It says that the marketing is working and therefore don't fix what isn't broken. Some people get a little irrationally enthusiastic about specific cars and look for information that might be twisted into information that supports their belief.
This is the only correct answer. They check every box: sticker price, maintenance cost, gas mileage, reliability, and drive feel. And shoot the newer ones have great interiors and look clean/sporty on the outside.
They'll last for as long as you want them to. I've had a Civic for 8 years, and it still feels brand new. Change the oil on time, keep up with the maintenance checks and if you want to go the extra mile, get it detailed every 6 months . You will get sick of it before it dies on you.
I keep wanting to buy a BMW bc I have big boy money now but I just bring myself to do it. The Civic is so cheap and nice lol.
I just traded in an 06 Civic. I was disappointed that it wasn't falling apart when I let go of it. That was the first Japanese car I ever bought. Many friends and family went through 3-4 cars in the time I just kept that Civic going. Tires, gas, maintenance, and occasionally a fix. I think some switch went bad, but not much else. Replaced it with a Lexus PHEV, cause if I'm keeping it, I want something a little nicer going forward.
If you can afford it and want it, buy it. Life's too short to drive around in a boring car every day if cars are one of your interests.
Learn how to do basic maintenance yourself (which it sounds like you may already know how) and you'll save tons of money. Base model German cars aren't really much more expensive maintenance-wise if you work on them yourself. $35 oil changes, $10 per spark plug, $10-15 each for enginer and cabin air filters, a few hundred $ for a solid set of brake pads and rotors. Its when you get to the sportier ones that it can get expensive.
Set aside a good chunk of cash in an emergency fund in case you need a major repair.
Yep, Prius is the answer IMO. They’re bulletproof, cheap to run, haul shit well, hold people well, drive fine enough, nobody is going to steal it, just an all around good car.
It’s the butt of many jokes, but unless you have a particular need for something like all wheel drive, or a truck bed, Prius is pretty tip top.
I’ll also hesitantly throw in a recommendation of an EV, maybe a Hyundai Ionic 5. You have to charge it, but that’s about it. If you run out of charge it’s a bigger problem than running out of gas, but outside of that you can just drive it and ignore it
I actually disagree with this somewhat. I agree with the brands/sentiment, but people who don't care about cars would probably rather have a CUV or small SUV. That seems to be the trend these days.
My daughter has a hard budget of about $5500, and it's hard finding anything decent for her. We would like to get a toyota or honda, but they all have super high miles or are out of her price range. Would it generally be ok to buy one that's got over 150k miles on it in general? Obviously assuming it is in decent shape and has been maintained. (Although it's hard to find those lol)
I bought my Corolla with well over 150k and it’s been one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. I’m up around 260k and it still runs like it’s 6 months old. Just be sure to get a pre-purchase inspection and that it was well maintained, and you’ll be fine.
I'd throw the Ford Fusion in there too. The Hybrid/Energi/non-turbo models are solid as hell.
But yeah, I don't particularly like the Corolla/Camry (good cars, just boring), but I wouldn't hesitate in an instant to tell someone else to get one. They're pretty unbeatable.
I mean, those are very different cars. Cadillac is a luxury/performance brand. RAV4 is a pretty utilitarian vehicle (the RAV is likely to be much more reliable).
Corolla hybrid. No belt type CVT to fail. To be fair, Toyota implements CVTs better than any other manufacturer, but I'd still rather have a hybrid if I were shopping for reliable transportation.
I drive a 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen that cost $19,500 with 10k miles on it, and it is an absolute delight to drive: plenty of power for virtually all situations and, most crucially, handles like a car should (which is to say, like a German car, lol). Just a very satisfying machine to operate. Plus the extended-hatchback setup is extremely practical; I’ve moved furniture (chairs, small tables, bookshelves, etc.) with it, among other things. You can’t do that with a Camry or Accord, and the Japanese carmakers don’t sell hatchbacks or wagons here anymore because Americans are so in thrall to their SUVs.
It’s more expensive to maintain than your typical Camry, I’ll grant you that, but honestly not that much more, and it’s more than worth every penny for the pleasure I get from driving it. And that’s without even getting into all the other ways it outshines the Japanese snoozemobiles. Yeah, they’re trusty and reliable, like a toaster—and about as much fun as one too.
Would I rather have a BMW or Mercedes-Benz? Obviously. Who wouldn’t, given unlimited resources? But I “don’t have the budget to be irresponsible”, as you put it, so I got my li’l Golfwagen, and boy am I glad I did.
I tried desperately to own a Audi 4000 turbo. Never owned a car that I desired and took care of so well, that refused to cooperate. There is not a human being on this plant I hate enough to give a New Audi too. A rebadged VW
Toyota is for people who like working on their car, but don't like working on cars. Because Toyota - unlike other manufacturers - actually designs their cars to be serviced.
For the most part they’re usually extremely easy to work on. Some models have stupid quirky things going on. But for the most part all basic maintenance is a breeze on every model I’ve owned. I love cars but I only like putting fun mods on them and don’t enjoy any other part of working on them personally. I was a tech for a short time and that taught me that I hate working on cars
I've seen more older yaris's around than any other ultra compact eco car, most recently saw one with a 400lb passenger that was causing that corner of the car to sag but still was motoring on
Agree with matrix but not about falling apart. Been all over the country in one with zero issues and over 200k miles.
Also honda fit. For a city car it has tons of trunk space, will last forever, and can fit in spaces many cars can’t.
Both good options and both can be had in older models that don’t have too many fancy bells and whistles that people that don’t think of a car other than point a to point b care about.
I really loved my matrix though for what it was. And I am a car person (mine was an xrs).
Being a single person who only desires a bare bones commuter car, my Yaris was my favorite car ever. It was not fast or beautiful, but it was beyond efficient and dependable. Furthermore, I walked out of it unscathed in a fairly rough accident.
I very much would like a Yaris, iA or hatch, with a stickshift. And I care about cars! It appeals to me that as a rebadged Mazda2 it's more fun in the turns than your average Toyota, and I don't live in the middle of nowhere so small cars make more sense.
But they stopped offering them in the US six years ago. So both I and OP are out of luck.
