Need Help Choosing a Daily Driver/Beater

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afree

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Hello all. I'm currently searching for a car for my daily commute to work. I'm trying not to put so many miles on the Tacoma (leased but may either trade it in, give it back depending on penaltits or just buy it). I drive about 100 miles a day, total. The drive is approx. 99% highway (I live 1/4 mile away from the interesterate) and allegedly cruise around 85MPH. Anyways below are a few must-haves and nice-to-haves:

Must haves:
- Reliable (miles are key here)
- engine that's easy to maintain
- engine easy to work on
- gets decent gas mileage
- comfortable
- regular gas

Nice to haves
- fun to drive
- RWD
- leather seats
- something in the Toyota family

Now for the key factor, budget. I really don't want to spend a whole lot since it's going to be racking up miles like crazy and it's just going to be a car for work (already have a toy and a truck for other things) so I'm setting the budget at $5,000. If anyone else can convince me to get something more than that with an additional car payment, I'm all ears. Also suggestions about the lease are welcome too.

Thanks!
 
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Miata. Avoid the automatic, avoid any from up north. That should get the:
-fun to drive
-RWD
and whatever it may be lacking should have aftermarket support (leather, etc).

I forget what mpg's are, but if you can get one at a decent price, it should be close enough to not care.
 
Random question - but were you driving 100 miles a day when you leased the Tacoma? Driving 100 miles a day for work, 50 weeks a year is 25000 miles a year. Quite a bit for a lease.

Have you looked at 2WD 4 cylinder Tacomas? Seems like one of those would get good gas mileage.
 
I work with a guy who commutes 2:45 (ONE WAY) every day. He drives used Honda Accords. He buys them with about 80,000- 100,000 miles on them and sells them when they reach 200,000-220,000. I think a Camry or Avalon falls into your range. I hate civics and corollas for long commutes.

Also look at the Hyundai Sonata and the Nissan Altima. Great cars, reliable, comfortable to drive
 
Are you a big guy? I don't fit in Miatas.

Whatever you look at, Take it for a long test drive before you buy it.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Random question - but were you driving 100 miles a day when you leased the Tacoma? Driving 100 miles a day for work, 50 weeks a year is 25000 miles a year. Quite a bit for a lease.

Have you looked at 2WD 4 cylinder Tacomas? Seems like one of those would get good gas mileage.


At the time, no. I would still like to have a truck at the end of my lease but it's just not practical for highway driving (at higher speeds anyways).
 
No so much big as tall (6'1"). I think I would prefer something roomier and not a convertable.
 
I can't really think of any Toyota car that's going to be RWD in that price range. There's the Scion BRZ thing (the Subaru), but those are pretty new still. You might be able to find an Infiniti G35 or something in that range, those would be RWD I think. Or an older BMW, that would be fun to drive. Get an old one without all the electronics.
 
Originally Posted By: afree
At the time, no. I would still like to have a truck at the end of my lease but it's just not practical for highway driving (at higher speeds anyways).


Unfortunately long commutes suck money. When I asked around on this question, "many" said to go large sized (at least mid sized) for comfort, NVH and mpg. Heck a few said to go full sized truck: abysmal mpg but long lived drivetrains and slow depreciation. In the end I wound up with a 20 year old Camry to rack up miles on.
lol.gif
 
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The Toyota Solara is basically a Camry with 2 doors. If you don't need the extra set of doors that the Camry offers, this is a great alternative. I don't know about prices now but mine was definitely within your budget and had 138k at the time. Car runs well on a 4 banger and my commute is about half yours. It's the basic version, cloth seats, no nav or other gizmos. However they came with many options. For you, I'd recommend an SLE with leather V6 if you reallly need the power. Otherwise, it holds up well at 85 with the straight 4. From a maintenance standpoint, I just started working on cars, and maintenance couldn't be simpler on the Toyota 4 bangers. lots of room in the engine bay and everything is pretty self explanatory. All of what I just said applies to the Camrys of the same vintage (02-06 and 07-11 are all good years). A 4 cyl with leather may be hard to come by, so if you can find a V6 with the 3MZ-FE, get it onlyif it has a solid maintenance history. Camry XLEs come with all kinds of goodies, but most options from factory cost extra. My dad has an 05 with nav, alloys, leather, heated seats, wood trim and even adjustable pedals! However the V6 engines are known to be sludgers if the oil isn't changed within 5k. V6 may also be harder to work on as it is mounted transversally.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I was going to suggest an older Lexus, but then looked at your signature... How about a V6 Mustang? They must get pretty cheap quickly.


I was looking at the GS300 (larger, more luxury based version of the is300. They are very hard to come by and mpg is 18/25 (on premium).
 
2002-2010 Camry I4's were the 2.4, and those I thought were problem engines to be avoided--oil burners and headbolt pullers, depending upon which year. The 3MZ-FE might be nice but is still a timing belt motor. Plus the V6 models are usually more front-heavy, which changes handling.

Pretty sure Camry fails on the fun part--I get my kicks but I'm a pretty dull guy. No one buys a Camry because it's "fun". Not sure I'd recommend one, not for this usage. I'd skip the 2.4 altogether (unless if it was cheap), and not sure I'd want to mess with the V6 either.
 
In regards to purchasing the Tacoma when the lease is up...DO NOT do it because the resale values are insane on a Tacoma. The dealership will probably charge only a few thousand less off the original price even after the 3 years of leasing. I commute with a V6 4x4 Tacoma and the gas mileage is sub par (25K a year). I did have a few beater cars and I will be honest and say it was a waste of money. IMHO buying new and selling the vehicle either 13 years or 250K (which ever comes first) has been the best financial decision for me. However strict maintaince is key to keeping costs low. Good luck and think everything out prior to purchasing because you price range may be difficult to find a reliable and non problematic vehicle.
 
Originally Posted By: Oey12
In regards to purchasing the Tacoma when the lease is up...DO NOT do it because the resale values are insane on a Tacoma. The dealership will probably charge only a few thousand less off the original price even after the 3 years of leasing. I commute with a V6 4x4 Tacoma and the gas mileage is sub par (25K a year). I did have a few beater cars and I will be honest and say it was a waste of money. IMHO buying new and selling the vehicle either 13 years or 250K (which ever comes first) has been the best financial decision for me. However strict maintaince is key to keeping costs low. Good luck and think everything out prior to purchasing because you price range may be difficult to find a reliable and non problematic vehicle.


The option to buy price in the contract is ~$25k (the truck new was listed at $33k) so depending on the miles at the end of the lease it may be close to that.

And just for reference I average about 17mpg doing 85. Fill up maybe twice a week.
 
Anything Mazda. Miata's are great options, however if you need more room, the protege, and 3 are fun cars with quite a bit of aftermarket support. They can be had cheap and especially in your area will be rust free. Do not look for one from up north.
 
Corolla or Mazda 3 with manual transmission.

Why not ask your boss for a company vehicle if you are driving that many miles per year ?
 
Originally Posted By: afree
No so much big as tall (6'1"). I think I would prefer something roomier and not a convertable.


I am about 6'2" and had to ride to a business meeting in a Miata once...honestly thought I might perish before we got back to the office. My skull was just jammed up into the roof supports and I was miserable.
Might be OK for you if you're not long in the torso like me, but I suspect the Miata is not a good call for you.
 
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