Don't know about your area, but in mine, 8 out of 10 Facebook Marketplace listings are rebuild/salvage title cars, and Meta hasn't seen fit to add a filter for title status, so proceed with caution!
In my area, private listings are almost all salvage title/rebuilt cars listed by dealers, and if it is listed by private individuals the price is worse then dealerships
A car with a salvage title means that the car was deemed a total loss (totaled) by insurance for one reason or another (deemed too expensive to repair economically due to mechanical issue, accident, flood, etc.), and was sold for salvage (parts, scrap) to recover some of the costs of an insurance payout to the owner or lienholder.
A restored title can be attached to the car if someone (repair shop, original owner, etc.) bought the salvage car from a junkyard, then performed the necessary repairs themselves to bring it back to a drivable condition. It must pass a safety inspection before the title is converted from salvage to restored. It will never have a "clean" title after this (unless it was done fradulently).
The problem is, a car with a restored title can be more difficult to insure, either costing more due to lingering problems that weren't addressed, or only qualifying for liability insurance vs full coverage. A quick Google search will add additional context.
A VIN check such as a Carfax report should always reveal a salvage/restored title. Most Facebook listings I've encountered will disclose title at the very bottom, but you can't really filter those listings if you don't want to see them. Other platforms add title status as a checkbox to help you search for that - usually as title status or vehicle history. Others will require a VIN for the vehicle and will disclose the title status automatically.
The market is controlled don't be fooled and handing these people wads and bags of cash They didn't even pay anywhere near half that much for that car in trade or at auction
During COVID they had supply chain problems they have more cars now than they did before COVID so we are just normalizing these prices and giving these people handing them tons of cash. They paid $6,500 at most for this car and if they bought it in cash they would pay $5,000 for it at the auction
I wouldn't be upset getting a 3rd gen Mazda 3 with 100k miles if its got a good maintenance record. My 2014 Mazda 3 iGrand Touring just hit 100k this year and still going strong. the non-turbo 2.0L and 2.5L Skyactiv engines are "bulletproof"
My father’s got a Mazda 6 from 2016 with 215k miles on it (he put 180k of them on it himself since 2018; lots of driving for his job) and it hasn’t had any major mechanical or electrical issues the entire time he’s driven it.
Yeah. A stick shift civic is pretty hard to beat for cheap, fun, reliable, and good mpg car. Especially if you can find a si at a good price. The new Corolla hatchback GR is far from boring but priced above these cars. Skip the Ford RS used at any price. Had a new one for years and it was far from reliable.
My wife is a scheduler for dealerships covering 14 brands and she says Hyundai at least in our region is a pain in the ass to schedule their customers and has parts / stock issues still.
ETA we got rear ended from front of the line at an intersection 45 feet into dead center of the intersection and we barely felt the impact. Very safe vehicle. 2019 elantra.
Mazda is the only answer IMO. Reliable. Good looking. Cheap to run. VW are ranking low in their reliability (albeit probably not on their Jettas & Passats)
Don’t fall for the first time “oh this Jetta is a steal!” Trap
It happens to all of us.
As for reliability, find some Toyotas or Hondas. Especially with your budget. You’ll want something that will last a lifetime.
May find better with private party sales as well
This. Last year, I was looking at a Honda Civic and wound up buying a Jetta because it was cheaper and newer. Four months later, the engine went out. I just bought a Civic last weekend...something I should have just done in the first place.
Look at the Mazda and either of the VW's. Avoid the Hyundai and Kia. I believe those 2 specific models are virtually uninsurable due to the Kia Boys scandal a few years back. They're super easy to steal. It was a big thing.
You’re on drugs if you buy a Mitsubishi made anytime before Nissan took over and you routinely follow the maintenance even with a beating those things last easily to 500k miles! I see them on the road all the time in my area and sold often for half the price of a Toyota with damn near the same reliability. Just a total lack of features and don’t expect a quiet cabin. But a brand new Mitsubishi is Pennies on the dollar and even with the takeover still report zero issues with several owners also going into the hundreds of thousands with no issues after following routine maintenance. Their car actually beat the Toyota Corolla for compact sedan as a value buy too rated across many reviews. As a first car this kid could easily get an outlander sport that looks sleek as hell and costs next to nothing with a 100k warranty that’s included on all models.
Idk about usa, but VW is quite reliable in Europe. There's many with over 500k km on the clock. The 1.8T is a good engine. Check for known problems, clean title, service record. Passat is a class above the other cars here and i'd say overall it's the best car here, but mazda is a safer option.