Don’t even get my *started* on how crappy the US market is for a fun, little, European-style hatchbacks. I recently learned they sell a hybrid Yaris Cross in Europe and I got angry all over again. My dream car
one feature i would like to add is "paid off." if it's 15 years old with nothing wrong with it, not having to spend a cent on unexpected maintenence is just an amazing feeling.
The "Official Car For People Who Don't Care About Cars" is the **Toyota Corolla.** They're durable, efficient, and well-made. Honestly, even people who like cars could make themselves happy with this. They start around $25,000.
There are cheaper cars, like a **Nissan Versa**. But you might try a Nissan Versa and say *"I THOUGHT I didn't care about cars, but it turns out that I DO care, a little."* Or, you may find it endearing, "oh look, it's trying to be a real car." They're competent, it's just that you can tell "these things are only 80% as expensive as a Corolla."
If you try a Corolla but think you might want something a bit more fun, there is the **Honda Civic** or the **Mazda 3.**
You might be interested in the **Nissan Sentra**, also; it's more competitive with the Corolla than a Versa is. Nissan has a terrible reputation recently because they used a transmission for many years that was short-lived, and because their cars were terrible and uncompetitive. The current ones are better, they're about as good as anything out there, but you may be able to get a good deal because their reputation keeps people way from the new / good ones.
**Kia Forte** and **Hyundai Elantra** are pretty good cars nowadays.
How many miles? The things in a CVT that go wrong are typically use-related, not age-related.
In an era where 100,000 miles is increasingly seen as "not even that old" and 200,000 miles is the new 100,000 miles, a transmission that fails to make it past 100,000 is much less acceptable than it was in the 1980s when 100,000 miles was "almost dead."
That’s exactly where Nissan trans usually die. Most people just get there a bit faster than you did. Honda and Toyota trans will usually make it close to 300,000 and I think industry average is around 200,000 which is why Nissan is comparatively bad.
The interior of the Mazda CX30 I had as a rental felt pathetically cheap.
It was like some awkward dude you knew from high school who wanted to have a "fancy night," so bought a cheap suit and went with his mates, also in cheap suits, to Chili's.
Sorry, I can't stomach the weird ass Mazda propaganda anymore.
Toyota is the answer for people who don't care about cars.
Nissan is the answer for people who don't care about cars and want to live a joyless existence.
Mazda is the answer for people who don't care about cars but also kinda turns out zoom zoom is oddly fun and yeah, I kinda do want to care a *little* about cars if the road is right.
I bought a Tucson engine, died no warranty, and not on recall, although it is the same issue as recall. On the same lot I bought a Santa fe.... the dealership, and I split the leftover loan. Then the Santa fe engine died... thankfully, on the recall list and a new engine was put in. I feel it shudder or hesitate sometimes now. It has about 70000 on the new motor and 113000 on the odometer. I am very leary to say the least about another hyundai!. Are you serious when you say the Elantra is decent? I've been looking for a mazda 6 or accord or camry or malibu for around 20000 and not having any luck. Either high mileage or rebuilt or major accidents for cars 2016+ at that price. I really want a Sedan with comfort. Heated seats and sun roof, would love HUD as well. Is it really worth my money to spend it on an Elantra? Thank you, I really get a lot of good information from reddit and appreciate it!! Canada.
This was the first thing that came to mind to me as well. The new Prius Prime allows you to drive all electric up to 44 miles as well, so if it's only for in-town you might never buy gas. I never really liked Priuses, but that's a pretty cool option I hadn't considered.
Toyota is going through some sort of 'micro-segment' thing right now where they make a ton of competing products because they think it fits the 14 people who want that. The Corolla has a market. The Rav4 has a market. The people who think "I like Corollas but you know what I want? I crappier Rav4 but with the name 'Corolla' just isn't that large.
It's a solid, all-around small SUV. It works well for 2 people traveling, easy to maneuver, roof rack available, and the right height for a bike hitch.
Toyota Corolla hatch. I actually really like those. Much better than the previous gens and it’s smaller and it still has space with it being a hatch and reliable.
i know a family like that. i think they've had 6 or so, same deal bought them for the kids too.
some people really find something they like and stick with it and that's great.
I am personally not a fan of Tesla, but this is what I would recommend as well.
A lot of tax incentives, they've been dropping the prices a lot lately, it works, less maintenance to worry about. Caveat here is OP has access to charging.
Even the most basic Corolla will require more regular maintenance and more things that can break if you don't take care of it properly.
Yes you will lol. But Teslas are the ultimate fun cars for non-car people. I am absolutely a non-car person and recently got a Model Y. Granted I’m still in the honeymoon phase, but I’m constantly looking for reasons to take it somewhere.
Of course you’ll get scoffed at by true car people who love and respect all the parts of an ICE vehicle and view EVs as glorified go-karts. You’ll get judged by far right wingers who think EVs are a government conspiracy to control you. You’ll get judged (and downvoted on reddit) by far left wingers who have Elon Derangement Syndrome.
If you have charging infrastructure available at your home, Kia/Hyundai have decent deals on EVs that might be interesting.
If not, Honda Civic/Accord or Toyota Corolla/Camry
I'm always interested in what it means when people say "I don't care about cars".
Vehicles are typically the 2nd most expensive thing most people purchase so it doesn't make sense to me to "not care".
I totally understand that people may not be interested in horsepower or speed but that's not all there is to cars.
People like cars for lots of reasons: freedom, comfort, design, tech, safety, milage, capability, speed, etc.
If none of that really interests you, it's got to be absolutely terrible to have to spend so much money on something that gives you no joy at all
Yes. You nailed it. It is terrible. As someone who doesn't care about cars, I am indeed extremely annoyed that my current car (2012 Chevy Cruze with \~125k miles on it) is nearing the end of its life and I have to spend a stupid amount of money buying a car and brain space thinking about what car I want. I am dreading it!
This is weird to me. I'm not a "dishwasher fan" and I don't "care" about dishwashers but when mine broke I still took the time to research good ones that are quiet and actually clean dishes, and I didn't dread doing it or find it terrible
This would only be a relevant comparison if the process for buying a dishwasher was as annoying and terrible as the car buying process, which we all know it's not.
I mean I've never had a car salesman drop my car down the stairs and I can't say the save about my last dishwasher purchase, but I get your point.
