Author Topic: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...  (Read 7871 times)

FuckRx

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 793
top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« on: October 26, 2013, 06:30:01 PM »

wanted to see what year and what model cars you guys recommend...
gas mileage and car size are most important to me...
something that will be cheap to maintain...
price range less than 10k

2527

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 483
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2013, 06:37:10 PM »
I've had a 98 Honda Civic with almost no problems at all. 

daverobev

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3961
  • Location: France
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2013, 07:56:07 PM »
There's an MMM blog post, and threads on this I think.

If you can, buy manual not auto - just simpler, cheaper, and generally more fuel efficient.

Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
Honda Civic but avoid the early 8th gen I think, due to head cracking issues... so either 7th gen (we have a 2004, manual, it's fine), or 2010+
Toyota Tercel or Echo if you want smaller

Hatchback is more functional than sedan/saloon.

If you're doing lots of city driving, a Prius may be worth it (probably not vs a Civic, assuming 2004...); long distances, get a TDI (or, again, just go with the Civic).

Yeah... Corolla or Civic from 2004, manual transmission, can't really go wrong.

*Edit* - I should say I don't actually *like* our Civic, but it's a great vehicle for my wife who drives quite a lot. I have a Crown Vic. Just.. because.

monarda

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1553
  • Age: 63
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2013, 08:20:54 PM »
We bought a used 2004 Prius for $6500 a couple of years ago. High mileage, but it was a well cared for company car.
It's not great in the snow, but otherwise been really good for us.

We were deciding between that and a Toyota Matrix. It turns out they are quite similar on the inside. The seats fold down exactly the same way, and the cargo area is great for carrying things. We also put a trailer hitch on our Prius.

blissmonkey80

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2013, 08:30:50 PM »
I have a 2004 Matrix that I've had since 2007 and I love it!  Haven't had too many maintenance issues with it, it gets great gas mileage, has a lot of cargo space, and drives great in the snow with studded snow tires.  I put a Thule box on top and road tripped with my 2 kids, plus my friend and her kid, to Oregon last summer and while it was cozy, it totally worked.  I expect to continue driving it for quite awhile.

ketchup

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4323
  • Age: 33
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2013, 09:06:47 PM »

wanted to see what year and what model cars you guys recommend...
gas mileage and car size are most important to me...
something that will be cheap to maintain...
price range less than 10k
Small? Cheap? Fuel efficeint? Find a Chevy Sprint.  1985-1988.  My '88 got me 57MPG on my best tank, 53MPG on average.




Frankies Girl

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3899
  • Age: 86
  • Location: The oubliette.
  • Ghouls Just Wanna Have Funds!
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2013, 09:07:06 PM »
We have a 2004 Scion Xa (I believe MMM has a 2006) and it's a super little car. We bought it new, and the only issue we had was a bad fuel pump within the first 6 months which was still under warranty - nothing wrong with it since then, and this was the first generation of the Scions, so that's saying something. It is much roomier than it looks from the outside, and the back seat folds flat and you can haul quite a bit of stuff. Gets an average of 35 MPG highway, and around 30 in stop and go. We are over 100K miles and it's still doing fantastic - probably keep it another 100K. Oh, and my husband loves driving it - I remember when we test drove it, he had a big grin on his face as it was very peppy and fun to drive. :)

Kriegsspiel

  • Guest
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2013, 09:17:17 PM »
Another vote for the Scion XA. I'm getting 45+ MPG in mine. It's small, but you can still put stuff in the back, like a bike, boxes, a large body, etc. I just leave my back seats folded down all the time. I don't think I saw a used on for more than $10,000.

daverobev

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3961
  • Location: France
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2013, 09:46:55 PM »

wanted to see what year and what model cars you guys recommend...
gas mileage and car size are most important to me...
something that will be cheap to maintain...
price range less than 10k
Small? Cheap? Fuel efficeint? Find a Chevy Sprint.  1985-1988.  My '88 got me 57MPG on my best tank, 53MPG on average.




I had a 1986 Vauxhall Nova 1.3 GL when I was 17. LOVED that car, my favourite car.