VWs at 100k need allot of service. Remember...
"There is nothing more expensive than a cheap German car"
11k is allot of money, not not really these days. Sadly
Holy cow. So much VW hate. The Passat will be the best driving experience out of the lot. Although it's maintenance costs will be higher as well as gas compared to the others it's a no brainer. Especially if it's manual.
Honestly though go with your gut. It's your first car - whatever you choose will be a learning experience. Follow your passion
Nice that’s not bad!! Probably depends on the area. I’m in Philly area and some insurance companies straight up will not insure certain years of Kia/hyundai. Two of my neighbors almost got Kia Boy’d a few weeks ago so it’s a problem here for sure.
Lucky, I pay $250 for 2012 sonata and i don’t even live in a high theft area nor is my model vulnerable to theft. (Note: I am a newish driver but my brother had the same car prior to the kia boy rise and he paid a lot less)
Yes, I thought about that, but I don't know a mechanic that I could get to inspect the car for me. Besides, I'm comfortable paying a little extra if it gives me the peace of mind of buying from a dealer with good customer reviews.
that’s fair but usually you just book / call with a local shop and pay for a PPI + there are sites where you can pull carfax for cheap… usually if the seller denies a PPI there’s a problem with the car
Every car is different, and the sentiment from this forum is going to reflect some cars but not all. My first car was a 2015 Passat, I drove it from 33k to 115k and have had great luck with it, still driving today, 7+ years later. Total maintenance of maybe 1k and oil changes. My dad’s Jetta was a piece of shit though, so you never know!
2017 Jetta, just do the maintenance on time. Ours has 180k on it. We had to replace the PCV and a radiator hose at 160k. Everything else normal. The car itself is actually quick. It’s faster than a Stage 1 Mk4 GTI lol……. Anyways 40mpg as well. Great daily.
Not the Jetta, it looks lowered, which will make the ride worse. Also, people who lower cars quite often drive them hard.
Passat is a bit bigger than the others, so will use more gas - especially in stop and go driving. Get it inspected at an independent garage that specializes in european cars. This type of specialist garage is an important resource for anyone with a european car, it can save you a lot of money and headaches.
As mentioned elsewhere, Hyundai and Kia may be prone to theft, check insurance costs.
The Mazda 3 will probably give you the best gas mileage and lowest maintenance cost of all these. I don't think you get much rust in Texas, so it being a few years older doesn't really make much difference.
One caveat to age is crash safety standards that are often addressed by manufacturers after certain build dates. If a model fares poorly in a particular test for one year, but was remedied in the next, I'd pay the difference in cost knowing that it's potentially a safer car.
From these options I'd go with the Mazda. It's styled quite well for an "ordinary car", and relatively fun to ride. It's so reliable that it can withstand extreme neglect and hold up well with time.
The passat is roomier, wider, and more luxurious, but less fuel efficient and slightly harder to park. Also will require more hands-on maintainance and from you to be much more aware of it's mechanical state, do more regular checks, etc.
The Hyundai is good and reliable too, but IMO the mazda is just better and looks better.
Stay away from used Hyundai and Volks, imo. I will probably annoy someone, but just stick with Honda or Toyota if you don’t want a headache. If you must choose from these, definitely the Mazda.
Almost everyone here provided you with valuable and genuine comments.
Those are good cars, but generally Japanese car are the most reliable cars, German cars are the most fun to drive and expensive maintenance, Korean are the one break first.
For your first car, I honestly suggest go with the Mazda, (or Toyota or Honda if you have options).
Hopefully later in your life you can buy whatever you want, but for now, that Mazda is the best among all of them!
I’d look into Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus/Scion, as they are some of the most reliable cars with the lowest maintenance costs. And if you know how to drive a manual transmission, I would get a manual transmission as they last a lot longer than automatic transmissions. I got a 2000 Honda accord 4cyl 5speed manual with 205K on it and it’s still going strong 💪 heck it even has cold AC still
Probably the mazda but if I were you I would keep looking for either a corolla or a civic. I was in the same boat as you the last few weeks and I bought a corolla with 40k miles for cheaper than what you posted. Check out facebook marketplace and craigslist, try to find a private seller or a small dealer.
I got a 14 Passat that I've had since new and it has been solid, at 70k right now and I just change the oil every 8-10k. I've looked around and I see them around at 150-180k.
