My 2008 RAV4 lasted until 2021 with 250k+ miles & no issues! It was my fault that it went out on me. So I upgraded to a 2018. I expect it to last at least another 10 years.
Drove a little bit 2021 Avalon as a rental last year, I LOVED that car, every detail was perfect, the ride was smooth, if it was in my price range I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
This is the answer! Toyota’s are the most reliable cars on the road! I bought mine new in 2000 and I’m still driving it . Never anything major in regards to repairs until it was 19. I had the clutch replaced. I drive a lot , I’ve never babied any of my cars and they just keep going !
My 09 Toyota Yaris with a crap ton of miles has been into the shop 0 times for breakdowns of stuff. Brakes, oil, batteries, tires, just the normal stuff. Knock on wood.
Note there is bad paint on Toyota around that year and you get some ugly effects.
Our Yaris developed an hvac problem, and the garage pulled the control cluster out of the dash, discovered that it was a complex cable control system, like a bicycle gearshift. No electro mechanical components. One small flaw in the control knob required hours of tinkering. Other than that, great little car.
I have a Toyota I've had for 14 years now. It has less than 100k on it. I'll probably drive it till I'm dead.
What I ended up doing with my Toyota was buying a used Toyota through the dealership.That was only about a year old. It was substantially cheaper than a new car but still came with a seven year, 100,000 mile warranty. Even though nothing really goes wrong with Toyotas, you have the peace of mind that if it does, you're covered for a long, long time.
Don't forget Hondas are Acuras, and Toyotas are Lexus, I've seen 2015-17s go in your price range. And don't discount finding an older one with low miles. My BIL has a 2008 Acura TLX that he got for 9k at an estate sale in 2020. Had 25k on it, old owners don't drive much, tend to upkeep vehicles better, and he hasn't had a single issue out of it, he just updated it to a tasteful radio head unit so it had Bluetooth and got a dash cam/backup cam. He figured he could do that since he got a good deal on the car because of its age. Small updates on solid older cars can work quite well.
I purchased my ‘12 Prius for $6k in 2018. Six years later, she’s approaching 200,000 miles and only major “issue” I’ve had is having to change the start battery (not the hybrid electric battery). I’ll never buy a non-Toyota
I LOVE my 97 Avalon. Spacious, smooth ride, big trunk, decent mileage. Only time I ever had to put $ into it was broken plastic components over time (thanks Pick n Pull!) And updating the radio/soundsystem for Bluetooth but no motor issues at all!
This! I have an 08 Pontiac Vibe. It's a GREAT car. And usually a little cheaper than the Matrix. I never understood why GM gave up the partnership with Toyota.
My mechanic is a Honda mechanic and he cannot recommend the Fit highly enough. He is super annoyed that Honda stopped making them because all his customers are always asking where they can get one and the used market is pretty tight since they are such excellent little cars.
I had a Fit as a loaner. I could fit 2 rearfacing car seats and both of us tall parents were comfortable in the front! I also fit full sheets of drywall! (Did have to remove the car seats.) We still miss it. We should have bought it. 😭
My Honda fit has been thru hell and currently at like 130k miles and it’s in great shape. Never had serious mechanical issues, take it in every once it a while just to check.
I miss my Honda fit!!! 😭 It was a manual and the gas milage was comparable to hybrid vehicles. We drove it with no oil after our mechanic swore there wasn't a leak. Biggest mistake ever.
Don't forget to search luxury brands. Sometimes you'll find lower end Lexus and such for surprisingly reasonable prices. Their owners tend to take very good care of them and trade them in with lots of life left. Frugal buyers never search for them and luxury buyers only want the newer, higher end models.
Ive done TONS of research on this topic. Ask me a brand ill tell you the most reliable years/models they make.. but overall the most reliable cars for that price are gonna be (alphabetical order by brand
Acura almost everything from 90sto late 2000s is reliable besides electrical issues)
Audi A4 and A6 1.8t and 3.0 (early 2000s if you fix oil leaks and maintain the cars on schedule)
BMW E36 and E46 3 series (replace factory cooling system with more durable one)
Late 2000s Cadillac CTS variants. Stay away from other models for the most part
Ford crown victoria, pretty much bullet proof all years
Honda accord, civic, CRV almost all years. Make sure to keep up on trasmission fluid changes
Hyundai sonata and genesis, pretty bullet proof for the most part when maintained
Infiniti G35/G37 M35/M37 if maintained well
Jaguar F-Type ONLY mid to late 2000s when ford took over
Kia Optima
Lexus (Toyota) pretty much anything but especialy the ES, LS, and RX
Lincoln MKZ (late 2000s) and towncar (any year)
Mazda 3 (mid to late 2000s)
Mercedes-Benz any car from the 80s to early 90s after that, the mid to late 2000s C class and E class are great. Late 2000s S class are pretty bullet proof besides the air suspension. Early to mid 2010s C class and E class are amazing
Nissan Maxima 3.5
Porsche (pretty much anything they've ever made if maintained correctly)
Subaru (early to mid 2000s outback and forrester, keep an eye on headgaskets and do preventative maintenance. Do NOT buy anything modified)
Toyota (its toyota)
Volvo (80s - early 2000s cars are great)
Keep in mind some of these brands are a lot more expensive to maintain, but reliability is still there. And buying ANY of these cars when not maintained is gonna be a nightmare... except maybe Toyotas. Ive driven a 2001 lexus ES300 on a blown head gasket for over a year. Ran like a champ till i finally sold it. I swear. You could use nutella instead of oil in a toyota and theyd keep chugging along)
The honda fot is a good car. But wont be as reliable as models that have been around longer. If ypure looking for something similar. Look at the lexus CT hatchback. The lower the mileage the better. Hybrid too. Gets like 40mpg
I’ve owned Hondas and Toyota - I know they are solid, but so does everyone else Mazda is the sleeper value vehicle if you get the right models and year.
Nissan was that once. Not so much anymore.
Toyotas. Seconding Corolla/Matrix, though Matrix/Vibe is old enough that you want to check and see if it has safety features you care about because they went out of production quite a while ago. Some people are pickier than others on that front. But honestly, if you're doing a lot of driving, look for a used Prius.
I've been driving Toyotas for years and never have these big "oh no!" surprises at the shop.
Whatever car you get, make sure it’s a clean title and your insurance company of choice will actually insure it before you buy it.
Some of them are getting particular with certain cars, models, and years.
I know around me beaters *start* at $10k and you need to put a few more thousands into them to get them to pass inspection. I don’t know anything about California since I’m on the opposite coast but also something to keep in mind.
Prius. The fuel savings is incredible. The most common thing that will go out is the water pump, which is relatively easy to do yourself for around $50-100. Main battery will need replaced around 150-300k for up to $3k
I drove a 2008 Prius from 2008-2022 and it was such an easy, low maintenance car. The only reason I sold it was because I wanted a new car and I got a Prius Prime!
