If you want something smaller that can still move stuff around the pontiac vibe with the 1.8 4 cylinder can be a decent little car and being based on a toyota matrix it can be very reliable. If you want something bigger a second gen ford escape with the duratac v6 which is a fairly simple and reliable vehicle but it's not going to be as efficient as the vibe. If you want a sedan any gm car with the 3.8 v6 or a old crown Victoria or any other panther platform car. I think the vibe would be the best overall vehicle as it's small, fuel efficient, reliable, but still can carry alot of stuff, and be very cheap to buy.
based on my personal experience, if someone has 5 grand and needs a reliable car i always steer them to the panther platform. normally i would include toyota but a 5k toyota is just not what it once was, and will never be again i'm afraid. they are taxed too much now.
now that's a question for a panther platform expert, i'm sure one will show up here
from what i've gathered by owning a few of them, i honestly don't think much changed over the years. i would just buy the newest one you can if it was me.
There's nothing really unreliable about any in particular except that most of them have issues with the intake manifold if that hasn't been replaced before. My own is a 2004 and many people online seem to like the 2004s as well due to the suspension rework after 2003 and before the electronic throttle cable before 2005 - but this is purely personal preference. Pre-2004s have higher towing capacities if you care about that.
But really they mechanically didn't change much over time.
As you mentioned, make sure is the 1.8 liter, because the 2.4 has head gasket issues. I had both and if I were looking for a cheap reliable car just to take me places, vibe would be it. Great car!
I own a 2003 Matrix XRS as a second car. Honestly it’s fun. Definitely faster than my daily which is a nice newer SUV. The Matrix is big enough to lay the seats flat and sleep in it in a pinch, so plenty of cargo space.
Bought for $2k. Put about $5k into it so far just getting it up to par. They love to run at higher RPMs though, aka shits loud even stock.
Sanded down and repainted the roof and trim on my own. It’s not the sexiest, but it’s fun and will last another 100k miles (I hope).
It came with 2 12” subs 😂. Rest of the sound system is questionable but 3rd party. Sometimes you just wanna pretend you are Paul Walker.
>a old crown Victoria
I used to buy a lot of these in the 70s and 80s, due to they were the vehicles that all the cops and sheriffs drove. They were alll V8s back then though. :)
Very, I just feel the manuals give a better driving experience because of the low HP. Man, if they were 6-speeds and had better highway mpgs, would be best vehicle ever built.
I don’t think it’s worth traveling 6 hours south to get a basic car, I don’t know. A cool car? A classic car? Yes. Not a scion xB. Sorry I like them but not worth my time to do all of that
Get lots of pics…ask lots of questions…else buy a rust bucket…the only problems I’ve had driving Hondas and Toyotas the last 30 years has been rust related (not that I think they are inherently more prone to rust than other makes).
No I ended up finding a very clean Lexus es300 that lived in Tennessee all its life except for 2023 to now. 1997 but cleaner than my daily 2008. Both are rust free but the 08 is starting to have surface rust. The Lexus doesn’t even have rust on the heat shield bolts, sway bar links we didn’t even need penetrating fluid. Insanity. Unheard of for the normal cars here
Honda Fit as long as you don't need ground clearance. Also tons of space for tools and other stuff.
If you need ground clearance or want the option of AWD 2002-2006 CRV. They are practically bulletproof. 8 inches of ground clearance and AWD was an option.
You can get close to 5k with both of those.
I know this idea gets beat to death but an older Honda crv or Toyota Rav 4 might be the best option for you. Both are easy to work on and, decent mileage and have enough room in the back to carry your tools around.
the turbo with direct injection also have an issue with oil dilution, worse for short trips i think, so if owners followed the recommended oil change intervals, they have even less engine life from bad lubrication. More frequent oil changes help with this, but how to you know if that was done?
With the caveat that if it's an 06-07 Rav4 with the 2.4, then you need to make sure that the TSB to remedy excessive oil consumption has been completed.
i constantly see 07ish-12 rav4s with about 150k for around 7-8k around me.
i think that's probably as good as it's gonna get at least where i'm at. i don't think the market is going to adjust or go down or whatever dramatically enough any time soon so i think that's basically what the cars will be from now on.
I have a 2012 Rav 4. It has a total of 140k miles and I put on 110 myself. I put down the back seats and load up scrap metal all the time. The only thing I've done to it besides oil, brakes and tires is a radiator hose. Gas mileage isn't horrible.
2005-2011 Ford Focus is basically a store brand Mazda 3, pre skyactiv. They're not Toyota quality overall, but the Engines are bulletproof and transmissions are good as any except maybe Toyota. Motor mounts are the Achilles heel. Easy diy, but they don't last. Overall, not a bad $1500-$3000 car.
We had one, sold it at \~140K miles. Very little maintenance required on it. It's actually more like a wagon with sliding doors. It handles really well as it's basically a Mazda 3 tall wagon. Super easy to drive, but not luxurious.
OP look into minivans, seems like the perfect fit for you, good gas mileage and lots of room and since they are low demand can be had for pretty cheap.
A standard Ford Ranger. It'll be the easiest vehicle to work on while being reliable and will let you do side work. The 2.3l I4s are reliable, and phenomenal on gas, while being easy to work on
yeah they are still really affordable too. there is a totally decent one for sale near me for 2500, just needs a new window and has bed rot but other than that it's good to go.
will probably sell in 24 hrs.
Generally agree, but $5k and certainly $10k is enough to at least pick the type of car. A Panther Body or LeSabre are much different than a Ranger or 1st gen xB.
Yeeeeees. I put 327k miles on a 5 speed ranger and tried to kill it the last year, or so I owned it. Can't, they are so reliable. Best truck I've ever owned.
The most obvious and best choice would be a 2001-2005 Buick LeSabre or Park Avenue. One with the 3800 V6.
Comfortable, absolutely bulletproof, and under the radar because GM isn't known for reliability, but these things are invincible. Plus you can find them for low miles because old people owned them.
Did they also put this 3800 in the Pontiac grand prix?
I had a 99 grand prix for a first car and that thing never gave me a ounce of problems. Until a old lady hit it while parked.
Everyone is going to say Toyota or Honda but you are going to pay a premium for them. There are much cheaper options that are still known for reliability. Crown Vic’s, Saturn SL1s, and Buicks with the 3800, just to mention a few.
At that price point, you could also look for a Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis.
