Considering these used cars as commuter

[Nick1994]

Sounds pricy for a 10 year old Camry.

What about an Avalon? The V6 will get about 30 mpg on the highway and it's much more comfortable.

 

[bamorris2]

Why are you shopping such low mileage cars for a commuter appliance? And the gas mileage on those are ok, but not as good as a hybrid. For example, my 2020 Corolla Hybrid gets 60 mpg, so if you get reimbursed for gas by the mile, you would make out like a bandit.

I figured a newer low mileage vehicle would

Why are you shopping such low mileage cars for a commuter appliance? And the gas mileage on those are ok, but not as good as a hybrid. For example, my 2020 Corolla Hybrid gets 60 mpg, so if you get reimbursed for gas by the mile, you would make out like a bandit.

I figured that a newer, low mileage car would have more reliability, less squeaks and rattles, etc. plus I would want something that would be presentable in a business setting if I were to take out my employees or bosses in the car.

I looked at the 2014 Camry. It is showing its age. Now considering a 2023 Camry LE for about $22k.

 

[atikovi]

Wee

I looked at the 2014 Camry. It is showing its age. Now considering a 2023 Camry LE for about $22k.

My 2020 Corolla even with a quarter million miles still looks like new and is less than half that price. How much more would a new Camry cost?

 

[Oillover]

Sounds pricy for a 10 year old Camry.

What about an Avalon? The V6 will get about 30 mpg on the highway and it's much more comfortable.

If I had to commute for work (especially highway), that would be my only consideration.
The only downside is they are becoming increasingly rare since production ended.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Wow. Thats a lot of money for all 3.

I think that Kia has the Nu engine - which might be better than the Theta 2, but jury is still out? Does it have a security key? Might be expensive to insure, and either way its a lot for a Kia.

The Fusion depends on the engine. The EcoBoosts still were not cross-drilled then IIRC - so engine is suspect going forward. I would be hard pass on a Fusion at that price.

The Camry is best of the bunch, and assuming its the 4cyl 2AR, I think that is new enough to avoid the oil burn, but still - $18K for a 10 year old Camry?

Your in California with expensive gas. How long is your commute? Blasphemy here but there giving away Tesla's currently - at least in other parts of the country.

Otherwise I would say seek out some other options, those all seem overpriced based on my local market.

 

[bamorris2]

Wow. Thats a lot of money for all 3.

I think that Kia has the Nu engine - which might be better than the Theta 2, but jury is still out? Does it have a security key? Might be expensive to insure, and either way its a lot for a Kia.

The Fusion depends on the engine. The EcoBoosts still were not cross-drilled then IIRC - so engine is suspect going forward. I would be hard pass on a Fusion at that price.

The Camry is best of the bunch, and assuming its the 4cyl 2AR, I think that is new enough to avoid the oil burn, but still - $18K for a 10 year old Camry?

Your in California with expensive gas. How long is your commute? Blasphemy here but there giving away Tesla's currently - at least in other parts of the country.

Otherwise I would say seek out some other options, those all seem overpriced based on my local market.

Agree, they are expensive. But seems to be par for the course in the area.

And regarding a Tesla, my commute is 350+ miles each way, and don’t want to have to deal with charging during the commute.

 

[Oillover]

And regarding a Tesla, my commute is 350+ miles each way, and don’t want to have to deal with charging during the commute.

I recently saw a YouTube video of a fellow who completed a 1200 mile journey on one tank of diesel from Morocco to London in a TDI VW.
It's really sad that vehicles like that aren't being produced anymore (at least not for the N. American market).

 

[dogememe]

Can you not go new? It seems like any good car has such good resale value that new is a better deal. The only cars that are a good deal used are not good cars.

And typically interest rates are lower on new cars than used. You can get a new Chevy Trax for under $25K.

 

[bamorris2]

Can you not go new? It seems like any good car has such good resale value that new is a better deal. And typically interest rates are lower on new cars than used. You can get a new Chevy Trax for under $25K.

I know what you mean about resale value of used compare to just buying new. I saw that when I bought my Ram 2500. However, all of the local Toyota dealers with base level (LE) Camrys in stock have mandatory dealer options of about $3k. BS stuff. But one dealer has a 2023 Camry LE with 13k miles for about $25,000 plus TTL. That saves about $5000 compared to going new with the BS fees.