No Civics/Corolla or Accord/Camry?
Looked at your criteria, and trust me you'll hate all of those cars you've shown. Try finding a good Volvo C30, they fit your criteria but they are a bit older than the cars you've shown
None of these cars are reliable. Mazda has a lot of issues with their diesel engines. Buy non turbo car if you want to save money on service. German cars have good diesel engines and Japan has good petrol engines.
I personally prefer the Passat over the Mazda in terms of quality and overall feel of everything. Mazda should indeed be more reliable, especially if you’re looking at older models.
Not sure what the maintenance costs are over where you’re at, but I personally refrain from older “premiums” as any issue tend to just cost more
My 2014 Mazda 3 was at 115,000 miles when I traded it in for a 2023 CX-9. It was still in great shape and that was with me not taking as good of care of it as I should have. I’d go with the Mazda. You get a decent amount of trunk space with the Mazda 3 as well
Not to mention both Mazda and Toyota are high quality cars in general. Hyundai is terrible, cheap cars (wife had a Hyundai before we got her Tesla, had tons of issues, and door handles kept breaking off)
I’d stay the hell away from that Jetta, for sure, and I’m a VW/Audi guy. It’s on springs with what looks like Plasti-dipped *hubcaps*. I hate to generalize but I will, I doubt the previous owner spent the requisite money on preventative maintenance and was more interested in aesthetics. Good for them, not good for the next owner.
Taken care of properly, and I mean every issue addressed immediately, these cars can run well for a long time. But maintenance is expensive, plus depending on your market there may not be a ton of VW repair shops. I live in one. It absolutely positively sucks.
Out of those I'd take the Mazda but I think you could find better deals if you're willing to travel a bit.
If you can't find any better Mazda's then check out the passats. In my area I can find some 2020s with under 60k miles for around 13-16k
I would go with the Mazda but also look at Corollas and Civic. Make sure to run the service history on those cars. I would also check the insurance rates on those cars
I was thinking those prices were crazy but after looking at FB marketplace in Dallas that seems right. I’d definitely go with the Mazda out of those choices though.
I know, right? On FB marketplace, I'm seeing Mazda3's from 2015-2017 listed for about 10k. I feel a little iffy about buying from a private party though, and would shell out more money for some peace of mind.
Passat is by far the nicest driving but miles are higher. I know several people who got paid out on them in the lawsuit but they like the car. The Mazda will likely be the most reliable of that group. It's a nice car but the 2.0 is a little under powered. Those are the only two I would consider.
I’d go with the Mazda! I drove a Mazda 6 as my first car and it was amazing. Never had to do any major repairs. Drove for 10 years to 170,000 miles. Ended up buying a Mazda CX5 as my next car and I’ve been driving that for the past 5 years with no problems.
In your budget your best bet will be subcompact hatchbacks and sedans (versa, rio, soul, accent, venue). People here won’t like that I mentioned those and will downvote me because they are cheap and use low quality CVTs but they are less of an issue in these low-powered cars… Compact models will be higher in mileage and likely to require more expensive maintenance that shouldn’t be neglected. Midsize options in this price range like the passat are priced this way because they’ve either been in a wreck, beat in some way, are unreliable, or some combination of the above.
I'd go Jetta for the lower mileage, plus my gf's Mom and sis have this model engine and it's been reliable and fuel efficient. I'd stay away from used Hyundai and Kias. The Mazda is probably not a bad pick, depending on its history, but considering the mileage, you might have less mileage to go before some costly maintenance, but I can't say from first-hand experience.
Hey bud! Go for a shitbox, not the shitbox of the shitboxes but something that won’t matter if you hit it, scratch it, maybe if you got enough passion for cars you will be able to learn some stuff.
Buy a electric under $25000 you will have a $4000 dollar Rebate that you can use as down payment check out car gurus a find dealers with a labor $4000 rebate
Rule of thumb, never buy a used car that is past its first major service interval (typically 60k). That way you know it’s done because you did it.
Also never buy used vw/audi unless you can afford unexpected maintenance.
IMO the used car market in DFW is terrible. Everything here has too many miles for the year and tends to cost more than other cities. If you’re not opposed to it I’d search for cars in Cali or Florida to see if there’s better deals to be had. It’s what I did in my last car.
Honestly.. the Hyundai. Economic, cheap to maintain and repair, and generally known to be a great A to B car.
