Opinions on used cars with good gas mileage/low maint.

ShoeDiva

Shoes!!!!
We are looking to get a used car. We would like something with very good gas mileage and known for low maintenance. Both myself and my husband are not "car people" and the research is daunting. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Size does not matter and we would like to spend max $10,000.
Thanks!
 
I currently drive a '99 Acura, and I've been very pleased with both the car and the gas mileage. Way less than $10,000, but I'd never owned one before, and I was pleasantly surprised. My brother will only drive Acuras...he says they're the best all-around car. If you like Toyotas, I'd go with a Camry...you can't kill the darn things, and when I had a Camry, it got 33 mpg on the highway in tough driving conditions (out west). Also pretty comfy cars. I'm not a fan of American cars except Ford trucks, but that's just me.
 
mei lan said:
I currently drive a '99 Acura, and I've been very pleased with both the car and the gas mileage. Way less than $10,000, but I'd never owned one before, and I was pleasantly surprised. My brother will only drive Acuras...he says they're the best all-around car. If you like Toyotas, I'd go with a Camry...you can't kill the darn things, and when I had a Camry, it got 33 mpg on the highway in tough driving conditions (out west). Also pretty comfy cars. I'm not a fan of American cars except Ford trucks, but that's just me.

Thanks. I am making notes on what friends and family tell us to narrow down the search. I appreciate you input!
 
With the current high demand for used vehicles, prices have jumped 20% to 30% or more for some models. New vehicles are now a few dollars more.
 
Winchester said:
With the current high demand for used vehicles, prices have jumped 20% to 30% or more for some models. New vehicles are now a few dollars more.

We did consider that, but once you drive the brand new one off the lot you lose so much value and we really just want to pay cash. Why is the demand so high? We just need a third vehicle.
 
It isn't as much that the demand is high as much as the supply is low. People are holding onto their cars longer so there aren't as many used cars available.
 
Winchester said:
Fox5 just did a story on this last week. Might check their website for the video.

Okay I will look.

Unionmom- I could see the reasoning behind holding on for a while. We haven't actually got out of our house to look, but it still seems the lots are full. Going to check out the Fox story and see what it suggests.

I know that with the economy as it is my husband is not going to go finance a car. If 10k won't buy one, we won't be getting one. :(
 
unionmom said:
It isn't as much that the demand is high as much as the supply is low. People are holding onto their cars longer so there aren't as many used cars available.

Yes, and don't forget that whole Cash for Clunkers debacle of a year (or so) ago that mandated that each car turned in be destroyed. :BH
 
1st choice - Honda (includes Acura)

2nd choice - Toyota (includes Lexus and Scion)

Can't go wrong with either. Honda's can easily run 250'000 + miles with little trouble. The Accord is very possibly the most reliable car ever made. Toyota Camry's are also amazing cars. Nissans are also good cars (includes Infinity). The later models Kia's and Hyundai's have been reliable.


The American (if you can still call them that) manufacturers have a few reliable cars, you just have to pick through them. Consumer's Reports is a good source for info on that.
 
Guard Dad said:
1st choice - Honda (includes Acura)

2nd choice - Toyota (includes Lexus and Scion)

Can't go wrong with either. Honda's can easily run 250'000 + miles with little trouble. The Accord is very possibly the most reliable car ever made. Toyota Camry's are also amazing cars. Nissans are also good cars (includes Infinity). The later models Kia's and Hyundai's have been reliable.


The American (if you can still call them that) manufacturers have a few reliable cars, you just have to pick through them. Consumer's Reports is a good source for info on that.

It does seem to be that Honda & Toyota are getting the most recommendations. We looked at some Camry's online and they were in the 15 - 20K range. Um, no. For that money I would rather throw a few more dollars in and have something new that I know the maintenance on and how it was drove. I am going to check out consumer reports too, but I do believe that MeiLan was right in regards to that Cash for Clunkers really messed up the market. All of these cars are really up there in price. Now you have to finance a used car? 10k cash is not enough? Crazy.
 
Ford is coming on really strong in the last few years but you aren't likely looking for what you'd find from them in that price range just yet. It's really nice to see them being mentioned with, even ahead of in some cases, the usual suspects in the long term reliability studies/reviews.

With regards to Lexus ... while the cars are sound, they are virtually impossible to beat but when they do need work you'll pay through the nose for the parts. Something to consider.
 
unionmom said:
Ford is coming on really strong in the last few years but you aren't likely looking for what you'd find from them in that price range just yet. It's really nice to see them being mentioned with, even ahead of in some cases, the usual suspects in the long term reliability studies/reviews.

