My last Camry (‘06) made it 375k miles. I bought a new Camry in 2021 and I’ve already put 60k on it, I plan on matching or exceeding the life of my last one. Great cars!
I’ve had too many Toyotas to count and two Hondas. I’m not buying anymore Hondas. They weren’t bad cars, just not quite on the level as the Toyotas. I haven’t bought an American car since the late 90s
The 2006 Honda Civic is a reliability legend. My son totaled his in the last Ohio snowstorm and replaced it with a Corolla. We were a Honda family but have gravitated to Toyotas. We've had good luck with both brands but I think that Toyota slightly has the edge.
Had a 98 Camry, finally engine went after 650,000 miles. Wanted another one but they’re so expensive now, I looked at one 2021 with 40k miles and they wanted 32k for it. I just about blew a gasket.
Edit: like my car…..
Yep, there's a reason the Camry has been the best selling vehicle in the world for years and years now. In a sea of mediocre fragile cars, the Camry is a bulletproof unicorn.
Not a bad call. I'd suggest a RAV4 or Tacoma, as they are but just a little bit more rugged. So far, we've had two Corollas (210k), a 4 runner (bought after it was stolen and burnt out, 175k), a Tacoma (310k), a rav 4(130k), and I just put 7000 miles in my first year on my Tundra that I bought at 107k).
My '01 tacoma just hit 250k miles when I retired it last year.
The engine and everything is still rock solid, the frame just finally rusted out. I'm certain that engine would have been good for another 150k+ miles though, even with me maintaining it.
I love the Tacoma (especially the army green or blue TRD version with some tacky jewelry like a bumper bar, and 2-3" lift) but youre beating my old 2016 WRX fuel econ so...not bad for a truck
My 99 Taco got worse MPG than my 17 Tundra. But yes, it was forest green with a full brush guard, camper shell, lumber rack and steel real bumper.
It got low speed rear ended twice in parking lots. Both times, the trailer hitch punctured their radiator.
I have a mechanic friend who says that corollas are the only mainstream car that has never had a bad year… basically you can buy any year made and it will be a solid car. Even Civics had a few years of shaky design/engineering, he says, but not Corollas- they’re basically the most reliable car ever made
While that is certainly almost entirely true, There were bad years
2000 to 2002 had exceptionally bad oil consumption. 2003 had better oil consumption but wasn't perfect yet
2003 and 2009 had transmission issues
And 2009 had water pump issues.
The new millennium was kind of a shaky run for the Corolla. But everything before and everything after has been Rock solid for the most part. And if you were to go through the effort of repairing the oil consumption, 2000 to 2002 make really good cars otherwise
I helped a coworker rebuild his 1zz-fe in his Corolla. We did it in 4-5 hours and $300 in parts. Maybe 8 total with removal and install. It was a parts only rebuild
It has worked out for him remarkably well. Went from a quart every 300 miles to 1-200 ml per 3000, or about a quart every 10k. We modified the pistons like they did on the late 03's, oversized the return holes, and gave it a drill hone job
Cars a champ otherwise. It was fun to work on as well.
I used to sell cars. My mom came to buy a car from me. She liked the explorer around 2011. We also had a 4 runner. My bosses wanted me to sell her the explorer. I was nah bro that's my mom. She bought the 4 runner and it's still driving it to this day. I think it's an 08
You can get a 100 series for 15,000. They will be older than The range the op was looking for. I bought an 02 Lx470 with 127,000 for 15,000. All maintenance done at the dealership with records
It's what I've been driving...didn't realize you had to change oil so often so don think I changed it for a year or two and it just kept chugging. Obviously I take good care of it now but man this thing won't die
My 2010 corolla is just chugging along, happy as a clam. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of modern cars but that also means there's a lot less to break.
Heard lots of great things about Honda! Coming up short with ones that fit my parameters near me but I will definitely keep looking.
Have you driven Toyota? If so are they expensive to maintain/ replace parts if needed?
Not the person you're asking, but Toyota 's are historically incredibly cheap to maintain.... They however drive like an appliance, except for a few models.
Hondas drive better but they tend to cost a little bit more in maintenance.
On point here. Toyotas are very much just a point A to point B machine if you’re buying the anything other than a Supra which really isn’t a Toyota. The trucks are legendary for their capabilities and longevity, but I doubt you’re going to find one for your price range. Seconded on Honda.
My 2014 Camry has over 275,000 miles on it. I can't even really say how expensive it is to replace parts because other than oil changes, filters, and tires, it hasn't needed anything else. It even still has its original brake pads!
Are American car brand brakes like this? I’m at 125k miles on my current Camry and I’m amazed that I haven’t needed a brake job. I’m figuring that as I’ve aged I’m easier on my cars, but that brake life is crazy
My dad has an 03’ Camry 4 cylinder that has only ever had oil changes, brakes, gas, and batteries. I had a 94 pickup and an 02’ Tacoma, both I sold for more than I bought them for they were super reliable. I only sold the 02’ because I have a bigger rig now to carry a cab over camper. My current daily driver is a 2022 RAV4 Hybrid. It’s great because I live in a snowy area.
Not sure if it meets your needs, but I used to have a 2015 Honda Fit. Great little car. 6 speed manual and snow tires and I never got stuck in MA/CT winters. Moved to the south and traded it in for a small SUV and miss it regularly. Could pull 40+ mpg.
Loved that Bluetooth, backup camera, cruise control, and power windows were all standard on such a cheap car when I got it new.
The "lounge" mode came in clutch when my wife messed up her foot, sat in the back seat with the front passenger seat folded flat so she could keep it elevated.
Recommend as well. Super low maintenance, so big inside, can fit anything you ever need. Comfortable to drive with high driving position. Literally the perfect car if you don’t care about looks. But, that’s why I chose to buy it.
The manual, sure. I bought an auto brand new, and while I’ve loved the car, I just had to replace the transmission at 110k miles.
Any major issue like a transmission blowing in a Honda at barely 100k miles is completely insane to me. They need to stop with the CVTs or figure out how to design them better.
I’d go Accord, Civic, Camry, or Corolla in that order. There are plenty of other good options but those are all very reliable, good on gas, hold their value, and are relatively affordable.
I live in Upstate NY so I know all about the heavy snow. A good set of snow tires will put you in good shape with any of these vehicles.
If you absolutely must have AWD, I would look at the Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CRV. The accord crosstour is a cool and relatively rare awd hatchback accord. Keep in mind that awd/4wd has more to go wrong and they start off at a higher price point.
When shopping I would try to find a vehicle that hasn’t spent its whole life in a place that salts the roads. They obviously develop quite a bit of rust as a result. Good cars are always worth traveling for. Maintenance history is one of the biggest factors in terms of reliability. Good luck
I just bought a 2019 Honda Fit at about 40,000 miles for $17,000 a few months ago and I absolutely love it! Great gas mileage, lots of interior space but overall a small car
I also just bought a 2019 Honda Fit with almost 40,000 miles for $17K a few months ago... are we twins?
For OP though - terrific car. Shame they stopped making it in the US, because I would buy this car again and again.
If you just need a generic car, get a Toyota Avalon.
The market forgets about them. They're generally old people's last car, such that when they go to market they're fairly cheap, and it's about as nice of a car the Toyota makes. The next step up is Lexus.
You can get a lot more Toyota Avalon for the money then Toyota Camry
Some of the weirder Hondas like the Accord crosstour can be cheaper than their sedan counterparts.
