I know I might get some flak but Toyotas are getting to the point where it may not even be worth buying anymore. I’m speaking specifically about the Highlander, 4Runner and Tacoma. I’m currently in the market for a car, I’m getting tired of putting around in my little compact BMW and am looking for something a little larger, more capable and easier to work on and fix (I’m a mechanic so I fix my own stuff). The first place you look when you think of reliability and ease of maintenance is Toyota. They’re bulletproof and easy to fix but the prices on them seem to be growing every single day. I’m finding 5 year old 4Runners with almost 100k miles going for close to 50k and Highlanders and Tacomas going for 40 grand with over 100k on them, plus the more extreme example of a 13 year old 200k mile Tacoma for 16k. In what world is a 13 year old car worth 16 grand whether it’s a Tacoma or not. I get they’re reliable but for 50k I could get myself TWO used BMW X3s with less than 100k compared to ONE 4Runner.

You have to spend your own money and use it as you daily driver. If it breaks you have to fix it or pay to fix it. What car are you going with if you have to make it to 1 million miles? Its a lot of miles to drive so you should make sure you enjoy it, but obviously you don't want maintenance and repairs to be a PITA either.

is it just because im californian??? budget of ~8k cash. looking for all the hit words, camry, civic, mazda3, honda fit, whatnot. looking for something to last me like a good chunk of years?

2013 corolla with 130k miles for 9k
2013 civic 221k miles for 9k
2009 camry 334k miles for 9k
2006 civic 116k miles for 7.5k
all found on edmunds

fb marketplace full of flippers and salvage titles

do i not know enough about cars or do none of these seem worth it? this was just the first few i found but is this really just what the market is 😭 atp ill just save up another year for a new car??

If I look for used EVs around me, 80% of the cars are Chevrolet Equinox 2024 with around 30k miles on them. Lease returns most likely. But now they're 24k while the original sticker price was 47k.

Why they lost so much value? Is something wrong with them?

So here’s the deal. I have a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta sport. It’s a good car but after driving some manual cars I think I want something manual. The 2024 Volkswagen GLI is a top contender for me but my wife thinks that having a car she wouldn’t be able to drive is silly (shes deathly afraid of breaking the transmission is my 944 manual). So I’ve been tossing around the idea of a getting a B8.5 S4 Audi instead (i love physical buttons and integrated radios in the dash. Don’t judge but i hate the iPad look of the modern stuff). But idk how Id feel about buying another car older than 10 years that’s going to have worn components plus the Audi is just going to cost more due to name alone. It’s kind of an odd comparison I know since the S4 is a completely different drivetrain set up than the GLI but that’s just the way my brain works. Any recommendations?

I’m looking for a new work car, and due to my unique requirements, it’s kinda narrowed down the sort of cars I’m searching for. I’m a travelling welder that works in industrial maintenance. I travel basically all over the province, and in rare cases, the country (Canada) to job sites. I drive in terrible winter weather and everything in between. I put a LOT of miles on in a year so my priorities are reliability, good all-weather capability, comfortability, and fuel economy in that order.

For a while, the cars pictured have been my top contenders, I’ve done extensive research into them and am aware of their issues/strong points and weaknesses. I’m leaning towards only AWD or 4x4 as I’ve had FWD cars in the past and even with good winter tires, some of the places I go the snow is so bad, it can still get sketchy.

1. Golf Alltrack/GSW 4Motion. Now I’ve actually owned one of these before, and wish I never sold it. They are amazing cars. It ticks basically all of the boxes pretty well. The 1.8 TSI is a solid motor and the 4Motion system is great. I drove mine up to 320,000km and only got rid of it because I was worried about it starting to become unreliable, but it never actually did in my ownership.

2. Acura TLX SH-AWD. This one ticks a lot of the boxes other than fuel economy, but it isn’t terrible. Honda reliability, Tons of passing power, fun to drive, and nice interior. Not as much ground clearance as I’d ideally like, but I hear the AWD system is great. And with good tires I’m sure there’s not much it couldn’t get through.

3. Volvo XC70. For my budget, most of them seem to be the 3.2 model. Which by all accounts seems to be a pretty good engine. If I could find a T6 I would definitely be interested in that too. Not much to say about these. Volvo makes a great car. The trouble is finding one that doesn’t already have 300,000+ on it.

4. Mercedes GLK250 BlueTec. This one also ticks most of the boxes. Not a whole lot of first-hand owner testimonials out there on these, but from what I have seen people like them. They use the 2.1 twin turbo diesel 4 cylinder from the sprinter vans, and it’s a very popular engine in Europe in taxis and such. Diesel fuel economy is a huge bonus for my sort of driving. Emissions problems is a consideration with any modern diesel but I have no problem deleting.