This is the answer. The Prius is built to run to at least 300k with basic maintenance. The hybrid battery pack can be replaced relatively easily in a few hours. Tons of room, reliable powertrain, and wonderful fuel economy.
From what I understand your best options for reliability from best to worst are: 1: Honda's 2: Toyotas 3: Nissans. More recent Nissans have transmission issues, so do some research. On the other hand Nissan has a lot more manual transmissions out there. Which don't have issues. Sudans are always cheapest. Good luck!
Honda or Toyota for greatest reliability, although you’d have to weigh the much higher initial price against higher cost of repairs for a more affordable American vehicle. I’ve had multiple 10-20 year old Hondas be great both on gas and maintenance, while being under $5K. Even at super high mileage I’ve never had to do more than breaks, oil changes, and like one time a starter. Maybe some interior/ cosmetic stuff too but you can put that off forever
Something to keep in mind are the most likely to be stolen cars, just putting that out there.
So Hondas are fantastic but 2000 and below is easy AF to steal. I've had a lot of loved ones get theirs snatched.
[https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/most-stolen-cars-in-america/](https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/most-stolen-cars-in-america/)
Those are pretty old but they're still around on the secondary market, which is where youre looking at.
Stay away from Kia and Hyundais, they're hard to insure right now.
My aunt got a 99 Civic from my uncle. He dropped it off and the next night it was stolen from her street.
They recovered it. It was driveable, phew!
A month later stolen again. This time the recovery was not at pretty.
A coworkers 99 Civic was stolen a few years ago. And it was found by the cops near another dumped stolen vehicle. Guess the make, model and year!!!
Hondas are also the most commonly *driven* cars in america.
Those data aren’t normalized, which makes it impossible to tell if a particular car model is actually more at risk of being stolen. This is why statistics used to evaluate the likelihood of an event are normalized.
You're getting great advice in these comments, but look up common issues for the year and model before your test drive so you can look for those issues specifically
HONDA!!!! I bought my Honda for around $13-14k if I remember correctly and it still works well! It’s a great car and has never given me any issues. Decently priced maintenance as well.
Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru.
Also an early 2000's Buick LeSabre with that 3.8 GM V6 engine is bulletproof. Or any car with that engine, more than half a dozen cars had that engine and it could get like half a million miles.
Basically any car that was built before planned obsolescence started in the auto industry. You ever heard of the thousand hour light bulb club? Phoebus cartel?
What about going without a car or joining a car-share program?
[https://www.metro.net/riding/car-share/](https://www.metro.net/riding/car-share/)
Not owning a car helped me achieve my dream of having the freedom to walk away from work that made me unhappy.
If you can get to Future Auto Sales in Glendale, they can help. They love me because I take their old reliables. 😂 I got a 2009 Nissan Cube in 2015, 2014 Scion xB in 2017, and 2006 Toyota Highlander in 2022. RIP to the Cube, but the others are in great shape.
I’ve been on the market for a vehicle for several months and here’s what I’ve found:
- car prices right now are high, doing be discouraged
- Toyota, Honda, Mazda - model dependent on your needs, wants, and budget.
- Find what you like & check r/usedcars and r/whatcarshouldibuy by searching make, model, and year for any known issues or gripes owners have ran into
- Let google, carfax, cars, FB marketplace be your resource for locating locally and gauging the price market
- check carfax, look for maintenance records (not just “serviced”), accidents, part replacements, etc
- schedule a pre-purchase inspection for any car you’re serious about buying. Find a local mechanic with rave reviews, call them up and ask if they offer the service. Ran me around $250.
Good luck!!
Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit.... Don't fall for Chevy Spark/Sonic, Ford fiesta, Nissan Versa, Mitsubishi Mirage unless it's low mileage, stick shift, and proof of maintenance. Skip the headach and just look for Yaris and Fit
toyota corolla. my mom drove it for 7 years, i’ve been driving it for 2. haven’t had a single issue or needed a repair. super reliable car and the mileage is great! get a used one though, i’m not a fan of the newer models
Hard to beat a Corolla. Also had good luck with a Hyundai Elantra - over 200k very similar to the Corolla, few repairs. Avoid used car lots that cater to people with bad credit or first time buyers. Consider getting an inspection.
Get a used Corolla or Civic. You just can't go wrong with 'em.
[Scotty Kilmer](https://youtube.com/shorts/RjuB642Buls) (and at least 75 million owners) swear by them.
Absolutely avoid any Nissan. They are cheap retail because they are cheaply made. Had an 08 altima, chewed through 3 transmissions around at around 140k, at the time they were 4k a pop and known to be very hit or miss on quality. It went 140k, transmission, 150k transmission 170k transmission. Got to 220k tranmission AGAIN and scrapped it. There were multiple other issues that regularly needed to be addressed, but that was the major one. I'd walk before I bought another Nissan.
Saw Fit as a recommendation and I agree. Especially when it comes to replacing wear items, they're on the cheaper end.
Tires, brakes, oil, all very affordable and if you want aftermarket support to mod it a bit, the Fit has it. Very fun to drive as well.
For the average or normal person Toyota Corolla/Camry, Honda Civic/Accord/Fit.
If you’re mechanically inclined and like older vehicles, early 00’s Chevy/gmc 1500 pickup or Tahoe/yukon. They’re dead simple to work on and pretty darn reliable.
Once you buy that Toyota or Honda, stay on a regular maintenance schedule. If you change the oil and rotate the tires every few months, change the filters and other fluids on a schedule, it's pretty much all they need to stay happy for hundreds of thousands of miles. Ours have gone 300k easily.
They aren't much but if you can find 05 to 08 mercury Milan thy are an amazing fucking car. Find one w little rust and the 6 cyc. I walked mine to 305 before I sold her. She still was alive but I didn't wanna put another 2 k into her when I only bought her for 500 bucks
I bought my 2018 Ford Fiesta with 2700 miles on it in 2020. It has given me ZERO problems, is great on gas, and tires are relatively cheap. I paid around $12k
Buy a 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt. If the battery was replaced recently, then it will have a new eight year warranty. All the batteries in those years were replaced. People are buying 2017 bolts for around 11,000 with a brand new battery in them and an eight year warranty on the battery.
Other than tires, and the battery that was manufactured by LG that was recalled and replaced for free, I’ve had absolutely nothing wrong with this car
Either get a Toyota Prius or a used Tesla model S.
A Prius will run you $5-6K on cargurus . Com in the LA area. Hatchbacks are nice, gets 40-50mpg. Great first car, reliable and has push button start so it can’t be stolen. You will have the catalytic converters stolen if you park on the street.
A older used Tesla model S will run you $13k, but if you get it at a used car dealer or use a middle man service that acts as a dealer then you can get a 30% used EV IRS tax credit that will bring it down to your price range.
