I'm looking to set up a classifieds website and I'm looking to browse over my options as far as scripts go. Free and paid scripts are both welcome
Geodesic solutions is a good one. The html it produces isn't good but you can make your own. I'm using it here: www.ibizamarket.com It cost 999 US dollars but far better that any other I've tried out. You can demo the admin at their site www.geodesicsolutions.com
This is my favorite, multi-language: www.e-classifieds.net This script has been around since the early 2000, if not before, and it is really handy Free, lite or paid editions.
I'm looking for a script in which I can set it so that ads are free, but if you want bolding that costs such an ammount, and if you want extra pictures, that costs extra, if you want it in a featured area higher up, that costs extra, etc. The one that seems closest to that at the moment is geodesic, but its pretty expensive (even the lite version isn't cheap).
Find the free or cheap script that offers the most of what you need and pay a programmer to modify it to suit your needs.
In this case you will get a solution with crutch. If you are serious about starting online business - then write your ideas on paper and ask professionals to develop it, develop, based on your future expansion
Be careful with Noahs classifies, I remember reading that the script is no longer supported, so any security holes aren't being updated anymore.
I plan to do that in the future but right now funds just don't make it possible. I intend to start with a cheap script then build up a classifieds. From this I should be able to get some capital together then get a custom script made.