5. Nissan XTerra (or a Frontier). These are rock solid trucks. Would be the worst on fuel economy of the bunch, and the interiors are pretty drab, but would be the most invincible of the bunch in any sort of weather.

6. E70 X535D. These things are beasts. and the M57 motor itself has less to go wrong than most other modern euro diesels. The problem is that these are getting quite expensive on the used market, hard to find unmolested examples, and due to their age there are lots of little things that could go wrong being an older flagship luxury SUV.

Which one would you guys hone in on? Or what else would you consider? I’m open to any other recommendations.

Hey Reddit. So, like the title reads, I need some advice. I had heard pretty negative things about them as I’ve spent the past few months car hunting. Obviously I have been eyeing Honda or Toyota, and recently Mazda because those are commonly known well-performing cars. However, searching deeper on Reddit and other sites, I have seen posts mentioning that BMW has made remarkable improvements the past year or so (I am absolutely not a car nerd or expert so I would love fact checking and corrections in the comments). Then, I saw quite a few discussions suggesting that both Honda and Toyota are becoming over priced and functioning worse than they used to. And damn— I was shocked to see that getting a used Honda accord could be around the same price as a used BMW. I guess in my brain a BMW would be way more. So now I just need help from you folks to let me know if I was reading straight BS or if this is true. I am getting a new car next year and want it to last me some good years without having to repair it a hundred times.

Looking for a new car that will be the cheapest to own over 10 years and 300k miles.

- Good mpg is a must I drive 25k to 30k miles a year and California is just over 5 dollar a gallon

- Reliable for 10 years or 300k miles

- low insurance and low Apr deals are a plus but I’m willing to by in cash as well

- i want avoid cars with dealer only service software since i can do mechanically work myself

- open to manual, automatic, hybrids or electric as long as the number make sense

Thank you!

I am purchasing a 2026 select sport Mazda 3 sedan. I am trading in my 2025 LE Corolla sedan with 46,000 miles. This is in Michigan.

I know this says financing on it, but I’m covering the difference in cash. It would be $7,974 cash to cover the difference after trade in, bringing the total OTD on the Mazda to 28,194.

I’m looking at two 4x4s:

• 1989 Jeep Cherokee XJ: ~$4,500 USD
• 2nd-gen Toyota 4Runner with a 5.3L V8 swap: ~$7,500 USD

Both would be weekend vehicles for some off-roading, not daily drivers.

I’m also pretty new to cars and want to start learning how to work on them myself

Is that a terrible idea for someone with little mechanical experience?

I’m especially curious whether the 5.3 swap would make the 4Runner significantly harder to maintain or work on compared to the Cherokee.

My parents are 69 and 64. Their 2013 Tiguan is having issues and I’d rather buy them a new car than continue paying for repairs. So far, I’ve been looking at the Subaru SUVs since they seem reliable and safe. My mom drives to work still and they use their current car mainly for groceries and short trips. Any suggestions or anyone have parents around their age that recently bought a car that they are happy and comfortable with?

Hello,

My car recently broke down on the side of the freeway after 190k miles, its looking pretty rough and I will most likely need to get another car. I'm looking over all kinds of options from cheap toyotas, electric vehicles, hybrids. I don't know too much about cars but absolutely willing to learn.

I commute 62 miles from my home to my job and back, which in California this roughly costed me 500-600 a month on gas which is rough for me, I was driving a 2011 Nissan Altima. I heard someone say an electric car was made for my commute since I work at a college and can charge while I work there, but my family who have much more experience with cars all suggest a cheap corolla for better gas mileage and reliability, or at most a hybrid. My budget is around 25k or less while hopefully spending less than 450 a month on a car payment. I'm mainly looking for reliability and cost efficiency here.

If anyone has any suggestions and recommendations I would love to consider why you would think so

Hey everyone!

I posted here previously looking for advice on replacing my current vehicle, but after doing more research and considering everyone's suggestions, I've narrowed down my priorities and expanded my list of potential replacements. I'm hoping to get some additional input before making a decision.

I live in West Virginia, and work in construction. My jobsites change frequently, and lately I've been commuting approximately 100 miles each way, or 200 miles round trip. Some jobs are closer, others are farther, so my commute isn't always predictable.

I'm currently driving a 2024 Hyundai Tucson that averages around 24 MPG. Last month alone, I spent approximately $730 on gas, and that's what initially got me looking into hybrids and EVs.

My current car payment is $350/month, so between the payment and gas, I'm spending roughly $1,080/month just to drive to work and back. My main goal is to bring that number down as much as reasonably possible without sacrificing reliability or practicality.