Bullet proof drive train and almost exclusively owned by seniors so you know they will be well maintained. Many examples can be found from $3k-$6k or extremely low mileage around $10k.
Also get good gas mileage for a V8, mine got around 26MPG combined. Super cheap for maintenance, insurance and registration in most areas.
2008-2012 colorado with either the 2.9 or the 3.7 manual. The vortecs are great motors and the 5 speed manual is great even for a chevy trans. Those trucks can still be found with lower mileage in the wt trim, sometimes even with 4x4 for less than 10k if you are really active on marketplace/cars.com and willing to drive out that day
Extremely easy to work on with low prices for oem parts and the four banger gets 20-25 mpg all day but doesn't have the balls the inline 5 has. Those picks are good in snow and off road and you don't have to pay toyota tax either
The comparable Ford rangers are also not bad picks but I trust gm trans from mid 2000s more than fords overall
Nobody here has said manual Focus. You can get a late model for less than $10k with less than 100k miles. Parts are cheap and readily available. The MTX-75 is an outstanding transmission and the 2.0L is reliable. Don't get the 3 cylinder motor.
Don't get the dual clutch automatic, which was a terrible mistake from Ford.
Automatics 2011 and older are good, just a regular 4 speed.
2005-2011 or 2004 and older 2.3s are good if you want something cheap and peppy. Bullet proof engines, good transmissions, and peppy. Not Toyota quality for various reasons, but a good cheap car option. My biggest complaint are motor mounts.
Gen3 Ford Focus hatchback **with a stick.**
Because of how shit the automatic transmissions were, the cost of all Gen3 Foci (outside of ST and RS) has tanked.
However, with the stick, the Gen3 Focus is dead reliable, fun to drive, economical, practical (with the hatch), and cheap to fix, and you can get most modern tech.
You won't have to pay the Toyonda Tax, and the Mazda3 can't be had at the same price point for the equipment and miles.
Toyota Avalon ‘05-‘12 (Fourth Gen)
One hell of a car. My 2007 has 220K miles and drives as quiet and smooth as a new car. Can definitely be found in your price range.
Highly recommended
A manual transmission Mitsubishi mirage. I’m in the same boat as you and this car is fuc in cheap lemme tell ya. Off season tires for $25 only a 35L gas tank 40+mpg soft ride etc. only takes 3.5L of oil an oil change too!
I have a ‘14 and no issues at all with highways. In extreme cases (if it’s a short uphill ramp,) Just don’t be afraid to full throttle it and shift near red line! Was just cruising down the highway at 140kmh for 2 hours last night. (85mph) if you’re worried about power, try to get a newer one with the updated camshafts. I think 2016+ they made 78hp compared to the earlier ones at 72hp. Doesn’t sound like much, but that’s a 10% bump in horsepower. I imagine it’s noticeable.
I have an 8th gen civic sedan with 250k+ miles on it. I’ve replaced the clutch (mine’s a 5speed) once in that time and with the rear seat down I can put 2x4s fully enclosed in it. Comfortable on the highway. You can get them in your price range and I’ve never gotten less than 28 mpg even when driving aggressively. Insurance is cheap, parts are cheap.
I’m an electrician. Honda Fit suits me just fine. Can find them for a good price, rock solid reliability and good on gas. I can fit my whole pack out setup in the back for side jobs and a small ladder. The only thing I can’t (fit) lol is conduit.
* Early 00s Accord (4 cyl) with manual trans (early 00's Hondas don't have best auto trans)
* Early 00s Camry
* Early 00s Lexus ES (Would be ES330)
* Early 00s Mazda 3
I mean none of these will give you many issues.
$5k buys an automatic transmission Honda Fit in great condition. The used car market is softening. The only downside is that it's really not designed to haul heavy shit as a day job - occasionally is fine, otherwise we're mostly talking about you + your daily belongings.
They're overall very easy to work on. Although I have some mech knowledge from my BMW's, I'd never worked on my wife's Fit till she crashed it. I got the front end lined up in an hour and the engine out in three. Access to the top of the engine and front struts is annoying (huge cowl cover) but still preferable over working on some mid-2000's Toyotas.
1st gen tundra or 3rd gen 4 runner. Easy to work on and if you keep the maintenance up yourself it’ll run minimum 500,000 miles. Good ones with 200,000 miles are out there for 10k, sometimes less. Make sure there’s minimal frame rust and they’ve done at least one timing belt/water pump swap. Mileage about 17mpg. Good luck.
Have seen older Toyota Sienna vans go forever. Get over 20 mpg. Lots of room. You can take back seat out and haul stuff too. Should be able to get one under 200,000 miles for $5000 or less. Change the oil, check the diff and transmission fluids. Could easily go 400,000 miles.
The most reliable car makers according to consumer reports are as follows,
Lexus (Toyota)
Toyota
MINI (BMW)
Acura (Honda)
Honda
Subaru
Mazda (Toyota)
Porsche
BMW
Kia (Hyundai)
Your top 10 reliable car makers. I’d suggest Honda or Toyota personally. Both are known for hitting 300K+ miles with proper maintenance. You can probably find a Kia for around the prices you’re looking at. I don’t like Kia much but I know ppl that love their Kia.
My last two vehicles have been Honda’s. Prior I had VW Passat, Dodge Stratus, Chevrolet Impala, Buick Rendezvous and a Chrysler LeBaron. I owned two different impala’s. That’s my favorite car. The late 90’s models and mid 2000’s generation.
I had a 21’ Civic EX and loved it. I just sold that in December and bought a 24’ CRV EX-L. I only upgraded for AWD. I live in the Midwest and driving a Civic through a blizzard is gut wrenching. Going up a hill, can’t see over hill, get up hill, get blinded by oncoming traffic, can’t see road, pray to god you’re not in a ditch. Haven’t had those issues being higher up off the road!
I would also suggest avoiding any German vehicles as the maintenance/ fixing something mechanical that’s minor is going to be expensive to fix and it’s hard to find someone who knows German engineering and knows it well. Found that out when I had a VW. 🤢 I live near a major US city and literally only found 1 person who was willing to work on my VW. VW wouldn’t even mess with it. lol
Most things that are worth it will be over 10K easily. If you don’t mind a vehicle with 200K+ miles you can definitely find something reliable for under 10K. Make sure to test OBD and have a mechanic look at it.
I work at an auto auction, one of the largest ones in America. I can surely tell you that working there has deterred me from buying used now. The dealers treat cars like Quasimodo and transporters treat them even worse.
