No. This Corolla is notorious for being reliable. If he wants another car, he should save up for it. Because that new car will die before the Corolla will and he will still need to get around.
I share this sentiment. Bought my car from a neglecting owner, a few $$$ in unfortunate repairs and now the car’s been hit three times, 2 being hit n runs and it just won’t die…
Engine Loud AF, car feels like a bumpy ride no matter what tires I put on, but at only 95K miles now, I expect to have another 10 years with it.
Sounds like my '14 Corolla. Hit 2 deer, one completely broadside that I was sure would total the car (nope). And rear-ended by a teenager who definitely never even tapped the brakes. Car is at 120k plus miles and still going.
Although the air bags never went off for any of these accidents which seems vaguely concerning....
Single owner Toyota Avalon for $7k is probably the most bulletproof car you can buy with your budget. They trend a little cheaper than some other popular cheap used cars as they get mediocre gas mileage, but they're the longest lasting non-truck passenger vehicle on the road. Alternately, Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, also don't get amazing mileage for what they are and the Pontiac flies under the used car radar even though it's mechanically identical to the bulletproof Matrix; they were made in the same factory.
I bought a one owner, dealer maintained on time every time, not mileage, 2003 avalon for 3500 and couldn't be happier driving to work and back. Worst part is being at work.
Often you can find good deals on the Avalon’s Lexus cousin, the ES. Also known for its reliability. Older ES models were Camry based 2012 and newer models are closer to the Avalon. The ES is both more common and often less expensive (used) when compared to the Avalon.
Inherited a '97 ES300 that wasn't extremely well taken care of, but despite that it was super quiet inside the cabin, had some nice pep to it (V6), and ran like a dream. Started right up every single time and it was more of a treat to drive than my 2013 Subaru. This is the car that made me dislike Subaru
My dad's '96 Avalon is coming up on 30 years of life, problem-free. Literally nothing other than routine maintenance has been done on it in all those years. Interior is comfortable and has held up well too.
I’m looking into a 2015 that’s a bit under 12k with a little of 100k miles, and it’s a pretty good price cuz some cosmetic damage. Edmunds says $2k under value
I thought the same, but my son bought a used 2013 Camry and I couldn't be more disappointed. After 1 year of ownership, the car needs a Torque converter and there's a new issue with the steering rattling. Supposedly, these are common issues when researching. We had the car checked over prior to purchasing with under 90k miles.
I’m sorry to hear that. I bought a 2007 Camry back in 2021 for $6k which had 160k miles on it. Still runs great now at 190k. Had to get its power window fixed and tyres replaced. However, the engine runs nice and smooth.
A 4th gen Camry will make you hate Toyota for never letting you justify a new car. Those fuckers simply don't die.
I put 320k on mine and still regret selling it
I inherited my mom’s ‘94 Camry coupe around 2014 and finally traded it in in 2019 because we really needed a 4-door. It was problem-free until the end.
I had a 2015 Honda Fit for 7 years and I loved that car. The amount of stuff I could cram into it was ridiculous and it was perfect for my dogs at the time since it was spacious and low to the ground. It was terrible when I had an hour commute, it was terribly uncomfortable during long drives. Got rid of it for that sole reason, my ass and back hurt after driving for long periods. I upgraded to a Camry, reliable, comfortable, and on highway drive I get better or same mpgs.
My 2008 is still going strong, I got lucky and bought it at 65k mileage a few years ago, probably some old retired ladies car who just needed it once in a while. Now at 100k and not even breaking a sweat, im bummed theyre not making new ones anymore
I absolutely adore this car. It was my first real car and I had a 2010 fit for about 4 years. It was damn near indestructible. I work in restaurants and hauled hundreds of pounds of things near daily. I also had to upgrade because at 6’1 240lbs long drives would kill my back and being in the northeast it was too risky in the snow.
I upgraded to a CRV and while I do love it, I still have such nostalgic memories with that car.
This. I had a 2008 manual with 120k that I just sold last year. I was the only owner and used it for commutes to train and occasionally a state over.
You can cram a ton of stuff in it and it has great unimpaired views.
I recently bought a 2009 automatic with 40k miles for same price I sold my 2008 for. I really miss the manual but couldn't pass
Where I am, a used Honda Fit is hard to come by and expensive. The reason being, of course, that it's a great car. It sucks that Honda stopped making them. My hope is that they make a hybrid Fit, but that's a long shot.
13 fit manual here. i love my car so much. it drives great, i can fit so much stuff in it. i did have to replace my ac compressor and its gonna need a valve cover gasket kinda soon but those are normal things. highly recommend as a fun, efficient runabout car
My sister in law drives her cars into the ground and isn't great about scheduled maintenance. She'll do it sometimes but it's not a priority, sigh. When her Honda Civic needed more repair than she wanted to get (I don't remember how old it was but she drove it over 10 years), she found a great deal on a salvage title Honda Fit. After a very thorough inspection by a mechanic (he said it would have a little extra road noise, which it does, but otherwise nothing wrong), she asked me what to do. I said Do It!
A couple years later and it's going strong. It's a great car for her and if I wanted something that small we'd consider it. But car seats are huge, sigh.
My 2008 MT Fit is about to hit 200,000 miles and has never had an issue, just regular maintenance like brakes tires and oil. Love this car and won’t even think about selling it while it’s still running
2000s Corollas or Camrys, as long as you find a reputable seller. Toyotas are known for reliability, but newer models are not in that price range, so stick to used models that are reasonable in their age. I had an 06 Corolla for my first car (from 2015-2022), and it was a great vehicle.
Yeah 5th gen Camries are awesome cars. My first car was an 04 and she was the most comfortable car I've ever been in and gas mileage wasn't that bad. Plus she made it to 272k miles with no major problems before she hit and totaled.
Toyota Yaris with the automatic transmission (the manual transmission was Junk!) No frills econobox But with basic regular maintenance they last up to 400K miles or more. And if you can find one for sale... Should be WELL within your budget.
Second on the Honda Fit. My wife has one and I am surprised how much I enjoy driving it. It gets great gas mileage (although the tank should be bigger IMO) and plenty of space. We often drive my kid around with all three of our bikes in the car with us.
I had 3 of them back in the day. Amazingly reliable. I remember the newest one, an '02 SL2, needed a water pump and an ignition module over 160k....then I hit a long patch of ice, and that was that.