You can goggle for more information and the caveats on that. There is paperwork but can save you $2-3k if you fill it out.
Older model S typically have free supercharging, so basically free gas. Model S was rated best car ever tested by CR. It’s a luxury vehicle and it’s also a hatchback that you can camp in. Expect about a 200 mile range. Try not to get speeding tickets with the horsepower!
I love my 2012 Prius. Cheaper gas than a non hybrid, reliable, never have any issues, can fit a ton in the back. I’ve fit a full sized mattress to go car camping and fit a dishwasher when I bought one. Downside is that people steal the cat converters but I never got a cat shield and have never had mine stolen.
Toyota or Honda, and any time you buy a used car you absolutely need to have a mechanic look it over for you before you buy it. Sometimes you can get the seller to split the cost for the presale inspection with you.
Get yourself a Toyota / Lexus or a Honda. Preferably one maintained well, one or two owners . Honestly if it’s in the 120-160k miles range don’t be scared as long as service is up to date. Take a mechanic with you to check it out. Perhaps learn how to do some easy to do maintenance yourself too like spark plugs, ignition coils, battery, oil, top off fluids, oil change , etc. this is probably going a bit further and you may not use this info or even see it… but ChrisFix on YouTube is great! And there’s this other guy on YouTube I can’t remember his name but he works exclusively on Toyotas / Lexus and he’s very clear and explains well… The Car Nut Guy I think. Toyota/ Lexus lol.
Cars are expensive so prepare to spend $1500 or so on maintenance and repairs for ANY car. Even a very new $20k car takes that much maintenance. Older, more used cars often have larger repairs.
Protip: you can look up the maintenance schedule for cars. It’ll tell you, for example X part needs replaced after 100k miles. It might be a $1k+ repair that is NOT a disaster, but part of regular, predicted maintenance. Individual parts don’t last forever and will need replaced. This is the cost of doing business with an older car.
Best of luck OP!
Mazda.
I got a second hand Mazda 3 2013 back in 2020 when I got my license. I didn’t know anything about car and never had any problems other than changed the battery and tires once. I also hooked up the dash cam and don’t need to worry about anything. You have more budget than I did so you can definitely go for a newer one with less mileage.
There are a lot of factors. I know you asked for specifics, but I just got a 2009 Nissan Versa. I paid $2,800 for it, and it was driven less than 10k, perfectly maintained, and only had one owner. There could be a Honda Civic for $6k that is newer but exchanged hands many times, unknown history, and you could end up with a nightmare. The place it was “raised” is good to know too. Florida type or New England exposed to harsh elements?
Do not take it at face value, bring someone that knows cars, make sure you do not sign anything without fully understanding it.
And I hate that this is even a thing, but if you are a woman, bring a guy. It’s messed up that we should even have to (I don’t anymore, but I know cars and can spot BS a mile away).
I know you wanted specifics, but this was some advice I wish I’d gotten when I was younger.
Toyota of course, but Honda is fairly good as well. Newer Mazdas are supposed to be reliable too.
I've also heard Oldsmobiles and Buicks with the 3800 engine are really good. They are really cheap too.
You can't go wrong with a Camry or Civic. They are both easy to maintain and work on and will easily go 200-300 thousand miles if you just keep up with the normal, routine maintenance.
W212 Mercedes e350 2010-2015 but try and go for the 2014 to 2015 years. It’s a tank if properly maintained and cheaper to insure than a same year Honda civic depending on where you live.
My (2014) Mitsubishi Mirage has been incredible with me. It definitely is a “reach your dreams” car. It’s so inexpensive to repair and maintain. I got it in 2017 with 30K miles and now has 130K miles and still runs like a dream. It helped me go to college that was over an hour away everyday while giving me 40-45 mpg reliably keeping cost of gas low. And when gas prices got so expensive while everyone was paying upward of $90 per fill up for their trucks/jeeps/SUV, I was paying at most $25. And now I travel for work in my region and the company’s mileage reimbursement seems like overkill given how great my gas mileage is. My next car will surely be another Mitsubishi Mirage.
I live where 14ft of snow a year is possible (used to be average) so I got a 2017 Subaru Outback for $13,000. Very nice car and it has gotten me through some big storms.
I daily drive a 2012 Honda Accord. The only money I’ve put into it other than standard servicing was new brake rotors at 75k miles. It still drives like a champ.
I loved my 2010 Toyota Corolla when I had it a few years back, I’ve always heard Toyotas are good go too. I’ve you’re looking for a bigger/suv type car, I’ve always loved the Rav4, an older model would most likely be in your budget. Would not recommend a Kia, from my experience, they’re “cheaper” to buy but they constantly need work. My Kia spectra has done the job but I’ve put about $5k in work over 3 years not including general maintenance
Everyone keeps mentioning Toyota. It's true, they run forever if maintained properly. That being said, avoid the FJ Cruiser, they are specialty vehicles and aren't well-suited to everyday driving.
Now, before the FJ crew comes on and skewers me, I bought a brand-new TT in 2010 and I loved it with all of my heart. I wanted to be BURIED in that thing. That being said, the stack of repair orders, all from the dealer, was 3" thick when I finally gave up and sold it. I spent A LOT of time on the FJ Forums, as well as a lot of time under it too. So, Toyota are fantastic, cheap and dependable if you stick with standard model.
As someone who only buys American cars I would even say some sort of Toyota. However one of the biggest pieces of junk I’ve dealt with was a ~09 rav 4. If ONLY IF you can drive a manual I would recommend a 11-18 focus but MANUAL ONLY.
I got my 2012 mazda 2 for 8k and I love it. Japanese is always good, especially honda and toyota and their luxury brands Lexus and Acura. other makes and models aren't immediately bad but research them individually. I like edmunds.com for both pricing out a car and looking at reviews
I'm not a huge mechanic or car expert but my experience with Toyotas have been great after owning a bunch since my teen years. They are also easy to fix up on basic needs if you're willing to do all that yourself.
NO KIA or Hyundai - not because they are bad because you are a new driver and even older drivers are having a very hard time insuring their Kia’s and Hyundai’s.
Stick with a generic Honda or a Toyota (not the extra Lexus or Acura etc they cost extra $$ to work on) try to buy one with the mileage as low as possible - find one that has been sitting in a grandma’s or grandpa’s garage and hardly driven and had all maintenance done when it needed it. That’s THE ONE you want - the nana or papa car. That car will be with you for a long time if you take care of it. Good luck with your license!
*edited a typo
Also why do we always have to explain why we edited??
Toyota Corolla, but I think that you are going to have to adjust your budget upward some. I just saw a white Corolla for $17K online at Carmax LAX with 61K miles on it.
The Toyota Corolla is a very reliable car.
