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Its for wife and kids, daily driver. We live outskirts of a large metro, so driving is a must. Previous car was same I asked about before: 2001 Buick Park Ave ultra.

I'm looking for something budget but not beater, puddle jumping cheap. I don't mind doing some mechanical work, but I'd rather not have to crack open major areas of an engine - replacing some pulleys, pumps, and that sort of thing isn't too bad. So I would want something relatively easy to work on.

Sounds like I am looking for the every-persons-dream car, LOL!

Anyways, any suggestions for a make/model to keep an eye out for? TIA

Its for wife and kids, daily driver. We live outskirts of a large metro, so driving is a must. Previous car was same I asked about before: 2001 Buick Park Ave ultra. I'm looking for something budget but not beater, puddle jumping cheap. I don't mind doing some mechanical work, but I'd rather not have to crack open major areas of an engine - replacing some pulleys, pumps, and that sort of thing isn't too bad. So I would want something relatively easy to work on. Sounds like I am looking for the every-persons-dream car, LOL! Anyways, any suggestions for a make/model to keep an eye out for? TIA
[–] • 3 pts (edited )

Get a toyota or a honda. Avoid the newest toyotas trucks, and the new honda sorta truck thing. Other than that, its hard to go wrong with a well maintained example of either.

If a sedan is your cup of tea for this, get a camry or accord. If you want a smallish SUV the rav4 or crv are both good cars. Both companies make a damn good mini van. Getting into larger SUVs, get a toyota avoid the pilot.

Inexpensive is a sliding scale based on each person. 2010ish Camrys caost about 7-10K for nice examples. A decent accord from the same time frame is 6-9K

[–] • 1 pt

The accord has a shocking amount of room in the back seat. I rode in one for a work function and I couldn't get over how much leg room I had.

[–] • 3 pts

Toyota rav4, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Lexus variations, Camry sedan, 4runner if you are into family camping adventures. Stay away from Dodge, Hyundai, Kia, VW, Mitsubishi, etc. Most Chevy, GMC and Buick cars/small suvs are losers.

A bargain family utility vehicle is a used Chevy Suburban.

[–] • 1 pt

Many of the GM truck platforms have transmission issues.

[–] • 1 pt

Yes, for decades now. I bought a GMC duramax diesel with Allison trans in 2002 partly because the GM tranny's were weak. Loved it, bought another new one in 2007 with a 6 speed allison. Never ever had a tranny issue.

[–] • 2 pts

Pretty much any older Toyota, Maybe a old 4-runner? Pre 2010 if you can. I have a old Tacoma with over 300k on it. It runs great and I would take it on long cross-country trips without being worried about it breaking down even with that mileage on it.

[–] • 2 pts

Quit leaving your house and blackout your windows the outside world is fallen and will only corrupt your children

[–] • 1 pt

LOL this is the way.

I've tried man, but the kids need sun, or so they say.

[–] • 1 pt

Vitamin D is a lie spread by big biology if the children claim they need sunlight tell them they can bask in the infinite light of the Lord anytime they pray

[–] • 1 pt

Vitamin D is a lie

Vitamin Devil, right?!

[–] • 2 pts

Toyota Highlander or a Subaru of some sort.

[–] • 2 pts

Unless you have a bunch of kids, it is really hard to beat a Toyota Camry. It's roomy and can easily haul 4 people on long road trips comfortably, they get good mileage (28 mpg in our 2010), they're pretty simple to repair and don't break down often. 2015 to 2018 model year with the V6. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with 125K miles on it if kept garaged and well maintained.

Others have warned you against Kia and Hyundai, and I wouldn't touch a used one made before 2022 - their drive trains had waaaaay too many issues. But their quality has improved drastically lately, and a lot of the good standards (such as Toyota) have deteriorated in recent years. Maybe in a few years decent used ones will become available.

Lastly, those early 2000-2005 Buicks with the 3.8 liter V6 are beasts - great cars! My dad had an 05 LeSabre that I drove for 5 years. My son has been driving if for 8 years now, and it just keeps going and going. If you can find a low mileage one, jump on it. Really the only issues they have are the gauge stepper motors go bad in the instrument clusters, but they do so in all similar vintage GM products too. Bonus: They're pretty easy to work on too. They ride like a dream, and get 30 mpg. Nothing not to like about them other than they're 20+ years old now.

[–] • 2 pts

Avoid anything Korean made. They can't made a drive train worth a fuck, transmissions in particular.

[–] • 3 pts

Yeah, Kia might look nice, but its a disaster.

[–] • 2 pts

Do you guys have 'Kia Boys' where you are from?

[–] • 1 pt

If we do, I would't know- what are they? Kia gangs, like the scooter gangs?

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

I've been very happy with my 2013 Impala ltz, 125k miles on it. I recently saw the same car with 66k miles for ten grand. Would have picked it up if I didn't just buy a truck.

[–] • 1 pt

Put your wife and kids in a late 80s or early 90s volvo 240DL. a monkee can work on it... parts are cheap and available and it is a tank as far as safety is concerned.... plus they were mostly driven by old people and nerds who didn't fuck them up.

[–] • 0 pt

We had one of these. 1983. Great car. If you live where it snows be prepared to put on snow tires. The DL is a pig in the snow

[–] • 1 pt

To start, all prices are CarMax. I find their site to be the easiest to compare various models and less shenanigans when comparing between dealerships. I live in Commiefornia at the moment.

My shortlist are Frontier, Rav4, Camaro LT, Tacos and I don't recall the others. My emergency need a car today is a new Chevy Trax. I don't need vehicles this size, but seeing how many bumpers don't line up with current model sedans is concerning.

Frontier is my preferred choice as the previous model was around for 15 years, and the lower models have the features I want and none of the ones I don't want. I'd prefer a pre-2021 model year (so no covid vehicle) but I'm not paying $19 grand for a vehicle with over 50,000 miles. I had a scare in February, so applied and was approved for a car loan with my credit union at 5.24%, which seems like a great rate for $30,000 with a grand down.

Camaro LT because they shouldn't be sold with less than 6 cylinders. This model is older but typically less than 50,000 miles for the price.

[–] • 1 pt

5 to 10 year old Toyota tend to be a safe bet till the small parts become unobtainable. I am looking for my last vehicle, looking for a rust free 1960-1980 Chevy or Ford 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Parks are available, easy to work on and comfortable on the increasingly crappy roads.

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