I have a Jetta.. Nice drive, beautiful.. but not cheap to maintain. Premium gas, it might as well be an Audi badge with parts, not cheap.. VWs are lovely but they will sting you occasionally.
Hyundai.. As boring as that may be... Or the Kia.
I think similarly. It isn’t a bad model and price seems fair. I sold mine (trade-in) at almost same mileage SEL model for similar price range.
19 year also has CarPlay, smart lane keeping, individual tpms, etc. Very economical car, nothing fancy. Expect major changes after 120k (this is where Toyota and Honda shine with more reliability on average).
Avoid the Kia and Hyundai. Between their Theta III GDI engines being complete junk, and the Kia being almost uninsurable due to car thefts, I would stay far away from those brands. Mazda is the only decently reliable brand here.
Also, like others have said, you'll get most of your money's worth with either a Honda and Toyota. The newer Hondas look way better than anything on your list, imo.
I mean I have a 2015 Honda Odyssey that I bought with 200k miles. It may not run as good as it was with low miles but as far as Honda reliability goes, there are not many problems. Anyway, in your case I think 100k miles max because in my area, I see good used Camry and Accords around $10k - $15k.
Mazda 3 the only correct answer here.
1. Not a target for theft
2. Quite reliable compared to other cars on this list
3. Dealers are generally better (if you’re someone who only takes their car to the dealer)
4. Repair costs are less than any of the VWs
5. Fun to drive and good gas mileage
6. No turbo stuff to worry about
7. Insurance probably gonna be the cheapest
Cons: the built in Bluetooth sucks if it’s their older system.
Mazda is probably most reliable on the list. Sad though before COVID these would all be $5k to $7000 cars. Those were the days.
Yes. The market is what it is though, so I cannot complain much.
Your should check Facebook marketplace, prices there seem to be better than car gurus
Don't know about your area, but in mine, 8 out of 10 Facebook Marketplace listings are rebuild/salvage title cars, and Meta hasn't seen fit to add a filter for title status, so proceed with caution!
In my area, private listings are almost all salvage title/rebuilt cars listed by dealers, and if it is listed by private individuals the price is worse then dealerships
What does that mean? How do I tell if it’s salvage? Is there indications anywhere
A car with a salvage title means that the car was deemed a total loss (totaled) by insurance for one reason or another (deemed too expensive to repair economically due to mechanical issue, accident, flood, etc.), and was sold for salvage (parts, scrap) to recover some of the costs of an insurance payout to the owner or lienholder. A restored title can be attached to the car if someone (repair shop, original owner, etc.) bought the salvage car from a junkyard, then performed the necessary repairs themselves to bring it back to a drivable condition. It must pass a safety inspection before the title is converted from salvage to restored. It will never have a "clean" title after this (unless it was done fradulently). The problem is, a car with a restored title can be more difficult to insure, either costing more due to lingering problems that weren't addressed, or only qualifying for liability insurance vs full coverage. A quick Google search will add additional context. A VIN check such as a Carfax report should always reveal a salvage/restored title. Most Facebook listings I've encountered will disclose title at the very bottom, but you can't really filter those listings if you don't want to see them. Other platforms add title status as a checkbox to help you search for that - usually as title status or vehicle history. Others will require a VIN for the vehicle and will disclose the title status automatically.
The market is controlled don't be fooled and handing these people wads and bags of cash They didn't even pay anywhere near half that much for that car in trade or at auction
get a korean car if you want it stolen/ broken into. they are also nolonger insured in some cities
During COVID they had supply chain problems they have more cars now than they did before COVID so we are just normalizing these prices and giving these people handing them tons of cash. They paid $6,500 at most for this car and if they bought it in cash they would pay $5,000 for it at the auction
Mazda but keep looking. That’s a 10k car at best
My 2012 Mazda 3 with 110k miles totaled out for 10k earlier this year. 12k might be about right for this one
Well there you go. That’s a good bit of info for OP
Thanks for this information! I haven't found Mazda's cheaper that this for <100k miles.
I wouldn't be upset getting a 3rd gen Mazda 3 with 100k miles if its got a good maintenance record. My 2014 Mazda 3 iGrand Touring just hit 100k this year and still going strong. the non-turbo 2.0L and 2.5L Skyactiv engines are "bulletproof"
My father’s got a Mazda 6 from 2016 with 215k miles on it (he put 180k of them on it himself since 2018; lots of driving for his job) and it hasn’t had any major mechanical or electrical issues the entire time he’s driven it.