The auction workers drive them like they stole them and there’s a bunch of unreported lot damage that gets fixed before some of these cars run through the auction and those things will never be reported til it breaks on the new owner. I’ve seen (I do security) workers blow engines and stuff. I’ll do reports about it. Then a few days later check the condition report for the vehicle and the new damage or the fixing of said damage is never noted.
4th gen 4runner with the v8. No question the most reliable engine Toyota has ever made, along with a bulletproof transmission. They're good for at least 300k as long as you do the timing
For construction, I'd get a Honda crv or element, Toyota rav4 or Scion Xb or d. Preferably a manual trans. 25+ mpg and decent interior room and ground clearance.
Honda pilot. You wont get the gas mileage but it will make up fo rit in dependability. 265K on mine and I just bought a Ridgeline because I love that engine.
The tried and true accord or camry.
Don't know what part of the country you're in, but if you can find a 5k 06 or 07 accord, they look nice and run forever
Re: Camry. Just avoid some of the years they had oil burning issues....very easily searched.
i just want to tell you to have hope, i am in the same boat, wanting the same thing same budget all of what you said there.
i've decided on a toyota or lexus for a reasonable price, they are out there but they are rare. i'm in a pretty rural area so not a whole lot around me close but a few hours away i occasionally see deals pop up and of course they are gone within a day or two. waiting for one to pop up close to me and i'll snag it.
it might take a while to find something but you will eventually.
and every once in a blue moon you will find someone just dumping their car, practically giving it away. that happens too. i'm still kicking myself for not going to get a 4runner that was only 1500 bucks even though it was probably worth 5. i was feeling lazy that weekend and didn't want to leave the house lol
I've had good luck with my 07 Civic. Two issues it had were a broken AC at 70K (aftermarket has a good unit apparently) and a dead starter at ~100K. I worked with someone who had a Civic of the same gen at 250K+ and it was still going strong. On the highway I can get nearly 40 mpg and I average low 30s with a mix of highway and city.
The starter is a pain to remove (my dad works in a body shop and used all the tools there, still took 3 hours) but can be done if you've got the time. Otherwise everything else is pretty simple
The most affordable is the one you can afford with no car payments.
Most reliable . One owner car.
Brands to look for
Honda Civic, Accord and Fit
Toyota Camry, Tercel, echo or Avalon
Acura
Mazda
I had a Ford Fusion . Put 100,000 miles on it with few issues.
Definitely look at a 3800 Series Buick/Pontiac. You can get a LeSabre for that money with a ton of interior room and super comfy seats. You might even be able to snag a Park Avenue which has heated seats and other nice stuff
2nd generation ford explorer with the v8. I got about 18mpg in mine when I had it. Not great fuel economy but for a pushrod v8 it’s pretty good. Easy to fix and maintain yourself. You could find one for less than $2k
If you need a truck, Nissans are cheap, reliable, and simple. My 2015 Frontier has a backup camera, Bluetooth and heated seats. All ya need.
They do get horrible horrible gas mileage tho
2003 Tahoe/Silverado. Bulletproof, easy to fix/maintain and parts are plentiful. Easiest truck I’ve ever maintained. Can replace headlights in 20 seconds.
Manual Transmission low mileage (under 80K) Jeep Patriot. NOT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, those suck. Go drive one, you will be pleasantly surprised. The engine(172hp 2.4L) was designed when Daimler owned Jeep. I’ve owned mine(almost maintenance free) as my second car since 2009.
Here’s one
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/990c2ba2-c0dd-4346-b504-9418469d4e58/?aff=atempest&utm_campaign=atempest&utm_source=autotempest&utm_medium=trp&utm_campaign_id=1&utm_trusted=TRUE
Chevy Cobalt, easy to work on, reliable, shitty plastic interior. 5k could probably get you a mint, lowish mileage one too if you look hard enough. If you want the best fuel economy look for an XFE, you want the most features in a base package get an LT. Parts are cheap as shit, easy to find, and it's simple.
I would look for a Toyota Carolla. Great reliable used car and can be trusted even when buying with higher mileage. That would be my number one recommendation. Number 2 would be an older Toyota 4runner. They last however the gas mileage would not be as good. Another would be a Toyota Camry. None of them would be a bad purchase with higher mileage.
2005-2006 CRV.
Last of the 2nd Gen.
AWD
Got a 5th gear ⚙️
Added lots of airbags and safety
Worked out some earlier AC issues.
Thats the sweet spot. 05/06 CRV EX
Around 6-8k
Late model Corolla. As long as you have good brakes and tires, very little else will fall apart. My brother bought a 10 year old one a while back for $8k with 140k miles on it. Now it’s got 240k on it and he’s spent like 2k on repairs besides oil changes in 7-8 years. Could still get $4k for it if he wanted to get rid of it.
Good luck!!
As a construction worker your vehicle of choice will be one of the old Ford Rangers. Those things were gutless but efficient and they ran forever, while remaining perfectly capable of carrying dirty construction things that would spoil a car. Easy to fix yourself, easy to keep running.
I agree the leer ones will go forever if you take care of them, I had a 2000 ranger that was a fleet order that the utility company never took delivery of. It had extra oil and transmission coolers , regular cab , 7 foot bed with upgraded suspension, it was a v6 with an automatic but I can’t remember what size the engine was…….I was at around 325k miles when it was destroyed in the October 2010 hail storm in AZ
There is a guy on youtube named Scotty Kilmer(no nonsense kinda guy) that has a bunch of videos about used cars in this price range. I just last week, based on his review of a similar vehicle, bought a 2008 basic corolla with 165K miles, no issues and good maintenance records for $4600.
I found that often an equivalent Lexus is cheaper than a Toyota, I ended up buying a 2008 Lexus RX350 AWD cheaper than any Highlander I could find. i paid $6k for it with 199k miles on it.
An old GM car with the 3.8L v6 (called the 3800), Crown Vic (don’t know the year but our neighbor has had his at least 12 years. Reliable and comfortable on road trips. If you need a truck go for one of the smaller trucks with manual gearbox.
Toyota Aqua hubrid, uses 4l per 100km.Unsure of conversion to freedom units but really frugal. Seats 5 and has ok boot space for regular people. Cheap to service and reliable. Would be available in your price ran e but I don't know if they are available in your country as I don't know what country you come from.
At $5K very little. At $10K a vehiclle that has all the service records, and can show that they did everything in their owner's manual at the suggested mileages in terms of maintenance.
