Best Cheap Cars

[Thythe]

Recently a friend was in an accident and now has to buy a new car. She's trying to buy a lower end car but not end up with something that breaks in a year. It definitely has to have automatic transmission and AC, as we live in Phoenix. Anyone in OOT have suggestions? I know there used to be an auto forum here, but I'm not sure where those threads ended up. If there were any good ones, let me know the links. Thanks in advance.

[NLfool]

New or used? I don't think you can go wrong with a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla in the cheap/reliable genre.

[swede123]

It really depends on her definition of "low end." If she has $3000 to spend it will be quite hard to find a reliable Honda/Toyota. If she can spend $5000-6000 it looks more promising, and she can probably find a previous lease/rental vehicle with not a ton of miles (but it won't be a Honda/Toyota most likely). Give us a budget.

Swede

[mbillie1]

Saturns are available very cheap used (3-5K) and are reliable, get good gas mileage, etc.

[NicksDad1970]

1973 Plymouth Scamp

[wdcbooks]

[ QUOTE ]
Saturns are available very cheap used (3-5K) and are reliable, get good gas mileage, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually Saturns have lousy reliability rankings. I might look at a Hyundai, if she can afford one from the past few model years. They have long warranties, are quite a bit less expensive than Toyotas and Hondas, and have skyrocketed in quality.

[Thythe]

[ QUOTE ]
It really depends on her definition of "low end." If she has $3000 to spend it will be quite hard to find a reliable Honda/Toyota. If she can spend $5000-6000 it looks more promising, and she can probably find a previous lease/rental vehicle with not a ton of miles (but it won't be a Honda/Toyota most likely). Give us a budget.

Swede

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say greater than 3000, but getting a new Corolla or Civic would probably be out of the question. Just to try and put a figure to it, let's say less than 8000 tax, title, license, out the door.

[[Phill]]

Go far east. Japanese and to a lesser extent S Korean cars are definately the best option here.

If you have time have a car imported from Japan - the mileage will be lower relative to a same aged car where you live, all second hand cars in Japan have AC and all the other features you have to pay more on in the west, and the value of second hand cars are way lower as the bottom of the market dropped out a couple years back due to legislation.

[loose passive]

[[Phill]]

Loose,

OP asked for Best Cheap Cars, not Slightly Oversized Rollerskate [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]