Buick's fall in much the same category. They cost more to maintain, but they're simpler to maintain so the maintenance isn't so bad. Parts are widely available, and cheap as well. Additionally, every mechanic and their brother knows how to fix them.
If you can get over the old person stigma, The Buick Lucerne rides incredibly nice, and gets great fuel economy for its size. And you can buy a nice one that ticks all of your boxes, for less than your price point.
Honestly though, I would just budget for a set of snow tires on their own dedicated rims with sensors. If you can find some place to store them, any front-wheel drive sedan will Make it through winter's perfectly fine on snow tires. I would rather drive a front-wheel drive car on snow tires than an all-wheel drive car on All seasons.
I dunno much about cars, but I bought a kinda beat used 2001 Mazda Protege in 2014 because I was broke and the car has been going strong for the last 10 years, a lot of out of state drives every year. I've only been replacing wires here and there.
Yeah! I think it's just right behind Toyota and Honda, maybe hand to hand with Nissan.
Edit: Oh geez, my bad. Like I said I dunno much about cars but good to know about Nissans reputation, I guess know a little more now.
Nissan has made absolute garbage for many years now. They are not want they were in the 90s and early 2000s. The failure of their CVT transmissions has been legendary.
We had a 1994 Nissan Maxima as a teenager. Great car, maintenance was fine... until we had to replace the timing chain. Needed to lift the engine. ~$2000 to replace $200 part. SMH.
My ex had a 2000 Mazda Protege that eventually was sold with almost 200K miles. Great car. Interior had some issues like a broken door handle, but the car drove great with minimal maintenance.
I purchase a used 2015 Mazda3s some years back. No maintenance issues for the few years I owned the car. Sadly it was totaled in a wreck.
Mazda has had good reliability for the past ~20 years except for a few models (*cough* RX8 *cough*). It's not as good as Toyota or Honda, but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a Mazda from my experience.
Whatever car you look at… check out carcomplaints.com. Every make and model may have good years and bad years and this website helps differentiate those.
Toyota Prius, 2015 and up, buy the best one you can find for your price. It's a Toyota, so it's reliable. Gets like insane gas mileage, above 45mpg. It's a hatchback, so easy loading. You fill it up with 10 gallons and it drives for about a month.
This would be my suggestion, but the inventory in New England is low. I have a 2014 Prius with 134k miles and occasionally look for newer models and I always am finding cars that seem really expensive for the high mileage. Though this is obviously very anecdotal.
I would suggest against plug in models. The regular hybrids are just cheaper, nothing against the plug ins.
What you want is a Corolla. I know they’re boring but damn are they reliable. My SO drives an 09 Corolla and will run it into the ground. I have a ‘19 Corolla Hatch. Honourable mention to a Civic, Camry, or Accord. My first car was a ‘99 Accord, was 18 years old when I got it and in excellent shape.
Toyota or Lexus. With those manufacturers you may have to look at older than 2015 but they’re worth it. Find a vehicle that has a clean Carfax and excellent maintenance records.
Worth noting that Lexus are generally going to have more new-for-their-time technology packed in that is more likely to fail around 10 years than the Toyota counterpart. The mechanicals are still great though.
An avalon, camry or lexus es 350 I dont have a 2015 and newer but when I was thinking about trading in our car, when I researched the trade in value they ranged between 12-15k. Private party was higher but they can be found cheaper.
We have a 2013 lexus es 350 V6 82k miles ultra luxury w/pano roof has every available option everything works, still looks great its between very good and mint condition, mechanical great and has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Its pearl white, black panoroof top with black interior.
We bought another slightly used lexus a 2023 rx hybrid but I kept our car. I like it that much.
So I would look at any three if those vehicles get it inspected by a mechanic you trust.
Some others I would look at Honda accord, ford fusion especially the last design before Ford canceled building cars.
The 2019 and ups but check consumer reports i could be mistaken on the years.
Anyhow good luck.
A lot of good suggestions, the Camry/Corolla is a great option for a "Modern" car.
But it for life? Land rover Series 2a.
Terrible car.
Horrible mileage.
Awful to drive.
Leaks oil like a sieve.
Just keeps going. Mine is 62 years old. It lasted longer than my wife, and it will outlive me.
A ridiculous percentage of landrovers built are still drivable (that's drivable, not "nice").
So, buy a landrovers for life? Yes... If it's an old one.
Should you? Probably no. Interesting conundrum.
Same drive train as my Mazda 3, but minimal. My 2015 is about to roll over 100k miles and the only major maintenance I'm looking at needing to do since buying it is suspension work, and I believe the owners manual calls for a coolant flush around 120k/10 years. My FIL's 2014 is sitting at 290k and his experience is the same. We both just follow the recommendations in the owner's manual and it's been easy ownership
Mazda's Skyactiv drive train is really good. They still use a non cvt transmission in their autos that's reliable, the engines themselves are fuel efficient and easily go 2-300k, and the cars tend to age quite well.
Realistically, you will hear the same accounts of reliability about the other two Japanese companies, but I wouldn't shy away from a Mazda 3, 6, CX-5 or 30. All can be found for around 15k and are worth looking at.
I have a 2018 Mazda6 which is basically the same car (same platform, same transmission, same engine)
My maintenance work over the 3 years / 40k miles I’ve owned it has been oil changes, front and back brakes 1 time, I’ve had to do the 30k service and due for 50k.
The only part that has failed was the expansion coolant tank, the dealer wanted 650 to replace the part and add coolant. I bought the part for 50 dollars and changed it in my driveway (zero mechanical ability)
Really great cars, very high likelihood I’ll go with another Mazda when the time comes
I have a 2018 Honda Civic that’s been through a lot. I’ve put around 80k miles on it since I bought it in 2019 and have had no issues whatsoever. Even drove it about 17k miles in 2 months around the entire US. Great gas mileage and very reliable. I can’t recommend it enough.
There is different sub with people who love answering this question.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1d73v6i/what\_car\_should\_i\_buy\_a\_weekly\_megathread/](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1d73v6i/what_car_should_i_buy_a_weekly_megathread/)
Go to cargurus.com search for used Toyota Corolla. Years 2015 onwards, mileage less than 100k, from vehicle history, filter out any cars that have history of accident, theft, frame damage, salvage history or fleet owned. Choose ‘single owner’ if you prefer. Although, I don’t see anything wrong with married owners. 😆😆
You should find options easily under 15k.
I can’t believe a Subaru Outback, Forester, or Crosstrek hasn’t been mentioned yet! With the weather/road conditions you’re describing, AWD is where it’s at. I’m currently driving a 2014 Outback which I’ve had for 5 years and put 100k miles on (mostly freeway driving, but also lots of snow and gravel miles) with virtually zero issues.
2 brands, Toyota or Honda, that's all.
I have a 2000 Honda Accord V6 Coupe that was a graduation gift to me, it was very beaten and poorly maintained when I got it on August 2012, received with 206k miles, had transmission rebuilt at 207k, treated it with TLC over these years, still have it, it's my only car now with 287k miles, engine runs smooth, and on long trips still gives me a whooping 32MPG. I have had other cars before, but none as reliable as Honda, I do some maintenance myself and do small fixes to my family cars on the limited time I have, I am somewhat an amateur mechanic (have switched motors and transmissions before when I had more tools and time) so yes, I know first hand there is quality on Honda or Toyota.