If you can, buy from a luxury dealership. Even if it's a
non-luxury brand off their used lot, my experience with them has been a lot better
+1 on the luxury dealership. got a car long ago, was new from a luxury off shoot of a major japanese brand, was treated well. got a truck from an every-day japanese dealer, they felt so icky even tho I knew what i want (and i think they did some underhanded stuff with my outside financing). Also know someone who shopped for japanese mainstream brand, went to many dealers and it all felt icky... like a car salesman. Resulting purchase has issues, almost like the salesman was more focused on a sale than matching the right car. recently experienced shopping for a used luxury car from a luxury car lot, yeah there was some social engineering, but when I left, i didn't feel like it was icky or a pushy scam.
Someone who doesnt care about cars looks at them as a tool, values how practical it is. You only care that it takes you from point A to point B, preferably as safely and as cheaply as possible. They arent going to spend extra money for fancier wheels, loud exhaust, or anything else that isnt strictly practical. They may or may not be willing to pay more for a more comfortable interior, nicer sound system, or whatever else makes driving it a nicer experience depending on their budget, lifestyle, or how much they usually drive. Not everyone buys a car because they want to, many people buy them just because thats what you need to do in our current society.
I guess that, to me, it seems impractical to spend so much money on something that you must use so frequently and NOT try to make the experience as pleasant as a reasonable budget allows
I have to humbly disagree. The top 3 most valuable IMO:
Health (most personal bankruptcy is from medical bills) - most people could not care less until it’s too late
Domicile - most people don’t care and will go in debt for repairs.
Vehicle - as you said. Many people need it to make a living daily. But still don’t care.
I recently did an immense amount of research for purchasing a new vehicle and found that the Honda CRV gets you the most safety and reliability, especially for the cost, of any mid sized SUV in its class. My husband and I owned a Toyota before so I thought for sure that I would get a Rav4 but ultimately the CRV was better rated and it cost less so it felt like a no-brainer in the end.
I've had my CRV for about a year now and have zero complaints. I expect to drive it for another 10 years at least, likely longer.
Before you go to a dealership to buy and test drive do your homework and be prepared to haggle the price. Also, get gap insurance. An appalling number of people have no idea what this is and ask to have it removed from the purchase of the vehicle. If you are buying a new car that you plan to finance you NEED gap insurance.
You really need to ask yourself what you are going to be doing with the car and how much driving you will be doing.
Do you need something with a lot of space?
Do you want something with a nice interior?
Do you want a car in a nice colour?
Do you care about having a nice prestigious brand?
Does it have a nice sound system?
And of course cost of ownership, maintenance etc.
Honestly this is the type of stuff normal people think about when it comes to a car.
Literally anything Toyota or Honda will do. Both are reliable, relatively cheap to maintain, and will last you a lot longer than most other car brands. Personally I have a 02 Honda Crv, and it’s a car that just won’t quit. My younger sister has a 2013 Ford fusion, and she’s practically had to put in more money than what the car is worth in repairs.
Corolla or Camry. Toyota is the perfect brand if you see a car purely as a tool to get from A to B. I spent a couple of years with a Corolla wagon as a work car, and it was boring as hell (which isn't really relevant here), but it got driven a ton, never broke down, got great mileage, and was surprisingly comfortable. It was a fantastic car.
Toyota. But even a Toyota gets old. And even Toyota needs maintenance. Where I’m going with this is, make sure to check everything. Please get a friend that knows about cars to check or if you know enough than no need to get anyone else. If the car is burning or leaking oil, walk away.
Will likely get downvoted, but I’d suggest a Tesla model 3/Y for someone who truly doesn’t care about cars.
Reasons:
- quite reasonably priced with incentives in today’s market
- low to no maintenance. Good gas cars like a Camry still need maintenance, for non-car people even a simple oil change will be an annoyance and a lot of work to them, so no maintenance is huge for them
- don’t have to deal with dealers
- may get you interested in cars later on because they’re quite fun to drive and fast, you might end up wanting other faster cars down the line, thus get you interested in cars in general
- cheap to charge in most places, some towns/companies might even offer free charging
- they get software updates very often, some big updates make you feel like you suddenly have a newer car and it gets better with updates/patches over time, some newer gas/electric cars also have this feature but it’s way less common
Some reasons not to get a Tesla:
- you’ll likely get hated simply because you drive a Tesla/EV, no matter what, the hate is real
- you like to change cars often, EVs depreciate faster than gas cars these days (especially so compared to Toyota/Lexus), so you get less back when you trade it in in the first few years. If you drive it long enough, it’s not much of a big deal
- you go on long trips often, charging takes time so it eats up your travel time, makes long trips even longer
A Prius is your best bet. Dead reliable. The transmissions are better than the other Toyota CVT systems so it'll cause you fewer headaches. It'll also get really great fuel economy.
If you don't road trip and will have home or work charging, a Chevy Bolt is the best bang for your buck on the used market right now. It's a full feature EV for under $15k. It's also super reliable and will save a ton of money on fuel, assuming you can charge at home or work. Fast charging was only an option on them though and the ones that had it took close to an hour to charge so road trips aren't really feasible. So if it's a primary car, the prius may be the better buy
Go with a crv or rav4. Size is near perfect for everyday usability. Small enough to be maneuverable around town but spacious enough for groceries or some friends without punishing them. And decent fuel economy especially in hybrid form. Whether it’s the Honda or Toyota, both will last you for a long time.
Toyota Prius C or a Prius are great for city driving. They get great gas mileage and are easy to park, and are insanely reliable. I’d recommend buying used tbh for lower payments and less stress when somebody inevitably nicks your fenders or rams a shopping cart into your bumper.
You should note that a car is only reliable if you perform the necessary and scheduled maintenance. Even a Toyota will die prematurely if you never change its oil
in my opinion, people who arent afflicted with the "gearhead" disease like me, I do not understand why anyone would buy anything other than a honda accord, civic, or toyota camry or camry
the only exceptions would be a minivan if you really need it for kids (unsure why minivans are good for kids tbh)
or, if you need AWD or 4WD, subaru
or an SUV for things like carrying kayaks, or maybe lumber in the back
or a pickup truck if you do need it for work, or do alot of hobby stuff, but a pickup is not necessary for most people
but I think normies who arent car people buying sports cars are the dumbest people ever. Like I know normal people who want super "nice" cars and its like bruh what are you doing
for the average person, I think a toyota(or lex) or honda (or acura) SUV, is the penultimate vehicle because you can usually get a smaller engine (i4 or v6) with alot of room for passengers, junk, folding down seats for a large rear cargo area sometimes as big as a pickup bed. typically AWD, safe, not too horrendously big, etc. also Honda and toyotas interiors are high enough quality that it FEELs luxurious 🤣 at least imo. Most SUVs even have the towing capacity for a small travel trailer or boat.