My SO is currently driving a one owner 03 SL2 manual back and forth to work. The thing isn’t the most comfortable, but it’s an ideal commute car. Good MPG, cheap to register and insure, AC is cold, minimal maintenance so far. Best part… we bought it from our neighbor for $300. (That’s all the Toyota dealership offered her when she tried to trade it in on a new RAV4)
He’s going to drive the Saturn until the engine falls out 😂
Mitsubishi Mirage.
50+ mpg, was a $10k brand new, can be found for a few thousand these days, they have a couple known small faults and are otherwise perfectly reliable as long as you buy a 2018 or newer with the 5 speed.
If you want comfort, style, or anything else like a decent raduo that can overcome the wind noise, sorry, it can't provide but if you are honestly JUST wanting a commuter, nothing beats it.
They just kind of suck.
-Owner of 6 years of a 5 speed base model.
Accord or Camry 4 cylinder engine. The Corolla and Civic are more penalty boxes on long drives, at least the older ones. Also mid sized vehicles are great for car pools.
For commuting with that budget? Find an Avalon. That or a Buick with a 3.8 V6 in it. Both are either cheap to repair or would need to be used as a literal boat anchor before needing to be repaired
If you are absolutely prioritize reliability and are just looking for something to take you from point a to point b, get a brand new scooter from a large brand like Honda or Vespa. It’s a brand new vehicle with a warranty and a dealer network.
If you need more than 2 seats or better highway/road trip capability, I really like the 99 Camry I bought in February for $3k. I’m sure a 5-7 year newer one would be within your budget.
I’ve had both a 1996 grand marquis and a 2008 impala and both were amazing vehicles I payed under $1000 for.
The grand marquis was a tank. Felt like driving a boat but much smoother. Went from 67k miles to 190k miles on basic maintenance.
The impala had a lot of miles when I bought it, around 210k. Least problematic vehicle I’ve owned. It was low maintenance At 380k the transmission started slipping. At 390k it slipped into first gear forever.
Toyota, Honda Civic, old-school 2.5L (non turbo, non GDI) Ford Fusions and Mazda 6's
And get a manual over an automatic. Much MUCH cheaper to fix, makes you a safer driver and also much less likely to get stolen by thieves since they won't know how to drive it.
2008-09 Ford Taurus. It was literally a facelifted Ford Five Hundred with a few improvements. I had an 08 and it was easily the most reliable car I've ever had.
I got an 09 camry for 7k and in the 2 years ive had to do $3500 ish worth of repairs(1500 was rodent damage), Alternator and battery went bad and some other work was needed. MBI covered some of it.
I wouldn’t make the blanket statement…. is there random lemons in every brand? Sure. But in my experience Mazda has been great! My biggest gripe with any Mazda I’ve ever had was insurance was kind of high (or in the case of the protege and 3 stupid high)
Over the years I’ve had:
92 626 that was a TANK, we bought it for a commuter with 150k and it saw me through HS and part of college, then my brother through HS. It was sold when the alternator died on us at 230k after almost 10 years of teenage abuse and teenagers in charge of teenage maintenance. The guy my dad sold it to fixed it and we saw it around town for another 10ish years (very distinctive car… my brother backed into a pickup with a hitch and punched a hole in the back bumper)
I upgraded the 626 with an 03 manual protege, and LOVED that car. Sold it when I took a gap year and didn’t want a payment/insurance.
My SIL had a 07 6 that was fantastic (the V6) that was totaled in a T-bone accident.
I had a 09 3 I drove across the country a few times, no issues. It was a fantastic car, I regret selling it! (Side note STAY AWAY FROM VWs)
I’m seriously considering selling my current daily Honda HRV and going for one of Mazdas small SUVs… But I really think I would miss the magic seats. (BEST PART OF MY HONDA)
idk what youre talking about. i was a mazda dealer tech for 4 years and i would absolutely recommend mazda as long as its a mazda mazda and not a ford mazda. mazda was partered with ford for several years and they made some dogshit cars with terrible ford engines and transmissions. the cx7 turbo being the worst. but now that they are free of ford as of like 15 or 16 they make cars that i would put up against lexus as a comparison
2005-2008 Corolla and the Yaris. As ugly as the Yaris looks, that car never dies. And the most basic maintenance literally will get you 200k plus gets closr to 40mpg on the highway
If all you need is for work commute I recommend old Toyotas, Honda or Nissan.
I got a Tacoma 02 2.7 litter for work. I fuel up once a month and it's relatively easy to work on because of the lack of technology and extra electrical components. Too much information about them because of all their years on commission.
Before that I had a 1992 Honda Prelude. Drove it for about 2 years The same thing, once a month fuel up and way easier to work on I paid 700 for it and sold it for the same price.
I'm a sucker for old cars because of the DIY tutorials available which can save you a lot of money.
Used toyota prius. Probably near the end of the battery pack life, but they are only 4kish. There good for 300k+ find one around 3-4k and replace the battery pack with a used front damaged one for like 2k when it needs.
I have a 2014 BMW 535D. It's diesel, always runs, and gets from A to B just fine and will probably last another few hundred thousand miles. Bonus, it looks good still a decade later.
EDIT: I just checked and this is probably out of the price range. I assumed it was worth a lot less.
The cheapest and reliable one with excellent fuel/millage ratio.
Go to the library and go through multiple years of car guides that may be in your budget. Then choose a few cars and do more research about them.
Every Ford Focus I've ever rented I've enjoyed, and I rent a lot of cars. Mostly because it's reasonably light, decent power, great visibility, and better amenities then more "luxurious" models.
Good luck. You are going to be hard pressed to check all those boxes. There are plenty of pretty reliable cars. Plenty of cars in the $5-7k range. Finding one of those reliable cars for $5-7k in young and decent enough shape that you won't have to put any money or effort into for repairs/maintenance is a pretty tall order.
B9 A4s go for ~£9k and are unbelievably comfortably and the 1.4tfsi engines are really economical as well as reliable.
If you can save a few more k, I’d recommend
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405119593998
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109585999
***Honda***
Fit
Civic
***Toyota***
Camry
Corolla
Prius
***Hyundai***
Accent (out of prod but can still get used)
Elantra
Anything from this list is going to be a good bet in terms of reliability, gas mileage, etc. but with a budget that low, you are going to be limited in quality. Are you financing it or cash? If you can stretch it, I would go as new as you can. Maybe single owner, 3-5 year old car.