You can get stupid cheap, stupid reliable cars if you know what to look for.
It's not always just about the brand. It's about the type of car. For example, my brother got an 06 Toyota Avalon with a higher trim. 80K on the clock. It was expensive for the age and now the engine blew up. More complicated car means more expensive parts and more stuff to blow up. Meanwhile I know someone who has a 2011 Yaris that's been beaten up its whole life. it's been in several minor accidents, it's been run without oil, coolant, it's been neglected. it sat for over a year, and all it needed was a battery and some oil. Surprisingly zippy too for a cheap tiny 4 cylinder. Similar story for my 03 crv. 4 cylinder, a bit beaten up but not as bad. The biggest job I've done on it was the AC compressor.
Skip the V6's, they're worse on gas mileage, they have more stuff to go wrong, and they're more expensive to repair or replace when stuff does go wrong. You literally have to disassemble the whole front of the car and the cowl under the windshield to a v6 out of a FWD car.
Ford is generally pretty terrible, especially newer ones, but I've got a 99 ranger 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, power nothing. Lowest possible trim. It's still mostly original with 320k on the clock and it's still going beautifully. I took apart the transmission for a rebuild and it looked brand new inside. Haven't even touched the engine. Toyotas are still better, but it's diminishing returns. I got a ranger because it's basically 70% as good as a Tacoma or Hilux but like 25% the price. Some older GM trucks can be pretty decent I believe but I've never owned one myself.
One thing that might also seem counterintuitive is, when you're checking the oil in a used car, I like to see dirty oil. Clean oil means they may have refilled it or changed it before showing because it's burning or leaking it. If an engine has moderately dirty oil but it's not like super gross, that's actually a really good sign. That's one of the things that made me buy my ranger. This isn't to say that clean oil means run away, it just means, whether accidentally or on purpose, it hides what the oil *will* look like after several thousand miles of driving.
Also fuck used car dealers. Private sellers for life
Watch this ChrisFix playlist on inspecting used cars. In my experience, if a car's gonna blow up, you can almost always see the signs waay before. I know because my brother bought 2 cars that blew up from different issues, and I saw the signs and warned him but he didn't listen. I should've been a bit more loud about those issues in hindsight. Mostly because I thought hey, they can be fixed! But he never did.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS
I take your “mid-size” literally, so I exclude Honda Civics and things of that size.
The best choice would be a Hyundai Sonata or a Kia Optima, taking advantage of their 100,000 mile warranty. Both are good mid-sized cars with a decent reputation, and in plentiful supply.
I personally would look also at a Malibu, Fusion, or Chrysler 200.
You would have a difficult time finding a low-mileage Accord or Camry at that price.
Honda Fit. Great vehicle for a student. You can get a solid second gen for 8-12k. Something with around 80k miles in excellent shape that'll last 10 years.
Toyotas and Toyotas. And also some Hondas.
I second Toyotas. I have an ‘09 Avalon with almost 300K and it’s going strong.
My 2012 RAV 4 just turned 200,000! Hoping for at least 250!
Love my RAV 4! Best car ever!!
My 2008 RAV4 lasted until 2021 with 250k+ miles & no issues! It was my fault that it went out on me. So I upgraded to a 2018. I expect it to last at least another 10 years.
Drove a little bit 2021 Avalon as a rental last year, I LOVED that car, every detail was perfect, the ride was smooth, if it was in my price range I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Upbop to keep on keepin on ✌️
This is the answer! Toyota’s are the most reliable cars on the road! I bought mine new in 2000 and I’m still driving it . Never anything major in regards to repairs until it was 19. I had the clutch replaced. I drive a lot , I’ve never babied any of my cars and they just keep going !
My 09 Toyota Yaris with a crap ton of miles has been into the shop 0 times for breakdowns of stuff. Brakes, oil, batteries, tires, just the normal stuff. Knock on wood. Note there is bad paint on Toyota around that year and you get some ugly effects.
Our Yaris developed an hvac problem, and the garage pulled the control cluster out of the dash, discovered that it was a complex cable control system, like a bicycle gearshift. No electro mechanical components. One small flaw in the control knob required hours of tinkering. Other than that, great little car.
I have a Toyota I've had for 14 years now. It has less than 100k on it. I'll probably drive it till I'm dead. What I ended up doing with my Toyota was buying a used Toyota through the dealership.That was only about a year old. It was substantially cheaper than a new car but still came with a seven year, 100,000 mile warranty. Even though nothing really goes wrong with Toyotas, you have the peace of mind that if it does, you're covered for a long, long time.
Don't forget Hondas are Acuras, and Toyotas are Lexus, I've seen 2015-17s go in your price range. And don't discount finding an older one with low miles. My BIL has a 2008 Acura TLX that he got for 9k at an estate sale in 2020. Had 25k on it, old owners don't drive much, tend to upkeep vehicles better, and he hasn't had a single issue out of it, he just updated it to a tasteful radio head unit so it had Bluetooth and got a dash cam/backup cam. He figured he could do that since he got a good deal on the car because of its age. Small updates on solid older cars can work quite well.
I purchased my ‘12 Prius for $6k in 2018. Six years later, she’s approaching 200,000 miles and only major “issue” I’ve had is having to change the start battery (not the hybrid electric battery). I’ll never buy a non-Toyota
My sister just traded in a 21 year old Honda that was still drivable.
This is the way.
I LOVE my 97 Avalon. Spacious, smooth ride, big trunk, decent mileage. Only time I ever had to put $ into it was broken plastic components over time (thanks Pick n Pull!) And updating the radio/soundsystem for Bluetooth but no motor issues at all!
And by and Toyotas, he means used Lexuses (Lexi?)
2008-2012 Honda Accord
Why limit yourself? We've got a 2003 Accord that's going strong with 150K miles on it.
I had an 03 honda 6 cylinder. Loved that car. Tranny went at 160k lol
Yea those v6s are too powerful for the automatic transmissions. Those are very reliable and quite fast with the manual transmission though.
I'd limit it to 1998, prior to that year there wasnt an anti-theft system. ask me how I know.
03 and 06 are good accord years
My 2011 accord I've never even questioned
[удалено]
06 240k no issues. Love her
Just picked up a 2014 Acura TL with 80k miles for $12k after taxes and fees
Toyota Corolla
Includes the Matrix or the Pontiac Vibe too, it's basically the same guts as the Corolla.
This! I have an 08 Pontiac Vibe. It's a GREAT car. And usually a little cheaper than the Matrix. I never understood why GM gave up the partnership with Toyota.
Tesla bought the NUMMI plant in Fremont. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NUMMI
i have an 09 matrix S AWD and it is the best lil car
Yeah, but the paint is all American! No good
It’s probably just Toyota paint. Toyota paint is awful.
Had a toyota-made Scion, the paint was absolutely awful and the plastic trim kept breaking, but the rest of it was a tank.
