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Can anyone recommend an inexpensive car that I can use for local driving of at most 30 miles per week? I've never leased a car or purchased a used car before, and I'm trying to figure out what to do - do I lease a new car, lease a certified pre-owned car, or what.
The backstory is that we recently bought a 2015 Honda CRV which is our family car that my wife uses for transporting my daughter, for road trips, visiting family, etc.
I had been using a 2006 VW Jetta for local driving to the train station (commute is about 3 miles round trip per day, plus occasional errands on weekends), but it basically died and requires $3500 of work. I need to replace this secondary car, but I really don't want to spend a ton of money, and nor do I want someone else's headache.
Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.
I do my own repairs and researched sedans and their typical problems. I was looking for a car that isn't appreciated and does not hold its value, but doesn't run into major transmission or engine problems. Having a need to check on sway bars and similar smaller issues, I can deal with.
Research cars' usual problem areas and buy something used for which the owner kept a record of oil changes, replaced parts, etc...
Typical will be Civic and Corolla both manual. Mazda 3. The old ones. pre - 2000. Depending on how big you are, Geo Metro is a great small car for that type of commutes.
Just about anything can go 3 miles a day. I'd get an older pickup truck.
Gas mileage doesn't matter when you're driving 30 miles a week.
A commuter car is only good for commuting. A pickup truck is really useful for other things.
If you're going to get something you rarely drive, you might as well get something that can multitask.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I had the same situation, but double (6 miles round trip) and also considered that to be the worst possible conditions for a car, barely getting warmed up and never going on the freeway to burn out the condensation. For that reason I bought a 1997 Escort 5 speed with 146,000 miles for $950. The insurance is minimum liability, and very cheap, and now with 170,000 miles it's been very reliable, until last week, when the AC went out on a 90 degree day. It's saving me from premature wear and door dings on the two newer cars but not worth spending a lot of money on repairs, so now it's the windows open on the way home.
Can anyone recommend an inexpensive car that I can use for local driving of at most 30 miles per week? I've never leased a car or purchased a used car before, and I'm trying to figure out what to do - do I lease a new car, lease a certified pre-owned car, or what.
The backstory is that we recently bought a 2015 Honda CRV which is our family car that my wife uses for transporting my daughter, for road trips, visiting family, etc.
I had been using a 2006 VW Jetta for local driving to the train station (commute is about 3 miles round trip per day, plus occasional errands on weekends), but it basically died and requires $3500 of work. I need to replace this secondary car, but I really don't want to spend a ton of money, and nor do I want someone else's headache.
Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.
Lincoln Town Car or its lesser cousins. (Crown Vic, Grand Marquis)
Vintage Camry or you could get an LS400
Astro/Safari
Pre-1999 Honda Civic or one with a Jasper tranny.
(No particular order)
A bike would be a great start. Taxi / Uber for the days the weather sucks.
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