RIP Corolla , need car recomendation

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Voltmaster

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Oct 8, 2012
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Hey guys,
Yesterday I got in a car accident, and the angle that the cars collided made some serious frame damage , nothing in the engine compartment is damaged except for the washer fluid and the headlight. So the car is not worth fixing.

Now , I need to find a car within a week.
I am open to both leasing and buying a used one...


I am going to a 4-year university in fall and going to be driving up and down california on biweekly basis, so fuel efficiency is my main concern.

I also need to be easily repairable for easy stuff.

How are scions when it comes to used cars? they made by toyota so I am not sure if they carry their DNA or not?


Thanks
 
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Glad you weren't hurt in the accident. I would go used. Primarily 4 bangers with timing chains. Kinda tricky because the new DI engines get great mileage but it would be hard to find a used one. I would look at 5 to 10 yr old cars being in California, should be any worry about rust/salt.
 
I would not finance. At the end of 4-5 years you have bought the car, but it isn't yours.

I'd buy a beater if I had to, something that barely runs, but pay cash. The idea is that you continue to save up and buy something better while planning on selling the beater and combining the savings and whatever is made from selling the beater.
I've seen guys that buy a beater for $500-$700 cash put some time and effort into it, and continue to save their pennies.
After a few months they sell the car for the same $500-$700 if not a bit more (I've watched friends flip Honda's that they fixed for $5000 more than they bought it for after serious work on the car.)
The idea is that it adds up in the end, and you are not going into a huge amount of debt.

However, that being said, most folks don't have the time energy or knowledge to do a good job fixing a car. Personally,I'd prefer something nice but used.
If you can pay cash do it.

Don't buy something you can't afford to impress someone you don't know.
 
What year is the wreck? Are you keeping or filing a claim? Plenty of donor bodies out there in rust free CA that could use a nice engine and transmission you maintained. You could swap it over reasonably cheap and continue on. The other option is file a claim, insurance goes UP. Buy a new car, insurance goes UP. Double whammy.
 
Camry or Corolla. Consumer Reports has lists of cars (lists of cars to avoid, and lists of cars that are above average).

I would not get something that needs a lot of work since as a freshman you need to spend your time on your studies.
 
Late cavalier or early cobalt with ecotec. 2004+ have better motors, the early ones had timing chain issues. Also saturn ions and chevy "classic" malibus with same motor.
 
Toyota - if buying go with a 04+ Corolla. Quiet in the forums, no issues at all. DO NOT buy a 98-02 Corolla (severe oil consumption problems). Camry has diff problems in each year. Mostly the I4 2AZ-FE's (oil burning, water pumps, lousy idle, etc.) Recommend the v6. Better idle, less problems, approx the same gas mileage. Getting a 4 cyl Camry to save gas is somewhat of a myth, they are very close. If you decide you want the 2AZ-FE I can tell you anything you want to know.

My next vehicle is going to be.. the Honda CRV. Looks like a tough little vehicle. High off the ground, AWD, hatch, etc. I'm always hitting curbs, scraping the bottom in my job so the height will be good.
 
Thanks for all the input guys,

I really dont want another Corolla, i want to try a new car for a few years and get rire of it.


My car was not deemed total ( no air bag deployment ) , it has some electrical problems and interior is bad hence why its not worth fixing.

Looks like i should try grab camery at auction.
 
With all due respect to Leaky...and I mean that wholeheartedly...

my 05 I4 2AZ-FE exhibits no "oil burning, [failing] water pumps, lousy idle, etc.

It may be that that generation5 Camry had by 05/06 been sufficiently refined of all bugs...but Kitacamry runs showroom smooth without any engine rattle or diminished structural integrity...

Owner1 did blow the clutch, and the dealer replaced her indie-replaced 2nd clutch with OEM parts so I'm running on the 3rd, but it is, as I said, smooth as silk...better at 100k miles when I bought it than either of the Altimas I had bought @ 55k.

Okay, maybe I got lucky...buying any used car does require some luck, but still, I'm very pleased and willing to recommend it....

One possibility I always thought would be fun was putting a card on windshields of parked cars with an offer to buy...
 
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How new is the "newer" car that you want?

If you are driving up and down California (that's likely a 400-500 miles each way) all the time, fuel economy is a must. I used to do that biweekly and with a 100 miles round trip commute to work, I racked up 40k miles a year.

I'd consider nothing below 30 mpg on highway, and would seriously be looking into used Prius. If you don't mind slightly older car the 1st gen Honda Insight would be awesome in stick with their lean burn engine. You may have to look around for one that still has a good battery warranty.
 
Do not fear the timing belt
smile.gif
Look for a used Elantra. They can usually be found for less money than a Corolla and are reliable cars. I have had great reliability out of the Hyundai and Kia vehicles I have owned and they are usually a bit cheaper than some of their competitors. Maintenance is pretty cheap and they are reasonably easy to work on. Our Elantra is a nice little car and I believe that they offer a lot of bang for your buck. I frequently see these cars being sold on Craigslist with upwards of 150-200k miles so I have no doubts regarding reliability. Ours has been solid and I would buy another in a heartbeat.
 
Corolla is a good bet but 5th gen camry 2AZ-FE is solid in my case, no oil burning issues on both my wifey's and her friend's (which I also maintain/service). No water pump fallouts or lousy idle issues whatsoever.

Also: the 98 -02 corolla oil burning issue is waaay over exaggerated on the internet, citing that I'm currently help maintaining 2 high mileage corollas (one is a 99, the other is 01, both previously maintained by stealerships using bulk oils)...one currently has over 236k, the other is around 200k, both burns approx. 1.5qt every 5k OCI, and been steady since I took charge of the maintenance (oil change, mechanical repairs, tuneups, etc.)

Q.
 
Originally Posted By: fisher83
Do not fear the timing belt
smile.gif



The going rate to replace the timing belt on a FWD 4 cylinder is usually around $200 labor, not a big deal if you gain a good mpg.
 
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
How new is the "newer" car that you want?

If you are driving up and down California (that's likely a 400-500 miles each way) all the time, fuel economy is a must. I used to do that biweekly and with a 100 miles round trip commute to work, I racked up 40k miles a year.

I'd consider nothing below 30 mpg on highway, and would seriously be looking into used Prius. If you don't mind slightly older car the 1st gen Honda Insight would be awesome in stick with their lean burn engine. You may have to look around for one that still has a good battery warranty.


Prius is beyond my budget and anything with 2 many miles means that battery will need to be replaced soon or latter.
 
Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
Prius is beyond my budget and anything with 2 many miles means that battery will need to be replaced soon or latter.


How many miles and how much is in your budget?
 
there are a bazillion 2az-fe's out there, my scion included. i love it even though it is an old 4 banger relative to the wave of new engines the last 3 years. it is VERY smooth.
 
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