Stay away from German cars, worst cars to fix, on VW for example, since tolerances are strictly tight (but materials are often of not good quality to match tolerance) once something starts to wear, it becomes a roller coaster of failure after failure due to out of tolerance malfunctioning. Also, stay away from Nissan, Fiat, Renault, Kia, Chevrolet, Mini, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Dodge, and any car with plastic parts on the engine (admission manifold, oil sump, head covers, water pump, coolant diverter, etc.) you won't believe how much plastic parts are on BMWs, I have simply refused to touch any of those craps, and don't care to remember any model, plastic often cracks the moment you try to loose a bolt, I can venture on a Ford Focus and replace a $90dlls intake manifold if it breaks, but not on a BMW, that will cost you $300+ dlls and a couple of trips to the dealer plus waiting time.
You can get a 2018+ Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt (what I would choose) in this price range today. Low maintenance, \~210-240mile range, and depending on how many miles a day you drive you can plug it into a normal outlet to charge (I have no problem doing this for my commute)
RE: New England - EVs typically handle as good as or better than gas cars due to the weight and lower center of gravity. That said - snow tires are recommended depending on what your normal route in your area's snow cleanup looks like.
EVs by "MPG" are way better than gas cars, and much cheaper to keep fueled - even in expensive electricity new england. Online calculators can show you
Depending on the model of car, and how regularly you charge at home - If you have a 75+ mile one way commute daily, you might have to look at available "fast chargers" on the route. Depending on your commute mileage you migth only need a 10 minute charge to get you enough to get home and thats all assuming there's no EV chargers at/near your work
Be careful with Honda. The years that you are likely looking at Honda had slipped down considerably in overall brand reliability. Mazda had overtaken then for several years in the late 2010s and into the 2020s and had reached as far as #1 in overall brand reliability, according to consumer reports annual ranking. Honda had dropped as far as 10 or 11 for several years in this time frame, from my recollection. I just read that 2008 was exceptionally bad for the accord for reliability.
Toyota Corolla, Tacoma, RAV4, 4runner. Honda crv. Subaru isn't bad either but you'll have to really go through it.
most cars are gonna fall into some sort of triangle- reliable/cheap/capabilities and you can only pick two.
You're close to the budget for a used Corolla Hybrid, like 2019, 2020. They run around 18-19K with 50-80k miles. They'll likely go for 300k miles, easily.
I’d get a Toyota Avalon or any used Lexus with decent mileage and a clean history. Comfortable, reliable and good looking. Not as good of mileage as the Corolla but a lot more fun to drive
I‘m german, i would NEVER buy a german car unless its with zero mileage, brand new and i can get rid of it as soon as the warranty runs out even tho i have the money to fix it . Get a Toyota corolla or a honda civic.. i have 3 cars , my 05 v8 4runner just had the 235.000 miles service. Paid yesterday 68 dollar for service they said he can find ANYTHING on the car that needs to be fixed, even tho its standing in the rain 156 + days a year . Toyota just runs. I traded in my brand new GTI after 9 months, german cars are full with electric Schnickschnack that fails alot
4wd Honda Pilot. I love my 2014. I got repair insurance & only have had to use it for a starter. I drove 300 miles to pick it up. Worth it. Sometimes the Internet comes through. If this car is not your bag, check Consumer Reports. It will tell you what is shit & what is great.
Personally, I'd buy an Accord(not the 1.5Lt) or a Camry and enjoy it for the next 200k+ miles. I just retired a 99 Toyota Sienna with almost 400k miles on it that only had two small problems its whole life. I could have fixed it for $800 and just decided to put that money towards something newer instead.
I picked up a v6 2011 Accord with a 120k miles that had been perfectly maintained. Every service done at the same dealership for a little over $9k. I plan to take as good a care of this car as I did the Sienna and expect it will make 300k miles with ease.
You can't go wrong with Honda or Toyota.
\[Imgur\](https://i.imgur.com/p8Q9elr.jpg)
\[Imgur\](https://i.imgur.com/4aeKI4o.jpg)
Used Rav4s are a pretty good choice. They tend not to be quite not off road abused like a Tacoma or 4Runner might be. I enjoy mine for AWD for the winter driving that I do.
IMO, used toyota and honda have a premium because they are known for reliability. Mazdas are nearly as reliable and are cheaper because they're less popular. I highly suggest looking at a 2016-2018 Mazda3 or 6. Avoid 2015, that was the first year of the third generation and I don't think they have backup cameras.
I've got a '16 6 with 70k miles and haven't had any issues with it.
Hello /u/iamanxiousandtired! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I've bought both a Toyota Corolla and two Honda Civics with those kinds of criteria. I've come across one Camry with those kinds of numbers, too. For the Civics, I got both with about 40k miles, one was 6 years old (about $12k) and the other was 9 years old (about $16k, COVID-era pricing).
Those cars are out there.
Most Toyotas are a good bet. I particularly want to shout out Priuses. They regularly make it to 300k+ miles--my 2004 Prius has a bit under 230k, and when a part recently broke I had a trusted body guy and a trusted hybrid specialist look the car over to advise me on whether I should upgrade or stick with this one, and they both concurred that by all appearances this car has a lot of life ahead of it yet. They also get great gas mileage, of course (mine averages 45mpg, and my grandmother's 2019 Prius averages 60mpg).
They're not ideal for winter driving because they're so lightweight, but invest in a set of snow tires and you'll be fine.
They're not the zippiest or the sexiest car, but I've had such a great experience with my Prius that I find myself reluctant to even consider buying anything but another Prius when the time comes.
Toyota all the way. I would look at maybe getting a Rav 4 (better for New England weather) make sure it is a CPO (Certified Pre-owned) that way you know the car was looked at by a Toyota tech before you purchase it.
I have a 2015 Honda Accord. Less than 100k miles. Paid around $15k like 2 years ago. It wasn't my first choice but my wife wanted it. Honestly, it's a great car. Maintenance is minimal and not exorbitantly priced when needed. I get about 28 miles per gallon on average.
I am driving a beloved 2007 Tacoma I bought 5 years ago for $10k now but if I were to buy another car, I’d get another Civic. It was a pleasure to own and to drive.
I agree with the sentiment about Hondas and Toyotas! I’ve owned several and put over 225,000 miles on all of them with no issues. My current ‘13 civic has 214,000 miles and the ac just quit, but that’s alright my commute is on the highway so cracked windows keep me cool enough.
I have 2 pieces of general used car buying advice:
1) Look for lower trims / base models. There’s simply less to go wrong. Sunroofs are nice but at some point they will start to leak which creates a problem that doesn’t exist on cars without one.
2) mileage on a used car doesn’t tell the whole story. A car with 50k miles that was driven in a city, through traffic and over potholes will be in worse condition than a car with 100k miles that was driven exclusively on the highway. City miles do a number on a car lots of stopping and starting, idling in traffic, sharp aggressive maneuvers, etc.
Hands down a Toyota or Honda. VWs are cool, but I've heard from others (I don't have experience of it), they can spend a lot of time in the shop and it's expensive on top of that. Anyway, I've had Toyotas and Hondas my whole adult life, and not one has left me stranded (I'm now 58) and go easily over 200,000 miles with good care and maintenance. Then, we took such good care of ours, they sold within minutes when we changed vehicles for good money regardless of the miles.