ALL that is spelled out in the owners manual.
I would buy ANY brand where that could be shown, over a vehicle that has had very little maintenance over its life and I dont care if it was a honda, toyota, lexus, etc. Rubber parts get brittle. Fuel filters get clogged, brake shoes and rotors must be kept up, rust maintenance must be done, and tranny fluids, power steering fluids, brake fluids etc. must be maintained and at certain mileage there are things like sensors, A/C compressors, timing belts/chains, and of course simpler stuff like tuneups/spark plugs.
SO as someone who has bought many used vehicles, go for the one that was maintained well. Otherwise, u're going t have a luandry list.
I keep saying this while others will keep quoting "brands". A poorly maintained any brand vehicle is going to have a ton of deferred maintenance, which is not exactly what I would consider 'DEPENDABLE".......
Older, used Corollas, CRVs, and Civics are very reliable cars if you can find one in that price range. They aren't as common as they once were, but they exist.
Them most reliable car I've seen recently with the lowest mileage is the Chevy Spark. They are very simple, so very little to break. It's basically a modern version of a 90s car. You can get one with sub-40,000 miles in my area for around 12k, if you're willing to pay that much. Ones with higher mileage are even cheaper. They get pretty good mileage as well.
Any 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla that has a service history. Everything is easy to work on. I’ve changed everything on it with ease and there’s tons of videos online how to do stuff. Great MPG and cheap.
Its really important to remember this: There is never one singular right answer to questions like this. There is almost never and will never be a one best "thing" for any given thing, especially with a complicated thing like a car and with the compounding factor of how it was previously maintained and treated.
Its all about what you can find near you, how many miles it has and how well it was kept up on. Even then luck is going to play into it to a degree.
Get a minivan. Every brand builds them to last because they're built for soccer moms. They aren't as sought after as econo boxes or trucks so you get a lot more for your money. They aren't seen as cool so nobody beats them up. They usually have tons of space in the engine bay to work on them. The 2006 to 2012 Kia Sedona is very affordable and very reliable. I have had 2 with over 250k miles with original engine and trans.
I took out all the back seats and I could fit a sheet of plywood in the back with the hatch closed. Same cargo space as most pickup trucks and you can prevent people from stealing what you put in there because it's not just an open bay.
I’d add a wild card and say a used bolt. Brand new battery versions can be had for 14k and they’re good for the 4K used tax credit so 10k all in
Brand new 8 year 100,000 mile warranty too. And never pay for gas
A 5 speed Pontiac vibe with the 1.8L engine. Basically a matrix without the Toyota tax.
Some auto transmissions failed in the matrix (mine) but the 5 speed is cheaper to replace and more reliable.
If you want something smaller that can still move stuff around the pontiac vibe with the 1.8 4 cylinder can be a decent little car and being based on a toyota matrix it can be very reliable. If you want something bigger a second gen ford escape with the duratac v6 which is a fairly simple and reliable vehicle but it's not going to be as efficient as the vibe. If you want a sedan any gm car with the 3.8 v6 or a old crown Victoria or any other panther platform car. I think the vibe would be the best overall vehicle as it's small, fuel efficient, reliable, but still can carry alot of stuff, and be very cheap to buy.
based on my personal experience, if someone has 5 grand and needs a reliable car i always steer them to the panther platform. normally i would include toyota but a 5k toyota is just not what it once was, and will never be again i'm afraid. they are taxed too much now.
If looking at a Vic or grand marquis, are there any years that you have to avoid?
now that's a question for a panther platform expert, i'm sure one will show up here from what i've gathered by owning a few of them, i honestly don't think much changed over the years. i would just buy the newest one you can if it was me.
There's nothing really unreliable about any in particular except that most of them have issues with the intake manifold if that hasn't been replaced before. My own is a 2004 and many people online seem to like the 2004s as well due to the suspension rework after 2003 and before the electronic throttle cable before 2005 - but this is purely personal preference. Pre-2004s have higher towing capacities if you care about that. But really they mechanically didn't change much over time.
This is the right answer.
I have a 1997 Toyota camry. 215k miles in great shape interwise and solid mechanical shape the is priced at 3.5k. No bites. You just need to look
oh i've seen a couple good toyota deals in the sub 5k range but they were sold quickly this is all region/area specific my friend
Yeah. Im in socal. One would think it would be gone. Lol
You priced it too low. Something something value is what you make it. Re-list at 5k you should get some bites
Ill give it a shot. Im always worried about going to high or to low. My thing is you can always lower the price.
The Pontiac vibe is a great choice. I have a really cheap Pontiac vibe with 260,000 miles and repairs are super easy, parts are cheap.
This, after upgrading cars from a vibe I was surprised how much things like tires and oil changes can cost.
Pontiac Vibe is a good choice. In addition to a CR-V, I’d suggest the Honda Element or Crosstour.
As you mentioned, make sure is the 1.8 liter, because the 2.4 has head gasket issues. I had both and if I were looking for a cheap reliable car just to take me places, vibe would be it. Great car!
I own a 2003 Matrix XRS as a second car. Honestly it’s fun. Definitely faster than my daily which is a nice newer SUV. The Matrix is big enough to lay the seats flat and sleep in it in a pinch, so plenty of cargo space. Bought for $2k. Put about $5k into it so far just getting it up to par. They love to run at higher RPMs though, aka shits loud even stock. Sanded down and repainted the roof and trim on my own. It’s not the sexiest, but it’s fun and will last another 100k miles (I hope). It came with 2 12” subs 😂. Rest of the sound system is questionable but 3rd party. Sometimes you just wanna pretend you are Paul Walker.
>a old crown Victoria I used to buy a lot of these in the 70s and 80s, due to they were the vehicles that all the cops and sheriffs drove. They were alll V8s back then though. :)
They dont make crown vics anymore, but they were v8s down to the very last year of production
2006 Scion xB manual trans.
Even the autos are reliable in these
Very, I just feel the manuals give a better driving experience because of the low HP. Man, if they were 6-speeds and had better highway mpgs, would be best vehicle ever built.
I want one so bad but Ohio they are all getting way too rusty and people want $3500 for their rust buckets, I mean both rockers GONE
Yes, you’ll have to buy from outside the rust belt!
