Most reliable used car under $5,000 (sell, Mazda, Subaru, reliability)

[Liledgy]

I would buy a Lexus es330 (es350 would be tough to find under $5000.00. You can easily find a 2005-6 model for under $5000. Sure it may have more than 150k on it but most of the Lexus I looked at (Or were interested in) all had car fax (doesn’t show everything) reports with detailed information about service, and most of it was done at the Lexus dealer. Your getting a nice luxury car for the he price of a Camry, with the v6 engine. The 2007 Es 350 would be an even better choice because they replaced the timing belt with a chain (and a extra 55 hp!).

[zoomzoom3]

Find a '99 or '00 Civic Si if you can, amazing reliability and decent performance too.

[Marchwagon]

Originally Posted by censusdata

Honda or Toyota (pre 2005) are the most reliable that I've seen for used cars - obviously Toyota's recent quality has greatly fallen but the older ones are as good as it gets. I drive a 2000 Corolla w/ 130,000 miles that has never needed ANY repairs, not even an alternator.

Is the 2000 Corolla still going 9 years later?

[louie0406]

Toyota Corolla.

End of thread!

[Coldjensens]

Brands ofr model are not going to get you the most reliable car. It depends on how the car was cared for, how it was driven and its condition. Brand or model is irrelevant, unless there are specific things you are looking for. For example if you drive faster than 70 MPH, then a Corolla is out. If you need high MPG than an F-150 is out. If you do not want something ugly, scratch the Prius and Honda Element (among others). If silly looking bothers you, scratch the Cube and a few others.

Once you decide what you want and do not want in a car, then start looking at specific examples and find one in great shape. A carefully used and maintained Chevy Malibu is going to be far more reliable than a Corolla that was owned by a teenager, driven irresponsibly and not maintained properly, or a Honda Ridgeline that someone tried to use as a pick-up and loaded it up or towed with it, or drove on rough uneven trails, or pulled a tree out with it or. . .

It all depends on the specific car or truck you are looking at, not the brand or model. Anything can be reliable, anything can be a lemon.

[SAAN]

Originally Posted by louie0406

Toyota Corolla.

End of thread!

Ford Focus...after you change the DCT Transmission a few times, you are set to go. I wonder how these CVT equipped Corollas will hold up long term.

[notnamed]

Originally Posted by SAAN

Ford Focus...after you change the DCT Transmission a few times, you are set to go. I wonder how these CVT equipped Corollas will hold up long term.

Just get a manual.

[unit731]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Brands ofr model are not going to get you the most reliable car. It depends on how the car was cared for, how it was driven and its condition. Brand or model is irrelevant, unless there are specific things you are looking for. For example if you drive faster than 70 MPH, then a Corolla is out. If you need high MPG than an F-150 is out. If you do not want something ugly, scratch the Prius and Honda Element (among others). If silly looking bothers you, scratch the Cube and a few others.

Once you decide what you want and do not want in a car, then start looking at specific examples and find one in great shape. A carefully used and maintained Chevy Malibu is going to be far more reliable than a Corolla that was owned by a teenager, driven irresponsibly and not maintained properly, or a Honda Ridgeline that someone tried to use as a pick-up and loaded it up or towed with it, or drove on rough uneven trails, or pulled a tree out with it or. . .

It all depends on the specific car or truck you are looking at, not the brand or model. Anything can be reliable, anything can be a lemon.

Exactly.

That is what I stated earlier using other words. This is it. But this concept doesn't seem to sink in to many.
They just don't get it. Don't know why. Maybe it is reading comprehension. Or they are seeking non correct answers. For some obtuse reason. Or they have no reasoning at all. But above is it.

[Linda Richards]

SUPER-RELIABLE UNDER $5000
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HONDA FIT (5 speed)

SCION xB (5 speed)



The first generation SCION xB ("the box" with 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine) year models:2004, 2005, 2006
******These are great vehicles that will easily surpass 200,000 miles. These are now really old today (13 1/2 to 15 1/2 YEARS OLD ) such that finding a "one owner" xB with fewer than 100,000 miles will be very difficult now! You should strive for finding a LOW MILEAGE "one owner" if at all possible.
Here is why: Because these xB are SO OLD now that their market resale value is so low relative to the Quality of the vehicle that you'll see 210,000 mile xB and 93,000 mile xB priced almost the same.
GO WITH LOWEST MILE one owner THAT YOU CAN FIND, BUT MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE A/C SYSTEM BLOWS COLD, AND THAT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT and THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON SCHEDULE.