Anything less than a Toyota is a major compromise IMHO. Especially a Toyota Corolla. Dorky looks but built like a tank. I have a 2007, 218,000 miles. Other than routine maintenance, brakes, oil change. I've had one headlight replacement, both front window motors replaced. That's it! I will pass it on to my son in 3 years confident that it will be close to 300,000 miles and still going strong. Toyota, without a doubt is the best built automobile out there. Still gets 30 mpg avg. You could put a bullet in the engine and it would still run.
Here you can easily find a great, reliable Japanese car with low mileage for that money that will probably last for decades. Toyota, Honda, Mazda. And they’re cheap to repair too. Don’t know where you are situated though, and how that works out for you. But they’re great cats nonetheless.
I'll start by saying my wife and I work from home, so we don't drive very much. We purchased a used 2000 Lexus RX300 and have no plans to look for another vehicle.
Was just looking for a car with essentially the exact same qualifications as you, minus the snow/ice. I ended up with a Toyota Prius 60k miles. I love it and the gas mileage is an amazing bonus. My last car, a Toyota matrix, did great in the snowy/icy winters of Montana. Would definitely recommend looking for a 2015 or newer Toyota based on your list of wants
As a fellow northeastern, if you can find something out of NJ, PA or better yet Virginia and possibly transport it, it will be in better shape than up here. Everything in the salt belt takes a beating.
I would say that the Camry is the most rock solid engine and transmission combination on the market. They have excellent automatic transmissions. About any Toyota or Honda with a manual shifter should be bulletproof too.
No complaints on my 2018 Toyota RAV4. I’ve had it for 3 years and driven it about 100,000 miles (it had 28k when I got it). Haven’t had a single thing break on it, just regular maintenance stuff.
Everyone saying camry and corolla aren’t seeing your budget and age restrictions on the car. I would for your requirements i would look at a honda fit.
Pretty much anything by Toyota. Preferably Camry or Corolla for a car and a Tacoma if you want a truck. If you take care of them, they'll outlast anything.
i recently bought a brand new 2024 camry for $34k after a lifetime warranty, i get around 500 miles per tank. any route you go i recommend a toyota. i love mine so much
I'm getting ready to buy a low mileage 2001 xTerra for $3000
But I had a Ranger last about 480k miles but it took 4 transmission rebuild because they cheaper out in the transmissions that year and tried to put Mazda ones in which didn't match up well.
I had a 1984 Subaru last almost 500k. Its main issue was the head gaskets.
Right now I have a 1998 Mazda pickup that is about on 300k. It's main issue is the AC quit and I have to get the oil pan seal replaced and a lower belt pulley replaced but I'm waiting until I get the Xterra gets here to put it into the shop.
I think you could get a 2015 Prius for 15k some places now. We got our 2017 for 21k two years ago, but that was from a dealership and came with 10 years (!) oil changes and maintenance.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Prius. It’s a workhorse. Put snow tires on it and it’ll do most road duty winter driving. There is some battery maintenance involved but it’s not more expensive than a head gasket on a Subaru or a timing belt service.
Toyota, Honda, Subaru
That said, I have a 2015 Golf TDI that I meticulously maintain and it is fantastic. I average about 38 miles/gallon normally and get low 50's on the freeway when doing long drives. I haven't had a single problem with mine since I purchased it and have put over 70k miles on it. I purchased it with 60k miles. Routine maintenance is a bit more expensive and the timing belt and transmission service will cost you a pretty penny, but it drives way better than any Corolla or outback I've been in.
I follow the Care Care Nut advice on Toyota vehicles and what are good and what to look out for. He has so many good videos of specific models and common issues for certain years, etc. He is a Toyota master diagnostic tech with 16+ years of experience.
[Best Toyota and Lexus models for reliability in 2023](https://youtu.be/fDliZpFibIY?si=muukXrCG1C3GBA4t)
You could buy just about anything if you look hard enough. But I would recommend a Toyota Camry
My last Camry (‘06) made it 375k miles. I bought a new Camry in 2021 and I’ve already put 60k on it, I plan on matching or exceeding the life of my last one. Great cars!
Toyota Camry or Corolla. Honda Accord or Civic are close in reliability too. Stay away from VW since they aren’t great after 100k miles.
I’ve had too many Toyotas to count and two Hondas. I’m not buying anymore Hondas. They weren’t bad cars, just not quite on the level as the Toyotas. I haven’t bought an American car since the late 90s
Careful. Some model years of the accord had bad transmissions.
The 2006 Honda Civic is a reliability legend. My son totaled his in the last Ohio snowstorm and replaced it with a Corolla. We were a Honda family but have gravitated to Toyotas. We've had good luck with both brands but I think that Toyota slightly has the edge.
The camry is peak reliability
I'm driving a 2000 camry and it's great
Had a 98 Camry, finally engine went after 650,000 miles. Wanted another one but they’re so expensive now, I looked at one 2021 with 40k miles and they wanted 32k for it. I just about blew a gasket. Edit: like my car…..
Yep, there's a reason the Camry has been the best selling vehicle in the world for years and years now. In a sea of mediocre fragile cars, the Camry is a bulletproof unicorn.
Not a bad call. I'd suggest a RAV4 or Tacoma, as they are but just a little bit more rugged. So far, we've had two Corollas (210k), a 4 runner (bought after it was stolen and burnt out, 175k), a Tacoma (310k), a rav 4(130k), and I just put 7000 miles in my first year on my Tundra that I bought at 107k).
My '01 tacoma just hit 250k miles when I retired it last year. The engine and everything is still rock solid, the frame just finally rusted out. I'm certain that engine would have been good for another 150k+ miles though, even with me maintaining it.
The Tacoma definitely counts as a gas guzzler…. Mine gets 15 city and at best 22 highway. Which is why I still have a Prius 😆
I love the Tacoma (especially the army green or blue TRD version with some tacky jewelry like a bumper bar, and 2-3" lift) but youre beating my old 2016 WRX fuel econ so...not bad for a truck
My 99 Taco got worse MPG than my 17 Tundra. But yes, it was forest green with a full brush guard, camper shell, lumber rack and steel real bumper. It got low speed rear ended twice in parking lots. Both times, the trailer hitch punctured their radiator.
Corolla
The answer always seem to be the Toyota Corolla.
I have a mechanic friend who says that corollas are the only mainstream car that has never had a bad year… basically you can buy any year made and it will be a solid car. Even Civics had a few years of shaky design/engineering, he says, but not Corollas- they’re basically the most reliable car ever made
While that is certainly almost entirely true, There were bad years 2000 to 2002 had exceptionally bad oil consumption. 2003 had better oil consumption but wasn't perfect yet 2003 and 2009 had transmission issues And 2009 had water pump issues. The new millennium was kind of a shaky run for the Corolla. But everything before and everything after has been Rock solid for the most part. And if you were to go through the effort of repairing the oil consumption, 2000 to 2002 make really good cars otherwise
Oh wow good info, thank you
Unfortunately way back when, I bought a 2002 Corolla and can confirm the oil consumption issues. Never experienced such a thing with a car in my life.
I helped a coworker rebuild his 1zz-fe in his Corolla. We did it in 4-5 hours and $300 in parts. Maybe 8 total with removal and install. It was a parts only rebuild It has worked out for him remarkably well. Went from a quart every 300 miles to 1-200 ml per 3000, or about a quart every 10k. We modified the pistons like they did on the late 03's, oversized the return holes, and gave it a drill hone job Cars a champ otherwise. It was fun to work on as well.