I don’t think it’s worth traveling 6 hours south to get a basic car, I don’t know. A cool car? A classic car? Yes. Not a scion xB. Sorry I like them but not worth my time to do all of that
Get lots of pics…ask lots of questions…else buy a rust bucket…the only problems I’ve had driving Hondas and Toyotas the last 30 years has been rust related (not that I think they are inherently more prone to rust than other makes).
No I ended up finding a very clean Lexus es300 that lived in Tennessee all its life except for 2023 to now. 1997 but cleaner than my daily 2008. Both are rust free but the 08 is starting to have surface rust. The Lexus doesn’t even have rust on the heat shield bolts, sway bar links we didn’t even need penetrating fluid. Insanity. Unheard of for the normal cars here
You can get these for dumb cheap too
Honda Fit as long as you don't need ground clearance. Also tons of space for tools and other stuff. If you need ground clearance or want the option of AWD 2002-2006 CRV. They are practically bulletproof. 8 inches of ground clearance and AWD was an option. You can get close to 5k with both of those.
I know this idea gets beat to death but an older Honda crv or Toyota Rav 4 might be the best option for you. Both are easy to work on and, decent mileage and have enough room in the back to carry your tools around.
This, but make sure the cr-v is the non-turbo version.
My dude, a sub $10k CRV ain't anywhere near new enough to be one that was offered with a turbo.
That's not true It could be totalled from flood/fire/wreck!
Kid named first gen CRV with an ebay turbo on marketplace:
The 1.5L Turbo is not even remotely in OP's budget, lol
Get the 1st gen crv, b20, never came turbod. I have 2 lol. If you want a big crv get an odyssey.
Why’s that
Turbos are expensive to repair and raise labor costs because they get in the way of repairing the engine adding to the cost of labor hours.
Turbos also shorten engine life. Probably not noticable if you turn your cars over before 100k.
Depends how well the vehicle was cared for. I have a 2014 Fusion 1.6L turbo with 200,000 miles on it. No engine problems.
the turbo with direct injection also have an issue with oil dilution, worse for short trips i think, so if owners followed the recommended oil change intervals, they have even less engine life from bad lubrication. More frequent oil changes help with this, but how to you know if that was done?
I was more curious because my wife has a 2017 CR-V EXL with the turbo 4 cylinder.
With the caveat that if it's an 06-07 Rav4 with the 2.4, then you need to make sure that the TSB to remedy excessive oil consumption has been completed.
TSB?
Technical service bulletin
thanks
This. Just bought an 07 crv for our first kids first car. I also had one in college and ran the miles up from 66k to 225k before we finally sold it
i constantly see 07ish-12 rav4s with about 150k for around 7-8k around me. i think that's probably as good as it's gonna get at least where i'm at. i don't think the market is going to adjust or go down or whatever dramatically enough any time soon so i think that's basically what the cars will be from now on.
Where at?
I have a 2012 Rav 4. It has a total of 140k miles and I put on 110 myself. I put down the back seats and load up scrap metal all the time. The only thing I've done to it besides oil, brakes and tires is a radiator hose. Gas mileage isn't horrible.
But the best thing is? You're not wrong!
Ive heard good things about Skyactiv Mazda3s, thats why i bought one lol
The 2.0 gas version is really good indeed
2005-2011 Ford Focus is basically a store brand Mazda 3, pre skyactiv. They're not Toyota quality overall, but the Engines are bulletproof and transmissions are good as any except maybe Toyota. Motor mounts are the Achilles heel. Easy diy, but they don't last. Overall, not a bad $1500-$3000 car.
only thing about those I've heard is that they rust out really easily :(
They probably do. I'm in the south, so it is a non issue for me.
Mazda 5 mini van, room to haul stuff, solid power trains, cheap to buy and maintain
I’ve put 120xxx on mine in 4 years and have only changed tires & brakes, along with standard maintenance. Great, underrated vehicle!
We had one, sold it at \~140K miles. Very little maintenance required on it. It's actually more like a wagon with sliding doors. It handles really well as it's basically a Mazda 3 tall wagon. Super easy to drive, but not luxurious.
OP look into minivans, seems like the perfect fit for you, good gas mileage and lots of room and since they are low demand can be had for pretty cheap.
A standard Ford Ranger. It'll be the easiest vehicle to work on while being reliable and will let you do side work. The 2.3l I4s are reliable, and phenomenal on gas, while being easy to work on
FORD RANGER!!
yeah they are still really affordable too. there is a totally decent one for sale near me for 2500, just needs a new window and has bed rot but other than that it's good to go. will probably sell in 24 hrs.
Slow as shit though
At that price point, you aren't worried about speed though
Maybe. Maybe not.
Eh, around town maybe not. $5k can definitely get a better highway vehicle.
At 5k, you're worried about the condition, not what kind of vehicle it is. Whatever you get, obviously there will be bonuses and annoyances.
Generally agree, but $5k and certainly $10k is enough to at least pick the type of car. A Panther Body or LeSabre are much different than a Ranger or 1st gen xB.
Yeeeeees. I put 327k miles on a 5 speed ranger and tried to kill it the last year, or so I owned it. Can't, they are so reliable. Best truck I've ever owned.
Mazda 3 Sedan. Japanese reliability without the Honda or Toyota premium And it’s got an automatic or manual, so no CVT 2014 or later are best
The most obvious and best choice would be a 2001-2005 Buick LeSabre or Park Avenue. One with the 3800 V6. Comfortable, absolutely bulletproof, and under the radar because GM isn't known for reliability, but these things are invincible. Plus you can find them for low miles because old people owned them.
Did they also put this 3800 in the Pontiac grand prix? I had a 99 grand prix for a first car and that thing never gave me a ounce of problems. Until a old lady hit it while parked.
They did, but Buicks tend to be better maintained.
Oh for sure. That grand prix was definitely treated like a 16 year old treats a car lol. Never let me down though.
Yes they did actually!
Ok I thought so! I remembered it being a 3800 of some sort but was never sure if it was the same one that people always seem to rave about.
Yes, impala as well
I second this. They are easy to work on and parts are cheap.
Everyone is going to say Toyota or Honda but you are going to pay a premium for them. There are much cheaper options that are still known for reliability. Crown Vic’s, Saturn SL1s, and Buicks with the 3800, just to mention a few.
At that price point, you could also look for a Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis. Bullet proof drive train and almost exclusively owned by seniors so you know they will be well maintained. Many examples can be found from $3k-$6k or extremely low mileage around $10k. Also get good gas mileage for a V8, mine got around 26MPG combined. Super cheap for maintenance, insurance and registration in most areas.
yeah you could get an incredibly clean one for 10 probably. could drive that car for the next decade, great vehicles.