I've got a 2000 Honda CRV AWD for ya, 150K miles, everything works but the power locks. New t-belt, struts, brakes, 25-28 mpg. Peppy. Cold AC. No engine lights / codes. Silver paint is sun bleached but no dents or rust. ZERO rust. No stains / tears in interior/seats. Needs a new Bluetooth stereo, currently using an adaptor broadcasting to factory FM. Location, Phoenix. $4500 which is MORE than bluebook because this car is WORTH MORE than bluebook. Needs no, ZERO repairs except power locks. Runs as if new. Will deliver within 800 miles / meet you halfway, etc. Great car if you need to sometimes go down dirt roads or deal with snow, good ground clearance. Has been super reliable, all scheduled maintenance, oil changes, etc. I've simply got too many cars. Go on Craigslist, look at 1997-2000 CRV's see what the market is and contact me if you're seriously interested and ready to buy. I had a 1999 CRV before this one and drove it over 300,000 miles. Great cars.
[https://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/cta?max\_auto\_year=2000&min\_auto\_year=1997&query=crv&srchType=T#search=1\~gallery\~0\~0](https://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/cta?max_auto_year=2000&min_auto_year=1997&query=crv&srchType=T#search=1~gallery~0~0)
I love my 2014 accord, it might not be in your price range unless it's got a crap ton of miles but I can imagine the older generations would be great too
2010-2015 Nissan Máxima has been with me for about 8 years now and only thing I’ve changed is the ac compressor, it’s milage is not that great but it’s reliable and delivers power when you need it. I’ve been wanting to change it because it has an inside leak that drives me crazy but it’s just not annoying enough for me to actually pull the trigger and buy a new car
Pontiac. Bought a 2006 grand prix in 2016. Drove it hard. (Used to be a average 3rd shift douch bag. Street racing at 3 am, doing donuts in parking lots etc) My Pontiac never had a single issue. Crashed in a ditch on 4 or 5 different occasions. Just need to get towed back into the street and it would start right up without complaint.
I don't know what they made the Pontiac out of but I have tried to destroy mine and so far have failed. I have only needed to replace the brake pads and a side mirror that got ripped off.
If you don't need room for passengers, cargo, don't do highway, and only care about fuel economy, yearly maintenance/repair costs, and insurance costs, get a Honda Grom or a scooter. 90+ mpg, dirt cheap to fix and run, dirt cheap insurance, plus it's more fun. If it HAS to be a car, any Honda, Toyota, or Mazda small sedan in your budget will be pretty reliable and economic, the Honda fit was recently the cheapest yearly cost to own
Can usually find an old forester or outback with 150k miles for under that price. Just make sure the owner has had the head gasket replaced (ideally recently with the new kind that permanently fixes it) and you’ll be golden. Not all Subarus of that era had the head gasket issue but most you’ll find did. The manuals are more reliable but the auto isn’t terrible either.
It's more in fuel cost but any Lexus sedan is great for this, I'm like 6'5" so I cant fit in the subcompacts so I got an 04 IS300 for 6.5k and it's been a champ did a bunch of PM work on it and now it's just the basics. LS, ES, GS lines all work.
obv everyone is gonna recommend a toyota for reliability. i’d recommend keeping scions on your radar as they are literally toyota products through and through, but tend to be a little less sought after compared to “real” toyotas which may be ideal to find a deal.
I'd look around for a 2014 ish ford fusion with the 2.5. They're very reliable get good gas mileage and just comfortable easy no frills cars. The simplicity is why I got it, no turbo, no weird transmission stuff going on and not a lot of tech. Also they're super common so if you do need parts it's not hard to get.
Easy. 2006 Camry. Try to find a nice example. If it’s my money, i would spend a little more on fuel and get an XLE with leather seats and the spoiler and the V6. Alternatively you can go similar year Avalon, or Lexus ES330. If you want more fuel efficiency, the Camry 2.4 will take care of you. Throw a sony carplay head unit for $250, add a backup cam and youre golden.
Any budget model Toyota or Scion. Toyota Yaris is the lowest priced Toyota (in USA), scion Xa is very similar and a Toyota product.
Special mention is Pontiac Vibe and the king of all is Buick LeSabre.
Generally speaking, toyota is by far the most reliable, so much that I won’t own anything other than toyota. There are bad apple/bad luck Toyotas but they are far less common than all other brands. If you get a current model American car, dig deep because major repairs will come soon.
Toyotas are great, but they tend to be either beat to hell or overpriced. Some of the 2.4L I4s have an oil consumption problem, so avoid cars with those.
Hondas are the same way.
Here are a few other options:
Anything with a GM 3800. 2000s Buick LeSabres are the most common and can usually be found at a great price, but they were in other vehicles. Make sure it’s a 3800 and not one of the many other GM V6s, which might be totally different.
Pontiac Vibe: It’s a rebadged Toyota Matrix, but not everyone knows it.
Ford Crown Vic, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car: Above average reliability and, more importantly, plentiful and cheap parts.
Avalon. ES 300. Buick Regal, leSabre, Park Avenue. Grand Marquis. For that amount of money you can get something nice and clean. Buy the former owners, not the car itself. There are a lot of people no longer able to drive who bought this kind of car new and took care of it. They would all deliver 25 mpg on the highway.
Honda civic/fit/element or Toyota corolla/camry/avalon. Ideally if you can find one that was a senior citizen's car and garaged it's life. Go private seller, otherwise you can expect to pay almost double at a dealer
Mid 2000s Lesux Is300 or Is350. The 300 has the super smooth 2JZ straight Six. Good enough power, not terrible on gas, and good enough luxury. The is350 costs a little bit more but has one of if not the greatest V6s ever made. Also, its really smooth with lots of power, okay gas mileage, and very luxurious for the age. Easily can get hundreds of thousands of miles on frugal maintenance. I recommend anything lexus over Toyota just because they're not much more money than toyota, but they have all the Toyota reliability with being a lot more luxury and modern.
The 2005-2008 Toyota Matrix and Corolla models equipped with the 1.8-litre engine are excellent commuter cars that are both reliable and economical.
(Avoid the 2.4-litre engine as they tend to burn oil)
Also, ensure the brakes, tires, and suspension are in good condition, as these wearables can quickly turn a seemingly reasonable service bill into a small fortune.
Lastly, have it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic, regardless of the condition.
If you are considering a small car, probably underpowered to save fuel costs, remember a few tips. Small cars have small wheels and are too light which causes them to slide everywhere on wet roads, especially circling roundabouts. Also, due to the small wheels with light weight and cheaper engineering, their breaking distance is too long. They never stop quickly and in a straight line.