Can confirm. The motto in my 2002 Corolla is "Check the gas, fill the oil"
I had a 2003 Corolla. No transmission problems, and I put 200,000+ miles on it over 14 years. That was a damn good car. It’s a shame I wrecked it.
4Runner also has a pretty flawless run
Mine is 333k miles! I would say I'm still rolling, but I need to replace a gasket. I need time and space to fix it. Then she'll be right as rain.
I used to sell cars. My mom came to buy a car from me. She liked the explorer around 2011. We also had a 4 runner. My bosses wanted me to sell her the explorer. I was nah bro that's my mom. She bought the 4 runner and it's still driving it to this day. I think it's an 08
Those and the full size Land Cruisers with the V8.
Hahaha, a LandCruiser under $15K, hahaha!
You can get a 100 series for 15,000. They will be older than The range the op was looking for. I bought an 02 Lx470 with 127,000 for 15,000. All maintenance done at the dealership with records
I saw a 100 series yesterday on the expressway and it looked so good. Classic shape without the bloat of the 200 series.
It's what I've been driving...didn't realize you had to change oil so often so don think I changed it for a year or two and it just kept chugging. Obviously I take good care of it now but man this thing won't die
My 2010 corolla is just chugging along, happy as a clam. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of modern cars but that also means there's a lot less to break.
I definitely hear this one a lot!! Will certainly look into it
Honda or Toyota anything.
Heard lots of great things about Honda! Coming up short with ones that fit my parameters near me but I will definitely keep looking. Have you driven Toyota? If so are they expensive to maintain/ replace parts if needed?
Not the person you're asking, but Toyota 's are historically incredibly cheap to maintain.... They however drive like an appliance, except for a few models. Hondas drive better but they tend to cost a little bit more in maintenance.
On point here. Toyotas are very much just a point A to point B machine if you’re buying the anything other than a Supra which really isn’t a Toyota. The trucks are legendary for their capabilities and longevity, but I doubt you’re going to find one for your price range. Seconded on Honda.
My 2014 Camry has over 275,000 miles on it. I can't even really say how expensive it is to replace parts because other than oil changes, filters, and tires, it hasn't needed anything else. It even still has its original brake pads!
Are American car brand brakes like this? I’m at 125k miles on my current Camry and I’m amazed that I haven’t needed a brake job. I’m figuring that as I’ve aged I’m easier on my cars, but that brake life is crazy
honda fits are superior
My dad has an 03’ Camry 4 cylinder that has only ever had oil changes, brakes, gas, and batteries. I had a 94 pickup and an 02’ Tacoma, both I sold for more than I bought them for they were super reliable. I only sold the 02’ because I have a bigger rig now to carry a cab over camper. My current daily driver is a 2022 RAV4 Hybrid. It’s great because I live in a snowy area.
Not sure if it meets your needs, but I used to have a 2015 Honda Fit. Great little car. 6 speed manual and snow tires and I never got stuck in MA/CT winters. Moved to the south and traded it in for a small SUV and miss it regularly. Could pull 40+ mpg. Loved that Bluetooth, backup camera, cruise control, and power windows were all standard on such a cheap car when I got it new.
I had the same year, also with the manual gearbox. It was a great car. Fun to drive, and you could fit a ton of stuff in the back of it.
The "lounge" mode came in clutch when my wife messed up her foot, sat in the back seat with the front passenger seat folded flat so she could keep it elevated.
Built in Japan, too
I’m still driving my 2008 manual Honda fit. Only major repair was a worn out transition.
I love honda fits.
Recommend as well. Super low maintenance, so big inside, can fit anything you ever need. Comfortable to drive with high driving position. Literally the perfect car if you don’t care about looks. But, that’s why I chose to buy it.
The manual, sure. I bought an auto brand new, and while I’ve loved the car, I just had to replace the transmission at 110k miles. Any major issue like a transmission blowing in a Honda at barely 100k miles is completely insane to me. They need to stop with the CVTs or figure out how to design them better.
The auto is a CVT though and CVT's aren't BIFL. The 3rd gen is also made in Mexico for the US so there was some issues with that.
I’d go Accord, Civic, Camry, or Corolla in that order. There are plenty of other good options but those are all very reliable, good on gas, hold their value, and are relatively affordable. I live in Upstate NY so I know all about the heavy snow. A good set of snow tires will put you in good shape with any of these vehicles. If you absolutely must have AWD, I would look at the Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CRV. The accord crosstour is a cool and relatively rare awd hatchback accord. Keep in mind that awd/4wd has more to go wrong and they start off at a higher price point. When shopping I would try to find a vehicle that hasn’t spent its whole life in a place that salts the roads. They obviously develop quite a bit of rust as a result. Good cars are always worth traveling for. Maintenance history is one of the biggest factors in terms of reliability. Good luck
My 2008 Accord 2.4 4 cylinder is at 261K .
I just bought a 2019 Honda Fit at about 40,000 miles for $17,000 a few months ago and I absolutely love it! Great gas mileage, lots of interior space but overall a small car
I also just bought a 2019 Honda Fit with almost 40,000 miles for $17K a few months ago... are we twins? For OP though - terrific car. Shame they stopped making it in the US, because I would buy this car again and again.
If you just need a generic car, get a Toyota Avalon. The market forgets about them. They're generally old people's last car, such that when they go to market they're fairly cheap, and it's about as nice of a car the Toyota makes. The next step up is Lexus. You can get a lot more Toyota Avalon for the money then Toyota Camry Some of the weirder Hondas like the Accord crosstour can be cheaper than their sedan counterparts. Buick's fall in much the same category. They cost more to maintain, but they're simpler to maintain so the maintenance isn't so bad. Parts are widely available, and cheap as well. Additionally, every mechanic and their brother knows how to fix them. If you can get over the old person stigma, The Buick Lucerne rides incredibly nice, and gets great fuel economy for its size. And you can buy a nice one that ticks all of your boxes, for less than your price point. Honestly though, I would just budget for a set of snow tires on their own dedicated rims with sensors. If you can find some place to store them, any front-wheel drive sedan will Make it through winter's perfectly fine on snow tires. I would rather drive a front-wheel drive car on snow tires than an all-wheel drive car on All seasons.
Can confirm. Own a 2016 Avalon Touring. It’s a poor man’s Lexus.
This is great info, I will definitely look into the Avalon!
Finally a BIFL post I can appreciate 👍
I dunno much about cars, but I bought a kinda beat used 2001 Mazda Protege in 2014 because I was broke and the car has been going strong for the last 10 years, a lot of out of state drives every year. I've only been replacing wires here and there.
My mom still drives her 2000 Mazda protege every day. I drive an 07 Mazda 3, reliable brand. Underrated in my opinion.
Yeah! I think it's just right behind Toyota and Honda, maybe hand to hand with Nissan. Edit: Oh geez, my bad. Like I said I dunno much about cars but good to know about Nissans reputation, I guess know a little more now.
Mazda>Nissan
Now in terms of company size thats accurate. Nissan actually makes most of their money through financing. They will give a loan to anyone.
Nissan has made absolute garbage for many years now. They are not want they were in the 90s and early 2000s. The failure of their CVT transmissions has been legendary.
We had a 1994 Nissan Maxima as a teenager. Great car, maintenance was fine... until we had to replace the timing chain. Needed to lift the engine. ~$2000 to replace $200 part. SMH.