Jamesqf

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4038
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2013, 12:14:47 AM »
If you really want small size and good gas mileage, the original (2000-2006) Honda Insight is the way to go.  They aren't for everyone, and (since they were a very limited production run) they can be hard to find.

Other good choices are the Geo Metro and Honda CRX, if you can find one that hasn't been modded to death.

FuckRx

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 793
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2013, 09:29:45 AM »


interesting you mentioned the crx, I bought a 1986 but I had posted about it a while back and everyone said to get rid of it and buy a newer car.

mrsggrowsveg

  • Guest
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2013, 10:25:49 AM »
I really enjoy our 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Diesel.  I get at least 41 MPG with a combination of city and highway driving.  It is also sporty and fun to drive with extras like heated seats and sunroof.  It was about $4000 from a seller on Craigslist.

iamlindoro

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1520
    • The Earth Awaits
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #12 on: October 28, 2013, 10:35:23 AM »


interesting you mentioned the crx, I bought a 1986 but I had posted about it a while back and everyone said to get rid of it and buy a newer car.

IIRC the way you posed the question was "which of these cars should I buy" when you already owned *both* cars, and the complaints about the CRX were on price, not on car choice.  Nobody had a problem with the CRX... just the paying of $2.5K for a 20 year old one with 200K miles.  The answers you got were related to already being in a bad situation with 20K of credit card debt and an in-progress lease on the other car-- Neither choice was good, and the question was phrased in a way that made it seem on first glance that you didn't own the CRX.

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/which-car-should-i-purchase/
« Last Edit: October 28, 2013, 10:40:30 AM by iamlindoro »

FuckRx

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 793
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2013, 10:51:05 AM »

i probably didn't phrase it well, and thankfully for everyone's advice my credit card debt is down a lot now. but nevertheless i still own the CRX (which is driving well right now and have taken a couple longer trips with it) and am still leasing the Smart Car.
thanks for pointing that out though iamlindoro

iamlindoro

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1520
    • The Earth Awaits
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2013, 10:53:11 AM »

i probably didn't phrase it well, and thankfully for everyone's advice my credit card debt is down a lot now. but nevertheless i still own the CRX (which is driving well right now and have taken a couple longer trips with it) and am still leasing the Smart Car.
thanks for pointing that out though iamlindoro

My advice would have been to keep the CRX anyway and drive it until the wheels fall off, seems like a very mustachian car to me! :)

nawhite

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1081
  • Location: Golden, CO
    • The Reckless Choice
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2013, 12:28:20 PM »
Another vote for both the older civic and the pontiac vibe. I have a 2002 civic and a 2006 vibe. Both manual. The Civic would go for around 3-4k and the vibe would go for around 5k. The only problem we ever had with the civic was the AC compressor pulley seized up and eventually wore through the serpentine belt. Got a belt to bypass the pulley installed for like $100. And, by not running that pulley all the time even when not using the AC, it gets an additional 2-3 mpg average.

The civic gets around 35-40 mpg, and the vibe we don't drive much so I only have one tank's worth of data which put it at 34 with roof racks on.

I still remember I had a 1999 Subaru Outback at 160k miles and the civic at 120k. I took them both in for regular maintenance/inspection about the same time. The outback came back with over $3k worth of repairs that "should be done soon." The civic came back with "we replaced your wiper blades." The civic is so cheap to own its ridiculous.

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #16 on: October 30, 2013, 04:34:28 PM »
1999Dodge Neon.. 36Mpg and dead reliable, parts are cheap!

Frank

P.s.. The pic is after I finished the rebuild..:)

bluecollarmusician

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 607
  • You call this a Fi(re)?
Re: top used car suggestions...the smaller the better...
« Reply #17 on: October 30, 2013, 07:22:38 PM »
Another vote for the MT Generation 1 Honda Insight-
If you want a small efficient vehicle it is it, and as long as you connect with other owners to learn how to maintain the battery, you will be good to go.

I bought my 2000 in immaculate condition with only 60k miles for $6000, and have averaged 75MPG with all types of driving, including routinely getting 90MPG+ on my way to work...