best cheap car option

[Anonymous]

So we only drive a couple thousand miles a year. We only have one car and in theory we could probably do without it but frankly having to find a zipcar every time I need to pick my kid up at a birthday party or something doesn't seem that fun. We are not "car people"-- have no desire for an upscale car and no desire to spend time maintaining a car, but also not really looking to buy a very used car (partly because we don't want to worry about future repairs). We have also found that if you drive a car as little as we do it eventually has as many, if not more, maintenance issues as if you drive it 10-15k miles a year.

Last time we just bought a car, kept it for about 12 years, and figured out it probably cost us $250/month. I am wondering if this time we should find a lease that costs less than $200 a month, or just buy the cheapest car we can find (but it's kind of depressing to spend $15-20k on something you don't actually like), or buy used and hope we don't get too many maintenance issues.

[Anonymous]

I have a Honda Accord and it's cheap and gets me from point A to B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Honda Accord and it's cheap and gets me from point A to B.

A new Accord is out of the range OP is referring to. The base model is 25k and that is before you add in fees, taxes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyway you could buy used from a friend or relative who you know has maintained the car?

If not, why not go to CarMax and buy a used Toyota Corolla? It is the most produced car ever in history, and the parts are super cheap. I love CarMax - a nicer intermediate option vs. private sale/stealership/crappy car dealer. Also, very easy to work on - meaning, you can find a good independent to work on the car for reasonable costs. Also, the Corolla will run forever - they are one of most popular cars in Africa, a very harsh environment, if that means anything to you. The newer ones even have a backup camera and infotainment head unit.

I am a car guy - I have taken apart entire cars, and restored them, built my own race cars, was involved in Formula SAE in undergrad, etc... Have not had time to do any of that since entering professional life. We drive VWs because they are cheapish, and my wife likes how they look (a Tiguan and a GTI). I take the older one to a place in N. Alexandria that is very reasonable and honest. So, they charged me $1000 more than if I did it myself in my garage; great deal to me, and way less than stealership.

I am sure you can easily find a similar independent in City of Alexandria or Arlington, or even DC somewhere. Drop the car off like I do - take Uber to work. Use Uber to pick up in middle of day when convenient. With a Corolla, night happen one every couple of years, at most, other than tires.

[Anonymous]

Do you really need one?

[Anonymous]

What about an electric car? They need almost no maintenance since they either have no engine or the engine rarely runs. Here's a 5-year old Chevy Volt for $11k: http://www.rockvillechevrolet.com/VehicleDetails/certified-2013-Chevrolet-Volt-5dr_HB-Rockville-MD/3136331313

[Anonymous]

Look at the Ford Focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the Ford Focus.

This. I was in the same situation and this seemed like a good value. You can get a used one and get out the door for about 12k. Also look at Avis etc. great prices! I just bought at 2017 Ford Escape, fully looking, at a great price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the Ford Focus.

This. I was in the same situation and this seemed like a good value. You can get a used one and get out the door for about 12k. Also look at Avis etc. great prices! I just bought at 2017 Ford Escape, fully looking, at a great price.

Fully loaded

[Anonymous]

You need an older used car in good condition. The insurance will also be cheap and you won't feel too bad when a tree falls on it. My car is worth ca $3000 max, has less than 100,000 on it. I bought it used 10 years ago, and seems like it will run me another 10 seems, because I don't drive a whole lot. And it hasn't given me any troubles. Look at little Japanese cars- Mazda3 and there's also Mazda2.
Is the $250 with insurance and maintenance? $250 is too much even with insurance and maintenance if you drive so little.
If you don't care for the car but want to keep costs low, look at the company that lets you rent it out to others when you are not using it. The company pays the insurance.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I might look at the used Volt and the Focus. (I think spouse would like an electric car for both maintenance and fun/green reasons, but does not want to buy a 10 year old $5k car)

[Anonymous]

My car has 150k miles on it and I've had to do very few repairs to it. I bought it used with 100k miles, have taken it on two long trips, and my husband drives it to work every day (I drive his new one). I paid 8k for it, and as long as you do regular maintenance on? a good used car, it will pay for itself in no time, and will last for years.

[Anonymous]

Mazda5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I might look at the used Volt and the Focus. (I think spouse would like an electric car for both maintenance and fun/green reasons, but does not want to buy a 10 year old $5k car)

two mistakes right there!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I might look at the used Volt and the Focus. (I think spouse would like an electric car for both maintenance and fun/green reasons, but does not want to buy a 10 year old $5k car)

two mistakes right there!!

Why?