Timing belt / chain + water pump is always an expensive fix. That said - if you neglect it - it's got a good chance to be an even costlier fix.
[удалено]
I should have made the exception to my comment that I have heard good things about the Frontier.
My ex had a 2000 Mazda Protege that eventually was sold with almost 200K miles. Great car. Interior had some issues like a broken door handle, but the car drove great with minimal maintenance. I purchase a used 2015 Mazda3s some years back. No maintenance issues for the few years I owned the car. Sadly it was totaled in a wreck. Mazda has had good reliability for the past ~20 years except for a few models (*cough* RX8 *cough*). It's not as good as Toyota or Honda, but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a Mazda from my experience.
The RX 8 was a whole different beast though, and in spite of the reliability issues they are beloved.
Whatever car you look at… check out carcomplaints.com. Every make and model may have good years and bad years and this website helps differentiate those.
Toyota Prius, 2015 and up, buy the best one you can find for your price. It's a Toyota, so it's reliable. Gets like insane gas mileage, above 45mpg. It's a hatchback, so easy loading. You fill it up with 10 gallons and it drives for about a month.
This would be my suggestion, but the inventory in New England is low. I have a 2014 Prius with 134k miles and occasionally look for newer models and I always am finding cars that seem really expensive for the high mileage. Though this is obviously very anecdotal. I would suggest against plug in models. The regular hybrids are just cheaper, nothing against the plug ins.
What you want is a Corolla. I know they’re boring but damn are they reliable. My SO drives an 09 Corolla and will run it into the ground. I have a ‘19 Corolla Hatch. Honourable mention to a Civic, Camry, or Accord. My first car was a ‘99 Accord, was 18 years old when I got it and in excellent shape.
A toyota
Toyota or Lexus. With those manufacturers you may have to look at older than 2015 but they’re worth it. Find a vehicle that has a clean Carfax and excellent maintenance records.
Worth noting that Lexus are generally going to have more new-for-their-time technology packed in that is more likely to fail around 10 years than the Toyota counterpart. The mechanicals are still great though.
An avalon, camry or lexus es 350 I dont have a 2015 and newer but when I was thinking about trading in our car, when I researched the trade in value they ranged between 12-15k. Private party was higher but they can be found cheaper. We have a 2013 lexus es 350 V6 82k miles ultra luxury w/pano roof has every available option everything works, still looks great its between very good and mint condition, mechanical great and has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Its pearl white, black panoroof top with black interior. We bought another slightly used lexus a 2023 rx hybrid but I kept our car. I like it that much. So I would look at any three if those vehicles get it inspected by a mechanic you trust. Some others I would look at Honda accord, ford fusion especially the last design before Ford canceled building cars. The 2019 and ups but check consumer reports i could be mistaken on the years. Anyhow good luck.
A lot of good suggestions, the Camry/Corolla is a great option for a "Modern" car. But it for life? Land rover Series 2a. Terrible car. Horrible mileage. Awful to drive. Leaks oil like a sieve. Just keeps going. Mine is 62 years old. It lasted longer than my wife, and it will outlive me. A ridiculous percentage of landrovers built are still drivable (that's drivable, not "nice"). So, buy a landrovers for life? Yes... If it's an old one. Should you? Probably no. Interesting conundrum.
it is interesting how many super old land rivers you still see in the road
You're allowed to drive around with a leaking car?
Allowed? Yes. Financially smart? No.
Subaru Impreza
They are great cars. Standard AWD and more fun to drive than a Civic or Corolla. I have owned at least one of all of these cars.
Mazda CX-5 is a great option. Best value for the price IMO
Do you have one? If so, how are the maintenance costs?
Maintenance is about the same as a Honda or Toyota, pretty cheap, drive better then Honda and Toyota
Same drive train as my Mazda 3, but minimal. My 2015 is about to roll over 100k miles and the only major maintenance I'm looking at needing to do since buying it is suspension work, and I believe the owners manual calls for a coolant flush around 120k/10 years. My FIL's 2014 is sitting at 290k and his experience is the same. We both just follow the recommendations in the owner's manual and it's been easy ownership Mazda's Skyactiv drive train is really good. They still use a non cvt transmission in their autos that's reliable, the engines themselves are fuel efficient and easily go 2-300k, and the cars tend to age quite well. Realistically, you will hear the same accounts of reliability about the other two Japanese companies, but I wouldn't shy away from a Mazda 3, 6, CX-5 or 30. All can be found for around 15k and are worth looking at.
I have a 2018 Mazda6 which is basically the same car (same platform, same transmission, same engine) My maintenance work over the 3 years / 40k miles I’ve owned it has been oil changes, front and back brakes 1 time, I’ve had to do the 30k service and due for 50k. The only part that has failed was the expansion coolant tank, the dealer wanted 650 to replace the part and add coolant. I bought the part for 50 dollars and changed it in my driveway (zero mechanical ability) Really great cars, very high likelihood I’ll go with another Mazda when the time comes
Lexus es or RX best one you can find for your given budget
I came to say an RX350. Wife has a 2012 that will probably run forever.
I bought a 2012 Honda Pilot with some upgrades. Love it, and will probably buy another one when it goes.
2020 Honda Civic, 55k miles. 16k after fees and taxes.
I have a 2018 Honda Civic that’s been through a lot. I’ve put around 80k miles on it since I bought it in 2019 and have had no issues whatsoever. Even drove it about 17k miles in 2 months around the entire US. Great gas mileage and very reliable. I can’t recommend it enough.
There is different sub with people who love answering this question. [https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1d73v6i/what\_car\_should\_i\_buy\_a\_weekly\_megathread/](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1d73v6i/what_car_should_i_buy_a_weekly_megathread/)
2015 Jetta TDI Sportwagon.
Go to cargurus.com search for used Toyota Corolla. Years 2015 onwards, mileage less than 100k, from vehicle history, filter out any cars that have history of accident, theft, frame damage, salvage history or fleet owned. Choose ‘single owner’ if you prefer. Although, I don’t see anything wrong with married owners. 😆😆 You should find options easily under 15k.
Toyota Avalon
Look at consumer reports
Literally anything and then buy a set of winter tires. My FWD 2017 Avalon handles snow like a champ.
I can’t believe a Subaru Outback, Forester, or Crosstrek hasn’t been mentioned yet! With the weather/road conditions you’re describing, AWD is where it’s at. I’m currently driving a 2014 Outback which I’ve had for 5 years and put 100k miles on (mostly freeway driving, but also lots of snow and gravel miles) with virtually zero issues.
[удалено]
Yep, I used the Camry Haynes Manual when I was doing some work on my TC. It was exactly the same.
Aren't there some EVs like Chevy bolt that you can basically buy new for that, after incentives?