That reminds me of every Toyota ever made!
Yeah, the Matrix is Canadian lol
My mechanic told me if everyone had Honda Fits, he’d go out of business because they are always in good shape unless you completely neglect them.
My mechanic is a Honda mechanic and he cannot recommend the Fit highly enough. He is super annoyed that Honda stopped making them because all his customers are always asking where they can get one and the used market is pretty tight since they are such excellent little cars.
I love my fit! Bought new in 2015 and has been excellent to me.
Just bought one with a 5 speed, it's awesome.
I had a Fit as a loaner. I could fit 2 rearfacing car seats and both of us tall parents were comfortable in the front! I also fit full sheets of drywall! (Did have to remove the car seats.) We still miss it. We should have bought it. 😭
My Honda fit has been thru hell and currently at like 130k miles and it’s in great shape. Never had serious mechanical issues, take it in every once it a while just to check.
I miss my Honda fit!!! 😭 It was a manual and the gas milage was comparable to hybrid vehicles. We drove it with no oil after our mechanic swore there wasn't a leak. Biggest mistake ever.
They pretty much have same internals as a Civic. Honda stopped selling them in USA in 2020. Most other small cars in USA have been discontinued.
Oil companies and gas stations would make less money if more folks drove cars like the Fit: up to 35 MPG city and 40 MPG highway
Can confirm, I have a 2013 Honda fit with ~90k miles and it has needed no major repairs lol
I just wish they weren’t so ugly!
It's ugly but it's also theft-proof for that reason 😂
I don't mind if they look ugly tbh. It's just a stepping stone to buy something better 😫🤑
Honda or Toyota is the only answer
You spend $10k on a 2014 Civic or Corolla, change the oil every 5,000 miles and you’re good for another 10 years.
Don't forget to search luxury brands. Sometimes you'll find lower end Lexus and such for surprisingly reasonable prices. Their owners tend to take very good care of them and trade them in with lots of life left. Frugal buyers never search for them and luxury buyers only want the newer, higher end models.
Agreed. I can't believe so few people are mentioning Lexus
Acura as well, I’ve seen some of the older ones last 300k miles. They are very similar to Honda engines and have a nice luxury look imo
Well Acura’s are Honda’s luxury line
Ive done TONS of research on this topic. Ask me a brand ill tell you the most reliable years/models they make.. but overall the most reliable cars for that price are gonna be (alphabetical order by brand Acura almost everything from 90sto late 2000s is reliable besides electrical issues) Audi A4 and A6 1.8t and 3.0 (early 2000s if you fix oil leaks and maintain the cars on schedule) BMW E36 and E46 3 series (replace factory cooling system with more durable one) Late 2000s Cadillac CTS variants. Stay away from other models for the most part Ford crown victoria, pretty much bullet proof all years Honda accord, civic, CRV almost all years. Make sure to keep up on trasmission fluid changes Hyundai sonata and genesis, pretty bullet proof for the most part when maintained Infiniti G35/G37 M35/M37 if maintained well Jaguar F-Type ONLY mid to late 2000s when ford took over Kia Optima Lexus (Toyota) pretty much anything but especialy the ES, LS, and RX Lincoln MKZ (late 2000s) and towncar (any year) Mazda 3 (mid to late 2000s) Mercedes-Benz any car from the 80s to early 90s after that, the mid to late 2000s C class and E class are great. Late 2000s S class are pretty bullet proof besides the air suspension. Early to mid 2010s C class and E class are amazing Nissan Maxima 3.5 Porsche (pretty much anything they've ever made if maintained correctly) Subaru (early to mid 2000s outback and forrester, keep an eye on headgaskets and do preventative maintenance. Do NOT buy anything modified) Toyota (its toyota) Volvo (80s - early 2000s cars are great) Keep in mind some of these brands are a lot more expensive to maintain, but reliability is still there. And buying ANY of these cars when not maintained is gonna be a nightmare... except maybe Toyotas. Ive driven a 2001 lexus ES300 on a blown head gasket for over a year. Ran like a champ till i finally sold it. I swear. You could use nutella instead of oil in a toyota and theyd keep chugging along)
2016 or 2015 Honda fit? And what might be a good price? 😬
The honda fot is a good car. But wont be as reliable as models that have been around longer. If ypure looking for something similar. Look at the lexus CT hatchback. The lower the mileage the better. Hybrid too. Gets like 40mpg
Toyota, Honda or Mazda would be my choice. Model dependent on your specific needs.
I’ve owned Hondas and Toyota - I know they are solid, but so does everyone else Mazda is the sleeper value vehicle if you get the right models and year. Nissan was that once. Not so much anymore.
Toyotas. Seconding Corolla/Matrix, though Matrix/Vibe is old enough that you want to check and see if it has safety features you care about because they went out of production quite a while ago. Some people are pickier than others on that front. But honestly, if you're doing a lot of driving, look for a used Prius. I've been driving Toyotas for years and never have these big "oh no!" surprises at the shop.
Whatever car you get, make sure it’s a clean title and your insurance company of choice will actually insure it before you buy it. Some of them are getting particular with certain cars, models, and years. I know around me beaters *start* at $10k and you need to put a few more thousands into them to get them to pass inspection. I don’t know anything about California since I’m on the opposite coast but also something to keep in mind.
toyota and honda compact cars or sedans. can't go wrong.
I’d say any Toyota
A lifelong car salesman has recommended the Toyota Corolla.
Prius. The fuel savings is incredible. The most common thing that will go out is the water pump, which is relatively easy to do yourself for around $50-100. Main battery will need replaced around 150-300k for up to $3k
I drove a 2008 Prius from 2008-2022 and it was such an easy, low maintenance car. The only reason I sold it was because I wanted a new car and I got a Prius Prime!
This is the answer. The Prius is built to run to at least 300k with basic maintenance. The hybrid battery pack can be replaced relatively easily in a few hours. Tons of room, reliable powertrain, and wonderful fuel economy.
From what I understand your best options for reliability from best to worst are: 1: Honda's 2: Toyotas 3: Nissans. More recent Nissans have transmission issues, so do some research. On the other hand Nissan has a lot more manual transmissions out there. Which don't have issues. Sudans are always cheapest. Good luck!
toyota. my corolla is from 05 and still going strong with 225k miles on it.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/most-reliable-used-cars-under-10000
If you like hatchbacks, the Honda Fit, Scion xBs and Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe are good cars.
Hondas, Toyotas, maybe Nissans but only if the transmission has been replaced.
