My wife has decided she wants her own car, but only wants to spend about $3k. It will be driven about 5 miles per day, 5 days per week for work. I'm thinking Corolla, Rav 4, Civic or CRV. Not sure what maintenance or reliability issue to look for on 10 or 12 year old versions of these cars. Of course, any input and recommendations are appreciated.

I'd add an Accord or Camry to the list, if you can get them in that price range.

1964 Dodge Dart.

Civic or Corolla. My 2003 Civic is still running strong and the AC still works at that. I think book value is maybe $700 but there is no way I can get a car equal to it for $700.

Capricious maintenance is the term. Older cars will have reliability issues. Most women do not like reliability issues. Be certain she understands that.

Don't forget the yota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe, same car. Have cash in hand to jump on a good/clean car in that price range.

Crown Vic.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Capricious maintenance is the term. Older cars will have reliability issues. Most women do not like reliability issues. Be certain she understands that.

That's my concern. Timing chain or belt. Is there anywy to tell if either is a ticking bomb waiting to detonate the motor. I get brakes, tires exhaust and so on. How to tell if there is anything major to look for.
I will have a mechanic look at it, but I dont want to pay for that service more than I have to.

09 or 2010 Pontiac Vibe, check it out.

That's a collector car now. When I was a kid, my mother had a slightly new Plymouth Valiant (their version of the Dart.)

I still see a Dart of that era on the street near my GF's apartment occasionally.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
1964 Dodge Dart.

Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. The least maintenance and best bang for your buck.

Corolla or Civic are always gonna be the best bang for the buck on 4 wheels. Camry and Accord are excellent as well, but they'll always run a little more money, all other things being equal.

a Volkswagen Super Beater

a Prius

any other electric vehicle

or any BMW more than 2 years old

quote:

Originally posted by dan03833:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Capricious maintenance is the term. Older cars will have reliability issues. Most women do not like reliability issues. Be certain she understands that.

That's my concern. Timing chain or belt. Is there anywy to tell if either is a ticking bomb waiting to detonate the motor. I get brakes, tires exhaust and so on. How to tell if there is anything major to look for.
I will have a mechanic look at it, but I dont want to pay for that service more than I have to.

I got rid of my 1997 Honda Civic in 2015. Every time it left the shop it was in perfect running condition. But it was leaving the shop every other month.

When a car is over 10 years old, chances are you are pulling parts out of a junkyard.

In this day and age, I imagine anything under $3K is going to be at least 10 years old.

I think new car deals are pretty good right now. I'd recommend you look at something like a new Kia Soul.

I hope the OP is still around in 3 or 4 years to tell us how the $3K purchase price works out. Transmissions cost that much these days. You've got to know that brakes and exhaust have gone up, too. Insurance is a killer, as any kid can tell you. Old cars break down. Often.

I'd suggest you also consider a very bottom of the line economy model. Like a brand new Chevy Spark or similar. Then make payments on it.

I worked with a guy (he was the head of sales, I was the head of DP) at a remote site. We had aan accounting guy, too, but he was an asshole. Anyway he had a department full of young girls. He advised them to do the same thing. Buy a non deluxe economy model. No frills. Girls don't need to be hauling all their friends around. Just basic transportation. Frills break and cost big bucks. His lure to sweeten the deal. If it needs service, he'll drop them off and pick them up. The logic being that newish cars usually don't break, they have very predictable maintenance both in time and cost.

Young people often can't predict or afford a new battery, tires, exhaust, etc. Tell your wife I classed her with "young people". She'll like it.

^^^ Chevy Spark = Opel Karl = junk. She’s better off with an old Corolla.

quote:

Originally posted by TomV:
I'd add an Accord or Camry to the list, if you can get them in that price range.

Civic or Corolla works, but Accord or Camry will likely be safer with cheaper insurance. A while back we purchased a beater Accord and immediately had a trusted mechanic change all belts and fluids. It's been good 10+ years.

quote:

Like a brand new Chevy Spark or similar. Then make payments on it.

It will fall apart before it's paid off.

When you start to get into older and older cars, you might be inheriting someone else's problems. Its a crap shoot a lot of times unless you know that exact car's history.

quote:

Accord or Camry will likely be safer with cheaper insurance. A while back we purchased a beater Accord and immediately had a trusted mechanic change all belts and fluids. It's been good 10+ years.

Accord or Camry or Acura TL.
You may find the Acura TL of that vintage at a similar price to the Accord. Of course, maintenance is key to any of them.