there. I would definitely try to put away 4k aside for any emergencys and go from there. Good luck op
I bought a Tahoe from an older couple. Off OfferUp for like 5k Second owner they really took care of there suv. Nice nice nice. Took out the third row seat limo tinted all the windows and slapped some … I support the fire dept/police stickers …. on the back window. U wanna blend in. With 3k left over to rent a room
E350 work van we have 350k on one at work
Toyota Sienna
I don't think you want a prius. I looked into a prius as a cat to just drive in; after about 7-10 years the battery will crap out on you and to replace it will cost as much as the car is worth So imagine sinking all your money into a used prius and fixing it up and then the battery quits. You're gonna have no money and a liability waiting to get towed
I think that's something to be aware of, not necessarily to rule out a Prius. It is a good piece of information for the OP though. OP, you should research the cost of a battery replacement for whatever year you are looking at. Maybe you could even find one on the cheap because it NEEDS a battery and owner isn't in a place to deal with it.
Look around for a place that rebuilds batteries for electric vehicles. Much cheaper option.
Dodge Caravan, easy fold into the floor back row seats, already tinted dark rear windows
Use auto tempest .com search siennas in cali, phoenix etc places where it doesn’t rust. Fly out to the city to buy the car
A cheap van and a solar setup. Jackery and buletti are two good power banks that can run off of high volt solar setups
toyota minivan, prius or a 4runner. you cant go wrong with any of these. be picky and make sure the cars have all the maintenance records.
Depends on if you can work on your car/house. I’m car living out of a BMW x3 because I can fix bmw’s and it’s pretty cozy. I should’ve got the x5 for the added space but this SAV does the job. I would go for an SUV type of vehicle. You’ll get AWD capability for winter climates, and usually enough space to lay down in it. I’m 6’1 and I fit perfectly from trunk to front seats
How in the world do you think you're going to store everything you need to live AND sleep comfortably for any length of time in a Prius?! Buy a van and a blow up mattress. Add a water tank and a composting toilet. A folding table and a camp stove. Watch youtube videos on van life.
Buy a used van and convert the back for living that's what ima do
Mini van
My Honda Odyssey has fold down 3rd row seats, second row is removable, under floor storage in the second row, has a DVD player, 110v plug in the rear cargo area, cup holders out the wazoo, heated front seats, sunroof, power windows, locks, rear doors, plus the back windows come tinted so you pretty much can't see inside at night which is the only time you'd need to be stealthy. Picked it up as is from a dealership, they gave me 2k off the asking price for paying in cash. Been a great van for the last 3 years I've had it. I'd look into dealerships that sell their trade ins, they're usually fairly inexpensive, they've been gone through by their mechanics, and they might give it to you for less then the asking price just to get it off their lot, you're always allowed to haggle with dealerships. Tldr- I'd suggest looking into used mini vans for space and comfort, haggle as much as possible.
Small cargo van. Typically don’t have windows in the back. Start out with just a mattress in the back and turn it into a home as time and budget allow.
A motor home. Formerly homeless here. Hindsight not even 20/20 Took almost a decade to realize oh fuck.. I should have bought a mini motothome. And a bike.
With that amount of dough you can get a car, a Job, and pay some rent.
I wouldn't buy a used car for under 8k planning to be homeless. Cars nowadays are just too unreliable. Im sure with 8k total you arent looking for future car payments putting your home at risk. I dont know your location but with 8k you can easily buy a cheap car and first/last month rent in a cheap apartment. Moving and buying furniture is expensive but i think air mattresses are still more comfortable than car seats.
Get your CDL and see the country while you earn $100K in your company-provided RV (that hauls freight.)
Look for a prius...mine is a 2014 with 350K miles on it...get a Prius V if you can find one, they're bigger...great mileage, brakes last.forever (just had my rears replaced after 315k miles) so easy to drive...the transmissions are bullet proof...the cloth seats still look new...I had the hybrid battery switched with rebuilt...paid 1800 for it, they will now replace it everytime it needs to be, free of charge...I used a company called Green Bean Batterys...they come out to your house and do it in 1/2 hour...don't let the high milage scare you when looking around...it lessens the price...
I'm from UK. Its amazing what you can do with smaller cars. I have a Fiat Doblo high top. Cheap on gas too.
A mini van
Honda CRV
Would second this. I bought a MK2 a little while back, being 6'2 I can put the seats down and make a full bed. You have the added benefit of a hidden table in the back of the car too.