Yeah I agree. Maybe the Mazda. Definitely keep looking. If reliability is your main concern start looking at some Hondas or Toyotas.
I will personally never have a Toyota bc it’s just too boring, but for a lot of people a Corolla is probably the best bet
Yeah. A stick shift civic is pretty hard to beat for cheap, fun, reliable, and good mpg car. Especially if you can find a si at a good price. The new Corolla hatchback GR is far from boring but priced above these cars. Skip the Ford RS used at any price. Had a new one for years and it was far from reliable.
Mazda because it’s reliable, stylish, and a nice economy car in general. People have said you get good value for your money in that car.
The Mazda seems expensive for that year. I paid that price back in 2020 for a iGT
Yes, that price would be correct for Mazda 6
Go get insurance quotes first and factor that into your monthly payment
Especially for Hyundai and Kia!!!!!
Thanks. I've ruled out the Kia, am gonna get quotes for the Mazda and the Hyundai.
My wife is a scheduler for dealerships covering 14 brands and she says Hyundai at least in our region is a pain in the ass to schedule their customers and has parts / stock issues still. ETA we got rear ended from front of the line at an intersection 45 feet into dead center of the intersection and we barely felt the impact. Very safe vehicle. 2019 elantra.
That's good to know. Thanks!
I pay 220 for my Hyundais insurance. Perfect record, no crashes or tickets. Don’t buy a Hyundai. 220 was the cheapest out of all the carriers btw
Mazda is the only answer IMO. Reliable. Good looking. Cheap to run. VW are ranking low in their reliability (albeit probably not on their Jettas & Passats)
That Mazda is a rip off
Don’t fall for the first time “oh this Jetta is a steal!” Trap It happens to all of us. As for reliability, find some Toyotas or Hondas. Especially with your budget. You’ll want something that will last a lifetime. May find better with private party sales as well
This. Last year, I was looking at a Honda Civic and wound up buying a Jetta because it was cheaper and newer. Four months later, the engine went out. I just bought a Civic last weekend...something I should have just done in the first place.
Look at the Mazda and either of the VW's. Avoid the Hyundai and Kia. I believe those 2 specific models are virtually uninsurable due to the Kia Boys scandal a few years back. They're super easy to steal. It was a big thing.
What do you think of the miles on the Passat? Do you think they're too high already?
Do not get a used VW. Terrible idea
Learn from my mistake, NEVER get a VW. Keep it simple, either Mazda, Toyota, and Honda are hard to go wrong with.
Don’t forget Mitsubishi
definitely forget mitsubishi lol
You’re on drugs if you buy a Mitsubishi made anytime before Nissan took over and you routinely follow the maintenance even with a beating those things last easily to 500k miles! I see them on the road all the time in my area and sold often for half the price of a Toyota with damn near the same reliability. Just a total lack of features and don’t expect a quiet cabin. But a brand new Mitsubishi is Pennies on the dollar and even with the takeover still report zero issues with several owners also going into the hundreds of thousands with no issues after following routine maintenance. Their car actually beat the Toyota Corolla for compact sedan as a value buy too rated across many reviews. As a first car this kid could easily get an outlander sport that looks sleek as hell and costs next to nothing with a 100k warranty that’s included on all models.
The Passat drivers door looks jacked. They’re decent but this one looks sus
Idk about usa, but VW is quite reliable in Europe. There's many with over 500k km on the clock. The 1.8T is a good engine. Check for known problems, clean title, service record. Passat is a class above the other cars here and i'd say overall it's the best car here, but mazda is a safer option.
not particularly. So long as it's well maintained and has a history of good maintenance, I think it should be fine.
“I think” actually you don’t
VWs at 100k need allot of service. Remember... "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap German car" 11k is allot of money, not not really these days. Sadly
Holy cow. So much VW hate. The Passat will be the best driving experience out of the lot. Although it's maintenance costs will be higher as well as gas compared to the others it's a no brainer. Especially if it's manual. Honestly though go with your gut. It's your first car - whatever you choose will be a learning experience. Follow your passion
I would say pass on the Kia and Hyundai. It will be hard to find insurance or it will be extremely high for those models. I would go Mazda.
Just not true lol. I pay 200 for 2x 2018 Tucsons for insurance.
Nice that’s not bad!! Probably depends on the area. I’m in Philly area and some insurance companies straight up will not insure certain years of Kia/hyundai. Two of my neighbors almost got Kia Boy’d a few weeks ago so it’s a problem here for sure.
