Good reliable small car?

Scooby · Feb 24, 2004

Ok guys...I need a tip.

Looking for a used small/ compact sedan. Prefer 4 cylinder/ 5 speed, looking to spend less than $3000. Have been looking at Toyota Corolla's, Honda Civic's, but they are a little pricey. I sold a 1995 Corolla a few years ago, and wishing I had kept it.

This car will be used as a commuter car and need something that will get good gas mileage (>30mpg preferred).

Read in the oil forum that the Ford Escort is a reliable car. I owned a 1991 model that was good, but not the most reliable car.

Any ideas are appreciated.

JohnBrowning · Feb 24, 2004

See if you can find an older low mileage Carolla. The 4AG engine was almost industructable!! I am thinking 1990 or 1991. You might also look for Toyta Starlets. I belive they had the same engine avaialbe. The starlet was rear wheel drive! If you look at a Starlet check the 5 speed out this is that cars weak link and you really do not want to rebuild one or try to find one if it can be helped! If you can find an old low millage one you can get it for a song! When you look at the low initial price of a Carolla they hold their value really well. This is especialy true when compared to a Geo Metro or Cavalier!

JTK · Feb 24, 2004

I've always had great luck with the Nissan Sentra. Have had two of them. Less money than a comparable Honda or Toyota & IMHO, just as reliable. If you want to go domestic, you can't beat a Chevrolet Cavalier for cheap, reliable & economical transportation.
G/luck
Joel

radiometer · Feb 24, 2004

Scooby, I'm no expert but I am quite mechanical and do most of what is done with my cars. I do have an excellent mechanic friend who owns his business shop and is available for consultation on projects I undertake. He has said the several cars you mentioned are very good choices. Our family members have enjoyed driving Hondas and Nissans and a Mitsubishi well over 200k miles with no major problems nor nagging onging problems we had so much of when we once used domestic makes. My mechanic friend consulted with our daughter on her car purchases and explained to her the makes you mentioned and the ones I mentioned are very excellent choices in his experience. Based on his experience he cautioned her against something like the Escort and several other domestics he named. That's from his work experiences, not my opinion. Others have had differing experiences and that is very well. He finally stopped working on domestics and I asked him about it. He explained to me that on the domestics the customers were constantly having to return because of reliability problems. He said he could service most of the cars we named and the customer could expect more trouble free service and that is much better for his business. I fully realize this is his experience and I have had mine. Others have had good experiences with domestics and I am completely happy with that. Someone needs to be buying that stuff.

[ February 24, 2004, 10:51 PM: Message edited by: krholm ]

totttalled · Feb 24, 2004

In your price range, check out the rare but worth looking for Mercury Tracer. This is actually a Mazda Protege, built in Japan and a great cheap car.

cryptokid · Feb 24, 2004

another option is a 95-97 kia sephia. i know kias have a bad rap, but they are actually 100% mazda clones. every part on the car is mazda. and their resale value is so low that you can pick up a good low mileage used sephia for under 1000 dollars.

totttalled · Feb 24, 2004

another option is a 95-97 kia sephia. i know kias have a bad rap, but they are actually 100% mazda clones. every part on the car is mazda. and their resale value is so low that you can pick up a good low mileage used sephia for under 1000 dollars.

YOU LIE!!

Ferb · Feb 24, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by totttalled:

YOU LIE!!

Well now.. With an opinion like that, you MUST tell us more! (/sarcasm)

WRT the Mercury Tracer. My grandmother has one and, although gutless, seems like a decent ride. No major engine problems in the 6 years she's owned it. She had the wagon and it was pretty good to haul in.

ferb!

therion · Feb 24, 2004

Look around for Toyota Cressedas!! they have a I-6 engine, and are RWD. Best older car you can buy for cheap.

mikep · Feb 24, 2004

Lots of good solid choices. I'll add to the already crowded waters;

Ford Escort / Mercury Tracer
older Carolla
older Civic (I know of two over 250,000 miles)
Mazda 626 4dr. / MX6 2dr. (non-turbos)
Sentra

Neonmike22 · Feb 24, 2004

I just picked up another neon for $1000 on eBay. It's a '95 under 100k miles and has been a very solid car so far. Just took a road trip this weekend and saw 45mpg on the highway.