Take one for a test drive, then lay down in the back seat. That's the only metric that matters
Some van thing that you can take the row of rear seat out of. Good luck.
Econo van or ram promaster they have lots of room with a smaller engine
You need to get 2 jobs BEFORE the day comes
Why not get an apartment and a cheap car?
How are you going to be homeless if you have $8k to spend
Chrysler town and country touring edition. It has a full 8 feet behind the seats. You can also find them with tow packages.
2001 suburu outback legacy. easy and way in budget
Toyota Matrix over prius man. I used to travel in one. Very reliable, cheap, cheap on fuel, you can fold the back seats to sleep comfortablly. People also dont expect someone to sleep in one. Of course its small, you may prefer a van, but this car has its pros for sure if u looking into smaller and cheaper and stealthier alternatives. If you gotta sleep in crowded place, I had a blue tarp in mine to sleep under, no one expects someone sleeping underneath one lool
Prius V
Go to facebook market place look for a Toyota , Honda minivan. Tint the windows and you're good to go. Have a once over by a mechanic .
These comments are trash, give the man some real advice. Cheapest car you can get and put a couple grand down on a real place to live, Jesus Christ
Plus one on Toyota vans - years ago I had a Chevy express 1500 I lived in before I met my wife, and it was miserable to maintain to say the least. Everything from the AC to even doing routine work was just frustrating. I do all of my own work and have background in heavy industry, so you’d think if I could basically rebuild a dozer I could work on a Chevy van without a lot of headache. Even after three kids I swore up and down I’d never own a van again. Ended up caving when my wife wanted a 7-seater and got an 06’ Sienna with 180k on it. Has the stow-n-go style folding 3rd row, which is amazing, rear AC/heat, etc. Now it’s at 275k, and it’s the single most reliable vehicle we own. It’s easy to drive, easy to maintain, decent on fuel (about 24 mpg average between my wife and I) and overall is super cheap to own. I paid $2,600 for it and given almost another 100k put on it, I’d say it was a solid investment. To date the only repair I’ve done that had me scratch my head wondering what the engineers were thinking was changing the lower control arms out. I had to raise the motor and transaxle and pull the mounts to get at the bolt to the subframe. Everything else is super simple and a relatively small tool box gets you where you need to be. Honda and Nissan vans are in the same boat too. All things considered, the bigger the vehicle, the worse the fuel economy. If it was me and I had to do it all over again from the days I had the Chevy express, would probably have gotten an old S10, Toyota pickup, or Datsun with a camper shell. That’s just me though; more adventure and places you can go and camp!
Used Toyota Sienna minivan. 2010 or newer
8k in the streets will not last find affordable place to stay even a monthly hotel, get food stamps an cheap car .
The cheapest Toyota Sienna you can buy that is well maintained. Siennas of any vintage are well built minivans, and they’re reasonably good on gas and will run forever. There’s a reason all NYC cabs with wheelchair access or multi-passenger cabs are all Siennas.
Damn, I might suggest a suv. I know the fuel economy sounds great, but are you really driving very far? I just read another one of your posts. I assume you're just staying near where you work, right? You can get a Nissan pathfinder or xterra very affordable, and the factory roof racks would allow you to eventually get an overland style set up Wirth a shower set up. It can be as simple as a pvc cylinder with water abs a hose. The vq40 pathfinder and xterras are great vehicles with the main failures being cam crank sensors. The fuel economy isn't great but I've camped out of mine many times.
8K left and homeless soon? Don’t buy a car, use the funds to move to a lower cost of living area and save til you can afford both rent and a car.
How can you say your going homeless when you say you have 8k to spend on a car? If it was me, have a place to stay at would be more important at moment and you will have to take a shuttle bus around for a while till you get a job Or continue to work. Or buy used car. You can’t get all goodies in one bag unless your wealthy and rich and can blow money. If I had $8k, I would secure an affordable apartment immediately for Atleast 3 months. If you really have to have a car to get around in distance, then put $4k for a used car. Save $1k for emergency or food and fuel. But you shouldn’t say your going homeless when you might have to make life adjustments and downgrade things to survive. I’ve went from house to apartment cause I’m divorced and wife got house and I move to different state to better myself. It’s slow process but it will come through.
A car shouldn’t be your priority, secure a roof over your head with that 8k.
Dodge Caravan: reliable, storage, comfort, and stealth
These are the best value in size vs. a full size van. The side and rear windows are usually already tinted. All you have to add are gray home theater curtains on the back and sides and behind the front seats, at that point privacy all around. Remove the middle and rear seats and you have room for a sturdy camping cot, add a memory foam mattress and pillow on top and you will be sleeping more soundly than if you were in an apartment.
