When I did my recent bit of car shopping/info hunting the Edmunds guys did say to look for the "dark horse" used car candidates - ie not a honda or toyota, but a car with documented reliability. I believe nissan and mazda are pretty cheap and some of them have good reliability/value - and some of them suck (friend has a nissan that is a joke). So far my new mazda is great!
Can't help you with more dark horse names, but sure they would pop up under a search or two...
Good advice available upthread.
I'd add:
- Simple is better, try to find one without power windows, power locks or any other complexities.
- Unpopular is cheaper. You may get a better deal in a D3 car than an import.
- Maintain it and it will [-]have a better chance to[/-] last
She is your one and only daughter. She has a job coming up. For heaven's sake get a safe, reliable car. She needs her safety, and she needs her time and energy for making a professional and social life for herself, not for struggling with crappy cars.
Ha
Simple is better, try to find one without power windows, power locks or any other complexities.
I've never had a problem with the power windows and doorlocks, except in a Ford Minivan (refused to operate in the summer, but was fine in the winter...imagine that). But in this car, everything seemed to break, all the time.
The JP cars have always been fine. My Civic went 200,000 miles before I replaced it, more out of worry than because of problems...never had a problem with it.
R
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And I can say that we bought our 2003 Honda Accord and 2006 Honda Odyssey new and I've never regretted a single penny spent on either of them. They've been terrific cars for us. My brother swears by his Civic, now about 10 years old (he drives it about 80 miles a day and barely maintains it).
A lot to be said for a Taurus coming out of a fleet. Prejudice aside, these are excellent cars, reliable and safe.
Ha
I think that article is trying to say that the "best" cars have the highest value. In other words people are willing to pay more for higher reliability and fewer repairs.You can put that rapid depreciation to work for you , though if you buy used and drive it into the ground.
I think that article is trying to say that the "best" cars have the highest value. In other words people are willing to pay more for higher reliability and fewer repairs.
I drove a 1988 Yugo for six months and was able to keep up with the repairs, but it was like playing Russian roulette with two cartridges in a five-shot revolver.
Read Milevsky on consumption smoothing. It actually makes no sense for a young person whose career is just getting going to optimize anything other than career. The payoffs can be huge. Furthermore, it makes no sense for a young person to adopt miserly habits, particularly at the cost of placing her neck at risk. A safe car is worth borrowing for.Did any of you read the OP's question?
It was (paraphrased) "buy what for $3K, or other advice?".
I'd add the following:
- You can get a reliable car for $3K
- Look above to find one
- Most of the board thinks you might be good to borrow to buy what you [-]need[/-] want.
- LYBM is dead