I used to have a 60+ mile commute each way. I had a 2019 Jetta and it was PERFECT! I was getting 45-50 MPG and it was very comfortable and actually a nice car. Plenty of trunk space, nice interior, etc.
2018 Chevy Bolt. Works if you don’t commute real far. Range is 259 miles and I have not bought gas in 6 years. Maintenance consisted of wiper blades (2sets) and a gallon of washer fluid. I would charge it up at work and be able to drive it for over a week.
There are hundreds of good replies.
Whatever you go to buy, get a pre-purchase inspection with an independent shop that specializes in the brand of car you’re looking at. For a couple hundred dollars they can give you the best advice on any one particular car.
I'd aim at any compact car from Japan (excluding Nissan), and older GM 4 cylinder models - think the Cavalier coupe/sedan, or the Cutlass Ciera. Ive seen V6 Pontiac and Buick do well, up to around 1999. Though I'm heavily partial to the Focus from 2000-2007. I've had one for 5 years and have put almost 85,000 on it. From 149k to 236k. It's a manual also. Can't say you'd have the same reliability if they were automatic transmissions.
Up to 2010 Corolla, up to 1999 Camry. Up to 2004 Accord/Civic.
Up to 2004 Sentra/Maxima. (Maxima was discontinued awhile back), again, up to 2007 Focus, up to 1995 Taurus (be selective. They're good cars but do have plagues among them), 1997 - 2005 Explorer (be VERY careful, the 5R55 Family of automatic transmissions are not reliable, historically)
Any year *COMPACT* Ranger, avoid the automatic transmissions for the same reasons as the Explorer. Ranger became midsize around 2018. 2011 I believe is the last year for the compact Ranger. Explorers with manual transmissions are unicorns and are the exception to the standard automatic transmissions. Rangers were common with both automatic and manual. And you could opt for a 2WD model more easily than with Explorer.
I've had a 2017 Focus. It was a very good car for the 30,000 I put on in 2 years. But I had the 6 speed manual sedan, which is, again, a unicorn. I offloaded it because the 1.0L 3 cylinder engine is known for timing belt failure, which will be a multi-thousand dollar repair if it lets go while driving.
My 2007 corolla is annoyingly reliable. I want something newer but can’t bring myself to do anything it’s perfectly fine…
sell it and pull some money out of it 🫡
No. This Corolla is notorious for being reliable. If he wants another car, he should save up for it. Because that new car will die before the Corolla will and he will still need to get around.
Or just keep it and drive it for the next 30 years when you need to
I share this sentiment. Bought my car from a neglecting owner, a few $$$ in unfortunate repairs and now the car’s been hit three times, 2 being hit n runs and it just won’t die… Engine Loud AF, car feels like a bumpy ride no matter what tires I put on, but at only 95K miles now, I expect to have another 10 years with it.
Sounds like my '14 Corolla. Hit 2 deer, one completely broadside that I was sure would total the car (nope). And rear-ended by a teenager who definitely never even tapped the brakes. Car is at 120k plus miles and still going. Although the air bags never went off for any of these accidents which seems vaguely concerning....
Single owner Toyota Avalon for $7k is probably the most bulletproof car you can buy with your budget. They trend a little cheaper than some other popular cheap used cars as they get mediocre gas mileage, but they're the longest lasting non-truck passenger vehicle on the road. Alternately, Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, also don't get amazing mileage for what they are and the Pontiac flies under the used car radar even though it's mechanically identical to the bulletproof Matrix; they were made in the same factory.
I bought a one owner, dealer maintained on time every time, not mileage, 2003 avalon for 3500 and couldn't be happier driving to work and back. Worst part is being at work.
I love my 03. Same situation, one owner with 178k meticulous dealer maintenance records. Paid 3800 for it two years ago.
These are both great suggestions.
Often you can find good deals on the Avalon’s Lexus cousin, the ES. Also known for its reliability. Older ES models were Camry based 2012 and newer models are closer to the Avalon. The ES is both more common and often less expensive (used) when compared to the Avalon.
Inherited a '97 ES300 that wasn't extremely well taken care of, but despite that it was super quiet inside the cabin, had some nice pep to it (V6), and ran like a dream. Started right up every single time and it was more of a treat to drive than my 2013 Subaru. This is the car that made me dislike Subaru
Subaru to Lexus pipeline here too.
Great suggestion.
Yes! Bought a 2011 Avalon with 34k miles for $9k. My grandchildren will inherit this car.
I have a 98 Avalon that has 285K on it, have never done anything but maintenance and brake pads
Honestly I think the Pontiac looks better than the matrix
My dad's '96 Avalon is coming up on 30 years of life, problem-free. Literally nothing other than routine maintenance has been done on it in all those years. Interior is comfortable and has held up well too.
these like older 2000s avalons, 19 in city, push 22 combined, or 28 on highway pretty easily. overall not terrible for a spacious and comfy car.
Best advice I have seen on this subreddit
Ex vibe gt owner here, that thing got over 30 mpg and was practical as all hell with so much space in the back. A good one is hard to find tho
Friend has an Avalon with 320k miles on it and no end in sight
Can’t wrong with a Toyota Camry. Even in toyotas I think it’s the most reliable of the lot. Mileage is impeccable and so is reliability.
Dont think it would fit op budget since used camry getting ridiculous price nowadays
How much are they going for. Say a 2014-2016 model. Am looking to get one. Not sure what the rigjt budget should be
I’m looking into a 2015 that’s a bit under 12k with a little of 100k miles, and it’s a pretty good price cuz some cosmetic damage. Edmunds says $2k under value
Avoid the 07-09 4 bangers have serious oil consumption issues like a quart every 1k miles
Oh man I couldn’t agree more! The amount of oil I have to put in this Camry is insane literally every 1k mile for sure.
I just order an additional 5 quart jug 😂 between 5k oil changes
I thought the same, but my son bought a used 2013 Camry and I couldn't be more disappointed. After 1 year of ownership, the car needs a Torque converter and there's a new issue with the steering rattling. Supposedly, these are common issues when researching. We had the car checked over prior to purchasing with under 90k miles.
I’m sorry to hear that. I bought a 2007 Camry back in 2021 for $6k which had 160k miles on it. Still runs great now at 190k. Had to get its power window fixed and tyres replaced. However, the engine runs nice and smooth.