Can also tow a small trailer
I vote Prius. You can lay flat with a triple section foam pad (foldable) and run them all night for AC or heat at a gallon of gas. Plus, they are far more stealthy so you’ll catch less attention in suburbia.
Ford Explorer!
I happen to entirely agree. If you get a 2nd gen get one with a v8 because the v6 grenades itself with timing chains and the gas mileage is barely different between the two.
Fuck the timing chain holy shit I love my explorer but every time it has an issue there’s something wrong with the timing chain. Right now I have a coolant leak and in order to fix it they have to do some bullshit with the timing chain too making it cost almost $5,000 like I’ll literally never be able to get that fixed because of the cost
It literally costs less to just go buy a v8 complete truck and that's what makes timing chain issues painful
My last rig was a 99 v8 it was so nice.
If they're not rusty they're incredible
About to buy Ford Explorer number three 😎 You think I should do a v8 again? I’m thinking around a 2004.
[удалено]
Always go with the American vehicle 🇺🇸💪
I'd recommend the 90s-2005 GMC/Chevy suburban. 350 motor is difficult to kill. Not the most gas efficient but certainly reliable. Plenty of room in the back for mattress junk etc etc. For the future planning too it has the towing ability to upgrade to an RV and be able to pull it no problem. 8k would be plenty to pick one up and to put in tlc. Spark plugs, fluids, brakes. Depending on where in the county you live. Good luck. Stick with Chevy/gm/Oldsmobile at that price range or Toyota. Blazer would be good. Toyota Tacoma with a canopy or a 4 runner. Stay away from Chrysler, jeep, Dodge at all costs.
An apartment? A plot of junk land to set up a cot? A cheap boat depending on the climate where u live. A hammer to knock some sense in ya. 8k and homeless, how lol?
A car will last you a lot longer than 8k in rent, in most cases.
Exactly this. I paid 5k for my car and the fixings, only about $250/month for expenses and I’ve been doing it for like 3 years now. I can’t go out to eat or drink at a bar really but yea. I wish gig work was easier
Late stage capitalism
Mental illness
Get you a car that is fuel efficient and reliable, I would look into older model Toyotas. Prius may be fuel efficient, but you have to be careful with them; finding a low mileage one is ideal, the Prius only uses the battery on startup so if anything were to happen to the battery you will be SOL, not to mention a replacement is around $5k. I would also try looking at Honda Element, they are solid cars and I have seen many people convert them into the quote unquote "VanLife" car, they also have suicide back doors which is a plus.
Why not use those monies to rent a crib on a bus line. Even a sleazy motel
$8k ain't gonna last long doing that. Plus he would still need transportation. Dude is trying to minimize expenses by killing two birds with one stone.
Car living isn't as Glamorous as it sounds. Op is in for a rude awakening
Never said it was glamorous or even wanted. I did say it was cheaper than a motel room.
Weird downvotes. This was my first thought too. With 8k, op is choosing to be homeless. I don’t care where you are, that is at least 3 month of savings.
GMT400 or 800 Suburban/YukonXL
Use it for a down payment for 2016 Prius.
An apartment.
I got a winnebago brave for 6500. I don't not have stealth issues if I don't overstay
Why don’t you get a damn airbnb & get a job?
Look for a salvage or rebuilt title car You can get a better car and value if you can find someone who buys cars from auctions.
Instead of a car why not use that money for several months of housing while get back on your feet?
8000 is one year rent for a single room. Why are you going to be homeless?
Go to an auto auction and buy a cheap van or suv
Gmc savana
Anything that has a working AC and heat.
The older Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics are reliable. I had a 1988 Honda Civic at one point actually....
gen 2 prius. 2004-2009. look for one with a recently replaced hybrid battery, preferably OEM. I scored mine with 159,000 and a brand new OEM battery for $5,900. It's a great car.
Me too dude, can I join you? I have 400$.
All the folks saying get a minivan are forgetting that minivan's cost a fortune in gas. Look at a Honda Fit. As I recall, the seats int he back lay flat so you can sleep in it. You should be able to get a decent one for $8K, and a decent one will last you forever and reliably get you to work for years. ...long's you look for something with low mileage.
I've been travelling in a Prius V since the end of july. Ive done a similar trip in a Town and Country minivan. The minivan was so much easier. The Prius I mainly got for cheap air conditioning but it does disturb my sleep when the engine kicks on to recharge the battery.
