Looking for reliable cheap car!

[Steve Ekstrand]

Brother Sheldon sold his gas hogging breakage prone Jeep and needs a car to go off to college at USD. That's a lot of trips between Simi and San Diego!
Needs something reliable with great gas mileage on a tight budget.

He's thinking 135 M, GT3RS, Bentley Super Sport, or my SRT-4.
I'm thinking he can only afford my SRT-4 but would loose his license at best and I don't won't think about the worst.

I'm thinking something more along the lines of Will's 2006 Honda Civic EX. That's a great little coupe, with great seats, handles nicely, fun to drive with the stick, good stereo, and fantastic mileage.
Anybody have ideas on some good used models to looks for? Something that you can find say under $9500, that isn't used up with 150K miles???

And suggestions on where to find such a beast?

[Bobby Beyer]

I'll always recommend the Yaris I've never had a car that has been so fantastically reliable as this car has been. I've driven close to 100k on the car most of which has been "aggressive" and it still turns 33-37 mpg even when pushing it I've never seen less than 27 mpg. For the entire 100k miles I've never had to touch anything (until it was prepped for STF a few months ago) aside from regular 6k mile oil changes and brake pads from getting contaminated from water/oil. I've taken this thing on mild offroading (60+mph) trips, drove it through 2 foot deep water(it was past the door line but never leaked in), traveled through northern Nevada at high speeds in 110+ degree weather with the A/C on and its never once complained.

The only complaint I have with the car is I wish it had an extra 30 hp it would make passing on the freeway a bit easier. You should be able to find a base model 09+ for less than 10 grand.

[Robert Puertas]

Doesn't a used MINI fit the bill?

[Steve Ekstrand]

Doesn't a used MINI fit the bill?

I was wondering about the Yaris. I actually searched on them used and didn't find much. Bang for the buck on those seems as new. Mazda 2's not bad new either. But still his budget is super tight. Baseball scholarship but not 100%. Expensive private school, dad still has debts from all those years of private school before college. I can't imagine a used Mini gets that low? And then a Mini with 150K miles on the clock scares me for repair costs.

[Jayson Woodruff]

Yaris, Mini and Honda's have higher re-sale than they're worth. Great cars, but not that great. Better to buy those ones new. Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai still very good cars, but you don't pay for a premium re-sale. Used american cars (Neons, cobalts, focus) are actually the best 'deal' used due to lingering poor reputations, but of course they're typically not going to be AS good as the Asian makes.

Jay W

Doesn't a used MINI fit the bill?

I was wondering about the Yaris. I actually searched on them used and didn't find much. Bang for the buck on those seems as new. Mazda 2's not bad new either. But still his budget is super tight. Baseball scholarship but not 100%. Expensive private school, dad still has debts from all those years of private school before college. I can't imagine a used Mini gets that low? And then a Mini with 150K miles on the clock scares me for repair costs.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Lots like the "brat" gets a new Bimmer or Mini. Dad figured out the insurance savings on the corporate subsidized lease deal. Man... I got grandpa's old Plymouth. Little bro gets new Bimmers every 6000 miles. :mrt:

[Bobby Beyer]

Doesn't a used MINI fit the bill?

I was wondering about the Yaris. I actually searched on them used and didn't find much. Bang for the buck on those seems as new. Mazda 2's not bad new either. But still his budget is super tight. Baseball scholarship but not 100%. Expensive private school, dad still has debts from all those years of private school before college. I can't imagine a used Mini gets that low? And then a Mini with 150K miles on the clock scares me for repair costs.

If budget is super tight a Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe can be had for less than 7k and a touch more for the XRS/GT version. Not the fastest car on the block but insurance rates should be low its got a corolla engine so fuel economy and reliability should be up there plus you can fit so much stuff in the hatch which can be good for a college kid.

[Arthur Grant]

Hyundai lease return. Elantra should be cheap, and still have some of it's 100K warranty available.

[John Stimson]

oops

[John Stimson]

Check for a Mazda3. It looks like there are several in the area with manual transmissions, under $10k, under 100,000 miles. They are all grey.

Maybe even better, more recent Ford Focuses (2005-2010, maybe?) are really the same as the Mazda3, but it looks like they have that American used car pricing that Jay mentioned. $10k for 2005-8 models with 80k miles...

Also, the Protege5 seems go get no respect. Much harder to find a manual transmission, for some reason, but they are cheap if you can find one.

[Steve Coe]

+1 on the Mazda 3 I love mine! but all the above cars would be great to get.

Steve