# New used car on limited funds

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686>\
**Category:** Power/Fuel\
**Tags:** used, selling, chevrolet, venture, fuel-economy, gasoline, honda\
**Created:** [July 30, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686 "2010-07-30T03:20:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insomniousdream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ba8739/32.png) [@insomniousdream](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insomniousdream)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/1 "2010-07-30T03:20:19Z")

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What would be your recommendation for a car for a relatively young driver who is strapped for cash, needs something reliable, and preferably something with good gas mileage?  
  
 P. S. My previous car was a Chevrolet Venture.

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/2 "2010-07-30T03:49:10Z")

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Get thee to a library and get the April issue of consumer reports. It has a comprehensive list of used cars to fit virtually every price range. It also lists the “good bets” and the “avoiders.”

I paid around $6k for a 99 Accord back in '08 and i’m very pleased with the car. I don’t know what your price range is but I would recommend something comparable. We’ve had several daily-driver Hondas in my household and we haven’t had any significant problems with the cars, just food for thought.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/3 "2010-07-30T11:16:03Z")

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A Chevrolet Prizm makes a great inexpensive used car. The Prizm is a Toyota Corolla sold by Chevy dealers. Superb reliability, terrific gas mileage, cheap price. Hard to beat.

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**Author:** ![fordx4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@fordx4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fordx4)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/4 "2010-07-30T12:17:41Z")

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I’ve had good luck with both Ford Escort and Mazda Protege. You can get a newer car for the same money as Honda or Toyota.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/5 "2010-07-30T14:46:54Z")

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My recommendation would be used small - midsize (Domestic or Asian) that has a known history and undergoes a mechanic check.

If a person brought everything up to date before selling tires, timing belts, brakes etc it could be a good deal. However you could buy some of the recommended cars here you could find a $800 timing belt “maintenance” lurking or $500 in brake work coming up soon. Also look at condition of tires as they run between $300-$500 installed.

My wife’s Subaru recent maintenance at 95k:

$400 in bushings, $550 in tires, $600 brakes with $200 a seized caliper, $600 90k service

The brakes, bushings, and tires were critical coming up to $1500. The $600 service will keeping it running fine and included first spark plug change but not critical.

$1500 is a lot of money lurking. So just be wary on what you buy.

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/6 "2010-07-30T15:07:00Z")

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I’ll help the O/P out a little more,

p. 78 These cars have “above average” reliability ratings:

\< $4,000  
Acura Integra '00  
Chevy Prizm '00-'02  
Ford F-150 '00  
Honda Civic '00  
Hyundai Accent '04  
Mitsubishi Galant '00  
Subaru Impreza '00  
Toyota Corolla '00-'01  
Toyota Echo '00-'02

Maybe that will get you started.

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**Author:** ![kgoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@kgoldman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kgoldman)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-used-car-on-limited-funds/52686/7 "2010-11-29T00:36:59Z")

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I’ll endorse my 2003 Toyota Echo. It has the prefect combination of reliability, gas mileage, and low cost. I average 49 mpg (manual) and it’s never been in the shop for any repair.