What car does this describe?

[dakcp2001]

This is going to be a commuter car for a very long drive. It needs to be reliable, safe, & affordable. My current car is on its way out, and its engine problems again so my mechanic has advised me to start shopping.

I am really not in a place to spend a fortune on a new one. But I need something reliable and affordable. Any advice?

 

[Wall-E1]

Toyota Corolla(if breaks aren't a priority to you - just kidding). They have excellent gas mileage, great reliability, low maintenance. They last a really long time if properly maintained.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I was going to suggest the corolla too! I had mine for 11 years and it was very reliable. My neice, who is 25, just got her 2nd one. Her first was totalled in an accident but she loved the reliabilty of it and she is an engineer in the auto industry so she has been around all makes and models.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Anything Toyota. They always start and are so reliable. 300,000 miles on one is common. Next I would say Jaguar or Lexus (which is Toyota). Heavy solid cars, great in snow.

 

[golfgal]

I will also suggest the Corolla. It has been the most reliable car on the market for over 30 years. We had one for over 16 years and we fixed the starter once (obviously tires, oil, breaks, etc. and other routine maintenance too). It is also an EXCELLENT cold weather starting car.

 

[HM]

The new Chevy Cruse.

 

[crjack]

I'm a long time Honda owner so my suggestion is a CRV or Accord. Even a Civic, which is comparable in size to a Corolla.

DH travels 80 miles a day round trip for work and we have found our Hondas to be the most reliable for long term commuting.

We just got his CRV with a great financing promo through Honda (which rarely happens with them so we decided to get one about a year earlier than planned.) So far it's getting great gas mileage and it's 4WD. We're in New England so we definitely drive in snow.

 

[Scurvy]

I'd recommend a Honda Civic. We have a new Civic and an older ('97 I think) Accord and they are almost the same size. The new Accords seem gigantic compared to our older one. We have too many cars right now - our Accord has over 200,000 miles on it and though we planned to sell it after getting the Civic we can't bring ourselves to get rid of it because we still aren't having any problems with it! I'm a big fan of Honda and Toyota - I don't think you could go wrong with either brand.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I think you should stick to a Honda or a Toyota.

 

[ChrizJen]

My recommendation would be Hyundai.
I drive a 2009 Elantra (which I bought brand new, because I'm a "drive it until it quits" kind of girl), and I've never been happier with a vehicle. It performs well, came really well equipped, has an excellent warranty (10 yrs or 100,000 miles bumper to bumper), and the price was RIGHT!!! And with Hyundai's "Priority Club", I get free oil changes for the life of my car!
I had to drive a rental Honda Accord for a week (which is much higher price-point wise than my Elantra), and I couldn't WAIT to get back into my Elantra! The Accord didn't have half of the features that my cheap little Elantra has! If you ask me to compare Hyundai to the more "popular" names like Toyota and Honda, I'd say the only thing that makes the others more expensive is the name. It's definitely not based on how well equipped the cars are.

Hyundai has come a LOOONG way with the quality of their cars. My next car will definitely be a Hyundai, probably a Sonata. It's the next step up from my Elantra, and has even more niceties. (I only mention the amenities because my commute is an hour each way on a good day, so I spend a fair amount of my day in my car. It has to be comfortable!)

Good luck on your search!!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

A Turbo Diesel. Hybrids will offer limited to no benefit as their strength is in city driving over highway.

For Turbo Diesel's I'd look a VW and the TDI line in their cars. TDIs are strong engines (they have to be), require less maintenance then their gasoline counter parts and their strength is excellent fuel economy in all types of driving, especially highway.

To add to it, TDIs hold their value really well, more so then their gasoline counterparts when compared side by side.

 

[momof1princess]

i would suggest a honda. you can easily get 300,000+ miles out of one, with regular maintenance (oil change, etc.). the best car i ever had was a honda. it was reliable, cheap to drive, and the price was right.

 

[Donaldswife]

Another vote for Honda Accord or Civic here. My husband last two cars have been Civic, and I just bought a 2011 Accord they are great! Hubby's is a 2002 we bought brand new, has 120,000 miles on it and runs great. Only maintenance has been tires, brake pads, and oil changes. My aunt has a 1995 Honda Civic and it is still going strong. They really are workhorses and will last forever with little maintenance.

 

[roscoepc1]

Mazda Protege...I think they're called Mazda 3's now....dh has one for his commute, and it is AWESOME! Great mileage, runs like a top, actually pretty comfy for long drives, etc etc etc...

We've had ours for 7 years, and it was used when we got it....other than regular maintenance, we haven't had to touch it, and it's paid for itself a dozen times over.

 

[tinatark]

I agree with the Mazda 3 suggestion - the Mazda is the ugly stepsister in the Japanese auto world dominated by Honda and Toyota, which means the Mazda has basically the same reliability, but a lower price point.

Not sure if you are looking new/used or what price point, those are all factors we need to make educated suggestions!

 

[Christine]

Corolla or Civic. Both have great reliability and there are lots of old ones on the road.

Another option is the Toyota Yaris. It also gets rated really well and is a tad bit smaller than the Corolla (probably cheaper too).

The Scions (also made by Toyota) get a good rating but are often overlooked.

All definite commuter cars, affordable, and with good long-term reputations.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Honda Fit.

From Car and Driver:
The Fit has once again conquered Car and Driver's 10Best Cars list. This highly respected automotive magazine had lots of praise for the Fit, from its entertaining drive to the 2nd-row Magic Seat®. "We're equally zinged by this Honda's upscale interior, its quick and precise steering, an engaging shifter, spot-on ergonomics, a windshield as big as a minivan's, and a rear seat that is both adult-habitable and drops to the floor faster than a Marine pumping push-ups… the Fit offers a fun-to-drive quotient that proves basic transportation isn't always basic."[1]


http://automobiles.honda.com/fit/reviews.aspx

 

[VeganCupcake]

My FIL owns his own auto shop that my hubby helps him run and Corolla is the car they say is one of the most reliable along with the Mazda 3.

 

[Miniefan]

I just bought a new car in November, and I, like you, was looking for the same criteria. I looked at Toyotas, Scions and Hondas. I ended up buying the Honda civic it had the best look, and features, it also has a little more room than the Scion. Plus, it gets great gas mileage. It is $27 to fill it up and if I don't venture to VA Bch or Richmond it usually last 2-21/2 weeks. I relly honestly chose the Honda due to 3 things- #1 it has a awesome Moon roof, #2 it has a built in Navigation system and #3 I really loved the color. I say you really cant go wrong with Honda or Toyota.

Kim

 

[Pigeon]

A Toyota Corolla or a Honda Fit.