So yesterday I hopped in my car and was going to pick up some food before the okc vs spurs game. i get probably .2 miles from my apartment and I hear a loud knocking sound start happening and I lose all my power on the gas pedal basically, (was going 20mph, could only keep up 20mph), so I pulled into a parking deck and it died right away, it was busy as fuck but luckily some nice bro helped me push it clear, and down a hill and I took a meter spot and got it tow'd at 7am today. They THOUGHT it was a timing belt issue, but the belt wasn't broken like they thought originally and it was in time. the compress in the first and 2nd valve is very low, only 30lbs, and the other two are 160lbs (i think that's what he said, but it's normal), so they said they think it's a blown gasket or something. (I didn't talk to the guy myself, my grandfather talked to him and told me the above). So would buying a used car be the best option?
Sorry if the above is a bit scrambled, I've spent over 10k in about 3 weeks, All my money I've saved up for like 2 years of working during the summers and breaks just poofed basically.

It was a 94 camry, but we just spent 1500$ fixing it up (new valve cover, catalytic converter, new front tires and alignment/rotation, a few others things)

TL;DR

car died, I need a used car under 5-6k if possible

36830/35226 are zip codes if anyone is good at picking out a used car

also any tips for determining rather or not a used car is a good buy? INB4 "SHOW ME THE CARFAX"

This post was edited by Grumblee on May 22 2014 01:49pm

30 lbs is not normal. they should all be within 10-15% of eachother.
you said it started knocking? and now low psi. you blew the motor.

10k in 3 weeks on that car?

Tell me I read that wrong.

I've spent 10k in 3 weeks, I didn't say on the car.
my tuition for a bunch of summer classes this year was 5k


the compress in the first and 2nd valve is very low, only 30lbs, and the other two are 160lbs (i think that's what he said, but it's normal)

where do I say 30lbs is normal?

This post was edited by Grumblee on May 22 2014 02:22pm

Okay that's what I thought