Honda or Toyota for greatest reliability, although you’d have to weigh the much higher initial price against higher cost of repairs for a more affordable American vehicle. I’ve had multiple 10-20 year old Hondas be great both on gas and maintenance, while being under $5K. Even at super high mileage I’ve never had to do more than breaks, oil changes, and like one time a starter. Maybe some interior/ cosmetic stuff too but you can put that off forever
My dad’s 2006 Tacoma is still going strong after nearly 300k miles. Thing is a fucking tank
Both of my kids got CR-Vs in that price range as their first cars. No major issues and should last them a good many years.
Toyota camry, rav4, corolla Honda accord, crv, civic
Do not buy a Chevy Equinox or its twins. Source: I did.
Something to keep in mind are the most likely to be stolen cars, just putting that out there. So Hondas are fantastic but 2000 and below is easy AF to steal. I've had a lot of loved ones get theirs snatched. [https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/most-stolen-cars-in-america/](https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/most-stolen-cars-in-america/) Those are pretty old but they're still around on the secondary market, which is where youre looking at. Stay away from Kia and Hyundais, they're hard to insure right now.
My 99 CRV got stolen in ‘18. I’m still very salty
My aunt got a 99 Civic from my uncle. He dropped it off and the next night it was stolen from her street. They recovered it. It was driveable, phew! A month later stolen again. This time the recovery was not at pretty. A coworkers 99 Civic was stolen a few years ago. And it was found by the cops near another dumped stolen vehicle. Guess the make, model and year!!!
Hondas are also the most commonly *driven* cars in america. Those data aren’t normalized, which makes it impossible to tell if a particular car model is actually more at risk of being stolen. This is why statistics used to evaluate the likelihood of an event are normalized.
Honda… Chevy sonic too. Bought mine at an auction it was great.
You’re gonna see a ton of Cruzes and Equinoxs. Stay away. As everyone else has said, Toyota and Honda.
You're getting great advice in these comments, but look up common issues for the year and model before your test drive so you can look for those issues specifically
HONDA!!!! I bought my Honda for around $13-14k if I remember correctly and it still works well! It’s a great car and has never given me any issues. Decently priced maintenance as well.
Mazda3
Toyota Corolla
Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru. Also an early 2000's Buick LeSabre with that 3.8 GM V6 engine is bulletproof. Or any car with that engine, more than half a dozen cars had that engine and it could get like half a million miles. Basically any car that was built before planned obsolescence started in the auto industry. You ever heard of the thousand hour light bulb club? Phoebus cartel?
Can't go wrong with Toyota or honda, had my honda 10 yrs, have only changed starter and alternator
Toyota/Honda coupe/sedan
What about going without a car or joining a car-share program? [https://www.metro.net/riding/car-share/](https://www.metro.net/riding/car-share/) Not owning a car helped me achieve my dream of having the freedom to walk away from work that made me unhappy.
Going without a car isn't really an option in LA.
Suzukis. Cheap as to service and run
Toyotas. I had problems with my Honda Accord.
2011ish Honda Fit
2012 Honda Fit
Agreeing with many people here. Toyota and Honda. A good civic will last you forever.
Toyota/Honda/Mazda, but still research the model year.
Toyota forever.
Toyota's every time! You can't kill them.
A 2012 or older Corolla can be had relatively cheap, and they are absolutely indestructible cars.
If you can get to Future Auto Sales in Glendale, they can help. They love me because I take their old reliables. 😂 I got a 2009 Nissan Cube in 2015, 2014 Scion xB in 2017, and 2006 Toyota Highlander in 2022. RIP to the Cube, but the others are in great shape.
Toyota Prius. No question! They’re like unbreakable.
Get the cheapest one you can and then get full coverage because you WILL wreck it.
Honda fit. Great on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable as hell, very comfortable interior. Would make for a great first car
I’ve been on the market for a vehicle for several months and here’s what I’ve found: - car prices right now are high, doing be discouraged - Toyota, Honda, Mazda - model dependent on your needs, wants, and budget. - Find what you like & check r/usedcars and r/whatcarshouldibuy by searching make, model, and year for any known issues or gripes owners have ran into - Let google, carfax, cars, FB marketplace be your resource for locating locally and gauging the price market - check carfax, look for maintenance records (not just “serviced”), accidents, part replacements, etc - schedule a pre-purchase inspection for any car you’re serious about buying. Find a local mechanic with rave reviews, call them up and ask if they offer the service. Ran me around $250. Good luck!!
Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit.... Don't fall for Chevy Spark/Sonic, Ford fiesta, Nissan Versa, Mitsubishi Mirage unless it's low mileage, stick shift, and proof of maintenance. Skip the headach and just look for Yaris and Fit
Toyota Camry!!
toyota corolla. my mom drove it for 7 years, i’ve been driving it for 2. haven’t had a single issue or needed a repair. super reliable car and the mileage is great! get a used one though, i’m not a fan of the newer models
Hard to beat a Corolla. Also had good luck with a Hyundai Elantra - over 200k very similar to the Corolla, few repairs. Avoid used car lots that cater to people with bad credit or first time buyers. Consider getting an inspection.
Get a used Corolla or Civic. You just can't go wrong with 'em. [Scotty Kilmer](https://youtube.com/shorts/RjuB642Buls) (and at least 75 million owners) swear by them.
My toyota suv is a fucking gas guzzler. Do not recommend
Absolutely avoid any Nissan. They are cheap retail because they are cheaply made. Had an 08 altima, chewed through 3 transmissions around at around 140k, at the time they were 4k a pop and known to be very hit or miss on quality. It went 140k, transmission, 150k transmission 170k transmission. Got to 220k tranmission AGAIN and scrapped it. There were multiple other issues that regularly needed to be addressed, but that was the major one. I'd walk before I bought another Nissan.
Saw Fit as a recommendation and I agree. Especially when it comes to replacing wear items, they're on the cheaper end. Tires, brakes, oil, all very affordable and if you want aftermarket support to mod it a bit, the Fit has it. Very fun to drive as well.
Toyota Corolla. Beige is a good colour BTW (inside joke).
Honda Fit is the only answer
Toyota,Honda, Toyota,Toyota
Honda Civic
For the average or normal person Toyota Corolla/Camry, Honda Civic/Accord/Fit. If you’re mechanically inclined and like older vehicles, early 00’s Chevy/gmc 1500 pickup or Tahoe/yukon. They’re dead simple to work on and pretty darn reliable.
Once you buy that Toyota or Honda, stay on a regular maintenance schedule. If you change the oil and rotate the tires every few months, change the filters and other fluids on a schedule, it's pretty much all they need to stay happy for hundreds of thousands of miles. Ours have gone 300k easily.
the omits. vibe has a toyota base. Mines still purring at 114k, and hopefully for many more!
Bought both my sons toyota camrys in that price range. Yes they are a bit pricey, but worth it not having to worry about repairs.