The first generation HONDA FIT (years 2007 and 2008 for USA mkt )
Great cars, it doesn't matter if it is BASE or SPORT model----------------NO REAL DIFFERENCE other than 15 inch alloy wheels versus 14 inch wheels and SPORT has better STEREO and CRUISE CONTROL-----BASE MODEL does not have CRUISE CONTROL------------------all have power windows, A/C and Rear Wiper -------------THE SPORT and BASE have the exact same Engine (1.5 liter 109hp) and the same Transmissions(either 5 speed Manual or AUTOMATIC) ---------------THE SPORT MODEL HAS BODY SPOILERS(airdam in front)(overhang wing in rear)
******************SAME RECOMMENDATION AS FOR THE SCION xB above--------GET THE LOWEST MILE "ONE-OWNER" Fit THAT YOU CAN FIND--------------SAME ADVICE: IF THE A/C DOES NOT FUNCTION, THEN YOU DONT WANT IT BECAUSE THAT IS INDICATIVE OF A CHEAP OWNER THAT DEFERS NEEDED MAINTENANCE------MAKE CERTAIN ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON SCHEDULE AND THAT THE CAR HAS ZERO MECHANICAL ISSUES----------------You never want to BUY a USED vehicle that has Non functional A/C BECAUSE THE COST TO REPAIR THE A/C WILL BE AT LEAST THREE TIMES what the seller or dealer TELLS YOU it will be!!! Think about it if it was inexpensive and simple, they would have already done so because it would make the car more marketable and driveable. Same thing can be said about BRAKES etc....... so beware!




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ALL 2009 and LATER HONDA FIT (manual trans) models ARE RECOMMENDED!!!
ALL 2008 (2nd Gen SCION xB) and later SCION xB (manual trans) models ARE RECOMMENDED!!!
The second generation 2008 and later SCION xB has the larger 4 cylinder from the HONDA ACCORD.

As for AUTOMATIC TRANS models of HONDA FIT and SCION xB:
You must be very careful to find "One OWNER" or two owner cars WHERE THE FAMILIES THAT OWNED SAID CAR, LOVINGLY CARED FOR IT, GARAGED IT, AND DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON TIME AS SCHEDULED! You absolutely DO NOT want any AUTO TRANS car that was just driven 168,000 miles with zero maintenance, oil changes, etc-------------------YES, these cars Will DRIVE FOR MANY MILES WITH ZERO MAINTENANCE, BUT AT SOMEPOINT THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WILL "Grenade" SUCH THAT YOU WILL NEED A NEW TRANS or ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REBUILD (read that as at least $3500 + in repairs------enough that You'll junk the car as it won't be worth repairing as you can buy another that old or newer with lower miles/exc maintenance for not much more.

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ALSO DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE 2007 fIT because though the 2007 model was the first IMPORTED to the USA and CANADA, the car had been in production since the 2002 MODEL year in JAPAN. The 2007 and 2008 FIT models are nearly unchanged from the Japanese 2002 HONDA JAZZ, what the name was there. If you were not aware, The HONDA FIT models are 100% made in Japan.
Same warnings about finding ONE-OWNER well cared for AUTOMATIC models.
Like the SCION, the manual tranny FIT can withstand much more abuse than the AUTOMATIC.
THE AUTOMATIC is completely reliable in both the SCION and FIT BUT REMEMBER THAT IF IT WAS OWNED BY SOME DOOFUS THAT REALLY ABUSED IT, YOU MIGHT HAVE ISSUES WITH A HIGH MILEAGE AUTOMATIC. I hope this information is useful!

[OutdoorLover]

I agree that if you are trying to watch your money and want reliable, watch out for used Volvos Either Honda or Toyota will be your best bet and they both make cars that are good on gas too. For $5K as the final price (not the listing price), you might also be able to get an Accord or Camry - they'd be a little safer in an accident than the Civic or Corolla just in virtue of having more metal to shield the occupants, and they should still get decent mileage with a 4-cyl engine. Hondas are usually a little more fun to drive, and Toyota has a little edge in reliability, but they are both reliable, well engineered cars.