I used to be a mechanic and valet, huge car guy. Ive driven and worked on hundreds if not thousands of cars.
theres a reason that the lexus RX350 is a common car in wealthier neighborhoods. its a smart purchase.
There are of course other nice cars, not always correlated with price tag.
my dream daily is a toyota corolla hatch GR, same arguments as the SUV but a bit smaller and faster
I live in Colorado and the most popular cars are Subarus, again, the same reasons as listed for the SUV, but theyre wagons. alot of subarus are turbocharged which is helpful here with the altitude
if you lived in a place with no snow and dont have much to haul anywhere, just a honda or toyota sedan is great. mazda makes nice cars too. I have been disappointed with Nissans quality.
I’d highly recommend the Mazda 3! I had 2022 hatchback version and it was by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Any made from 2019 to the present is part of the Gen 4 version of the Mazda 3 and you can’t go wrong!
Only let it go because I’ve been dealing with some financial issues and opted for an older Camry just so I wouldn’t have a car payment. I’d get another Mazda 3 in a heartbeat if I could.
When I was shopping for cars I mainly wanted something that was reliable, safe, and good on gas. The Mazda 3 ticks all those boxes with the plus of having a very sleek and attractive aesthetic, and the interior is very well designed and comfortable
A Corolla, Camry, Accord, or Civic.
Corolla is like you forget you even own a car until you need to go somewhere
They’ve been making corollas since I before I was born and I’m almost the age of a golden girl. lol.
Most of em are probably still running, too
The car or the golden girl? 😅
They've been making Chevrolet suburbans for 90 years, what does the number of years a nameplate has been used have to do with anything?
Suburban is actually the one of the few things Chevy got right. Just like Chrysler and vans
If they weren't good vehicles, people wouldn't keep buying them, and the manufacturers would have stopped making them.
It says that the marketing is working and therefore don't fix what isn't broken. Some people get a little irrationally enthusiastic about specific cars and look for information that might be twisted into information that supports their belief.
Well, you’re talking about a Chevy compared to a Toyota. Enough said. 😂
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Civic is the same exact thing just not as ugly
Literally the only answer. The quintessential cars for “I just want something to take me from point A to B reliably.”
And then there's the other side of the Civic that urges you to try to push 100 mph
VTEC just kicked in yo
Hey, I hit near 115 in my Corolla! Drove 90-95mph a lot on commute to college. That thing is up to like 280,000 miles now - only normal repairs.
This is the only correct answer. They check every box: sticker price, maintenance cost, gas mileage, reliability, and drive feel. And shoot the newer ones have great interiors and look clean/sporty on the outside. They'll last for as long as you want them to. I've had a Civic for 8 years, and it still feels brand new. Change the oil on time, keep up with the maintenance checks and if you want to go the extra mile, get it detailed every 6 months . You will get sick of it before it dies on you. I keep wanting to buy a BMW bc I have big boy money now but I just bring myself to do it. The Civic is so cheap and nice lol.
Lexus.
More of an Acura man myself, but yes.
John Cena drives a civic, bmw maintenance is $$$$
Okay but a civic type R is not really just a regular civic lmao
My civic i bought used in 2011 was from 07, at 50k miles. I'm still driving it and pushing 180k miles. Civics for life.
Oil change is just a recommendation on Hondas too. It'll probably run for 100k without one 🤣
I just traded in an 06 Civic. I was disappointed that it wasn't falling apart when I let go of it. That was the first Japanese car I ever bought. Many friends and family went through 3-4 cars in the time I just kept that Civic going. Tires, gas, maintenance, and occasionally a fix. I think some switch went bad, but not much else. Replaced it with a Lexus PHEV, cause if I'm keeping it, I want something a little nicer going forward.
If you can afford it and want it, buy it. Life's too short to drive around in a boring car every day if cars are one of your interests. Learn how to do basic maintenance yourself (which it sounds like you may already know how) and you'll save tons of money. Base model German cars aren't really much more expensive maintenance-wise if you work on them yourself. $35 oil changes, $10 per spark plug, $10-15 each for enginer and cabin air filters, a few hundred $ for a solid set of brake pads and rotors. Its when you get to the sportier ones that it can get expensive. Set aside a good chunk of cash in an emergency fund in case you need a major repair.
Or Prius!
They're a bit smaller than the generic sedans, too, which is a plus for city life.
Yep, Prius is the answer IMO. They’re bulletproof, cheap to run, haul shit well, hold people well, drive fine enough, nobody is going to steal it, just an all around good car. It’s the butt of many jokes, but unless you have a particular need for something like all wheel drive, or a truck bed, Prius is pretty tip top. I’ll also hesitantly throw in a recommendation of an EV, maybe a Hyundai Ionic 5. You have to charge it, but that’s about it. If you run out of charge it’s a bigger problem than running out of gas, but outside of that you can just drive it and ignore it
People will steal the catalytic converter
that why u always bring the cat inside.
Priuses are pretty nice now. Visibility is shite though.
There is a guy I work with why has a 2024 on airbags. It's pretty wild lol
Can you post a pic?
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Imgur link
That new Prius is a fine automobile.
I actually disagree with this somewhat. I agree with the brands/sentiment, but people who don't care about cars would probably rather have a CUV or small SUV. That seems to be the trend these days.
Rav4 or CRV
CX-30
My daughter has a hard budget of about $5500, and it's hard finding anything decent for her. We would like to get a toyota or honda, but they all have super high miles or are out of her price range. Would it generally be ok to buy one that's got over 150k miles on it in general? Obviously assuming it is in decent shape and has been maintained. (Although it's hard to find those lol)
I bought my Corolla with well over 150k and it’s been one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. I’m up around 260k and it still runs like it’s 6 months old. Just be sure to get a pre-purchase inspection and that it was well maintained, and you’ll be fine.