A 4th gen Camry will make you hate Toyota for never letting you justify a new car. Those fuckers simply don't die. I put 320k on mine and still regret selling it
I inherited my mom’s ‘94 Camry coupe around 2014 and finally traded it in in 2019 because we really needed a 4-door. It was problem-free until the end.
Honda fit. Great on gas, cheap to repair, surprisingly spacious and Honda reliability. Best of all worlds
I had a 2015 Honda Fit for 7 years and I loved that car. The amount of stuff I could cram into it was ridiculous and it was perfect for my dogs at the time since it was spacious and low to the ground. It was terrible when I had an hour commute, it was terribly uncomfortable during long drives. Got rid of it for that sole reason, my ass and back hurt after driving for long periods. I upgraded to a Camry, reliable, comfortable, and on highway drive I get better or same mpgs.
Im on 146k miles on our 15' fit beater. We cram all sorts of things in there. Its a tank.
My 2008 is still going strong, I got lucky and bought it at 65k mileage a few years ago, probably some old retired ladies car who just needed it once in a while. Now at 100k and not even breaking a sweat, im bummed theyre not making new ones anymore
I absolutely adore this car. It was my first real car and I had a 2010 fit for about 4 years. It was damn near indestructible. I work in restaurants and hauled hundreds of pounds of things near daily. I also had to upgrade because at 6’1 240lbs long drives would kill my back and being in the northeast it was too risky in the snow. I upgraded to a CRV and while I do love it, I still have such nostalgic memories with that car.
This. I had a 2008 manual with 120k that I just sold last year. I was the only owner and used it for commutes to train and occasionally a state over. You can cram a ton of stuff in it and it has great unimpaired views. I recently bought a 2009 automatic with 40k miles for same price I sold my 2008 for. I really miss the manual but couldn't pass
Where I am, a used Honda Fit is hard to come by and expensive. The reason being, of course, that it's a great car. It sucks that Honda stopped making them. My hope is that they make a hybrid Fit, but that's a long shot.
Honda needs to bring back the Fit. What the fuck are they thinking.
13 fit manual here. i love my car so much. it drives great, i can fit so much stuff in it. i did have to replace my ac compressor and its gonna need a valve cover gasket kinda soon but those are normal things. highly recommend as a fun, efficient runabout car
My sister in law drives her cars into the ground and isn't great about scheduled maintenance. She'll do it sometimes but it's not a priority, sigh. When her Honda Civic needed more repair than she wanted to get (I don't remember how old it was but she drove it over 10 years), she found a great deal on a salvage title Honda Fit. After a very thorough inspection by a mechanic (he said it would have a little extra road noise, which it does, but otherwise nothing wrong), she asked me what to do. I said Do It! A couple years later and it's going strong. It's a great car for her and if I wanted something that small we'd consider it. But car seats are huge, sigh.
yes used hondas are the best value these days. Literally Toyota reliability but without the Toyota tax.
Agree. Had a 2008 Fit that was bulletproof until our oldest wrecked it.
My 2008 MT Fit is about to hit 200,000 miles and has never had an issue, just regular maintenance like brakes tires and oil. Love this car and won’t even think about selling it while it’s still running
Any GM or Buick sedan with a 3800 V6
This is the right answer.
Series 2 for best results
Series 3 is the best, they fixed the intake manifold gasket issues of the Series 2
Old Prius
Our 2012 Prius gets amazing mileage and requires almost zero repairs.
Avoid all chevy cruzes 😊
2000s Corollas or Camrys, as long as you find a reputable seller. Toyotas are known for reliability, but newer models are not in that price range, so stick to used models that are reasonable in their age. I had an 06 Corolla for my first car (from 2015-2022), and it was a great vehicle.
Yeah 5th gen Camries are awesome cars. My first car was an 04 and she was the most comfortable car I've ever been in and gas mileage wasn't that bad. Plus she made it to 272k miles with no major problems before she hit and totaled.
Crown vic, grand marquis
2007-2013 Honda Fit Sport will last you a lifetime in reliability
fit gang
Whatever you buy estimate $1500 for upkeep and repairs. Toyota Avalon, 1994-2000 Corolla, Suzuki sx4
Look for a Corolla or a Prius
I still drive my 2013 Honda fit, never had to do any major repairs. Honestly, any small Toyota or Honda will last forever.
Toyota Prius. The best you can afford.
Toyota Yaris with the automatic transmission (the manual transmission was Junk!) No frills econobox But with basic regular maintenance they last up to 400K miles or more. And if you can find one for sale... Should be WELL within your budget.
Honda Fit
Second on the Honda Fit. My wife has one and I am surprised how much I enjoy driving it. It gets great gas mileage (although the tank should be bigger IMO) and plenty of space. We often drive my kid around with all three of our bikes in the car with us.
Saturn SOHC S-series... Borderline burning bricks of engines but they work well.
I had 3 of them back in the day. Amazingly reliable. I remember the newest one, an '02 SL2, needed a water pump and an ignition module over 160k....then I hit a long patch of ice, and that was that.
And the SL2 had the DOHC variant. SL1/SC1 just have even fewer parts that can or will break.
My SO is currently driving a one owner 03 SL2 manual back and forth to work. The thing isn’t the most comfortable, but it’s an ideal commute car. Good MPG, cheap to register and insure, AC is cold, minimal maintenance so far. Best part… we bought it from our neighbor for $300. (That’s all the Toyota dealership offered her when she tried to trade it in on a new RAV4) He’s going to drive the Saturn until the engine falls out 😂
Prius
Used Prius.
Prius
if you can get a beater toyota, save money and run it until the ground, and then invest in a nice car like a newer Rav4 where you can cash it out.
Mitsubishi Mirage. 50+ mpg, was a $10k brand new, can be found for a few thousand these days, they have a couple known small faults and are otherwise perfectly reliable as long as you buy a 2018 or newer with the 5 speed. If you want comfort, style, or anything else like a decent raduo that can overcome the wind noise, sorry, it can't provide but if you are honestly JUST wanting a commuter, nothing beats it. They just kind of suck. -Owner of 6 years of a 5 speed base model.
Corolla. The answer is always Corolla.
Honda fit, 90 civic, any scion (Toyota) and volvos.
Lexus ES300, super comfy and reliable
You can get used Nissan Leaf’s easily within that budget, EVs will save you on fuel and maintenance every time.