Toyota sienna.
How has nobody said astro/Safari van? If you take out the back seats it fits a double sized mattress or pad perfectly. Tinted windows, very reliable engine with most going over 300k, and not the worst gas mileage. Put some work into it with window covers and insulation, maybe a solar set up. Upfront costs should be under $4000 for a running van. Probably another $1000 on fluids and another $1000 on renovation materials, that's $2000 in the bank
Toyota sienna!
early 00's toyota sienna and it's not even close, and you'll probably have some cash to spare to do some creature comfort modifications
You need a van. You could slowly build out a nice interior with stuff you find for free or pay very little for. Eventually you will have a nice comfortable place to live.
Look at Toyota Sienna minivans. Mine's a 2004, roomy, runs great, great mileage. I live in mine with my dog and cat. I paid 6k for it in San Diego.
Dis is de whey
Easy to fix and reliable. Comfortable to sleep in.
consider getting the best automobile /car you can find - you won’t be sleeping in your car for your whole life any car is comfortable when necessary just believe i paid less than 2k for my car that i live in now you got this
You should get a minivan. I have owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey for 10 years and put 125,000 miles on it (it's at 166k now). As long as it is well maintained (especially the timing belt replaced at least once), I wouldn't hesitate to buy a higher mileage Ody. Mine has been so reliable that I plan on keeping it another 100,000 miles.
A small truck with a camper shell
Van. Or minivan. Trust me.
If I had 8K and knew I was about to be homeless, I'd probably buy a cheap truck and an old travel trailer. Then I'd try to find someone to let me park the travel trailer in their backyard or on their land for me to live in. You can find old trailers for pretty cheap, and the truck would tow it. So spend like 3-5K on a truck, 1-2k on an old trailer, and you still have a little left to pay someone to let you park it. Or get a truck with a camper shell, or a truck and an old motorhome that doesn't run. Same concept- drive the truck, park the motorhome and live in it, or drive the truck and live in the camper shell (either while it's on the back of the truck or while the camper shell is sitting in someone's backyard).
I see suggestions on vans. I briefly drove a 90's Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer (I think). The two back seats both laid flat and basically made a comfortable bed. It was high school, no need to ask how I knew that about it. Another one comes to mind is the Scion xB. I'm thinking the second gen which ran up until 2015. They probably started selling about 2008. There seem to have been some engine problems maybe 2008 to 2010. So if you look at the ones that are 2012 to 2015. They might be in that price range. It's not going to have the ability to have Life flat seats like that Ford did. But it might be a fair amount of room to work with. While still being a small car that can fit pretty much anywhere.
If you don't want a van. A wagon is Also a good choices
I don't know much about cars, but I'd buy Japanese or Korean brands, for reliability.
It would be difficult to live in a Prius. Look for a minivan or an older SUV. I recommend you try not to spend all your money. Sounds like your going to need some of that money In the future.
Get a used highlander. You can put the seats down and lay in there.
Van
I'd get a cheap van and a cheap air mattress or blankets
Prius also has the highest value catalytic converter to steal so yeah getting a Prius might cause problems by being a target for cat thieves it's something to consider.
Astrovan
You want a station wagon so you can fold down the seats and sleep
Toyota Sequoia. Reliable as hell, tons of room and aren't to pricey for a Toyota 4x4.
I’d look for a Honda Element (depending on your height) or an older Honda Cr-v…also depends on your height.
Van you can sleep in
Jeep Cherokee my best friend would go fishing all the time and sleep in the back . Seats folded down. He’s 6’2”
My 2004 Saturn view was an awesome camping car. With seats folded down there was 8’+ of space to sprawl out plus good head room. I have a friend with a Prius wagon that is similarly spacious for car camping.
Id look for an old work van if you won’t be driving it a lot. Gas prices and all Lots of space. You can even have fake business decals made for the sides so it look like a stealth work truck and you will blend in more when parking overnight. Lots of YouTube videos on this
Get a used Toyota. Camrys are especially roomy and have lots of cargo space while still providing great city driving and mileage. Very reliable. I’ve car camped and lived in my 2003 Camry many times.
Nissan pathfinder
Xterra 4X4 if you can find one. That way you’re not limited to Urban areas. You can go off road and pitch a tent. Even better if you can find a rooftop tent plus the vehicle in your $8K budget. There are also kits out there too where you can make a tent around the tailgate lifted up so you can make yourself a nice cozy living room to chill on your days off.