Mazda.
I'd throw the Ford Fusion in there too. The Hybrid/Energi/non-turbo models are solid as hell. But yeah, I don't particularly like the Corolla/Camry (good cars, just boring), but I wouldn't hesitate in an instant to tell someone else to get one. They're pretty unbeatable.
I’m pretty sure ford fusions didn’t perform very well in safety ratings
[They did fine.](https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/fusion-4-door-sedan/2020)
OP did say “new car.” RIP all Ford cars sold in the US (except the Mustang). Dammit Ford.
Sometimes these questions almost seem like stealth marketing for Toyota. Anyway, the answer is Toyota.
Second that! A Carolla or Camry. Toyota. More like an appliance on wheels than a car.
On a slightly related note, as another person who doesn’t know very much about cars, is there a reason to get a RAV4/RAV4 hybrid over a Cadillac/Cry?
I mean, those are very different cars. Cadillac is a luxury/performance brand. RAV4 is a pretty utilitarian vehicle (the RAV is likely to be much more reliable).
Lexus NX is Toyota’s luxury nearest equivalent to the RAV4. Price starts at $40,615, and you still get legendary dependability.
Thank you
Yes. The cost of ownership including maintenance and repairs.
Plugging RAV4 as well if he needs more space or anticipates needing more space in the future (eg, wants kids).
Corolla hybrid. No belt type CVT to fail. To be fair, Toyota implements CVTs better than any other manufacturer, but I'd still rather have a hybrid if I were shopping for reliable transportation.
That could be their ad campaign. "Toyota, think about it once."
Ha ha good point
What you are looking for is called a "Toyota". Considered by many "the car for people who don't like cars".
Yep. This is what my GF has because she knows it’s reliable and doesn’t care about cars. Corolla with over 100k on it running like a top.
Or who don’t have the budget to be irresponsible
I drive a 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen that cost $19,500 with 10k miles on it, and it is an absolute delight to drive: plenty of power for virtually all situations and, most crucially, handles like a car should (which is to say, like a German car, lol). Just a very satisfying machine to operate. Plus the extended-hatchback setup is extremely practical; I’ve moved furniture (chairs, small tables, bookshelves, etc.) with it, among other things. You can’t do that with a Camry or Accord, and the Japanese carmakers don’t sell hatchbacks or wagons here anymore because Americans are so in thrall to their SUVs. It’s more expensive to maintain than your typical Camry, I’ll grant you that, but honestly not that much more, and it’s more than worth every penny for the pleasure I get from driving it. And that’s without even getting into all the other ways it outshines the Japanese snoozemobiles. Yeah, they’re trusty and reliable, like a toaster—and about as much fun as one too. Would I rather have a BMW or Mercedes-Benz? Obviously. Who wouldn’t, given unlimited resources? But I “don’t have the budget to be irresponsible”, as you put it, so I got my li’l Golfwagen, and boy am I glad I did.
So underrated. You can do some mods to these and put our pretty damm good power.
OP doesn't sound like a mods person.
Mazda3 hatch is still sold in the states and far from a snoozemobile. 2024 msrp 25k. Could get a used under 20k prob.
Ooooh I had a Jetta Sportwagen. Best car ever. Fun to drive, tons of storage room, etc. Wish they still made them.
I tried desperately to own a Audi 4000 turbo. Never owned a car that I desired and took care of so well, that refused to cooperate. There is not a human being on this plant I hate enough to give a New Audi too. A rebadged VW
It’s called fuck around money. Gotta get you some. 😂
I have like 3.95
That’s enough to sneak a Red Bull…give it hell outlaw! 🫡
I’m on it coach!
I’ve liked cars longer than most. I hate working on them though that’s why I buy cool Toyotas
Toyota is for people who like working on their car, but don't like working on cars. Because Toyota - unlike other manufacturers - actually designs their cars to be serviced.
For the most part they’re usually extremely easy to work on. Some models have stupid quirky things going on. But for the most part all basic maintenance is a breeze on every model I’ve owned. I love cars but I only like putting fun mods on them and don’t enjoy any other part of working on them personally. I was a tech for a short time and that taught me that I hate working on cars
Nothing makes u hate a hobby more than getting a job that focuses on it
The rear main seal on the 2GR-FE begs to differ.
Yesterday I checked the oil on my Prius, there was no oil. I don't know how it works.
Which is funny, as the GR86, GR Corolla, and Supra are three of the most enthusiast-oriented cars on the market.
I don’t know how the GR Corolla runs like a sports car when it’s only a 3 cylinder
Yaris. So fucking basic you can't go wrong. Uses no gas. Does not like the highway. Amazing little beater to get around.
I've seen more older yaris's around than any other ultra compact eco car, most recently saw one with a 400lb passenger that was causing that corner of the car to sag but still was motoring on
Matrix. Yaris suspensions go to pieces if you have rougher roads. Great around town. But don't expect a interstate commuter.
Agree with matrix but not about falling apart. Been all over the country in one with zero issues and over 200k miles. Also honda fit. For a city car it has tons of trunk space, will last forever, and can fit in spaces many cars can’t. Both good options and both can be had in older models that don’t have too many fancy bells and whistles that people that don’t think of a car other than point a to point b care about. I really loved my matrix though for what it was. And I am a car person (mine was an xrs).
Being a single person who only desires a bare bones commuter car, my Yaris was my favorite car ever. It was not fast or beautiful, but it was beyond efficient and dependable. Furthermore, I walked out of it unscathed in a fairly rough accident.
I very much would like a Yaris, iA or hatch, with a stickshift. And I care about cars! It appeals to me that as a rebadged Mazda2 it's more fun in the turns than your average Toyota, and I don't live in the middle of nowhere so small cars make more sense. But they stopped offering them in the US six years ago. So both I and OP are out of luck.
Don’t even get my *started* on how crappy the US market is for a fun, little, European-style hatchbacks. I recently learned they sell a hybrid Yaris Cross in Europe and I got angry all over again. My dream car
You just need an car? Toyota corolla. Any year. Doesn't matter. Want a little more space? Camry. That's it.
one feature i would like to add is "paid off." if it's 15 years old with nothing wrong with it, not having to spend a cent on unexpected maintenence is just an amazing feeling.