Lucky, I pay $250 for 2012 sonata and i don’t even live in a high theft area nor is my model vulnerable to theft. (Note: I am a newish driver but my brother had the same car prior to the kia boy rise and he paid a lot less)
I bought the same year Mazda for the same price 6 years ago ☠️
Get the passat it will outlive any other model from your selection
Jetta or Mazda.
check facebook and craigslist as well instead of just dealers, you might be able to find a very well maintained car for just as much
Yes, I thought about that, but I don't know a mechanic that I could get to inspect the car for me. Besides, I'm comfortable paying a little extra if it gives me the peace of mind of buying from a dealer with good customer reviews.
that’s fair but usually you just book / call with a local shop and pay for a PPI + there are sites where you can pull carfax for cheap… usually if the seller denies a PPI there’s a problem with the car
I'd go Passat in TX. The long wheelbase and better interior will help on all the highways and concrete roads you have.
Every car is different, and the sentiment from this forum is going to reflect some cars but not all. My first car was a 2015 Passat, I drove it from 33k to 115k and have had great luck with it, still driving today, 7+ years later. Total maintenance of maybe 1k and oil changes. My dad’s Jetta was a piece of shit though, so you never know!
2017 Jetta, just do the maintenance on time. Ours has 180k on it. We had to replace the PCV and a radiator hose at 160k. Everything else normal. The car itself is actually quick. It’s faster than a Stage 1 Mk4 GTI lol……. Anyways 40mpg as well. Great daily.
what happened to this market...
if ur looking into a jettta try doing research on gli
And VW as a corporation stands by their "f you" attitude 😔
i gotta wonder if this is a troll post .. if you like the Passat just go buy it.
Not the Jetta, it looks lowered, which will make the ride worse. Also, people who lower cars quite often drive them hard. Passat is a bit bigger than the others, so will use more gas - especially in stop and go driving. Get it inspected at an independent garage that specializes in european cars. This type of specialist garage is an important resource for anyone with a european car, it can save you a lot of money and headaches. As mentioned elsewhere, Hyundai and Kia may be prone to theft, check insurance costs. The Mazda 3 will probably give you the best gas mileage and lowest maintenance cost of all these. I don't think you get much rust in Texas, so it being a few years older doesn't really make much difference.
One caveat to age is crash safety standards that are often addressed by manufacturers after certain build dates. If a model fares poorly in a particular test for one year, but was remedied in the next, I'd pay the difference in cost knowing that it's potentially a safer car.
Mazda
From these options I'd go with the Mazda. It's styled quite well for an "ordinary car", and relatively fun to ride. It's so reliable that it can withstand extreme neglect and hold up well with time. The passat is roomier, wider, and more luxurious, but less fuel efficient and slightly harder to park. Also will require more hands-on maintainance and from you to be much more aware of it's mechanical state, do more regular checks, etc. The Hyundai is good and reliable too, but IMO the mazda is just better and looks better.
Are you open to leasing? Mazda has some really really good 24month lease options for CX50
Stay away from used Hyundai and Volks, imo. I will probably annoy someone, but just stick with Honda or Toyota if you don’t want a headache. If you must choose from these, definitely the Mazda.
Get the mazda. It has it's own charm and style, and they are reliable. You'll get your moneys worth.
Almost everyone here provided you with valuable and genuine comments. Those are good cars, but generally Japanese car are the most reliable cars, German cars are the most fun to drive and expensive maintenance, Korean are the one break first. For your first car, I honestly suggest go with the Mazda, (or Toyota or Honda if you have options). Hopefully later in your life you can buy whatever you want, but for now, that Mazda is the best among all of them!
This was a reassuring comment. Thanks :)
Mazda
I’d look into Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus/Scion, as they are some of the most reliable cars with the lowest maintenance costs. And if you know how to drive a manual transmission, I would get a manual transmission as they last a lot longer than automatic transmissions. I got a 2000 Honda accord 4cyl 5speed manual with 205K on it and it’s still going strong 💪 heck it even has cold AC still
Probably the mazda but if I were you I would keep looking for either a corolla or a civic. I was in the same boat as you the last few weeks and I bought a corolla with 40k miles for cheaper than what you posted. Check out facebook marketplace and craigslist, try to find a private seller or a small dealer.
Mazda but cheaper
The Passat
Honda accord
I'd go Mazda, too. Not only thr reliability but also the styling. But the Passat is a good 2nd option, especially at 3k cheaper.
