Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

278

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
You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (32).
[–] • 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.