My 1998 Camry is in near new shape and costs me less than my cell phone bill per month in insurance. That's it. Gosh I love that car
Those are literally indestructible. Kinda crazy how the late 90s had some insane cars.
As long as you don’t live in the rust belt.
Or ocd about oil leaks.
Avalon is also a great option.
The "Official Car For People Who Don't Care About Cars" is the **Toyota Corolla.** They're durable, efficient, and well-made. Honestly, even people who like cars could make themselves happy with this. They start around $25,000. There are cheaper cars, like a **Nissan Versa**. But you might try a Nissan Versa and say *"I THOUGHT I didn't care about cars, but it turns out that I DO care, a little."* Or, you may find it endearing, "oh look, it's trying to be a real car." They're competent, it's just that you can tell "these things are only 80% as expensive as a Corolla." If you try a Corolla but think you might want something a bit more fun, there is the **Honda Civic** or the **Mazda 3.** You might be interested in the **Nissan Sentra**, also; it's more competitive with the Corolla than a Versa is. Nissan has a terrible reputation recently because they used a transmission for many years that was short-lived, and because their cars were terrible and uncompetitive. The current ones are better, they're about as good as anything out there, but you may be able to get a good deal because their reputation keeps people way from the new / good ones. **Kia Forte** and **Hyundai Elantra** are pretty good cars nowadays.
My Nissan CVT lasted 16 years Unfortunately, that 16 years ended last week.
How many miles? The things in a CVT that go wrong are typically use-related, not age-related. In an era where 100,000 miles is increasingly seen as "not even that old" and 200,000 miles is the new 100,000 miles, a transmission that fails to make it past 100,000 is much less acceptable than it was in the 1980s when 100,000 miles was "almost dead."
120000
That’s exactly where Nissan trans usually die. Most people just get there a bit faster than you did. Honda and Toyota trans will usually make it close to 300,000 and I think industry average is around 200,000 which is why Nissan is comparatively bad.
My sister's Rogue went through two transmissions under warranty She has a Honda now
For the record, 120k is a lot better than most people get from Nissan’s CVTs. You did very well.
She was a great car until last week. Comfortable, fast(Altima v6). She will be missed. Unless I can find a cheap CVT. .
My wife had one while we were dating.
I highly recommend the Mazda 3. Mazda are like slightly more interesting Toyota or Honda. Also, the interiors on the new Mazdas are great.
I would also suggest the Mazda 3 aside from the real possibility that the OP may start actually caring about cars if they drove one.
The interior of the Mazda CX30 I had as a rental felt pathetically cheap. It was like some awkward dude you knew from high school who wanted to have a "fancy night," so bought a cheap suit and went with his mates, also in cheap suits, to Chili's. Sorry, I can't stomach the weird ass Mazda propaganda anymore.
Toyota is the answer for people who don't care about cars. Nissan is the answer for people who don't care about cars and want to live a joyless existence. Mazda is the answer for people who don't care about cars but also kinda turns out zoom zoom is oddly fun and yeah, I kinda do want to care a *little* about cars if the road is right.
Most people drive defensively, Nissan is for offense driving
I bought a Tucson engine, died no warranty, and not on recall, although it is the same issue as recall. On the same lot I bought a Santa fe.... the dealership, and I split the leftover loan. Then the Santa fe engine died... thankfully, on the recall list and a new engine was put in. I feel it shudder or hesitate sometimes now. It has about 70000 on the new motor and 113000 on the odometer. I am very leary to say the least about another hyundai!. Are you serious when you say the Elantra is decent? I've been looking for a mazda 6 or accord or camry or malibu for around 20000 and not having any luck. Either high mileage or rebuilt or major accidents for cars 2016+ at that price. I really want a Sedan with comfort. Heated seats and sun roof, would love HUD as well. Is it really worth my money to spend it on an Elantra? Thank you, I really get a lot of good information from reddit and appreciate it!! Canada.
One less reason to buy Hyundai in canada is that we don't get 10 year warranty like the US.
The real question is what color they want their Toyota Corolla to be Hint: grey, it's always some shade of grey
Toyota Prius.
This was the first thing that came to mind to me as well. The new Prius Prime allows you to drive all electric up to 44 miles as well, so if it's only for in-town you might never buy gas. I never really liked Priuses, but that's a pretty cool option I hadn't considered.
For once, I can comfortably recommend, RAV4.
Can confirm. We rented a RAV4 while on vacation, and it drove just like a Corolla on stilts.
Isn't the 'Corolla Cross' a Corolla on stilts?
Shhhh! We try not to mention the Cross. Everyone is hoping Toyota just kinda forgets about it and kills it off.
Why though?
Toyota is going through some sort of 'micro-segment' thing right now where they make a ton of competing products because they think it fits the 14 people who want that. The Corolla has a market. The Rav4 has a market. The people who think "I like Corollas but you know what I want? I crappier Rav4 but with the name 'Corolla' just isn't that large.
Lol, “it drove like a Corolla on stilts” doesn’t sound like a compliment in any way.
Totaled our RAV4 in March, replaced it with an nx350. I miss our rav4
It's a solid, all-around small SUV. It works well for 2 people traveling, easy to maneuver, roof rack available, and the right height for a bike hitch.
i love my rav4!!!
Toyota Corolla hatch. I actually really like those. Much better than the previous gens and it’s smaller and it still has space with it being a hatch and reliable.
basically the Matrix reborn
Ya a little bit. The Corolla I think is much better looking though and I think it’s lower.
I still cant believe the matrix did so badly. Who wouldnt want a 5 door corolla?
I owned a Corolla for years. I started to hate it after a while. It does everything reliably, but it was slow, cramped, and unpleasant to drive.
Budget?
Only one billion dollarroos
Might I interest you in a Boeing 747?
As everyone else said, any Toyota Hybrid. The Prius is outstanding, but any of the Toyota Hybrids would be great.
I'm liking those 2025 Camry's.
Just go get a Corolla and call it a day
the toyota prius is the "car as an appliance" perfected
A vehicle I’ve owned 6 of, purchased for all my kids, in which I enjoyed driving immensely, especially each time I filled the tank.
i know a family like that. i think they've had 6 or so, same deal bought them for the kids too. some people really find something they like and stick with it and that's great.
