For a used Toyota Camry, what is the maximum mileage you would consider?

[Anonymous]

The two or three year old ones don't cost much less than a new one. So what is the sweet spot? 45,000 miles for $17K or 75,000 miles for $12K?

Not a big driver here, just to work and once in a while a 650 mile trip.

[Anonymous]

Commuting multiple times every week in stop and go traffic? That's hard on most cars with 75,000 miles, but Toyotas can take it better than most. Plenty of Toyotas make it to 200,000.

Make sure a trusted mechanic looks at it.

[Anonymous]

At that mileage it comes down to the condition of a particular car. I bought my last Toyota at 150k miles and it runs like a top 70k miles later. My mentality is that I know the mechanic who is going to work on my cars and I pay him to look at them before I buy.

[Anonymous]

You seem to have identified what I've observed as a very interesting aspect of used car pricing. Depreciation is mostly linear, as a function of a car's total service life. Long gone are the days of "it loses half its value once you drive it off the lot!"

So, in that sense, and in the current environment of low interest rates, I don't know that it is necessarily a wise or even a frugal choice to buy used. It just comes down to how much you want to spend, how much capital you want to put forward now.

There's no bad choice here. You're going to get a good car. Maybe you consider a new hybrid version? Look at what it will save you in gasoline over the period of time you anticipate owning it -- I found when I bought that I would recover the small hybrid premium in two or three years.

[Anonymous]

Let me explain it as my auto shop teacher explained Japanese vs American cars.

He said yes many Japanese cars are a bit better made and a bit more reliable and can run a bit longer than American cars.

But the laws of physics can not be ignored. Metal rubbing against metal in engine and tranny will eventually wear down and break down.

He has seen folks but 140k miles used Camrys for high prices under theory they last forever. But metal rubbing against metal will eventually cause a break down.

A 2015 Chevy Malibu with 55k miles vs a 2015 Camry with 100k miles may sell same price used. The Toyota depreciates less. I know my auto shop teacher would see but the Malibu.

Brand new work day buy the Camry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me explain it as my auto shop teacher explained Japanese vs American cars.

He said yes many Japanese cars are a bit better made and a bit more reliable and can run a bit longer than American cars.

But the laws of physics can not be ignored. Metal rubbing against metal in engine and tranny will eventually wear down and break down.

He has seen folks but 140k miles used Camrys for high prices under theory they last forever. But metal rubbing against metal will eventually cause a break down.

A 2015 Chevy Malibu with 55k miles vs a 2015 Camry with 100k miles may sell same price used. The Toyota depreciates less. I know my auto shop teacher would see but the Malibu.

Brand new work day buy the Camry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You seem to have identified what I've observed as a very interesting aspect of used car pricing. Depreciation is mostly linear, as a function of a car's total service life. Long gone are the days of "it loses half its value once you drive it off the lot!"

So, in that sense, and in the current environment of low interest rates, I don't know that it is necessarily a wise or even a frugal choice to buy used. It just comes down to how much you want to spend, how much capital you want to put forward now.

There's no bad choice here. You're going to get a good car. Maybe you consider a new hybrid version? Look at what it will save you in gasoline over the period of time you anticipate owning it -- I found when I bought that I would recover the small hybrid premium in two or three years.

+1

I figured this out a while back. I have not bought a used car in the last 15 years.

[Anonymous]

OP. On Edmunds, a new Camry SE is suggested at $24,783. Used 2018, 45,000 miles is about $17,000 or an $8,000 difference if taxes are taken into consideration. Of course the 20l8 has three years of less remaining life. Is this really a toss up.

[Anonymous]

2-3 years old - 20K max.

[Anonymous]

If you want to save money on used, you need to go older than 3 years/36k miles. They want an obscene amount for anything used less than that and it’s not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to save money on used, you need to go older than 3 years/36k miles. They want an obscene amount for anything used less than that and it’s not worth it.

Latest generation Camry starts at 2018. Really don't like the previous one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me explain it as my auto shop teacher explained Japanese vs American cars.

He said yes many Japanese cars are a bit better made and a bit more reliable and can run a bit longer than American cars.

But the laws of physics can not be ignored. Metal rubbing against metal in engine and tranny will eventually wear down and break down.

He has seen folks but 140k miles used Camrys for high prices under theory they last forever. But metal rubbing against metal will eventually cause a break down.

A 2015 Chevy Malibu with 55k miles vs a 2015 Camry with 100k miles may sell same price used. The Toyota depreciates less. I know my auto shop teacher would see but the Malibu.

Brand new work day buy the Camry.

Obviously your auto shop teacher didn't teach you the differences between normal wear and tear/maintenance vs. break downs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The two or three year old ones don't cost much less than a new one. So what is the sweet spot? 45,000 miles for $17K or 75,000 miles for $12K?

Not a big driver here, just to work and once in a while a 650 mile trip.

I bought a used Toyota RAV4 with 38,000 miles on it for $11,500 in 2005. I still own it 16 years later, it’s gonna turn 200k miles in the next month or so. The engine would probably go another 50-100k without issue - I change the oil religiously, of course, and have replaced various parts as they’ve worn out over time (never as soon as the factory suggested lifetime). She has no rust because she was garaged in her youth then lived out West for a decade, but her paint is faded and clearcoat shot, and she’s been bumped and battered by other drivers with no insurance after I dropped my comprehensive, and has carried dogs, so she isn’t the prettiest inside or out anymore. But I’m still determined to drive her until she quits running - unless I hit the lotto. I have a lot of great memories in her, and now it’s like a mission lol.

I highly recommend a Toyota. Incredibly reliable engines, if you keep the oil changed on schedule - that is always key!

[Anonymous]

I bought a 3 year old RAV4 a few years ago (2013 in 2016) with 35k miles. It ran like new and although I’ve put 70k miles on it in 5 years, I’ve had no mechanical or maintenance issues. I’ve only had to replace the breaks which was affordable because it’s a Toyota. Tires are the same but probably should replace those soon, they’ve worn so well, I’m surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me explain it as my auto shop teacher explained Japanese vs American cars.

He said yes many Japanese cars are a bit better made and a bit more reliable and can run a bit longer than American cars.

But the laws of physics can not be ignored. Metal rubbing against metal in engine and tranny will eventually wear down and break down.

He has seen folks but 140k miles used Camrys for high prices under theory they last forever. But metal rubbing against metal will eventually cause a break down.

A 2015 Chevy Malibu with 55k miles vs a 2015 Camry with 100k miles may sell same price used. The Toyota depreciates less. I know my auto shop teacher would see but the Malibu.

Brand new work day buy the Camry.

Obviously your auto shop teacher didn't teach you the differences between normal wear and tear/maintenance vs. break downs.

nor about oil