With regards to Lexus ... while the cars are sound, they are virtually impossible to beat but when they do need work you'll pay through the nose for the parts. Something to consider.

Thanks. :)
 
Toyota and Honda should be fine. Stay away from Nissan.

Personally, I LOVE my Chevrolets. I generally get at least 200k miles out of one and have always traded it with a lot of life left in it. Least expensive on maintenance and generally reliable.

I still have my 1984 Camaro that I purchased nearly new. It has less than 150k miles on it. It sat for several years when I decided I would like to drive it again. Put in a new battery, drove 7 miles to an emission station and it passed. The man who did the test said I can't believe you didn't drive it at least 200 miles. How could I do that? The tag was expired.
 
Madea said:
Toyota and Honda should be fine. Stay away from Nissan.

Personally, I LOVE my Chevrolets. I generally get at least 200k miles out of one and have always traded it with a lot of life left in it. Least expensive on maintenance and generally reliable.

I still have my 1984 Camaro that I purchased nearly new. It has less than 150k miles on it. It sat for several years when I decided I would like to drive it again. Put in a new battery, drove 7 miles to an emission station and it passed. The man who did the test said I can't believe you didn't drive it at least 200 miles. How could I do that? The tag was expired.

What do you base your Nissan opinion on? Just curious. I actually did have a Nissan Stanza for 250,000 miles. I loved that car. I called it the Stanza Truck because back then we did not own a truck so my car became the hauler. LOL We drove it until we were able to afford better and donated it. (back when that was not such a hassle)

My first car was an Iroc z28 convertible. My mini van is a chevy and I do love it. I also had a Monte Carlo which was a good car (traded that for the van, the two doors were just not working at the time), but we had a chevy malibu that was a piece of junk. I hated that vehicle. ha ha I guess I am mostly a chevy girl.

Husband has just had mostly Ford trucks.

I think it will come down to what is available when we go actually look. The inventory online for places is slim. So while I prefer to shop from the computer I guess that is not really an option. (car salesmen annoy me) At least we do know what most people prefer and we can pull the car fax report. LOL I might just annoy the car salesman when I am saying," hold on I am looking this model up." This will be the first time I have shopped with internet access!
 
unionmom said:
Ford is coming on really strong in the last few years but you aren't likely looking for what you'd find from them in that price range just yet. It's really nice to see them being mentioned with, even ahead of in some cases, the usual suspects in the long term reliability studies/reviews.

With regards to Lexus ... while the cars are sound, they are virtually impossible to beat but when they do need work you'll pay through the nose for the parts. Something to consider.

As someone who wasn't a fan of Ford cars (always liked their trucks), I have to agree. Ford has really upped the quality in recent years. And, they get extra credit from me for not taking TARP money.

Wifey and I are thinking for trading the land yacht (Yukon XL) next year, and the Ford Escape is on our short list. We rode to Florida in one last year with some friends of ours, and was very impressed with it. With the kiddo grown, she doesn't need such a huge vehicle anymore and we'd like to get some better mileage. I have my truck when heavy hauling or towing needs to be done.
 
My bosses wife got a Ford Escape last summer (with all the bells and whistles, including 2 sunroofs!) and I was very impressed. My sister has the more basic version and she really likes hers.
 
ShoeDiva said:
What do you base your Nissan opinion on? Just curious. I actually did have a Nissan Stanza for 250,000 miles. I loved that car. I called it the Stanza Truck because back then we did not own a truck so my car became the hauler. LOL We drove it until we were able to afford better and donated it. (back when that was not such a hassle)

Based purely on listening to my husband and his friends discuss repair costs and frequency of repair.

And I will drive the wheels off a car just to avoid a car salesman! I can't stand them! Thus the reason I've driven most of my Chevys to 200K miles.
 
Madea said:
ShoeDiva said:
What do you base your Nissan opinion on? Just curious. I actually did have a Nissan Stanza for 250,000 miles. I loved that car. I called it the Stanza Truck because back then we did not own a truck so my car became the hauler. LOL We drove it until we were able to afford better and donated it. (back when that was not such a hassle)

Based purely on listening to my husband and his friends discuss repair costs and frequency of repair.

And I will drive the wheels off a car just to avoid a car salesman! I can't stand them! Thus the reason I've driven most of my Chevys to 200K miles.

Absolutely! Exactly why I hate that I can't just shop online. Now with having internet access while shopping might just halt some of the bs spewing I know it won't stop all. I am so procrastinating getting out and looking!
 
One of my husband's coworkers bought a Kia (could be a Hundyia (sp?). Anyway, my point is that is was very cheap for a 2011 plus it has a 100,000 mile warranty.
 
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