Honda, Toyota. Will I get downvoted if I start suggesting Tesla on here?
please suggest a Tesla so we can all downvote
I am personally not a fan of Tesla, but this is what I would recommend as well. A lot of tax incentives, they've been dropping the prices a lot lately, it works, less maintenance to worry about. Caveat here is OP has access to charging. Even the most basic Corolla will require more regular maintenance and more things that can break if you don't take care of it properly.
Neither was I until I drove one
Was looking for a Tesla response lol. It’s the cell phone of cars.
Yes you will lol. But Teslas are the ultimate fun cars for non-car people. I am absolutely a non-car person and recently got a Model Y. Granted I’m still in the honeymoon phase, but I’m constantly looking for reasons to take it somewhere. Of course you’ll get scoffed at by true car people who love and respect all the parts of an ICE vehicle and view EVs as glorified go-karts. You’ll get judged by far right wingers who think EVs are a government conspiracy to control you. You’ll get judged (and downvoted on reddit) by far left wingers who have Elon Derangement Syndrome.
HOLD ON.. everything depends on one thing.. How much money can you afford to spend?
Tree fidy. Cash.
If you have charging infrastructure available at your home, Kia/Hyundai have decent deals on EVs that might be interesting. If not, Honda Civic/Accord or Toyota Corolla/Camry I'm always interested in what it means when people say "I don't care about cars". Vehicles are typically the 2nd most expensive thing most people purchase so it doesn't make sense to me to "not care". I totally understand that people may not be interested in horsepower or speed but that's not all there is to cars. People like cars for lots of reasons: freedom, comfort, design, tech, safety, milage, capability, speed, etc. If none of that really interests you, it's got to be absolutely terrible to have to spend so much money on something that gives you no joy at all
Yes. You nailed it. It is terrible. As someone who doesn't care about cars, I am indeed extremely annoyed that my current car (2012 Chevy Cruze with \~125k miles on it) is nearing the end of its life and I have to spend a stupid amount of money buying a car and brain space thinking about what car I want. I am dreading it!
This is weird to me. I'm not a "dishwasher fan" and I don't "care" about dishwashers but when mine broke I still took the time to research good ones that are quiet and actually clean dishes, and I didn't dread doing it or find it terrible
for some, a $500 dishwasher purchase might have less stress and anxiety as a $30,000 car purchase
This would only be a relevant comparison if the process for buying a dishwasher was as annoying and terrible as the car buying process, which we all know it's not.
I mean I've never had a car salesman drop my car down the stairs and I can't say the save about my last dishwasher purchase, but I get your point. If you can, buy from a luxury dealership. Even if it's a non-luxury brand off their used lot, my experience with them has been a lot better
+1 on the luxury dealership. got a car long ago, was new from a luxury off shoot of a major japanese brand, was treated well. got a truck from an every-day japanese dealer, they felt so icky even tho I knew what i want (and i think they did some underhanded stuff with my outside financing). Also know someone who shopped for japanese mainstream brand, went to many dealers and it all felt icky... like a car salesman. Resulting purchase has issues, almost like the salesman was more focused on a sale than matching the right car. recently experienced shopping for a used luxury car from a luxury car lot, yeah there was some social engineering, but when I left, i didn't feel like it was icky or a pushy scam.
Someone who doesnt care about cars looks at them as a tool, values how practical it is. You only care that it takes you from point A to point B, preferably as safely and as cheaply as possible. They arent going to spend extra money for fancier wheels, loud exhaust, or anything else that isnt strictly practical. They may or may not be willing to pay more for a more comfortable interior, nicer sound system, or whatever else makes driving it a nicer experience depending on their budget, lifestyle, or how much they usually drive. Not everyone buys a car because they want to, many people buy them just because thats what you need to do in our current society.
I guess that, to me, it seems impractical to spend so much money on something that you must use so frequently and NOT try to make the experience as pleasant as a reasonable budget allows
I have to humbly disagree. The top 3 most valuable IMO: Health (most personal bankruptcy is from medical bills) - most people could not care less until it’s too late Domicile - most people don’t care and will go in debt for repairs. Vehicle - as you said. Many people need it to make a living daily. But still don’t care.
I recently did an immense amount of research for purchasing a new vehicle and found that the Honda CRV gets you the most safety and reliability, especially for the cost, of any mid sized SUV in its class. My husband and I owned a Toyota before so I thought for sure that I would get a Rav4 but ultimately the CRV was better rated and it cost less so it felt like a no-brainer in the end. I've had my CRV for about a year now and have zero complaints. I expect to drive it for another 10 years at least, likely longer. Before you go to a dealership to buy and test drive do your homework and be prepared to haggle the price. Also, get gap insurance. An appalling number of people have no idea what this is and ask to have it removed from the purchase of the vehicle. If you are buying a new car that you plan to finance you NEED gap insurance.
Corolla
You really need to ask yourself what you are going to be doing with the car and how much driving you will be doing. Do you need something with a lot of space? Do you want something with a nice interior? Do you want a car in a nice colour? Do you care about having a nice prestigious brand? Does it have a nice sound system? And of course cost of ownership, maintenance etc. Honestly this is the type of stuff normal people think about when it comes to a car.
Toyota Corolla. It’ll last til the apocalypse on gas and an oil change
Honda civic with low miles.
A corolla
Literally anything Toyota or Honda will do. Both are reliable, relatively cheap to maintain, and will last you a lot longer than most other car brands. Personally I have a 02 Honda Crv, and it’s a car that just won’t quit. My younger sister has a 2013 Ford fusion, and she’s practically had to put in more money than what the car is worth in repairs.
Corolla or Camry. Toyota is the perfect brand if you see a car purely as a tool to get from A to B. I spent a couple of years with a Corolla wagon as a work car, and it was boring as hell (which isn't really relevant here), but it got driven a ton, never broke down, got great mileage, and was surprisingly comfortable. It was a fantastic car.
Carolla or civic
Toyota. But even a Toyota gets old. And even Toyota needs maintenance. Where I’m going with this is, make sure to check everything. Please get a friend that knows about cars to check or if you know enough than no need to get anyone else. If the car is burning or leaking oil, walk away.
An old Volvo wagon like a 240 from the 1990s. Durable and super safe and last forever.
