It’s a set crap choices, but because of my crap circumstances, and the fact that I have to buy one tomorrow - here they are. I know very little about cars, so I turn to yall:

I need this car to be reliable, but it only has to last me a year, by then I’ll be able to buy a newer car without my current $ restrictions. I will be driving it every day and may go on some short trips (240miles roundtrip)

- post your vote with or without an explanation.



1. 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6
140k, auto
http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?dealer=348&id=108850&bgColor=000000

2. 2000 Nissan Maxima SE
175k, auto
http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?dealer=348&id=109097&bgColor=000000

3. 2004 Suzuki Forenza S
81k, auto
http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?dealer=348&id=86594&bgColor=000000

4. 2004 Hyundai Accent GL 4-Door
59k, auto
http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?dealer=348&id=109596&bgColor=000000

5. 1997 Toyota Camry XLE V6
173k, auto
http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?dealer=348&id=103565&bgColor=000000

8/3/2008 7:56:00 PM

#4 - still has quite a bit left on the 100k warranty and sips gas nicely.

8/3/2008 8:01:19 PM

I just don't think I could drive a Hyundai or that Suzuki, I'd have to go for the Jetta.

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 8:39 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2008 8:39:18 PM

If you only intend to keep it for a year, go with the cheapest car. Just make sure it seems mechanically sound and you should be good.

8/3/2008 8:44:52 PM

^i'll make the most educated decision possible - but with reliability and risk in mind, whats ur vote?

8/3/2008 8:48:33 PM

I'd go with the Camry because it's the cheapest, and it's a toyota so it should go over 200k easy.

8/3/2008 8:51:09 PM

I would say number four or number five. Probably number four since it will likely have more modern accouterments than the 1997 toyota camry, I would guess. Stay the fuck away from #1.

8/3/2008 8:53:05 PM

#1 - the reviews on edmunds =

8/3/2008 9:06:06 PM

Forenza

8/3/2008 9:43:49 PM

i thought ivan was having a yard sale when i read the title

8/3/2008 9:59:13 PM

Camry. Hands down.

1. VW with over 100k = No.
2. Second place is the first loser.
3. It's a damn Suzuki.
4. It's a damn Hyundai.
5. YAAAY!

8/3/2008 10:11:22 PM

Quote :

"^i'll make the most educated decision possible - but with reliability and risk in mind, whats ur vote?"

I didn't look at the prices, but someone said the camry was the cheapest, so it gets my vote.

As long as it starts, runs, and drives with no obvious defects, it should last you a year without much trouble I would think.

8/3/2008 10:13:26 PM

i'd go with the toyota personally. i've had friends drive them to 250K without any real issues.. should be fine for a year and they have great resale value

8/3/2008 10:22:23 PM

I've got a Camry XLE that is a few years newer. Its like a rolling la-z-boy. V6 should have plenty of power. I'de give it a test drive and swing it by a mechanic.

8/3/2008 10:28:26 PM

All of them are nicer than all my junk.

8/3/2008 10:55:32 PM

the old camry would be some inexpensive, reliable transportation. just get it checked out before you buy it.

8/3/2008 11:01:43 PM

current standings

1. 1
2.
3. 1
4. 1
5. 5

8/4/2008 8:59:45 AM

Run as fast as you can away from a 2000 model VW or Nissan. I can't speak for the koreans though.

8/4/2008 2:08:05 PM

My choices would be:

1 - Camry. 175k is a lot on any car, and it is the oldest, but! It's a Toyota. That's worth a LOT of reliability points. Not very exciting, but it's an XLE so it should at least be loaded.

2 - Maxima. I'd be a bit suspicious of 170k on a Nissan, but Maximas are good cars with proven engines. Also probably the most fun to drive of the bunch, and the one I'd pick if the decision were based on looks/performance.