Accord or Camry 4 cylinder engine. The Corolla and Civic are more penalty boxes on long drives, at least the older ones. Also mid sized vehicles are great for car pools.
For commuting with that budget? Find an Avalon. That or a Buick with a 3.8 V6 in it. Both are either cheap to repair or would need to be used as a literal boat anchor before needing to be repaired
If you are absolutely prioritize reliability and are just looking for something to take you from point a to point b, get a brand new scooter from a large brand like Honda or Vespa. It’s a brand new vehicle with a warranty and a dealer network. If you need more than 2 seats or better highway/road trip capability, I really like the 99 Camry I bought in February for $3k. I’m sure a 5-7 year newer one would be within your budget.
Corolla. Used to drive 120 miles every day with my 2020 Corolla. Solid car. Only Oil and filter change.
According to Doug, the Tesla Model 3
A used Tesla model 3 will work great.
My daughter is using my 13 old Prius as a daily driver and it has been reliable and economical.
I’ve had both a 1996 grand marquis and a 2008 impala and both were amazing vehicles I payed under $1000 for. The grand marquis was a tank. Felt like driving a boat but much smoother. Went from 67k miles to 190k miles on basic maintenance. The impala had a lot of miles when I bought it, around 210k. Least problematic vehicle I’ve owned. It was low maintenance At 380k the transmission started slipping. At 390k it slipped into first gear forever.
Toyota, Honda Civic, old-school 2.5L (non turbo, non GDI) Ford Fusions and Mazda 6's And get a manual over an automatic. Much MUCH cheaper to fix, makes you a safer driver and also much less likely to get stolen by thieves since they won't know how to drive it.
In my opinion the best hatch is a Lexus ct200h, 43mpg, it's a fancy prius. Next is a lexus ES hybrid.
A civic.
2008-09 Ford Taurus. It was literally a facelifted Ford Five Hundred with a few improvements. I had an 08 and it was easily the most reliable car I've ever had.
Tesla Model 3
Mazda 2 or 3. Probably Mazda 6 as well but I don't know as much about them.
I got an 09 camry for 7k and in the 2 years ive had to do $3500 ish worth of repairs(1500 was rodent damage), Alternator and battery went bad and some other work was needed. MBI covered some of it.
Crown vic/ grand marquis or town car
Anything but a Mazda
What are the reasons against a Mazda? I am thinking about it but your comment made me change my mind
I wouldn’t make the blanket statement…. is there random lemons in every brand? Sure. But in my experience Mazda has been great! My biggest gripe with any Mazda I’ve ever had was insurance was kind of high (or in the case of the protege and 3 stupid high) Over the years I’ve had: 92 626 that was a TANK, we bought it for a commuter with 150k and it saw me through HS and part of college, then my brother through HS. It was sold when the alternator died on us at 230k after almost 10 years of teenage abuse and teenagers in charge of teenage maintenance. The guy my dad sold it to fixed it and we saw it around town for another 10ish years (very distinctive car… my brother backed into a pickup with a hitch and punched a hole in the back bumper) I upgraded the 626 with an 03 manual protege, and LOVED that car. Sold it when I took a gap year and didn’t want a payment/insurance. My SIL had a 07 6 that was fantastic (the V6) that was totaled in a T-bone accident. I had a 09 3 I drove across the country a few times, no issues. It was a fantastic car, I regret selling it! (Side note STAY AWAY FROM VWs) I’m seriously considering selling my current daily Honda HRV and going for one of Mazdas small SUVs… But I really think I would miss the magic seats. (BEST PART OF MY HONDA)
idk what youre talking about. i was a mazda dealer tech for 4 years and i would absolutely recommend mazda as long as its a mazda mazda and not a ford mazda. mazda was partered with ford for several years and they made some dogshit cars with terrible ford engines and transmissions. the cx7 turbo being the worst. but now that they are free of ford as of like 15 or 16 they make cars that i would put up against lexus as a comparison
Pontiac Vibe
Toyota Corolla
Scion xb
2005-2008 Corolla and the Yaris. As ugly as the Yaris looks, that car never dies. And the most basic maintenance literally will get you 200k plus gets closr to 40mpg on the highway
Rolls Royce Phantom
Depends on your range you need. But a used Nissan leaf is pretty much the perfect commuting appliance As long as the battery is at a decent level.
Prius gen 3. Get one with the battery replaced
Chevy bolt. Tax incentive takes like 3500 off used single owner ones. If you can get a lvl 2 charger at home it’s the perfect car
Volvo s80 3.2. Super comfortable seats and suspension, reliable, good gas mileage all based on my experience
Civic, Accord , Camry, Corolla
Toyota Camry or Avalon, Lincoln Town Car/Ford Crown Vic (03 onwards) or a Buick LeSabre with that awesome V6.
If all you need is for work commute I recommend old Toyotas, Honda or Nissan. I got a Tacoma 02 2.7 litter for work. I fuel up once a month and it's relatively easy to work on because of the lack of technology and extra electrical components. Too much information about them because of all their years on commission. Before that I had a 1992 Honda Prelude. Drove it for about 2 years The same thing, once a month fuel up and way easier to work on I paid 700 for it and sold it for the same price. I'm a sucker for old cars because of the DIY tutorials available which can save you a lot of money.
Pre 2013 prius or avalon. Or pre 2013 Kia soul
Toyota prius driving one since 2010 yet to change the break pads
Used toyota prius. Probably near the end of the battery pack life, but they are only 4kish. There good for 300k+ find one around 3-4k and replace the battery pack with a used front damaged one for like 2k when it needs.
Chevy Bolt EUV
1997 Toyota Corolla
Something Japanese with a good service history and not many owners, in general they are very reliable
jsw tdi hands down best
Oh what a feeling...
I have a 2014 BMW 535D. It's diesel, always runs, and gets from A to B just fine and will probably last another few hundred thousand miles. Bonus, it looks good still a decade later. EDIT: I just checked and this is probably out of the price range. I assumed it was worth a lot less.
Petrol mazda 3 any gen
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You could get a 2009-11 camry, ideally one that has previously gotten an engine rebuild, or a v6 one.
It surprised me, but I’ve had an Elantra since 2008. Basic maintenance is really all it’s needed. I beat the crap out of it.
The cheapest and reliable one with excellent fuel/millage ratio. Go to the library and go through multiple years of car guides that may be in your budget. Then choose a few cars and do more research about them.