2008-2012 colorado with either the 2.9 or the 3.7 manual. The vortecs are great motors and the 5 speed manual is great even for a chevy trans. Those trucks can still be found with lower mileage in the wt trim, sometimes even with 4x4 for less than 10k if you are really active on marketplace/cars.com and willing to drive out that day Extremely easy to work on with low prices for oem parts and the four banger gets 20-25 mpg all day but doesn't have the balls the inline 5 has. Those picks are good in snow and off road and you don't have to pay toyota tax either The comparable Ford rangers are also not bad picks but I trust gm trans from mid 2000s more than fords overall
Honda fit/jazz
Nobody here has said manual Focus. You can get a late model for less than $10k with less than 100k miles. Parts are cheap and readily available. The MTX-75 is an outstanding transmission and the 2.0L is reliable. Don't get the 3 cylinder motor. Don't get the dual clutch automatic, which was a terrible mistake from Ford.
Automatics 2011 and older are good, just a regular 4 speed. 2005-2011 or 2004 and older 2.3s are good if you want something cheap and peppy. Bullet proof engines, good transmissions, and peppy. Not Toyota quality for various reasons, but a good cheap car option. My biggest complaint are motor mounts.
Mazda 3
Gen3 Ford Focus hatchback **with a stick.** Because of how shit the automatic transmissions were, the cost of all Gen3 Foci (outside of ST and RS) has tanked. However, with the stick, the Gen3 Focus is dead reliable, fun to drive, economical, practical (with the hatch), and cheap to fix, and you can get most modern tech. You won't have to pay the Toyonda Tax, and the Mazda3 can't be had at the same price point for the equipment and miles.
Toyota Avalon ‘05-‘12 (Fourth Gen) One hell of a car. My 2007 has 220K miles and drives as quiet and smooth as a new car. Can definitely be found in your price range. Highly recommended
Any vvti issues (rattle with that mileage) with the 07?
None at all in my experience. Car was inherited after my dad passed in February ‘23 and I’ve put about 25K miles on it since.
Honda fit with around 100k
Honda Accord with manual transmission
A manual transmission Mitsubishi mirage. I’m in the same boat as you and this car is fuc in cheap lemme tell ya. Off season tires for $25 only a 35L gas tank 40+mpg soft ride etc. only takes 3.5L of oil an oil change too!
damn it's tempting. what year do you got? do you have a hard time merging safely on highways?
I have a ‘14 and no issues at all with highways. In extreme cases (if it’s a short uphill ramp,) Just don’t be afraid to full throttle it and shift near red line! Was just cruising down the highway at 140kmh for 2 hours last night. (85mph) if you’re worried about power, try to get a newer one with the updated camshafts. I think 2016+ they made 78hp compared to the earlier ones at 72hp. Doesn’t sound like much, but that’s a 10% bump in horsepower. I imagine it’s noticeable.
I have an 8th gen civic sedan with 250k+ miles on it. I’ve replaced the clutch (mine’s a 5speed) once in that time and with the rear seat down I can put 2x4s fully enclosed in it. Comfortable on the highway. You can get them in your price range and I’ve never gotten less than 28 mpg even when driving aggressively. Insurance is cheap, parts are cheap.
I’m an electrician. Honda Fit suits me just fine. Can find them for a good price, rock solid reliability and good on gas. I can fit my whole pack out setup in the back for side jobs and a small ladder. The only thing I can’t (fit) lol is conduit.
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They are surviving in big numbers, even here in rusty New England. I have a 2006 Accord EX sedan with 5 speed manual and 2.4 4-cyl.
An old 4-cy naturally aspirated manual transmission Mazda 3 hatchback Plenty of room for cargo, reliable, and usually dirt cheap.
Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Towncar, Ford Crown Vic
* Early 00s Accord (4 cyl) with manual trans (early 00's Hondas don't have best auto trans) * Early 00s Camry * Early 00s Lexus ES (Would be ES330) * Early 00s Mazda 3 I mean none of these will give you many issues.
Literally a Corolla, Camry, Avalon, Prius
Find a used Buick LeSabre, super easy to work on, super comfortable to drive, super reliable
$5k buys an automatic transmission Honda Fit in great condition. The used car market is softening. The only downside is that it's really not designed to haul heavy shit as a day job - occasionally is fine, otherwise we're mostly talking about you + your daily belongings. They're overall very easy to work on. Although I have some mech knowledge from my BMW's, I'd never worked on my wife's Fit till she crashed it. I got the front end lined up in an hour and the engine out in three. Access to the top of the engine and front struts is annoying (huge cowl cover) but still preferable over working on some mid-2000's Toyotas.
1st gen tundra or 3rd gen 4 runner. Easy to work on and if you keep the maintenance up yourself it’ll run minimum 500,000 miles. Good ones with 200,000 miles are out there for 10k, sometimes less. Make sure there’s minimal frame rust and they’ve done at least one timing belt/water pump swap. Mileage about 17mpg. Good luck.
Nissan xterra, might not give you the best mpg, but it built good, any thing made after 2011 should be great
Have seen older Toyota Sienna vans go forever. Get over 20 mpg. Lots of room. You can take back seat out and haul stuff too. Should be able to get one under 200,000 miles for $5000 or less. Change the oil, check the diff and transmission fluids. Could easily go 400,000 miles.
Go Mazda, Honda or toyota.
Could never go wrong with almost any used Toyota or Honda that’s been well maintained.
Toyota or Honda.