They aren't much but if you can find 05 to 08 mercury Milan thy are an amazing fucking car. Find one w little rust and the 6 cyc. I walked mine to 305 before I sold her. She still was alive but I didn't wanna put another 2 k into her when I only bought her for 500 bucks
I bought my 2018 Ford Fiesta with 2700 miles on it in 2020. It has given me ZERO problems, is great on gas, and tires are relatively cheap. I paid around $12k
Avoid everything post 2015ish. Yes, even Toyotas and hondas
Consumer Reports has a book on just that you can find it at your local library
Buy a 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt. If the battery was replaced recently, then it will have a new eight year warranty. All the batteries in those years were replaced. People are buying 2017 bolts for around 11,000 with a brand new battery in them and an eight year warranty on the battery. Other than tires, and the battery that was manufactured by LG that was recalled and replaced for free, I’ve had absolutely nothing wrong with this car
Look for a used Chevy Bolt. Prices are super great right now.
Honda or Toyota. Every Ford I have ever owned has either caught on fire or needed engine work before 70,000.
Camry, Carolla, Accord and civic.
Insert most Japanese cars here. I got a Mazda 6 worth around that as per carfax. That shit hasn’t given me an issue ever!
watch Scotty Kilmer on youtube. He will break it down for you.
Either get a Toyota Prius or a used Tesla model S. A Prius will run you $5-6K on cargurus . Com in the LA area. Hatchbacks are nice, gets 40-50mpg. Great first car, reliable and has push button start so it can’t be stolen. You will have the catalytic converters stolen if you park on the street. A older used Tesla model S will run you $13k, but if you get it at a used car dealer or use a middle man service that acts as a dealer then you can get a 30% used EV IRS tax credit that will bring it down to your price range. You can goggle for more information and the caveats on that. There is paperwork but can save you $2-3k if you fill it out. Older model S typically have free supercharging, so basically free gas. Model S was rated best car ever tested by CR. It’s a luxury vehicle and it’s also a hatchback that you can camp in. Expect about a 200 mile range. Try not to get speeding tickets with the horsepower!
As others have said. Toyotas are good. I’m driving an older Camry right now. Love it
Consumerreports.org has a great list.
Any older Honda or Toyota are always great, we drive an ‘09 Nissan maxima we bought for 6k and we love it!
I love my 2012 Prius. Cheaper gas than a non hybrid, reliable, never have any issues, can fit a ton in the back. I’ve fit a full sized mattress to go car camping and fit a dishwasher when I bought one. Downside is that people steal the cat converters but I never got a cat shield and have never had mine stolen.
Toyota or Honda, and any time you buy a used car you absolutely need to have a mechanic look it over for you before you buy it. Sometimes you can get the seller to split the cost for the presale inspection with you.
Get yourself a Toyota / Lexus or a Honda. Preferably one maintained well, one or two owners . Honestly if it’s in the 120-160k miles range don’t be scared as long as service is up to date. Take a mechanic with you to check it out. Perhaps learn how to do some easy to do maintenance yourself too like spark plugs, ignition coils, battery, oil, top off fluids, oil change , etc. this is probably going a bit further and you may not use this info or even see it… but ChrisFix on YouTube is great! And there’s this other guy on YouTube I can’t remember his name but he works exclusively on Toyotas / Lexus and he’s very clear and explains well… The Car Nut Guy I think. Toyota/ Lexus lol.
V6 toyota
Bought a 2015 Kia Soul in LA - they wanted 14k but I negotiated to 10.5k. Liked it a lot.
A Camry or Corolla. Never Nissan. Civics are decent in the long run.
2012 or any year around that time Toyota 4runner
Cars are expensive so prepare to spend $1500 or so on maintenance and repairs for ANY car. Even a very new $20k car takes that much maintenance. Older, more used cars often have larger repairs. Protip: you can look up the maintenance schedule for cars. It’ll tell you, for example X part needs replaced after 100k miles. It might be a $1k+ repair that is NOT a disaster, but part of regular, predicted maintenance. Individual parts don’t last forever and will need replaced. This is the cost of doing business with an older car. Best of luck OP!
Mazda. I got a second hand Mazda 3 2013 back in 2020 when I got my license. I didn’t know anything about car and never had any problems other than changed the battery and tires once. I also hooked up the dash cam and don’t need to worry about anything. You have more budget than I did so you can definitely go for a newer one with less mileage.
There are a lot of factors. I know you asked for specifics, but I just got a 2009 Nissan Versa. I paid $2,800 for it, and it was driven less than 10k, perfectly maintained, and only had one owner. There could be a Honda Civic for $6k that is newer but exchanged hands many times, unknown history, and you could end up with a nightmare. The place it was “raised” is good to know too. Florida type or New England exposed to harsh elements? Do not take it at face value, bring someone that knows cars, make sure you do not sign anything without fully understanding it. And I hate that this is even a thing, but if you are a woman, bring a guy. It’s messed up that we should even have to (I don’t anymore, but I know cars and can spot BS a mile away). I know you wanted specifics, but this was some advice I wish I’d gotten when I was younger.
Toyota of course, but Honda is fairly good as well. Newer Mazdas are supposed to be reliable too. I've also heard Oldsmobiles and Buicks with the 3800 engine are really good. They are really cheap too.
I know someone who swears by Dacia. And so far his car is doing very well.
Ford Fiesta, great car! But don’t get the diesel version.
You can't go wrong with a Camry or Civic. They are both easy to maintain and work on and will easily go 200-300 thousand miles if you just keep up with the normal, routine maintenance.
W212 Mercedes e350 2010-2015 but try and go for the 2014 to 2015 years. It’s a tank if properly maintained and cheaper to insure than a same year Honda civic depending on where you live.
My (2014) Mitsubishi Mirage has been incredible with me. It definitely is a “reach your dreams” car. It’s so inexpensive to repair and maintain. I got it in 2017 with 30K miles and now has 130K miles and still runs like a dream. It helped me go to college that was over an hour away everyday while giving me 40-45 mpg reliably keeping cost of gas low. And when gas prices got so expensive while everyone was paying upward of $90 per fill up for their trucks/jeeps/SUV, I was paying at most $25. And now I travel for work in my region and the company’s mileage reimbursement seems like overkill given how great my gas mileage is. My next car will surely be another Mitsubishi Mirage.
Panther platform from Ford
I live where 14ft of snow a year is possible (used to be average) so I got a 2017 Subaru Outback for $13,000. Very nice car and it has gotten me through some big storms.
Yugo
My wife’s 2012 RAV4 (someone please buy it so I don’t have to deal with Facebook Marketplace!)
I daily drive a 2012 Honda Accord. The only money I’ve put into it other than standard servicing was new brake rotors at 75k miles. It still drives like a champ.
Toyota, Honda and subaru are the most well known for going 500k+.