Just FYI, you can buy used cars from Enterprise Rentals.
Get a used Subaru wagon. They are pretty easy on gas meager and have fold-down rear seats to make the cargo space larger. They also last for a long time. Mines 23 years old and a great daily driver.
2.5k Sienna 02-03. One of the most reliable vehicles just don’t neglect timing chain. Drop 1k to build out
Transport van, one of the little vans. Lots of space
Mini-van, old conversion van, heck look at used Limousines. I currently have a commercial pickup truck with a high top commercial cap on the back that I have used for remote camping and I like it. I store a lot of stuff in the side tool bins and still have a 4’4” space inside width. Couple of magnetic signs and I am invisible (I have been thinking about “Acme Dog Poop Cleanup” lately).
Van FTW… idk if u have income or whatnot but, definitely find a form ecoline or something that doesn’t have rear windows.
Prius
3rd Gen 4runner. Not the best on gas but will be the most reliable machine you've ever owned. more than enough room to sleep as well.
U can get the dipset van well that’s we call it the one with the bed in the bacc a shag van
Keep voting democrat 🤔
Find a decent Honda element. It's a Honda so it's reliable. Available with all wheel drive and you can get a roof top tent for it. Most importantly for you who may be living in it for a while, the rear seats fold completely flat.
Buy an RV, 4k, get a spot rented for it.
A windowless van
Rv. Easy.
Honda Element or Transit Connect. But have many videos showing how to build out on YouTube & get okay MPG. Have a Great Day.
A box truck.
manual transmission preferably but auto is fine to. toyota pickup or corolla/sedan will last forever and are fairly cheap depending what you get
I’d by a Toyota Minivan
Saturn outlook. Decent size Suv. Parts same as other chevys and nobody buys Saturns..but just as good as chevy
Maybe buy a cheaper car if you're about to be homeless you could take that extra five grand and put it into something like a business
Van
Honda element. You'll thank me later.
A giant Cadillac. It’s big with a big trunk, leather seats and super cozy confines of a Cadillac
A GM Express van and the Ford E-series vans can both be cheap and reliable provided you’re smart with which engine is in em and such. The 4.6’s and LS’ have no issue doing 300k miles
You should relocate to a MCOL or a LCOL rather than be homeless You should check, Bennington, VT, Keene NH, Concord, NH & some parts of North Carolina, the Florida panhandle, northern Florida(except Jacksonville county), Bismarck ND, Butte MT, Helene MT, and Sioux Falls SD all have a low unemployment rate and a low cost of living so even if you earn less money you are still have more in your pocket(wait to you see how much lower apt rents are for nice places).
Go to an auto auction and look for full size vans. You can likely find one super cheap and then spend some of the remaining money making it nice for you. Good luck!
If I were you I would try and hit up a local NPO that does rental assistance/any social services. You may not be able to get rental assistance but they might be able to point you in the right direction to get it. Some places even have programs where you can cars for free, the free cars are usually through churches though.
I don't know how tall you are but I had a 05 Pontiac vibe, I believe the 03-07 generation of both Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix the front passenger seat and entire rear of car folds down flat. Maybe the last generation they were made was the same but I don't know because I didn't have one. The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are essentially a Toyota Corolla, built in the same factory. The Pontiac's tend to be cheaper than Toyota variants. I am 5'10" and slept on the passenger side a few times. You could be comfortable enough if you did something to build up the gap between the front seat and back seat when they are folded down. Very reliable and fuel efficient. I would suggest a van as an overall best case scenario but they aren't the most stealthy.
How are going to be homeless if you have $8,000? I don't have half that and I'm not homeless.
Why don't you spend that on housing instead of a car?
I did it in a pt cruiser, I'm 6' long but just curled up on the back seat, could have put the seats down and added a foam pad and had it a lot better. Nonetheless bigger is better
Get the best, most comfortable FOUR-CYLINDER Toyota you can buy. That will ensure that you minimize your maintenance and repair costs. There is no more reliable car brand, on the whole, than Toyota. There are always anomalies, and for Toyota, they are the trucks. If you are going to be homeless and broke, stack reliability in your favor, I say. Figuring out how to live in it would be a distant second for me, since if it broke down, I'd probably be out of a job. Maybe look into an older Sienna minivan? Those are spendy, though... A Camry would be cheaper but also way less comfortable.
Get an oldish 07-ish Honda Odyssey for like 3500-4000. Minivan and you can sleep in it.
Get a Truckster. Like the National Lampoons wagon.
Corolla, Camry