Most reliable used simple/basic vehicle

[Sequoiasoon]

Space - more is better, 4 doors a must. Kids won't get smaller. When my Corolla got totaled the Sonata was MUCH nicer for doing anything and my kids were young still. Had that long enough for them to learn to drive on. The Jetta would be the smallest I would look at unless you plan to replace it again in a couple years.

My Sonata was an '07 with 5MT. I got 220k from it before something in motor went. Hindsight if I had done timing chain it might have lived. I think it was actually balance shaft module chain behind timing chain but they get done as a kit. Motor still ran well but had a vibration at 3k rpm and then started spraying oil.

 

[andrew_j]

At that price point whatever you like best. It’s a throwaway car. It would be rare however losing $4k hopefully is a bummer not a problem in your life situation.

 

[fdcg27]

and there's also the Mazda5 minivan. Yes, it was available with a manual transmission

Oddly enough, I just bought one of these.
Ran across a really nice '14 at a little used car place between Oxford and Millville on US 27 maybe a hundred yards from where the King of Clubs and the Rusty Nail once were. Any Miami graduate from fifty years back would know what I'm talking about.
Anyway, really nice in and out and worth the 7.2K I got them down to.
The six speed is a little confusing at first bite, but you quickly learn the three gate pattern.
Sixth is only really usable above sixty or so. With 157 bhp versus around 3400 lbs empty, lots of shifting will be in your future, although sixth is only 25 mph/thousand.
Anyway, it was a pleasure to drive a stick again after around eight years and these are roomy little things.

 

[Corollaman]

I live 2 miles from work and I'm looking for a used, sub $4,000 dollar car which will allow me to keep my truck in the garage and not short tripped daily. This car must meet the following criteria: reliable, simple, manual trans, and seating for 4. I'm mechanically inclined and don't mind working on things.

Also before you comment, it's not a safe walk/bike ride to work and I wear a suit/tie.

What vehicles come to mind and why?

My search thus far has included the following in order of interest:
Honda Fit
Scion xB
Nissan Versa
Honda Civic
Mitsubishi Mirage
Ford Focus

The best condition toyota drive train you can find, Corolla, Vibe, or Scion. You may pay a little more up front but it will probably be a better buy in the end.

 

[PandaBear]

2 miles. You can drive a car with a blown head gasket and slipping transmission and still get there, and do it for 10 years.

 

[Rmay635703]

2010 Chevy Cobalt base are reliable if you can find one without tons of rust.

Key word base, only option should be ac

If you don’t mind replacing timing chains and rusty fuel lines most of them go a long time.

 

[D60]

The '08-11 Focii are bomber, too. Even the automatics. As with all things, condition is key. Find a clean, well maintained and not-abused example of whatever make/model you choose.

 

[D60]

Ford Focus has a terrible reputation due to the auto transmission. Find a manual, benefit from low price due to reputation, Win! I had a 2013 Focus, bought in 2015. Daughter drove it until 2021. It was a great car, no big issues and got a decent amount when I sold it. I highly recommend a manual Focus.

Starting in '12. The prior 4 speed was good. The biggest problem with '08-11 is the overly-complicated sunroof dies (usually open, of course).

And of course idle vibration due to engine mounts.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Back in the day, there use to be $ 500 beaters requiring minimum work. Those days are loooonnngggg gone. Anyway, found an 06' Camry Le a neighbor was selling. Automatic trans though, sorry. Sticks are hard to find. Little old man, original owner. This was 2024, so that makes the car 18 yrs old. $ 1500 bucks. 120k on the ODO. Nice and straight / no accidents. Can't kill that 2AZ-FE engine or that tranny, that's why I got it. Put tires on it. Runs great !

 

[dja4260]

I'll keep an eye on his inventory. I'm staying in ATL for a flight tomorrow, maybe I can drive on home upon my return flights next week!

 

[Starving Electrician]

I would get Jetta before anything on that list. Civic will be good, but far less space.
Others I would not even consider next to Jetta, especially in rust compartment if it is an issue.