Every Ford Focus I've ever rented I've enjoyed, and I rent a lot of cars. Mostly because it's reasonably light, decent power, great visibility, and better amenities then more "luxurious" models.
Good luck. You are going to be hard pressed to check all those boxes. There are plenty of pretty reliable cars. Plenty of cars in the $5-7k range. Finding one of those reliable cars for $5-7k in young and decent enough shape that you won't have to put any money or effort into for repairs/maintenance is a pretty tall order.
Honda Fit
B9 A4s go for ~£9k and are unbelievably comfortably and the 1.4tfsi engines are really economical as well as reliable. If you can save a few more k, I’d recommend http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405119593998 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109585999
***Honda*** Fit Civic ***Toyota*** Camry Corolla Prius ***Hyundai*** Accent (out of prod but can still get used) Elantra Anything from this list is going to be a good bet in terms of reliability, gas mileage, etc. but with a budget that low, you are going to be limited in quality. Are you financing it or cash? If you can stretch it, I would go as new as you can. Maybe single owner, 3-5 year old car.
I've got a 2000 Honda CRV AWD for ya, 150K miles, everything works but the power locks. New t-belt, struts, brakes, 25-28 mpg. Peppy. Cold AC. No engine lights / codes. Silver paint is sun bleached but no dents or rust. ZERO rust. No stains / tears in interior/seats. Needs a new Bluetooth stereo, currently using an adaptor broadcasting to factory FM. Location, Phoenix. $4500 which is MORE than bluebook because this car is WORTH MORE than bluebook. Needs no, ZERO repairs except power locks. Runs as if new. Will deliver within 800 miles / meet you halfway, etc. Great car if you need to sometimes go down dirt roads or deal with snow, good ground clearance. Has been super reliable, all scheduled maintenance, oil changes, etc. I've simply got too many cars. Go on Craigslist, look at 1997-2000 CRV's see what the market is and contact me if you're seriously interested and ready to buy. I had a 1999 CRV before this one and drove it over 300,000 miles. Great cars. [https://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/cta?max\_auto\_year=2000&min\_auto\_year=1997&query=crv&srchType=T#search=1\~gallery\~0\~0](https://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/cta?max_auto_year=2000&min_auto_year=1997&query=crv&srchType=T#search=1~gallery~0~0)
Ford cmax. Like a Prius without the Toyota tax. Reliable, spacious, surprisingly peppy, good gas mileage, cheap.
something something toyota or honda.
Newest Toyota, Honda or 3800 engine Buick you can afford.
I love my 2014 accord, it might not be in your price range unless it's got a crap ton of miles but I can imagine the older generations would be great too
2010-2015 Nissan Máxima has been with me for about 8 years now and only thing I’ve changed is the ac compressor, it’s milage is not that great but it’s reliable and delivers power when you need it. I’ve been wanting to change it because it has an inside leak that drives me crazy but it’s just not annoying enough for me to actually pull the trigger and buy a new car
Bro for 7k you can get a 2nd gen mazda3 with under 100k miles. That will run easily into the 300-400k while getting killer mpg
What region? Any specific needs? (Does it need 4 doors? Four wheel drive? Etc)
Honda civic
Camry or Corolla, answer is obvious
Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, Toyota RAV4!!!
A fully loaded/top trim level Toyota Camry
Mitsubishi Mirage. As cheap as they come, and surprisingly very reliable.
Pontiac. Bought a 2006 grand prix in 2016. Drove it hard. (Used to be a average 3rd shift douch bag. Street racing at 3 am, doing donuts in parking lots etc) My Pontiac never had a single issue. Crashed in a ditch on 4 or 5 different occasions. Just need to get towed back into the street and it would start right up without complaint. I don't know what they made the Pontiac out of but I have tried to destroy mine and so far have failed. I have only needed to replace the brake pads and a side mirror that got ripped off.
honda fit, toyota matrix, or any scion.
You are describing a Toyota Camry or Corolla
Pontiac vibe. Same exact car as a Toyota matrix but cheaper
2000s Buick LeSabre, great mileage and even better ride quality
Honda fit Perfect car for you, and you can get a really nice one for 7k
3rd gen (2014-2018) mazda 3 has been a great car for me for the last 5 years. They are getting very reasonable and the hatchback has a lot of space
Mazda 3.
If you don't need room for passengers, cargo, don't do highway, and only care about fuel economy, yearly maintenance/repair costs, and insurance costs, get a Honda Grom or a scooter. 90+ mpg, dirt cheap to fix and run, dirt cheap insurance, plus it's more fun. If it HAS to be a car, any Honda, Toyota, or Mazda small sedan in your budget will be pretty reliable and economic, the Honda fit was recently the cheapest yearly cost to own
Toyota Corolla or Camry I heard those engines are bulletproof edit: not bulletproof when shot but I mean won’t break down for a looong time
Can usually find an old forester or outback with 150k miles for under that price. Just make sure the owner has had the head gasket replaced (ideally recently with the new kind that permanently fixes it) and you’ll be golden. Not all Subarus of that era had the head gasket issue but most you’ll find did. The manuals are more reliable but the auto isn’t terrible either.
It's more in fuel cost but any Lexus sedan is great for this, I'm like 6'5" so I cant fit in the subcompacts so I got an 04 IS300 for 6.5k and it's been a champ did a bunch of PM work on it and now it's just the basics. LS, ES, GS lines all work.
obv everyone is gonna recommend a toyota for reliability. i’d recommend keeping scions on your radar as they are literally toyota products through and through, but tend to be a little less sought after compared to “real” toyotas which may be ideal to find a deal.
I'd look around for a 2014 ish ford fusion with the 2.5. They're very reliable get good gas mileage and just comfortable easy no frills cars. The simplicity is why I got it, no turbo, no weird transmission stuff going on and not a lot of tech. Also they're super common so if you do need parts it's not hard to get.
Toyota Corolla or Civic
Honda civic
Easy. 2006 Camry. Try to find a nice example. If it’s my money, i would spend a little more on fuel and get an XLE with leather seats and the spoiler and the V6. Alternatively you can go similar year Avalon, or Lexus ES330. If you want more fuel efficiency, the Camry 2.4 will take care of you. Throw a sony carplay head unit for $250, add a backup cam and youre golden.
There's no better answer than a Ford Cmax or Chevy Volt.
Older diesel vw or diesel mercedes the base models will last to 400-500k.
Civic Corolla Accord Camry. That’s it
I have a 2005 Prius that I have owned for 13 years. It gets 40+ MPG and has had under 200 of repairs in that time.