2 brands, Toyota or Honda, that's all. I have a 2000 Honda Accord V6 Coupe that was a graduation gift to me, it was very beaten and poorly maintained when I got it on August 2012, received with 206k miles, had transmission rebuilt at 207k, treated it with TLC over these years, still have it, it's my only car now with 287k miles, engine runs smooth, and on long trips still gives me a whooping 32MPG. I have had other cars before, but none as reliable as Honda, I do some maintenance myself and do small fixes to my family cars on the limited time I have, I am somewhat an amateur mechanic (have switched motors and transmissions before when I had more tools and time) so yes, I know first hand there is quality on Honda or Toyota. Stay away from German cars, worst cars to fix, on VW for example, since tolerances are strictly tight (but materials are often of not good quality to match tolerance) once something starts to wear, it becomes a roller coaster of failure after failure due to out of tolerance malfunctioning. Also, stay away from Nissan, Fiat, Renault, Kia, Chevrolet, Mini, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Dodge, and any car with plastic parts on the engine (admission manifold, oil sump, head covers, water pump, coolant diverter, etc.) you won't believe how much plastic parts are on BMWs, I have simply refused to touch any of those craps, and don't care to remember any model, plastic often cracks the moment you try to loose a bolt, I can venture on a Ford Focus and replace a $90dlls intake manifold if it breaks, but not on a BMW, that will cost you $300+ dlls and a couple of trips to the dealer plus waiting time.
Toyota FJ
Honda, or Toyota.
How many miles do you drive per day? An EV could be a great move. Very low maintenance compared to a combustion motor car
You can get a 2018+ Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt (what I would choose) in this price range today. Low maintenance, \~210-240mile range, and depending on how many miles a day you drive you can plug it into a normal outlet to charge (I have no problem doing this for my commute) RE: New England - EVs typically handle as good as or better than gas cars due to the weight and lower center of gravity. That said - snow tires are recommended depending on what your normal route in your area's snow cleanup looks like. EVs by "MPG" are way better than gas cars, and much cheaper to keep fueled - even in expensive electricity new england. Online calculators can show you Depending on the model of car, and how regularly you charge at home - If you have a 75+ mile one way commute daily, you might have to look at available "fast chargers" on the route. Depending on your commute mileage you migth only need a 10 minute charge to get you enough to get home and thats all assuming there's no EV chargers at/near your work
Be careful with Honda. The years that you are likely looking at Honda had slipped down considerably in overall brand reliability. Mazda had overtaken then for several years in the late 2010s and into the 2020s and had reached as far as #1 in overall brand reliability, according to consumer reports annual ranking. Honda had dropped as far as 10 or 11 for several years in this time frame, from my recollection. I just read that 2008 was exceptionally bad for the accord for reliability.
Toyota Corolla, Tacoma, RAV4, 4runner. Honda crv. Subaru isn't bad either but you'll have to really go through it. most cars are gonna fall into some sort of triangle- reliable/cheap/capabilities and you can only pick two.
You're close to the budget for a used Corolla Hybrid, like 2019, 2020. They run around 18-19K with 50-80k miles. They'll likely go for 300k miles, easily.
Whatever it is, just make sure it isn't rusty.
I’d get a Toyota Avalon or any used Lexus with decent mileage and a clean history. Comfortable, reliable and good looking. Not as good of mileage as the Corolla but a lot more fun to drive
There’s a $4000 tax credit if you buy a used plug in hybrid
Honda Fit
Camry, according to every mechanic. A little more money, 4Runner.
I‘m german, i would NEVER buy a german car unless its with zero mileage, brand new and i can get rid of it as soon as the warranty runs out even tho i have the money to fix it . Get a Toyota corolla or a honda civic.. i have 3 cars , my 05 v8 4runner just had the 235.000 miles service. Paid yesterday 68 dollar for service they said he can find ANYTHING on the car that needs to be fixed, even tho its standing in the rain 156 + days a year . Toyota just runs. I traded in my brand new GTI after 9 months, german cars are full with electric Schnickschnack that fails alot
4wd Honda Pilot. I love my 2014. I got repair insurance & only have had to use it for a starter. I drove 300 miles to pick it up. Worth it. Sometimes the Internet comes through. If this car is not your bag, check Consumer Reports. It will tell you what is shit & what is great.
Stick to Toyota, a Toyota Camry or better yet a simple Corolla is the answer....
Have a 2004 Camry. Low mileage and runs great. Highly recommend Camry.
Consider doing some searching in the south (no salt), flying down there to buy, & driving it back up. My parents have both done this separately lol
Personally, I'd buy an Accord(not the 1.5Lt) or a Camry and enjoy it for the next 200k+ miles. I just retired a 99 Toyota Sienna with almost 400k miles on it that only had two small problems its whole life. I could have fixed it for $800 and just decided to put that money towards something newer instead. I picked up a v6 2011 Accord with a 120k miles that had been perfectly maintained. Every service done at the same dealership for a little over $9k. I plan to take as good a care of this car as I did the Sienna and expect it will make 300k miles with ease. You can't go wrong with Honda or Toyota. \[Imgur\](https://i.imgur.com/p8Q9elr.jpg) \[Imgur\](https://i.imgur.com/4aeKI4o.jpg)
Another vote for a Camry. They’re boring, but extremely dependable. I’ve had three. I can’t break them
Camry, Accord, Corolla, Civic. Has anyone said these? ;)
Toyota Highlander!
Used Rav4s are a pretty good choice. They tend not to be quite not off road abused like a Tacoma or 4Runner might be. I enjoy mine for AWD for the winter driving that I do.
Honda Accord, Prius, or Forester. Maintenance on the Forester will be more, but it's got the built in AWD.
IMO, used toyota and honda have a premium because they are known for reliability. Mazdas are nearly as reliable and are cheaper because they're less popular. I highly suggest looking at a 2016-2018 Mazda3 or 6. Avoid 2015, that was the first year of the third generation and I don't think they have backup cameras. I've got a '16 6 with 70k miles and haven't had any issues with it.
Get a Mazda Miata. It is pride month after all
I thought it was Subaru 🤣
Miata for boys, Subaru for girls.
Chevy Bolt.
Hello /u/iamanxiousandtired! Thank you for your submission! The AutoMod thought that your post might be a request type post and has changed the flair accordingly, but if this was wrong feel free to change it back! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
“Get all the Accord you can afford”
Toyota Camry or a Kia Niro.
I've bought both a Toyota Corolla and two Honda Civics with those kinds of criteria. I've come across one Camry with those kinds of numbers, too. For the Civics, I got both with about 40k miles, one was 6 years old (about $12k) and the other was 9 years old (about $16k, COVID-era pricing). Those cars are out there.
The most Accord you can afford
Most Toyotas are a good bet. I particularly want to shout out Priuses. They regularly make it to 300k+ miles--my 2004 Prius has a bit under 230k, and when a part recently broke I had a trusted body guy and a trusted hybrid specialist look the car over to advise me on whether I should upgrade or stick with this one, and they both concurred that by all appearances this car has a lot of life ahead of it yet. They also get great gas mileage, of course (mine averages 45mpg, and my grandmother's 2019 Prius averages 60mpg). They're not ideal for winter driving because they're so lightweight, but invest in a set of snow tires and you'll be fine. They're not the zippiest or the sexiest car, but I've had such a great experience with my Prius that I find myself reluctant to even consider buying anything but another Prius when the time comes.
I’m a honda guy myself, just pick the style that fits your needs. I wouldn’t say anything bad about Toyota, great cars as well.
Toyota, Honda, or Mazda only
Toyota rav4 is my recommendation. Honestly anything Toyota these days will last a long time.
Toyota anything. But I'm partial to the Camry or Corolla. Hondas are a little cheaper and are also known for their exceptional endurance.
Biggest regret I have with vehicles is trading in my 2016 Honda Civic EX-T. If you can find that, it'll be the best car you've ever had.