A Jetta over a Civic for a beater? I mean if you love to work on needlessly complex Euro trash and love low parts availability with high prices then yeah it would be a great choice.

So if you want a beater that makes a terrible beater in basically every way yeah a Jetta is a great idea. If you want a beater that serves its purpose it is a horrible choice. Not Jeep Wrangler bad but still pretty bad.

 

[edyvw]

A Jetta over a Civic for a beater? I mean if you love to work on needlessly complex Euro trash and love low parts availability with high prices then yeah it would be a great choice.

So if you want a beater that makes a terrible beater in basically every way yeah a Jetta is a great idea. If you want a beater that serves its purpose it is a horrible choice. Not Jeep Wrangler bad but still pretty bad.

Ok, tell us what is the problem on Jetta?
I mean I have two Euro cars, Toyota and Honda.
Euro aftermarket parts are far easier to source (of better quality too).
Now, I had probably 40+ cars, European mosy, but Japanese too. I own Honda Pilot right now too. I own VW and BMW.
So, tell me exactly what is wrong with that Jetta, how it is ahrd to source parts etc. And, how many VW’s did you actually own?

 

[IndyIan]

A fwd 2013-6 CX-5 should be pretty cheap now? They even had a manual available, but I read they had some issues with popping out of 3rd and 4th. 35 cuft of cargo space is nice too.

 

[4WD]

Most reliable used simple/basic vehicle?
Out of the 30-something cars I owned in over a decade here are my favorites.

OBS GMT400. 4.3L, TH400, 34gal tank. 'Nuff said.
View attachment 287055

These Hyundai Accents are plentiful, often around $2000-$3000 with 100-150k miles. Fun, need nothing extra. Fuel, oil, tires, and a easiest timing belt job once every 90k miles.
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It's basically a Corolla Hatchback. Your biggest issue will be replacing the odometer when it stops at 299,999 miles. I sold this one at 280k miles.
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Second generation Pontiac Vibes are also fun. The optional bigger 2.4L is a nice bonus. Quick enough, and 32MPG.
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Here is a close cousin of the Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix, and Toyota Corolla: the Scion xB. Amazing car honestly. This was my first one, killed by 5AM deer.
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Loved the xB so much that now have another one, pushing 230k trouble free miles. VRP 5W-30 completely cured oil consumption on this 2.4L.
View attachment 287045

These FIATs are very underrated. 1.4T and a six-speed manual. Fun, yet I easily achieved 43MPG on long trips. Europe has these engines in everything, and with timely timing belt replacements these are know as Million Kilometer engines. That's over 600k miles in McDonald's units.
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First gen CRVs are a hoot with the 5-speed and AWD. When I had All Terrains on it - it was tons of fun on sand, mud, snow, ice. Not a rock crawler obviously. More for rally-inspired driving.
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Infiniti EX35, love this car. Recently bought it for $3200, and it needs nothing at 150k miles. It's a hoot with a boot, thanks to the VQ35 engine.
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This was also cheap and reliable. I had my fun with it, sold it, and still see it often around town. The new owner isn't so great about maintenance though, so now it's burning oil, judging by the blue smoke clouds behind it... Sad I loved this swagger wagon spaceship. Fully reclined seats almost formed a bed, quite comfy.
View attachment 287051

I like and appreciate all the cars, as long as they're $1500-$4000. I refuse to buy a daily for more than $5000. But I'd probably find something to love even about a Pontiac Aztec or Fiat Multipla, if I ever owned one of those...

Had a 1500WT 4WD like that - wish I’d kept it …

 

[IndyIan]

Ok, tell us what is the problem on Jetta?
I mean I have two Euro cars, Toyota and Honda.
Euro aftermarket parts are far easier to source (of better quality too).
Now, I had probably 40+ cars, European mosy, but Japanese too. I own Honda Pilot right now too. I own VW and BMW.
So, tell me exactly what is wrong with that Jetta, how it is ahrd to source parts etc. And, how many VW’s did you actually own?

This is what is scary about VW. Here's the car-part.com list of transmissions available for a 2011 Jetta.