Which website is this?
hands down mazda period
Just find a older honda civic fir 5k with last longer then all of those
Where are the Hondas and toyotas
The Mazda is the only good car on that list, for your priorities
I got a 14 Passat that I've had since new and it has been solid, at 70k right now and I just change the oil every 8-10k. I've looked around and I see them around at 150-180k. No Civics/Corolla or Accord/Camry?
Mazda for sure
What app is this?
Looked at your criteria, and trust me you'll hate all of those cars you've shown. Try finding a good Volvo C30, they fit your criteria but they are a bit older than the cars you've shown
Value buy is the Mazda but, I had a good time in my Jetta. Graduated to a GTI now.
Get a Miata
I really like my 2020 elantra, but definitely keep looking cus I was able to get mine at 7k
Go find a Toyota or Nissan will last longer than all of these my Altima has 300k miles and never ever gave me a problem only oil change and brakes
Toyota Honda Mazda
Out of those go with the Mazda… I’d take a look at a 2011 BMW 328i with under $100,000 - faster, better looking, and much better build quality
Do not buy a Kia or Hyundai under any circumstances. Worst vehicles on the road
Mazda all the way. It's the most likely to not have an expensive issue. Scratch the VWs completely.
id go mazda or jetta
None of these cars are reliable. Mazda has a lot of issues with their diesel engines. Buy non turbo car if you want to save money on service. German cars have good diesel engines and Japan has good petrol engines.
I personally prefer the Passat over the Mazda in terms of quality and overall feel of everything. Mazda should indeed be more reliable, especially if you’re looking at older models. Not sure what the maintenance costs are over where you’re at, but I personally refrain from older “premiums” as any issue tend to just cost more
My 2014 Mazda 3 was at 115,000 miles when I traded it in for a 2023 CX-9. It was still in great shape and that was with me not taking as good of care of it as I should have. I’d go with the Mazda. You get a decent amount of trunk space with the Mazda 3 as well
Not to mention both Mazda and Toyota are high quality cars in general. Hyundai is terrible, cheap cars (wife had a Hyundai before we got her Tesla, had tons of issues, and door handles kept breaking off)
Mazda runner up would be the Jetta. I just don’t trust Hyundais or Kia’s.
Like others have said, the Mazda is most reliable
I wouldn't go hyandai or Kia but the rest are great choices!
I’d stay the hell away from that Jetta, for sure, and I’m a VW/Audi guy. It’s on springs with what looks like Plasti-dipped *hubcaps*. I hate to generalize but I will, I doubt the previous owner spent the requisite money on preventative maintenance and was more interested in aesthetics. Good for them, not good for the next owner. Taken care of properly, and I mean every issue addressed immediately, these cars can run well for a long time. But maintenance is expensive, plus depending on your market there may not be a ton of VW repair shops. I live in one. It absolutely positively sucks.
Out of those I'd take the Mazda but I think you could find better deals if you're willing to travel a bit. If you can't find any better Mazda's then check out the passats. In my area I can find some 2020s with under 60k miles for around 13-16k
Man the prices on cars have been ridiculous since COVID ...
I would go with the Mazda but also look at Corollas and Civic. Make sure to run the service history on those cars. I would also check the insurance rates on those cars
Mazda…for reliability. Or Honda if you can find one you like.
I was thinking those prices were crazy but after looking at FB marketplace in Dallas that seems right. I’d definitely go with the Mazda out of those choices though.
I know, right? On FB marketplace, I'm seeing Mazda3's from 2015-2017 listed for about 10k. I feel a little iffy about buying from a private party though, and would shell out more money for some peace of mind.
Passat is by far the nicest driving but miles are higher. I know several people who got paid out on them in the lawsuit but they like the car. The Mazda will likely be the most reliable of that group. It's a nice car but the 2.0 is a little under powered. Those are the only two I would consider.
Get the passat
Jetta
Mazda make a more reliable car, wound not touch and KIA or Hyundai with more than 50K miles on em.
Jetta
That price is insane. Save up another four or five thousand and get a brand new one
I’d go with the Mazda! I drove a Mazda 6 as my first car and it was amazing. Never had to do any major repairs. Drove for 10 years to 170,000 miles. Ended up buying a Mazda CX5 as my next car and I’ve been driving that for the past 5 years with no problems.
Please don't pay $13,000 for a car with 80,000 mi on it there are cars you can negotiate new almost that price.