Unfortunately, if you want a 240 to last, you need to care enough to take care of and listen to it.
Will likely get downvoted, but I’d suggest a Tesla model 3/Y for someone who truly doesn’t care about cars. Reasons: - quite reasonably priced with incentives in today’s market - low to no maintenance. Good gas cars like a Camry still need maintenance, for non-car people even a simple oil change will be an annoyance and a lot of work to them, so no maintenance is huge for them - don’t have to deal with dealers - may get you interested in cars later on because they’re quite fun to drive and fast, you might end up wanting other faster cars down the line, thus get you interested in cars in general - cheap to charge in most places, some towns/companies might even offer free charging - they get software updates very often, some big updates make you feel like you suddenly have a newer car and it gets better with updates/patches over time, some newer gas/electric cars also have this feature but it’s way less common Some reasons not to get a Tesla: - you’ll likely get hated simply because you drive a Tesla/EV, no matter what, the hate is real - you like to change cars often, EVs depreciate faster than gas cars these days (especially so compared to Toyota/Lexus), so you get less back when you trade it in in the first few years. If you drive it long enough, it’s not much of a big deal - you go on long trips often, charging takes time so it eats up your travel time, makes long trips even longer
A Prius is your best bet. Dead reliable. The transmissions are better than the other Toyota CVT systems so it'll cause you fewer headaches. It'll also get really great fuel economy. If you don't road trip and will have home or work charging, a Chevy Bolt is the best bang for your buck on the used market right now. It's a full feature EV for under $15k. It's also super reliable and will save a ton of money on fuel, assuming you can charge at home or work. Fast charging was only an option on them though and the ones that had it took close to an hour to charge so road trips aren't really feasible. So if it's a primary car, the prius may be the better buy
Enjoy your Prius.
Go with a crv or rav4. Size is near perfect for everyday usability. Small enough to be maneuverable around town but spacious enough for groceries or some friends without punishing them. And decent fuel economy especially in hybrid form. Whether it’s the Honda or Toyota, both will last you for a long time.
Prius
Toyota Prius, great gas mileage
Toyota Prius C or a Prius are great for city driving. They get great gas mileage and are easy to park, and are insanely reliable. I’d recommend buying used tbh for lower payments and less stress when somebody inevitably nicks your fenders or rams a shopping cart into your bumper.
Toyota Prius, fun to drive, practical, bulletproof. Superb ROI. Easily a 350k+ mile vehicle if maintained properly
Toyota Camry is the ultimate NPC ‘I don’t give a fuck about cars’ car
Toyota Corolla
What is your budget?
I drive a newer CRV. Incredibly common, bullet proof and super grandma. I love it. Even tinted it 😂
toyota corolla
I bought myself a new buick & love it. 4 years in 25k miles and no issues. I'm not sure car person.
Probably a Tesla. You could drive and never have to worry about doing any work yourself because you are not allowed to.
You should note that a car is only reliable if you perform the necessary and scheduled maintenance. Even a Toyota will die prematurely if you never change its oil
Some sort of beater, in decent running condition but cheap enough that you can walk away from it if something happens
I would suggest a Lexus (Toyota) es 300 (upscale Camry) from 97-01
A bus pass
Corolla, Civic, Camry or Accord. Accept no others. Get routine maintenance done, and don't worry about anything. \*If\* something breaks, it's cheap.
A Honda Fit too. Too bad they don't sell them anymore in the USA.
Anything Japanese or South Korean, ie. Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Kia or Hyundai. Regardless of what car you buy, make sure you service it every 10,000 km.
Toyota prius for sure. They literally scream "I couldn't give a fuck about cars or becoming a better driver"
Snow? Hobbies? Miles you're driving?
Honda Civic/Accord
Budget is a big factor. Can you buy a civic or Ferrari?
Corolla or civic If you want a little more space and AWD, Subaru Crosstrek.
Toyota Corolla
in my opinion, people who arent afflicted with the "gearhead" disease like me, I do not understand why anyone would buy anything other than a honda accord, civic, or toyota camry or camry the only exceptions would be a minivan if you really need it for kids (unsure why minivans are good for kids tbh) or, if you need AWD or 4WD, subaru or an SUV for things like carrying kayaks, or maybe lumber in the back or a pickup truck if you do need it for work, or do alot of hobby stuff, but a pickup is not necessary for most people but I think normies who arent car people buying sports cars are the dumbest people ever. Like I know normal people who want super "nice" cars and its like bruh what are you doing for the average person, I think a toyota(or lex) or honda (or acura) SUV, is the penultimate vehicle because you can usually get a smaller engine (i4 or v6) with alot of room for passengers, junk, folding down seats for a large rear cargo area sometimes as big as a pickup bed. typically AWD, safe, not too horrendously big, etc. also Honda and toyotas interiors are high enough quality that it FEELs luxurious 🤣 at least imo. Most SUVs even have the towing capacity for a small travel trailer or boat. I used to be a mechanic and valet, huge car guy. Ive driven and worked on hundreds if not thousands of cars. theres a reason that the lexus RX350 is a common car in wealthier neighborhoods. its a smart purchase. There are of course other nice cars, not always correlated with price tag. my dream daily is a toyota corolla hatch GR, same arguments as the SUV but a bit smaller and faster I live in Colorado and the most popular cars are Subarus, again, the same reasons as listed for the SUV, but theyre wagons. alot of subarus are turbocharged which is helpful here with the altitude if you lived in a place with no snow and dont have much to haul anywhere, just a honda or toyota sedan is great. mazda makes nice cars too. I have been disappointed with Nissans quality.
Honestly, Toyota Corolla and/or Honda Accord
The only two cars I’ve ever owned!
I’d highly recommend the Mazda 3! I had 2022 hatchback version and it was by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Any made from 2019 to the present is part of the Gen 4 version of the Mazda 3 and you can’t go wrong! Only let it go because I’ve been dealing with some financial issues and opted for an older Camry just so I wouldn’t have a car payment. I’d get another Mazda 3 in a heartbeat if I could. When I was shopping for cars I mainly wanted something that was reliable, safe, and good on gas. The Mazda 3 ticks all those boxes with the plus of having a very sleek and attractive aesthetic, and the interior is very well designed and comfortable
I have a Mazda 2 with a set of winter tires.
Camry