[td]

AT, 2.5L, transmission ID HRM AT, 2.5L, transmission ID JUJ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KGQ AT, 2.5L, transmission ID KBV AT, 2.5L, transmission ID KGL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID JTZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KCZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KNC AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KPV AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID MMA MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID HGR MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID JCR MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID JCT MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID KPF MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID KZS MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID LHD AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID KQC AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID LQV AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID MFL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LTL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LTR AT, 2.5L, transmission ID MAN AT, 2.5L, transmission ID PDW MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LDZ MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LEA MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LNY AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID MSV AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LQZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID MAM MT, 2.0L, 5 speed, transmission ID JDQ MT, 2.0L, 5 speed, transmission ID LDZ MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID KRM

[/td]​

Here's the list for a 2011 Corolla

[td]

AT, FWD, 4 speed AT, FWD, 5 speed (XRS) MT, FWD, (5 speed), XRS MT, FWD, (5 speed), exc. XRS

[/td]​

 

[edyvw]

This is what is scary about VW. Here's the car-part.com list of transmissions available for a 2011 Jetta.

[td]
​

AT, 2.5L, transmission ID HRM AT, 2.5L, transmission ID JUJ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KGQ AT, 2.5L, transmission ID KBV AT, 2.5L, transmission ID KGL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID JTZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KCZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KNC AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID KPV AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID MMA MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID HGR MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID JCR MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID JCT MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID KPF MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID KZS MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID LHD AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID KQC AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID LQV AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID MFL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LTL AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LTR AT, 2.5L, transmission ID MAN AT, 2.5L, transmission ID PDW MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LDZ MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LEA MT, 2.5L, (5 speed), transmission ID LNY AT, 2.0L, diesel, transmission ID MSV AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID LQZ AT, 2.0L, gasoline, transmission ID MAM MT, 2.0L, 5 speed, transmission ID JDQ MT, 2.0L, 5 speed, transmission ID LDZ MT, 2.0L, 6 speed, transmission ID KRM

[/td]​

Here's the list for a 2011 Corolla

[td]
​

AT, FWD, 4 speed AT, FWD, 5 speed (XRS) MT, FWD, (5 speed), XRS MT, FWD, (5 speed), exc. XRS

[/td]​

And how does that translate to the owner? If the owner needs a clutch check option on FCP or RA. It is no different than any other brand. Literally only one option if you want to replace the clutch kit, for example, on a manual transmission.
AT is anyway Aisin.

 

[JeffKeryk]

If you can find a 1st gen Acura TSX within your budget, that has been serviced properly, I bet you will love it. There are 6 speeds, but most are AT.

 

[Starving Electrician]

Ok, tell us what is the problem on Jetta?
I mean I have two Euro cars, Toyota and Honda.
Euro aftermarket parts are far easier to source (of better quality too).
Now, I had probably 40+ cars, European mosy, but Japanese too. I own Honda Pilot right now too. I own VW and BMW.
So, tell me exactly what is wrong with that Jetta, how it is ahrd to source parts etc. And, how many VW’s did you actually own?

I've owned 2 VW's and only two. One was a Jetta they primarily they have electrical issues galore. With most of the electronics being a pain to access. Why is the ECU under a cowl behind the firewall? Why not inside the cab under the dash or under a seat, or behind the glove box. You know a reasonable logical place to put one that makes it accessible? You know like a decent company.

What about the throttle body that I assume was designed by a 12 year old on a Gameboy because of how failure prone they are. Then there was the timing chain tensioner recall that had me finally convince my then girlfriend now wife to get rid of the thing.

Drive what you want but VW's are the Chrysler's of Europe. Pretty terrible but somehow having a fan base that I assume have either Stockholm Syndrome or are just masochistic and enjoy the pain.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I thought " Vee-Dubbs" stood for The peoples car ? With those "peoples", who needs enemies ?? LOL

 

[trd1zz]

If you're going to suggest $4000 VW's why not take it further and suggest an old w211 E class, or even worse an S class. Or an old BMW 3 series? You can get them in running condition for sub $4000. But they won't be running for long without needing work ($$)!