Washington DC - used car advice

[mdewhurst001]

Hello,
I'm a MMM fan, and I'm looking to buy a used car.  I live in dc, do not drive very much, but do like to go into the countryside regularly to hike - so need a car with reasonable clearance and traction (not to mention we frequently dream of moving to Longmont - a la MMM).  We'd like 5 doors, and it to be automatic. 

The key is the car needs to be reliable.  My husband has Stage IV brain cancer, and we need the car for appointments.  I also can't fix it myself, so would prefer minimal trips to the mechanics to avoid getting constantly fleeced. I'd like the following advice:

1. which used car does MMM currently recommend?
2. are there specific places in Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia where it's good to buy cars?

Thanks for any help.
Mary

[MsPeacock]

I can't recommend a specific model, although Honda and Toyota are both super reliable. Craigslist is great for used cars. Just arrange to have a mechanic look at the car before you finalize the purchase. I think there is an article from the main page (blog, not forum) on the most mustachian cars.

I bought my car at Carmax in Laurel and was satisfied with the experience. You can probably get a better deal on Craigslist. OTH carmax is handy because it is more or less a one stop shop for many models of cars, you can search their inventory online, they will transfer the cars to the location closest to you, and you can make an appointment for test drives. They come with a 30 day warrenty and after my mechanic identified problems Carmax was very good about making the repairs and giving me a loaner car.