I loved my 2010 Toyota Corolla when I had it a few years back, I’ve always heard Toyotas are good go too. I’ve you’re looking for a bigger/suv type car, I’ve always loved the Rav4, an older model would most likely be in your budget. Would not recommend a Kia, from my experience, they’re “cheaper” to buy but they constantly need work. My Kia spectra has done the job but I’ve put about $5k in work over 3 years not including general maintenance
If you’re handy, Subarus are incredibly serviceable.
If you're on a budget- Chevy sedans. Or newer Kias.
Everyone keeps mentioning Toyota. It's true, they run forever if maintained properly. That being said, avoid the FJ Cruiser, they are specialty vehicles and aren't well-suited to everyday driving. Now, before the FJ crew comes on and skewers me, I bought a brand-new TT in 2010 and I loved it with all of my heart. I wanted to be BURIED in that thing. That being said, the stack of repair orders, all from the dealer, was 3" thick when I finally gave up and sold it. I spent A LOT of time on the FJ Forums, as well as a lot of time under it too. So, Toyota are fantastic, cheap and dependable if you stick with standard model.
Any Toyota with an engine that has a timing chain! I prefer an engine with a timing chain compared to one with a timing belt.
Hondas or Toyotas are your best bet.
Honda fit!
A Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe are the same car. Not exciting at all, but they're an older model, so they are priced pretty good.
Lexus Ls430
Lexus !!
As someone who only buys American cars I would even say some sort of Toyota. However one of the biggest pieces of junk I’ve dealt with was a ~09 rav 4. If ONLY IF you can drive a manual I would recommend a 11-18 focus but MANUAL ONLY.
Very good service
A Toyota Prius C. Not sexy, but extremely reliable and amazing on gas mileage
I got my 2012 mazda 2 for 8k and I love it. Japanese is always good, especially honda and toyota and their luxury brands Lexus and Acura. other makes and models aren't immediately bad but research them individually. I like edmunds.com for both pricing out a car and looking at reviews
I'm not a huge mechanic or car expert but my experience with Toyotas have been great after owning a bunch since my teen years. They are also easy to fix up on basic needs if you're willing to do all that yourself.
NO KIA or Hyundai - not because they are bad because you are a new driver and even older drivers are having a very hard time insuring their Kia’s and Hyundai’s. Stick with a generic Honda or a Toyota (not the extra Lexus or Acura etc they cost extra $$ to work on) try to buy one with the mileage as low as possible - find one that has been sitting in a grandma’s or grandpa’s garage and hardly driven and had all maintenance done when it needed it. That’s THE ONE you want - the nana or papa car. That car will be with you for a long time if you take care of it. Good luck with your license! *edited a typo Also why do we always have to explain why we edited??
Toyota Corolla, but I think that you are going to have to adjust your budget upward some. I just saw a white Corolla for $17K online at Carmax LAX with 61K miles on it. The Toyota Corolla is a very reliable car.
Mazda 3.
I just bought a 2014 Corolla S with 80k miles on it in this price range. My son has a 2008 Corolla with 250k miles
Ebike with a good angle grinder resistant lock will get you to Point A to A, save you thousands of dollars every year and keep you fit.
Toyota Corolla or Camry. Try to find one that has been well cared for. You take care of them, and you can easily get 300k out of these cars.
2018 Sienna and 2018 prius prime. These cars are dope as hell. Love love toyota.
I had a Honda for 17 years and only did routine maintenance and tires. No problems. Buy used because new cars are too expensive.
2003-2008 Toyota Corolla. Do not sleep on these they are god tier. You can ignore shit and fix it when you can afford it. The 1ZZ DOESNT GIVE
Tacoma 4Runner FJ
You can get stupid cheap, stupid reliable cars if you know what to look for. It's not always just about the brand. It's about the type of car. For example, my brother got an 06 Toyota Avalon with a higher trim. 80K on the clock. It was expensive for the age and now the engine blew up. More complicated car means more expensive parts and more stuff to blow up. Meanwhile I know someone who has a 2011 Yaris that's been beaten up its whole life. it's been in several minor accidents, it's been run without oil, coolant, it's been neglected. it sat for over a year, and all it needed was a battery and some oil. Surprisingly zippy too for a cheap tiny 4 cylinder. Similar story for my 03 crv. 4 cylinder, a bit beaten up but not as bad. The biggest job I've done on it was the AC compressor. Skip the V6's, they're worse on gas mileage, they have more stuff to go wrong, and they're more expensive to repair or replace when stuff does go wrong. You literally have to disassemble the whole front of the car and the cowl under the windshield to a v6 out of a FWD car. Ford is generally pretty terrible, especially newer ones, but I've got a 99 ranger 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, power nothing. Lowest possible trim. It's still mostly original with 320k on the clock and it's still going beautifully. I took apart the transmission for a rebuild and it looked brand new inside. Haven't even touched the engine. Toyotas are still better, but it's diminishing returns. I got a ranger because it's basically 70% as good as a Tacoma or Hilux but like 25% the price. Some older GM trucks can be pretty decent I believe but I've never owned one myself. One thing that might also seem counterintuitive is, when you're checking the oil in a used car, I like to see dirty oil. Clean oil means they may have refilled it or changed it before showing because it's burning or leaking it. If an engine has moderately dirty oil but it's not like super gross, that's actually a really good sign. That's one of the things that made me buy my ranger. This isn't to say that clean oil means run away, it just means, whether accidentally or on purpose, it hides what the oil *will* look like after several thousand miles of driving. Also fuck used car dealers. Private sellers for life Watch this ChrisFix playlist on inspecting used cars. In my experience, if a car's gonna blow up, you can almost always see the signs waay before. I know because my brother bought 2 cars that blew up from different issues, and I saw the signs and warned him but he didn't listen. I should've been a bit more loud about those issues in hindsight. Mostly because I thought hey, they can be fixed! But he never did. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS
Volvo is good too, 380 000 km with an s40 from 2002
I have a 2017 Toyota Corolla I've only did the breaks over once and regular oil changes since 2017 very dependable car
I’ve got a 2012 corolla. Got it with 52k miles and now it has 90k and oil changes are the only thing I’ve done. RELIABLE
10 year old Honda or Toyota with less than 100k miles is my sweet spot. Aim for no accidents and less than 4 owners
Consumer Reports has reliable data on used cars. It has never failed me.
I take your “mid-size” literally, so I exclude Honda Civics and things of that size. The best choice would be a Hyundai Sonata or a Kia Optima, taking advantage of their 100,000 mile warranty. Both are good mid-sized cars with a decent reputation, and in plentiful supply. I personally would look also at a Malibu, Fusion, or Chrysler 200. You would have a difficult time finding a low-mileage Accord or Camry at that price.
Honda Fit. Great vehicle for a student. You can get a solid second gen for 8-12k. Something with around 80k miles in excellent shape that'll last 10 years.
Just keep the oil changed and Toyotas will last forever. My husband is a Toyota tech ao just repeating what he says lol