$3000 would buy a rather nice highish mileage 98 like my first neon that already has the headgasket fix.

eljefino · Feb 24, 2004

Here's a vote for saturns... if you know how to use a dipstick they'll putt along quite nicely at a low cost per mile.

They run timing chains, not belts, and stuff like water pumps are easy to get at. The only achilles heel is a piston ring that clogs easily, burning oil. Keep an eye on the oil and they're good to go.

The japanese cars are going to have higher liability insurance rates, b/c punk kids are buying them after watching "Fast and the Furious".

Scooby · Feb 25, 2004

Thanks for the opinions guys.

I got a call from my wife's grandfather today. He has a line on a friend's car. He is a salesman and drives A LOT. The car is a 2002 Toyota Camry, 4 cylinder and auto (wanted a 5 speed). The car is in immaculate condition in and out and has all maintenance done at local dealership. Only downfall is the current mileage is 135k. Low for a Toyota, but all highway. Oh, he is asking more than I am looking to pay ($3700), but even kbb value is nearly $7k with that mileage.

My wife's grandfather bought a 1999 Crown Vic from him with 180k miles and has had zero problems so far.

What do you guys think?

totttalled · Feb 25, 2004

An immaculate 02 Camry with 135K for $3700???? Jump on that! 135K is just nicely broken in. Congratulations on your find.

eljefino · Feb 25, 2004

Another vote for that Camry! Dang! Eat ramen noodles for a month if you need to.

Scooby · Feb 25, 2004

I'm gonna try to swing it if I can.

He said that the company is cutting some money, so it may be a few months before he can sell it. He was told to sell it by end of March, but may be a bit longer now.

We'll see what happens.

Thanks again

pacem · Feb 25, 2004

No experience with any cars above, but check out Subarus. Like Loyale. They are a dime a dozen. My auto gets 29 regularly. Had 190,000 miles on it. Had to replace the engine at about 180,000 and the tranny at about 150,000. Nevertheless, no front end work and nothing else majorly wrong. Their resale value is so low, you should be able to find one for $1000.

For the price you mention, I would look for a nicer Legacy. It gets lower 25-27mpg. Both have non-interference engines so if you timing belts fail, no engine damage unlike in a Honda.

Also station wagons are most practical.

You can also check out Ford Tempo, like '94. Troublesome car so market value is nil. Check out what they sell for on ebay. '94 with 80K miles for about $1,000.

mikep · Feb 25, 2004

Yet another vote for the Camry! If he has to wait another month before he can sell that will give you even more time to save a few extra $$. Plus, since he's a salesman and will put a bunch more miles on the car in that time perhaps you can squeeze another few hundred dollars off the price.

Mikep

T-Keith · Feb 25, 2004

I know this isn't what your looking for, but I paid $400 for my Grand Am, and other than maintenance(brakes, oil, ect.), new exhaust, and an alternator, I have only spent $20 on it. It regularly gets 30+ Mpg on my commute (70+ with stoplights), and parts are dirt cheap. I just got new front pads and rotors for $57, oil changes are under $7. The car has 186,000 miles, and I've put on over 30,000 of that. It has never left me stranded, and has been dead reliable the whole way.

Cost of ownership per mile has been less than 3 cents a mile, including all maintenence and new tires. Never underestimate a beater car.

-T

[ February 25, 2004, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: T-Keith ]

cousincletus · Feb 25, 2004

I have a Chevy Cavalier and it has been problem free for over two years. The last Cavalier (1993) went 120,000 mostly city miles while I had it. It was still running well. A GM drivetrain is hard to beat. You rarely ever have the typical Japanese problems like failed transmissions and C/V boots, and parts are lots cheaper than imported parts and more available. In addition, you can get a newer model cheaper. Just do the maintenance and you'll have very few problems. Dodge Neon is another good choice. BTW, my '02 Cavalier (2200 OHV engine with 5 speed) gets no less than 30 mpg and on the highway gets close to 40.

Good reliable small car?

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