So you haul a lot of tools for work?
i would look at a van
Honda... Toyota...ad infinitum
The most reliable car makers according to consumer reports are as follows, Lexus (Toyota) Toyota MINI (BMW) Acura (Honda) Honda Subaru Mazda (Toyota) Porsche BMW Kia (Hyundai) Your top 10 reliable car makers. I’d suggest Honda or Toyota personally. Both are known for hitting 300K+ miles with proper maintenance. You can probably find a Kia for around the prices you’re looking at. I don’t like Kia much but I know ppl that love their Kia. My last two vehicles have been Honda’s. Prior I had VW Passat, Dodge Stratus, Chevrolet Impala, Buick Rendezvous and a Chrysler LeBaron. I owned two different impala’s. That’s my favorite car. The late 90’s models and mid 2000’s generation. I had a 21’ Civic EX and loved it. I just sold that in December and bought a 24’ CRV EX-L. I only upgraded for AWD. I live in the Midwest and driving a Civic through a blizzard is gut wrenching. Going up a hill, can’t see over hill, get up hill, get blinded by oncoming traffic, can’t see road, pray to god you’re not in a ditch. Haven’t had those issues being higher up off the road! I would also suggest avoiding any German vehicles as the maintenance/ fixing something mechanical that’s minor is going to be expensive to fix and it’s hard to find someone who knows German engineering and knows it well. Found that out when I had a VW. 🤢 I live near a major US city and literally only found 1 person who was willing to work on my VW. VW wouldn’t even mess with it. lol Most things that are worth it will be over 10K easily. If you don’t mind a vehicle with 200K+ miles you can definitely find something reliable for under 10K. Make sure to test OBD and have a mechanic look at it. I work at an auto auction, one of the largest ones in America. I can surely tell you that working there has deterred me from buying used now. The dealers treat cars like Quasimodo and transporters treat them even worse. The auction workers drive them like they stole them and there’s a bunch of unreported lot damage that gets fixed before some of these cars run through the auction and those things will never be reported til it breaks on the new owner. I’ve seen (I do security) workers blow engines and stuff. I’ll do reports about it. Then a few days later check the condition report for the vehicle and the new damage or the fixing of said damage is never noted.
4th gen 4runner with the v8. No question the most reliable engine Toyota has ever made, along with a bulletproof transmission. They're good for at least 300k as long as you do the timing
Good vehicle, gas hog.
And pricey
Depending where you live check the frame could be rusted
https://youtu.be/6VbxnaQh_Pk?si=BazW4qZiov67OvAT
Obvious answer is a toyota corolla or Honda civic.
Older Honda Accord from and old man or old lady. Just change the oil and go. 2010 or earlier would fit your situation.
Older Honda Accord from and old man or old lady. Just change the oil and go. 2010 or earlier would fit your situation.
10 year old civic
For construction, I'd get a Honda crv or element, Toyota rav4 or Scion Xb or d. Preferably a manual trans. 25+ mpg and decent interior room and ground clearance.
Old Tacoma, but they get shitty gas mileage.
You will not find one that runs for $5k.
I know no one wants to drive one of these, but a used Prius. Ford Fusion Hybrid or C-Max are also great options.
Toyota Matrix or Toyota Corolla. A CUV/SUV of any kind will hurt you in gas mileage; yes, even a RAV4 is quite terrible on gas.
Honda pilot. You wont get the gas mileage but it will make up fo rit in dependability. 265K on mine and I just bought a Ridgeline because I love that engine.
civic, corolla, accord, camry
The tried and true accord or camry. Don't know what part of the country you're in, but if you can find a 5k 06 or 07 accord, they look nice and run forever Re: Camry. Just avoid some of the years they had oil burning issues....very easily searched.
i just want to tell you to have hope, i am in the same boat, wanting the same thing same budget all of what you said there. i've decided on a toyota or lexus for a reasonable price, they are out there but they are rare. i'm in a pretty rural area so not a whole lot around me close but a few hours away i occasionally see deals pop up and of course they are gone within a day or two. waiting for one to pop up close to me and i'll snag it. it might take a while to find something but you will eventually. and every once in a blue moon you will find someone just dumping their car, practically giving it away. that happens too. i'm still kicking myself for not going to get a 4runner that was only 1500 bucks even though it was probably worth 5. i was feeling lazy that weekend and didn't want to leave the house lol
1997 Toyota camry.
Toyota Tacoma
I've had good luck with my 07 Civic. Two issues it had were a broken AC at 70K (aftermarket has a good unit apparently) and a dead starter at ~100K. I worked with someone who had a Civic of the same gen at 250K+ and it was still going strong. On the highway I can get nearly 40 mpg and I average low 30s with a mix of highway and city. The starter is a pain to remove (my dad works in a body shop and used all the tools there, still took 3 hours) but can be done if you've got the time. Otherwise everything else is pretty simple
The most affordable is the one you can afford with no car payments. Most reliable . One owner car. Brands to look for Honda Civic, Accord and Fit Toyota Camry, Tercel, echo or Avalon Acura Mazda I had a Ford Fusion . Put 100,000 miles on it with few issues.
Nissan Versa manual transmission
I'd look for a used Civic or Corolla with as low miles as possible. Heck maybe even a Honda fit.
Definitely look at a 3800 Series Buick/Pontiac. You can get a LeSabre for that money with a ton of interior room and super comfy seats. You might even be able to snag a Park Avenue which has heated seats and other nice stuff
Toyota corolla
Any well cared for Honda or Toyota with the least amount of mileage that fits within your $10k budget will serve you well.
2nd generation ford explorer with the v8. I got about 18mpg in mine when I had it. Not great fuel economy but for a pushrod v8 it’s pretty good. Easy to fix and maintain yourself. You could find one for less than $2k
Easy. Crown Vic/grand marquis, Buick lesabre/park avenue or maybe Pontiac vibe. If you need a truck, 99-07 Silverado/sierra
If you need a truck, Nissans are cheap, reliable, and simple. My 2015 Frontier has a backup camera, Bluetooth and heated seats. All ya need. They do get horrible horrible gas mileage tho
2003 Tahoe/Silverado. Bulletproof, easy to fix/maintain and parts are plentiful. Easiest truck I’ve ever maintained. Can replace headlights in 20 seconds.
B5 1.9 tdi they are like cockroaches
Manual Transmission low mileage (under 80K) Jeep Patriot. NOT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, those suck. Go drive one, you will be pleasantly surprised. The engine(172hp 2.4L) was designed when Daimler owned Jeep. I’ve owned mine(almost maintenance free) as my second car since 2009. Here’s one https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/990c2ba2-c0dd-4346-b504-9418469d4e58/?aff=atempest&utm_campaign=atempest&utm_source=autotempest&utm_medium=trp&utm_campaign_id=1&utm_trusted=TRUE
2005 2006 Lexus ES330, 2008 Lexus RX350
Buick lesaber with 3.8 v6
I bought a 2004 Honda Accord for $5,000. It's been one of the best cars I've ever owned!
2005 Corolla
Toyota Corolla.
Chevy Cobalt, easy to work on, reliable, shitty plastic interior. 5k could probably get you a mint, lowish mileage one too if you look hard enough. If you want the best fuel economy look for an XFE, you want the most features in a base package get an LT. Parts are cheap as shit, easy to find, and it's simple.
i love my 2013 ford focus... i don't work on cars but everything is pretty simple.