3 - Hyundai. Yes, it is a Hyundai, and it's going to be a tiny and somewhat unpleasant car. But damn, it's only 4 years old and 59k miles, that's a LOT newer and lower mileage than the others. Great on gas, too.

4 - Suzuki. Same year as the Hyundai, below 100k, probably a bit nicer, but I don't trust Suzukis, really at all.

5 - Jetta. I like Jettas, but I would stay far far away from a 2000 VR6, let alone one with over 100k miles.

8/4/2008 2:41:19 PM

if it only needs to give you one year of reliability, dont let stuff over 150k bother you as long as it is mechanically sound and in good shape. be aware that you can almost always get more for your money if you buy privately. some used car dealers are on the level and spend more money on their used cars to make sure they are good enough. dealers that will offer you a 5yr/150k mile extended warranty on ANY car on their lot is suspicious. esp when they have so many cars over 150k already.

unless you have bad/no credit and can only get financing there, or another good reason to spend so much, you can definitely fufill your requirements elsewhere than that (or any other) dealer and spend a lot less money.

8/4/2008 3:02:03 PM

6. e30

shit...somebody had to say it.

8/4/2008 3:07:13 PM

Quote :

"the old camry would be some inexpensive, reliable transportation. just get it checked out before you buy it."

thats a prime year for engine problems for toyota camry. so yeah getting it checked out and looking to see is it on engine number 2 or 3 or is it still original is important.

but if he is looking at high mileage cars, say 170k- and if he buys one with that and averages 300 miles a week thats only 15,600mi in a years time. these days there are plenty of 5-10yr old cars that were pretty good cars to start out with and have been lucky enough to recieve proper maintenance and have made it 170k- and would have no trouble making it another year or 20k miles. ...and not need much, if any more maintenance expense than any other sub-$5k car!

8/4/2008 3:09:32 PM

Quote :

"#4 - still has quite a bit left on the 100k warranty"

that only applies to the original owner or certified pre owned. subsequent owners have a 5yr/60k warranty. still, that would leave the car in question with some time to have any problems taken care of that might not be immediately noticeable at purchase or anything that pops up shortly after. you've also got the chance at a little bit of a grace period with the mileage since it's still well inside the 5 year mark. just depends on the problem and the dealership.

Quote :

"unless you have bad/no credit and can only get financing there, or another good reason to spend so much, you can definitely fufill your requirements elsewhere than that (or any other) dealer and spend a lot less money."

exactly. i would assume financing is the issue and this is the place he's been funneled to by whoever has agreed to take the loan. if this is the case, you might want to strongly reconsider things. i wouldn't be surprised to see an interest rate of 18% or more, which in addition to depreciating will put you upside down as hell unless you plan to clear the debt within a few payments. possibly worth the ass raping if you planned to keep the car until it rots into the ground, but not even close for just a year.

let me offer an alternative suggestion despite whatever your circumstances might be. even if financing is the issue, you've probably at least got a small sum saved to put down and/or the first month or two's payment. you'd be much better off just investing that into a sub $1k beater. make any small repairs as needed with what you'd otherwise be spending on a payment. even if the thing blows up in 6 months, you can buy another one for the remainder of the year and come out better. the best part is as long as it's still running when you're ready to get rid of it is you can likely get 75-100% of the original purchase price back.

anyway, all that said speaking strictly from a reliability standpoint i would personally choose #3 or #4 mainly because of the huge difference in mileage and age. probably would lean more towards #3. the mismatched/cheap whitewall tire on the hyundai tells me it may not have had the best care in the past. if it weren't for the small bit of warranty left i'd probably eliminate it too.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 5:16 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2008 5:11:49 PM

Just throwing this out there, but I bought a clean 1998 ford taurus with less than 100,000 miles for less than $2 grand. My point is, I'd take any car with less than 100,000 miles over any car with 175,000. So if you're just looking for cheap transportation, you can get Buicks, Taurus, Impalas, Focus's, etc pretty cheap.

