Used car advice

[Anonymous]

What's the oldest car you would consider buying?

My new office is about 10-15 minutes from the house and the car will mostly be used for me to get to and from work. I don't care what the car looks like and am not looking to impress anyone. I'd like to spend as little as possible while obviously still remaining safe. I know little about cars, having lived in the city without one for the past 15 years (recently moved to the suburbs). I've started googling and I am overwhelmed. Seems like Toyotas or Hondas are popular choices but some sites say 5 years max, some say 10, and yet others say 3 years.

[Anonymous]

I'd look for a Honda or a Toyota with around 100k miles on it. You will be putting very few miles on it and those are reliable cars that will easily last you 10 years with some minor maintenance/upkeep. Corolla or Civic would be the cheapest.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is special about Honda or Toyota and its luck of the car you get. I'd get a 3 year that comes off a lease, loaner car from a dealership or car rental place (that's where places like Car Max get theirs if you look at the vehicle reports).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing is special about Honda or Toyota and its luck of the car you get. I'd get a 3 year that comes off a lease, loaner car from a dealership or car rental place (that's where places like Car Max get theirs if you look at the vehicle reports).

First two lines are wrong but other than that, this poster is correct.

[Anonymous]

I would buy an old Honda or Toyota since these brands tend to be very reliable long term & you can usually drive them more miles vs. domestic vehicles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would buy an old Honda or Toyota since these brands tend to be very reliable long term & you can usually drive them more miles vs. domestic vehicles.

OP here. I'm mostly looking at 2014 Camry and Accord, thanks!

[Anonymous]

2014 Camry or Accord is a bad buy they don’t depreciate

A Buick is actually more reliable but depreciates a lot in first 2-3 years.

I bought a used Cadillac with 5k miles on odometer and 21 months old same price as a used Honda with 30k miles

Depreciation is you enemy when you buy new and your friend when buying used

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2014 Camry or Accord is a bad buy they don’t depreciate

A Buick is actually more reliable but depreciates a lot in first 2-3 years.

I bought a used Cadillac with 5k miles on odometer and 21 months old same price as a used Honda with 30k miles

Depreciation is you enemy when you buy new and your friend when buying used

Thank you. I took a look at Buicks but it appears the models that are a 2-3 years old cost around or even upwards of 20K, and the Cadillacs are the same... sounds like you got an amazing deal but I am not sure I can count on being able to find the same. I'm definitely not looking to spend that much. The Hondas and Toyotas I'm looking at are between 10 and 14K.

[Anonymous]

I’d buy a 2009 corolla or civic.

The idea that there is nothing special about Hondas or Toyotas has been refuted in my own experiences. I’ve turned in a Ford that was a junker at 85k miles, and I’ve driven multiple Hondas past 250k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d buy a 2009 corolla or civic.

The idea that there is nothing special about Hondas or Toyotas has been refuted in my own experiences. I’ve turned in a Ford that was a junker at 85k miles, and I’ve driven multiple Hondas past 250k.
I hope you are right. I hate, hate, hate my new Honda. Maybe it's the new technology I hate. All I can hope for that it will last me 15-20 years. Meanwhile I'm driving a car with a squeaky break and it's supposed to be like that.