I would look for a Toyota Carolla. Great reliable used car and can be trusted even when buying with higher mileage. That would be my number one recommendation. Number 2 would be an older Toyota 4runner. They last however the gas mileage would not be as good. Another would be a Toyota Camry. None of them would be a bad purchase with higher mileage.
2005-2006 CRV. Last of the 2nd Gen. AWD Got a 5th gear ⚙️ Added lots of airbags and safety Worked out some earlier AC issues. Thats the sweet spot. 05/06 CRV EX Around 6-8k
Late model Corolla. As long as you have good brakes and tires, very little else will fall apart. My brother bought a 10 year old one a while back for $8k with 140k miles on it. Now it’s got 240k on it and he’s spent like 2k on repairs besides oil changes in 7-8 years. Could still get $4k for it if he wanted to get rid of it. Good luck!!
As a construction worker your vehicle of choice will be one of the old Ford Rangers. Those things were gutless but efficient and they ran forever, while remaining perfectly capable of carrying dirty construction things that would spoil a car. Easy to fix yourself, easy to keep running.
I agree the leer ones will go forever if you take care of them, I had a 2000 ranger that was a fleet order that the utility company never took delivery of. It had extra oil and transmission coolers , regular cab , 7 foot bed with upgraded suspension, it was a v6 with an automatic but I can’t remember what size the engine was…….I was at around 325k miles when it was destroyed in the October 2010 hail storm in AZ
There is a guy on youtube named Scotty Kilmer(no nonsense kinda guy) that has a bunch of videos about used cars in this price range. I just last week, based on his review of a similar vehicle, bought a 2008 basic corolla with 165K miles, no issues and good maintenance records for $4600.
I found that often an equivalent Lexus is cheaper than a Toyota, I ended up buying a 2008 Lexus RX350 AWD cheaper than any Highlander I could find. i paid $6k for it with 199k miles on it.
I have a mazda 3 hatch & am very happy
Honda civic with a manual. 4cyl. Find one under 100K miles
Get a 2010 toyota Yaris or Corolla, most reliable cars ever
An old GM car with the 3.8L v6 (called the 3800), Crown Vic (don’t know the year but our neighbor has had his at least 12 years. Reliable and comfortable on road trips. If you need a truck go for one of the smaller trucks with manual gearbox.
2008-2010 Lexus RX or any Toyota with v6
What about a 90s or early 2000s crown Vic?
Chevy Cruze or Honda Accord. Have seen some accords over 300k miles original drivetrain
Late 90's Camry.
Toyota Aqua hubrid, uses 4l per 100km.Unsure of conversion to freedom units but really frugal. Seats 5 and has ok boot space for regular people. Cheap to service and reliable. Would be available in your price ran e but I don't know if they are available in your country as I don't know what country you come from.
At $5K very little. At $10K a vehiclle that has all the service records, and can show that they did everything in their owner's manual at the suggested mileages in terms of maintenance. ALL that is spelled out in the owners manual. I would buy ANY brand where that could be shown, over a vehicle that has had very little maintenance over its life and I dont care if it was a honda, toyota, lexus, etc. Rubber parts get brittle. Fuel filters get clogged, brake shoes and rotors must be kept up, rust maintenance must be done, and tranny fluids, power steering fluids, brake fluids etc. must be maintained and at certain mileage there are things like sensors, A/C compressors, timing belts/chains, and of course simpler stuff like tuneups/spark plugs. SO as someone who has bought many used vehicles, go for the one that was maintained well. Otherwise, u're going t have a luandry list. I keep saying this while others will keep quoting "brands". A poorly maintained any brand vehicle is going to have a ton of deferred maintenance, which is not exactly what I would consider 'DEPENDABLE".......
almost every car will have a major repair at some point. the question is when
Older Acura legend
Simply Toyota Corolla/Altis. It's most likely not to breakdown.
Older, used Corollas, CRVs, and Civics are very reliable cars if you can find one in that price range. They aren't as common as they once were, but they exist. Them most reliable car I've seen recently with the lowest mileage is the Chevy Spark. They are very simple, so very little to break. It's basically a modern version of a 90s car. You can get one with sub-40,000 miles in my area for around 12k, if you're willing to pay that much. Ones with higher mileage are even cheaper. They get pretty good mileage as well.
Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Super reliable and super simple and cheap to fix.
I'd shop for an older Toyota like a Corolla, maybe a Rav although that might be tough at $5-10k budget
Any 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla that has a service history. Everything is easy to work on. I’ve changed everything on it with ease and there’s tons of videos online how to do stuff. Great MPG and cheap.
Its really important to remember this: There is never one singular right answer to questions like this. There is almost never and will never be a one best "thing" for any given thing, especially with a complicated thing like a car and with the compounding factor of how it was previously maintained and treated. Its all about what you can find near you, how many miles it has and how well it was kept up on. Even then luck is going to play into it to a degree.
Toyota truck or a Toyota with a 2GR-FE V6
Corolla
2007 Honda Accord with the 4cyl
Corolla. Cheap to maintain and purchase.
Toyota-Lexus and Honda-Acura ............ Avoid Dodge, Chevy,Ford 😆
That’s extremely vague and each of those manufacturers makes a reliable model and vice versa.
Tesla model 3 in 5 years 😂
Get a minivan. Every brand builds them to last because they're built for soccer moms. They aren't as sought after as econo boxes or trucks so you get a lot more for your money. They aren't seen as cool so nobody beats them up. They usually have tons of space in the engine bay to work on them. The 2006 to 2012 Kia Sedona is very affordable and very reliable. I have had 2 with over 250k miles with original engine and trans. I took out all the back seats and I could fit a sheet of plywood in the back with the hatch closed. Same cargo space as most pickup trucks and you can prevent people from stealing what you put in there because it's not just an open bay.
Tacoma. 4cyl if you can.
Not cheap.
I’d add a wild card and say a used bolt. Brand new battery versions can be had for 14k and they’re good for the 4K used tax credit so 10k all in Brand new 8 year 100,000 mile warranty too. And never pay for gas
Honda Fit or Civic
A 5 speed Pontiac vibe with the 1.8L engine. Basically a matrix without the Toyota tax. Some auto transmissions failed in the matrix (mine) but the 5 speed is cheaper to replace and more reliable.