Used Cars - which one???

[tiggerlover]

We were supposed to be getting a great used car (Honda) and just found out it isn't going to happen (seller isn't ready---I am so disappointed!), so now we need to search again. DH is retiring in 6 months from the military so we don't want to strap ourselves with a huge new car payment until he is settled in his next career. Any thoughts on what we can or should be looking for as far as a good car goes for $10,000.00, plus or minus $1,000.00?

 

[mmexpress]

Two of the most reliable cars in that price range would be a Nissan Altima or Sentra.

 

[Dan Murphy]

How big do you need it, Debbi??

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
How big do you need it, Debbi??

We are flexible, Dan. This will be a second car for DH to go back and forth to work with.

 

[MICKEY88]

if I were buying a used car for that price I'd get a Dodge Intrepid, or Chrysler 300C, but that's just my personal preference,,both great cars, lots of power and speed, when needed, decent gas mileage and lots of room....

 

[Trinity721]

My family has 3 older Toyotas (early '90's or older) and they all work reliably. I would vote for a Toyota Camry or Corolla. You can probably get a good deal on a newer Corolla (late '90's or early 2000) for the price range you're shooting for. A Honda Civic is also another car that is good and reliable but for a good price.

DH and I are currently shopping around for a used car as well. This is going to be our first car so we have been doing tons of research, which for me is only making it harder to choose! But we have narrowed it down to the Accord, Altima, Camry or Passat (if you can call that 'narrowing down' ).

Also if you don't want to buy from a private dealer, have you tried www.carmax.com or www.vehix.com? Their selection varies, but you may be able to find something that suits you. Good luck and let us know what you decide on!

 

[FreshTressa]

Toyota corolla....we have had 3 of them and have never had a repair!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by tiggerlover
We are flexible, Dan. This will be a second car for DH to go back and forth to work with.

My MIL just purchased a Hyundai Elantra, with help from us in the research. It is small, but similar to the several smaller cars mentioned here, Civic, Corolla, both great cars too. Hyundai has improved MUCH in the last several years, great write ups in many of the trade rags. It had all the equipment, air, power windows, automatic, AM/FM, and much more, and was under $13K, including tax. A HUGE point with her, and us, was the 100% warranty on everything for 5 years, 60K miles. I think that is pretty darn good. So far, first couple months, she is happy, so are we.

http://auto.consumerguide.com/

http://www.kellybluebook.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/

 

[tiggerlover]

Thanks for the info, Dan.

 

[orvilleair]

For a work car, the Chevy Prism is built on the same chasis as the Toyota Corolla. You can get a Prism cheaper than a Corolla (Toyota higher resale than Chevy). Drove one for 12 years and 205,000 miles. It is a compact car, but gets good mileage.

 

[Crankyshank]

Corolla's are great little cars and are definitely reliable.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Another vote for the Hyundai Elantra. We bought ours brand new in 2001 for about $11,000, and it's still going strong. 80,000 miles later (yes, in 3 years) we haven't have a single problem with it except it had to have new brake pads.

 

[snoopy]

Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. We've had both. We just gave my sister our old Accord, it had 200,000 miles on it and its still going strong.