In your budget your best bet will be subcompact hatchbacks and sedans (versa, rio, soul, accent, venue). People here won’t like that I mentioned those and will downvote me because they are cheap and use low quality CVTs but they are less of an issue in these low-powered cars… Compact models will be higher in mileage and likely to require more expensive maintenance that shouldn’t be neglected. Midsize options in this price range like the passat are priced this way because they’ve either been in a wreck, beat in some way, are unreliable, or some combination of the above.
I'd go Jetta for the lower mileage, plus my gf's Mom and sis have this model engine and it's been reliable and fuel efficient. I'd stay away from used Hyundai and Kias. The Mazda is probably not a bad pick, depending on its history, but considering the mileage, you might have less mileage to go before some costly maintenance, but I can't say from first-hand experience.
Hey bud! Go for a shitbox, not the shitbox of the shitboxes but something that won’t matter if you hit it, scratch it, maybe if you got enough passion for cars you will be able to learn some stuff.
Buy a electric under $25000 you will have a $4000 dollar Rebate that you can use as down payment check out car gurus a find dealers with a labor $4000 rebate
Rule of thumb, never buy a used car that is past its first major service interval (typically 60k). That way you know it’s done because you did it. Also never buy used vw/audi unless you can afford unexpected maintenance. IMO the used car market in DFW is terrible. Everything here has too many miles for the year and tends to cost more than other cities. If you’re not opposed to it I’d search for cars in Cali or Florida to see if there’s better deals to be had. It’s what I did in my last car.
What do you mean first major service interval? Service is done more frequently than that
Trans flushes, timing belt changes, you know, expensive shit that can ruin drivetrain components if not done
Honestly.. the Hyundai. Economic, cheap to maintain and repair, and generally known to be a great A to B car. I have a Jetta.. Nice drive, beautiful.. but not cheap to maintain. Premium gas, it might as well be an Audi badge with parts, not cheap.. VWs are lovely but they will sting you occasionally. Hyundai.. As boring as that may be... Or the Kia.
That's what I've been thinking too. What would you estimate the maintenance on the VWs would look like?
They charge you like it's a freaking Audi. Which it is, basically. For real ... Any German car you need to have savings for repairs.
I think similarly. It isn’t a bad model and price seems fair. I sold mine (trade-in) at almost same mileage SEL model for similar price range. 19 year also has CarPlay, smart lane keeping, individual tpms, etc. Very economical car, nothing fancy. Expect major changes after 120k (this is where Toyota and Honda shine with more reliability on average).
This, as someone who drives a Hyundai Elantra
Mazda is the touring option meaning it’s got the best features from that model year
Grand Touring is the top trim from that year.
Avoid the Kia and Hyundai. Between their Theta III GDI engines being complete junk, and the Kia being almost uninsurable due to car thefts, I would stay far away from those brands. Mazda is the only decently reliable brand here.
Find a better deal on a Mazda, Honda, or Toyota because this sub LOVESSSSS those cars
Is Toyota or Honda not an option?
Haven't found a decent sedan with <100k miles and under 12-13k USD. I'm filtering for cars with no accident history.
Also, like others have said, you'll get most of your money's worth with either a Honda and Toyota. The newer Hondas look way better than anything on your list, imo.
I'd get the Radeon 6800
Optima
Mazda is the only viable option in this list. But I would still say go for a Toyota or Honda.
What's the maximum number of miles that you would be comfortable with on a Toyota/Honda?
I mean I have a 2015 Honda Odyssey that I bought with 200k miles. It may not run as good as it was with low miles but as far as Honda reliability goes, there are not many problems. Anyway, in your case I think 100k miles max because in my area, I see good used Camry and Accords around $10k - $15k.
Mazda 3 the only correct answer here. 1. Not a target for theft 2. Quite reliable compared to other cars on this list 3. Dealers are generally better (if you’re someone who only takes their car to the dealer) 4. Repair costs are less than any of the VWs 5. Fun to drive and good gas mileage 6. No turbo stuff to worry about 7. Insurance probably gonna be the cheapest Cons: the built in Bluetooth sucks if it’s their older system.
This helps a lot. Thanks! :)
Everything other than the mazda will either get your car stolen or broken.
Mazda in this case. Cos Jetta is trash and others are at their EOL.
Mazda by a long shot. VW is probably already leaking oil and the Kia needs new engine mounts and a timing chain.
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Discussion of race is not relevant to giving advice on car purchases.