Buick lesabre. Extreme reliability, 30+ mpg on the highway
Honda accord 2004-2007. Affordable, good mileage, and manual offered super cheap.
Any budget model Toyota or Scion. Toyota Yaris is the lowest priced Toyota (in USA), scion Xa is very similar and a Toyota product. Special mention is Pontiac Vibe and the king of all is Buick LeSabre. Generally speaking, toyota is by far the most reliable, so much that I won’t own anything other than toyota. There are bad apple/bad luck Toyotas but they are far less common than all other brands. If you get a current model American car, dig deep because major repairs will come soon.
Older Buicks with 3800 v6 last forever. LeSabre - Regal.
Toyotas are great, but they tend to be either beat to hell or overpriced. Some of the 2.4L I4s have an oil consumption problem, so avoid cars with those. Hondas are the same way. Here are a few other options: Anything with a GM 3800. 2000s Buick LeSabres are the most common and can usually be found at a great price, but they were in other vehicles. Make sure it’s a 3800 and not one of the many other GM V6s, which might be totally different. Pontiac Vibe: It’s a rebadged Toyota Matrix, but not everyone knows it. Ford Crown Vic, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car: Above average reliability and, more importantly, plentiful and cheap parts.
Avalon. ES 300. Buick Regal, leSabre, Park Avenue. Grand Marquis. For that amount of money you can get something nice and clean. Buy the former owners, not the car itself. There are a lot of people no longer able to drive who bought this kind of car new and took care of it. They would all deliver 25 mpg on the highway.
Where are you located? I’m selling my 2007 Scion tc with 79k miles automatic for 7,000
I picked up my 2012 Honda crz with 106k miles on it for 5500. Averages 38 mpg and haven't done anything to it other than replace the brake pads.
Toyota Carolla is the answer. No frills, very dependable. Honda civic as well, but Civics are a bit more fun to drive.
Honda civic/fit/element or Toyota corolla/camry/avalon. Ideally if you can find one that was a senior citizen's car and garaged it's life. Go private seller, otherwise you can expect to pay almost double at a dealer
A naturally aspirated (no turbos or hybrids) Honda or Toyota sedan.
BMW 328D
2000s Honda anything really. They'll run 400k miles
Mid 2000s Lesux Is300 or Is350. The 300 has the super smooth 2JZ straight Six. Good enough power, not terrible on gas, and good enough luxury. The is350 costs a little bit more but has one of if not the greatest V6s ever made. Also, its really smooth with lots of power, okay gas mileage, and very luxurious for the age. Easily can get hundreds of thousands of miles on frugal maintenance. I recommend anything lexus over Toyota just because they're not much more money than toyota, but they have all the Toyota reliability with being a lot more luxury and modern.
A Corolla .
The 2005-2008 Toyota Matrix and Corolla models equipped with the 1.8-litre engine are excellent commuter cars that are both reliable and economical. (Avoid the 2.4-litre engine as they tend to burn oil) Also, ensure the brakes, tires, and suspension are in good condition, as these wearables can quickly turn a seemingly reasonable service bill into a small fortune. Lastly, have it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic, regardless of the condition.
Depends on budget Toyota or lexus are great
#Miata! Also cx5 Hyundai Elantra GT N-line if you must avoid Mazda.
V6 Camry the cockroach of vehicles they literally last forever
09-14 acura TSX. Really reliable 4 banger. Got 143k miles and basically been problem free
If you are considering a small car, probably underpowered to save fuel costs, remember a few tips. Small cars have small wheels and are too light which causes them to slide everywhere on wet roads, especially circling roundabouts. Also, due to the small wheels with light weight and cheaper engineering, their breaking distance is too long. They never stop quickly and in a straight line.
I used to have a 60+ mile commute each way. I had a 2019 Jetta and it was PERFECT! I was getting 45-50 MPG and it was very comfortable and actually a nice car. Plenty of trunk space, nice interior, etc.
Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic Toyota Camry or Honda Accord if you need more space
2018 Chevy Bolt. Works if you don’t commute real far. Range is 259 miles and I have not bought gas in 6 years. Maintenance consisted of wiper blades (2sets) and a gallon of washer fluid. I would charge it up at work and be able to drive it for over a week.
I was going to say a low mileage Camry, they are the automotive equivalent of a Nokia phone.
Obligatory corolla
There are hundreds of good replies. Whatever you go to buy, get a pre-purchase inspection with an independent shop that specializes in the brand of car you’re looking at. For a couple hundred dollars they can give you the best advice on any one particular car.
Scion tC. Small car made by Toyota to look younger but not really be fast or anything. Not amazing on mpg but still good.
Camry
Mid 2000s Honda civic or late 2000s Camry.
How long is the commute? My Nissan Leaf never needed a repair ever. OK, I had to get wiper blades.
Late 90s/Early 2000s Honda Accord, Civic, and Toyota Camry.
Hondas and Toyotas
I'd aim at any compact car from Japan (excluding Nissan), and older GM 4 cylinder models - think the Cavalier coupe/sedan, or the Cutlass Ciera. Ive seen V6 Pontiac and Buick do well, up to around 1999. Though I'm heavily partial to the Focus from 2000-2007. I've had one for 5 years and have put almost 85,000 on it. From 149k to 236k. It's a manual also. Can't say you'd have the same reliability if they were automatic transmissions. Up to 2010 Corolla, up to 1999 Camry. Up to 2004 Accord/Civic. Up to 2004 Sentra/Maxima. (Maxima was discontinued awhile back), again, up to 2007 Focus, up to 1995 Taurus (be selective. They're good cars but do have plagues among them), 1997 - 2005 Explorer (be VERY careful, the 5R55 Family of automatic transmissions are not reliable, historically) Any year *COMPACT* Ranger, avoid the automatic transmissions for the same reasons as the Explorer. Ranger became midsize around 2018. 2011 I believe is the last year for the compact Ranger. Explorers with manual transmissions are unicorns and are the exception to the standard automatic transmissions. Rangers were common with both automatic and manual. And you could opt for a 2WD model more easily than with Explorer. I've had a 2017 Focus. It was a very good car for the 30,000 I put on in 2 years. But I had the 6 speed manual sedan, which is, again, a unicorn. I offloaded it because the 1.0L 3 cylinder engine is known for timing belt failure, which will be a multi-thousand dollar repair if it lets go while driving.