8/4/2008 5:14:46 PM

My 1998 Toyota Sienna was sold with 320k miles and still ran great. It never once gave me a problem, and at around 310k when it finally started puffing a little bit of blue smoke on startup (Only visible if you were actually behind the car) I took it to the dealer and they rebuilt the heads FOR FREE!!! I about shat myself when they did that shit for free. I sold it for $2500 when I no longer had use for it. I saw it still driving around about a year later.

8/4/2008 5:47:34 PM

Negotiate hard and buy the Suzuki, they are not bad like most people think....

8/4/2008 5:53:25 PM

^^I had a Toyota Sienna that blew the motor at a little over 100,000 miles with regular 5,000 mile oil changes.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 6:03 PM. Reason : We couldn't get them to pay for shit.]

8/4/2008 6:02:25 PM

^^^that's because toyota got nailed with and lost a class action lawsuit relating to oil consumption/sludge buildup issues. it covers a wide range of models from the late 90's to early 00's. there is NO mileage limitation provided there has been "reasonable" maintenance effort. only a time limit of 8 years from when the vehicle was new.

^did you pay for it? if so, you might still be eligible for reimbursement.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 6:04 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2008 6:02:58 PM

Yeah, we didn't save all of our maintenance receipts, we were missing a few even though the scheduled maintenance was done. Apparently that's enough to deny a claim.

All car companies are alike.

8/4/2008 6:06:02 PM

when was the claim made? a lot of previously denied claims have now been reversed in light of the lawsuit settlement. it was only about a year or so ago i believe. search for "toyota sludge settlement" or "toyota customer service program" or something like that and you should come up with the details.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 6:12 PM. Reason : found it http://www.oilgelsettlement.com/]

8/4/2008 6:11:03 PM

Interesting info BBR. I believe I had it fixed for free about 2.5 years ago. It definitely had proof of "reasonable maintenance" though, because it was dealer maintained for all of it's life before it came to me and there were receipts dating back to the very first servicing. We (ie - El Borracho and myself) only put about 25k miles on it I believe.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 6:29 PM. Reason : ]

8/4/2008 6:28:23 PM

generally speaking, toyota has an extremely impressive record with recall campaigns and customer service/support. they take more responsibility for design or manufacturing flaws in their vehicles than any other major automaker i can think of off hand. one thing that really sets them apart is for a lot of things they have no or very broad limitations on mileage, age, or number of owners. sometimes people run into walls with individual dealerships, but toyota itself has a pretty solid record.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 7:02 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2008 7:01:45 PM

camry, closely followed by the maxima

8/5/2008 12:30:01 AM

Quote :

"1. VW with over 100k = No."

eh.. would have been more accurate as "VW with auto trans = NO!"

8/5/2008 10:39:09 PM

Quote :

"let me offer an alternative suggestion despite whatever your circumstances might be. even if financing is the issue, you've probably at least got a small sum saved to put down and/or the first month or two's payment. you'd be much better off just investing that into a sub $1k beater. make any small repairs as needed with what you'd otherwise be spending on a payment. even if the thing blows up in 6 months, you can buy another one for the remainder of the year and come out better. the best part is as long as it's still running when you're ready to get rid of it is you can likely get 75-100% of the original purchase price back. anyway, all that said speaking strictly from a reliability standpoint i would personally choose #3 or #4 mainly because of the huge difference in mileage and age. probably would lean more towards #3. the mismatched/cheap whitewall tire on the hyundai tells me it may not have had the best care in the past. if it weren't for the small bit of warranty left i'd probably eliminate it too. "

8/5/2008 11:43:17 PM

here:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/781357826.html

8/6/2008 1:21:29 AM

whatever you do, do NOT get a volkswagon product without a warrenty. ever.

AND...the Taurus is the best idea i've heard so far

or, the sub $1000 beater, with a budget each month for minor repairs that would be less than a monthly payment and huge percantage rate.

8/6/2008 9:24:11 PM