And I am paying cash so interest rate is not in play.

 

[Delta]

Camry, not that I'm biased or anything

It WILL be a boring ride, don't get me wrong. But, should be reliable.

The 2AR for the most part is a good engine if taken care of. It has been known if mediocre maintenance has been done they will burn oil later on in life. Also, if I recall correctly that gen was known for torque converter issues. If you can find a 2015-2017 model they're less prone to the torque converter issues.

 

[wag123]

Now considering a 2023 Camry LE for about $22k.

This looks like a pretty good deal in today's market. How many miles are on it?

 

[Delta]

I looked at the 2014 Camry. It is showing its age. Now considering a 2023 Camry LE for about $22k.

Somehow glanced over this. We have a '23 SE and it is much more refined than the previous gen. I can get 40+mpg out of it fairly easy. Has tons of power for a 4 cylinder. Also has a spin on oil filter. One of the easiest oil changes I've done. The 8 speed automatic is more refined than the outgoing 6 speed. There were some early issues, but a 2023 is solid.

 

[snarl]

@bamorris2 Can you buy something in Arizona and drive it back?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

@bamorris2 Can you buy something in Arizona and drive it back?

not with California's strict smog check he can't

 

[bamorris2]

I ended up getting a 2020 Camry XSE with 36,000 miles from CarMax. One owner, well cared for, newer Michelin tires, service records documented in Toyotas database, etc. I definitely paid the CarMax premium, but feel I got a good car.

 

[macarose]

I own a popular car buying service on Facebook and have been a dealer for well over 20 years.

The Fusion with the 2.5 Liter offers the best bang for the buck by a country mile. It's the only one of the three that offers a powertrain with a low defect rate.

Forte engines have abysmal reliability and the Camry requires transmission servicing that very few people do.

I can get them ridiculously cheap at the wholesale auctions. I buy them from CT to CA. They aren't too common, but if you decide to want to know more feel free to PM me.

 

[bamorris2]

I own a popular car buying service on Facebook and have been a dealer for well over 20 years.

The Fusion with the 2.5 Liter offers the best bang for the buck by a country mile. It's the only one of the three that offers a powertrain with a low defect rate.

Forte engines have abysmal reliability and the Camry requires transmission servicing that very few people do.

I can get them ridiculously cheap at the wholesale auctions. I buy them from CT to CA. They aren't too common, but if you decide to want to know more feel free to PM me.

Thank you. I looked at serveral Fusions in the area, and every single one of them was a hot pile of garbage. I think ones in good condition are just getting hard to come by since they’ve been discontinued.

 

[macarose]

Thank you. I looked at serveral Fusions in the area, and every single one of them was a hot pile of garbage. I think ones in good condition are just getting hard to come by since they’ve been discontinued.

I buy them directly from Ford Motor Credit. Never from the fleet lease lanes.

 

[meep]

Camry, Fusion and Kia in that order. Kia as a last resort. The Camry will probably be the most reliable long term. I'm a huge Fusion fan because as a fire fighter we recently extricated someone out of one that ended up walking away once we could get him out. That car was a total mess but it became a "cocoon" as it was designed to and protected the driver extremely well. We're talking off a corner at a high rate of speed, sheared the steel road signs off flush with the ground, rolled down an embankment and ended up wedged between trees on its side. It even knocked several smaller trees over on the way in.

When I start looking for a newer car it'll be on top of the list.

At some point, the fusion was based on the p2 Volvo chassis. As a 3 time p2 owner, my impression of the chassis was *solid*. There was thick metal all over the cage in that car.

 

[Dave Hess]

I commute from California to Phoenix a few times a month for work, and I’m looking for something that will be comfortable and reliable, and not break the bank. Here are a few options available locally that I am considering. I would appreciate thoughts regarding them for my purpose. All 3 are around $18k, give or take. The prices are high, but that’s the market. I am not overly concerned about it.

2022 Kia Forte LXS. 30k miles

2019 Ford Fusion SE. 19k miles

2014 Toyota Camry LE. 45k miles

Camry