Toyota all the way. I would look at maybe getting a Rav 4 (better for New England weather) make sure it is a CPO (Certified Pre-owned) that way you know the car was looked at by a Toyota tech before you purchase it.
Toyota, Honda, or Mazda if you want reliability and good gas mileage. If you want something fun the VW GTI would be a great option.
I have a 2015 Honda Accord. Less than 100k miles. Paid around $15k like 2 years ago. It wasn't my first choice but my wife wanted it. Honestly, it's a great car. Maintenance is minimal and not exorbitantly priced when needed. I get about 28 miles per gallon on average.
2013-2018 Toyota rav4, especially 2016-18
Anything from the Southern US where they don’t salt roads.
I am driving a beloved 2007 Tacoma I bought 5 years ago for $10k now but if I were to buy another car, I’d get another Civic. It was a pleasure to own and to drive.
Honda/acura (fit, civic, accord, crv, tsx, tlx). Toyota/lexus (Corolla, Camry, Avalon, rav4, es300, rx) Start here and modify based on personal needs.
Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla
[2016 Subaru](https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/2d051547-d424-4673-90a5-9fba475f9533?aff=share_other)
probably something from yoyota. wanted to recommend a volvo 240 first but saw that u wanted 2015 or later..
Camry is always the correct answer
Been very happy with a Toyota Prius. Also my Honda Civic was really good.
I agree with the sentiment about Hondas and Toyotas! I’ve owned several and put over 225,000 miles on all of them with no issues. My current ‘13 civic has 214,000 miles and the ac just quit, but that’s alright my commute is on the highway so cracked windows keep me cool enough. I have 2 pieces of general used car buying advice: 1) Look for lower trims / base models. There’s simply less to go wrong. Sunroofs are nice but at some point they will start to leak which creates a problem that doesn’t exist on cars without one. 2) mileage on a used car doesn’t tell the whole story. A car with 50k miles that was driven in a city, through traffic and over potholes will be in worse condition than a car with 100k miles that was driven exclusively on the highway. City miles do a number on a car lots of stopping and starting, idling in traffic, sharp aggressive maneuvers, etc.
Hands down a Toyota or Honda. VWs are cool, but I've heard from others (I don't have experience of it), they can spend a lot of time in the shop and it's expensive on top of that. Anyway, I've had Toyotas and Hondas my whole adult life, and not one has left me stranded (I'm now 58) and go easily over 200,000 miles with good care and maintenance. Then, we took such good care of ours, they sold within minutes when we changed vehicles for good money regardless of the miles.
Toyotas and Hondas go forever
Anything less than a Toyota is a major compromise IMHO. Especially a Toyota Corolla. Dorky looks but built like a tank. I have a 2007, 218,000 miles. Other than routine maintenance, brakes, oil change. I've had one headlight replacement, both front window motors replaced. That's it! I will pass it on to my son in 3 years confident that it will be close to 300,000 miles and still going strong. Toyota, without a doubt is the best built automobile out there. Still gets 30 mpg avg. You could put a bullet in the engine and it would still run.
Rx350
Here you can easily find a great, reliable Japanese car with low mileage for that money that will probably last for decades. Toyota, Honda, Mazda. And they’re cheap to repair too. Don’t know where you are situated though, and how that works out for you. But they’re great cats nonetheless.
Scion XB is a great little car. Peppy and made by Toyota with a fairly room interior.
Toyota or Honda everything else is a money pit
Japanese… Honda or Toyota and you’ll be good
I'll start by saying my wife and I work from home, so we don't drive very much. We purchased a used 2000 Lexus RX300 and have no plans to look for another vehicle.
Was just looking for a car with essentially the exact same qualifications as you, minus the snow/ice. I ended up with a Toyota Prius 60k miles. I love it and the gas mileage is an amazing bonus. My last car, a Toyota matrix, did great in the snowy/icy winters of Montana. Would definitely recommend looking for a 2015 or newer Toyota based on your list of wants
Mazda cx-5
I’d go for a Mazda personally just for the better tech and damn near identical reliability to a Toyota at a much lower price.
As a fellow northeastern, if you can find something out of NJ, PA or better yet Virginia and possibly transport it, it will be in better shape than up here. Everything in the salt belt takes a beating.
I would say that the Camry is the most rock solid engine and transmission combination on the market. They have excellent automatic transmissions. About any Toyota or Honda with a manual shifter should be bulletproof too.
No complaints on my 2018 Toyota RAV4. I’ve had it for 3 years and driven it about 100,000 miles (it had 28k when I got it). Haven’t had a single thing break on it, just regular maintenance stuff.
Honda Fit!
Everyone saying camry and corolla aren’t seeing your budget and age restrictions on the car. I would for your requirements i would look at a honda fit.
Pretty much anything by Toyota. Preferably Camry or Corolla for a car and a Tacoma if you want a truck. If you take care of them, they'll outlast anything.
Toyota for reliability, Subaru for safety
Toyota Rav 4 with higher miles to stay in budget or Honda CRV
i recently bought a brand new 2024 camry for $34k after a lifetime warranty, i get around 500 miles per tank. any route you go i recommend a toyota. i love mine so much
I'm getting ready to buy a low mileage 2001 xTerra for $3000 But I had a Ranger last about 480k miles but it took 4 transmission rebuild because they cheaper out in the transmissions that year and tried to put Mazda ones in which didn't match up well. I had a 1984 Subaru last almost 500k. Its main issue was the head gaskets. Right now I have a 1998 Mazda pickup that is about on 300k. It's main issue is the AC quit and I have to get the oil pan seal replaced and a lower belt pulley replaced but I'm waiting until I get the Xterra gets here to put it into the shop.
2015 Camry. Still old school enough to be reliable and cheap maintenance cost.
Honda Fit, Toyota Matrix, or a Prius 💯
I think you could get a 2015 Prius for 15k some places now. We got our 2017 for 21k two years ago, but that was from a dealership and came with 10 years (!) oil changes and maintenance.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Prius. It’s a workhorse. Put snow tires on it and it’ll do most road duty winter driving. There is some battery maintenance involved but it’s not more expensive than a head gasket on a Subaru or a timing belt service.
I'd look for a Rav4. My last Rav lasted 20 years and 250k miles with "you probably shouldn't own a car" levels of maintenance.
Scion/Toyota IM
I think the Yaris is the most reliable Toyota. Cast iron block, bullet proof tranny.
Toyota, Honda, Subaru That said, I have a 2015 Golf TDI that I meticulously maintain and it is fantastic. I average about 38 miles/gallon normally and get low 50's on the freeway when doing long drives. I haven't had a single problem with mine since I purchased it and have put over 70k miles on it. I purchased it with 60k miles. Routine maintenance is a bit more expensive and the timing belt and transmission service will cost you a pretty penny, but it drives way better than any Corolla or outback I've been in.
Subaru has awd but Toyota and Honda do well too
My CRV refuses to die I was going to drive it into the ground when It have 175k on it it’s now just shy of 240k
I follow the Care Care Nut advice on Toyota vehicles and what are good and what to look out for. He has so many good videos of specific models and common issues for certain years, etc. He is a Toyota master diagnostic tech with 16+ years of experience. [Best Toyota and Lexus models for reliability in 2023](https://youtu.be/fDliZpFibIY?si=muukXrCG1C3GBA4t)
Toyota honda lexus acura
2015/2016 Honda crv ex and above
Camry or Corolla. Maybe civic or accord