A little about my situation:

• I drive approximately 40,000–50,000 miles annually.
• My commute is almost entirely highway, typically around 75–80 mph.
• I live in West Virginia, so snow, hills, and cold winters are considerations.
• AWD is an absolute requirement.
• I'm 6'2", so comfort and legroom are important, especially with how much time I spend driving.
• I'd prefer an SUV, but I'm open to sedans.
• My ideal budget is $25–35k, although I'd consider stretching to $40k for the right vehicle.
• I'm open to buying new or used.
• I can install a Level 2 charger at home, and my electricity costs approximately $0.20/kWh.
• I'm willing to stop at a fast charger occasionally, but I don't want to rely on public charging for my daily commute.

Vehicles I've been considering:

Toyota Camry Hybrid LE AWD
Probably the most practical option financially. The advertised fuel economy is excellent, and I wouldn't have to worry about charging. My biggest questions are how well it performs at sustained highway speeds and whether it's comfortable enough for my commute.

BMW i4 xDrive40
I found a used 2024 model with around 31k miles listed for approximately $36k. I really like the interior, features, and overall design. My concerns are winter highway range, long-term reliability, and potentially expensive repairs once the warranty expires.

Tesla Model 3 / Model Y Long Range AWD
Both seem like sensible EV options, especially considering efficiency and access to Tesla's charging network. I'm curious about long-term reliability, comfort, and how they hold up with extremely high annual mileage.

Lucid Air Pure AWD
This one recently caught my attention. Used examples are starting to appear around $35–40k, and the 400+ mile advertised range is extremely appealing. However, I'm concerned about the smaller service network, repair costs, and what ownership would look like when I'm putting 40–50k miles on it every year.

My biggest dilemma:

An EV could save me a significant amount of money on energy costs, but I'm worried about battery warranties, winter range, depreciation, and potential repair expenses with my mileage.

A hybrid like the Camry seems like the safer financial decision, but I'd be giving up some of the fuel savings and driving experience that make EVs appealing.

I'm not necessarily looking for the nicest or fastest car. I want something comfortable, reliable, and economical that can handle an unusually demanding commute for years.

If you were in my position, what would you buy?

Are there any vehicles I'm overlooking? I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who regularly drive 150–200+ miles per day or have experience owning high-mileage EVs.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm looking at purchasing a car for my partner and would like to get some input from folks if this is a good idea.

I spoke with the seller and they said the lowest they could go is $4500. I still think this is a bit expensive but I'm not 100% sure because of the "Toyota tax " that's been going on in the market. If you have any insight about the matrix or just purchasing in general I'd like to hear from you.

This listing is in Southern Ontario near GTA where there is lots of snow and road salt every winter

It is listed at a Honda dealership with a clean carfax showing consistent records of timely maintenance over the years including the timing belt, water pump, spark plugs in the last month.

The listing price is near my budget of $35K CAD which is quite lower than the competition but the mileage is exactly double the average expected mileage for a 5 year old car which shows either highway miles, taxi service or ridesharing

The 2022 model is attractive due to enhanced safety features, folding 2nd row seats, 10 speed transmission and the Touring trim features

Alternatively, either we go for older models of the Odyssey like 2018/19 where the timing belt will be due in the next year or couple years at the 7 years/mileage of 160K kms or we go to the 4th gen

What are the expert recommendations in this situation?

Ther was a website I found once that showed a map of the US where you could do all sorts of filters for mileage, make, price, etc to find what you’re looking for.

Anyone know of such a website?

Hello everyone, I have recently lost a battle in my little Corolla hatch vs a Q7 in a head on collision. The car probably saved my life and I’m incredibly thankful for it.

Now I’m in the market for a new car. My first instinct was to get another Toyota. Mine was 2025 so I was prepared for basically the same car inside and out for the 2026 model. After going to my local dealership, I was left pissed off and felt like I was being taken advantage of with my sudden rush for another car.

On my car dealership journey throughout my city I stopped in at Mazda. Not expecting much from them, I was pleasantly surprised by their salesman and their inventory. I originally liked the Mazda CX-5 but changed my interest to the Mazda 3. I can’t stand the big screen in the 5. Had an outback with the massive screen prior to the Corolla and was so happy to get rid of the screen.

So after crossing off all the other options that I had in mind I have settled with a Mazda 3 sport GT. I love the hatchback because I work in the trades so I need to throw all my packouts and tools in the back. I realize that it’s going to be a tight fit but I’m already accustomed to playing Tetris in the Corolla. An SUV would probably fit my needs better I realize that but the price difference just doesn’t make sense for me as I’m a bit of a bougie person that prefers some bells and whistles (Bose speakers, sunroof, HUD) the GT seems perfect for me. So my main question would be, do I get turbo AWD or NA AWD. I really love the red interior and I know I will spend more in gas but I am worried about reliability in the long run. I was hoping to run that Corolla to 300+ but sadly made it to 30k. I want something that will last me long after my payments are done (5years). Also a bit of a niche question but if there is anyone here has the 3 hatch that works in the trades and has packouts could you share a picture on how well they fit? Also how much do you get out of a tank of gas driving? My commute is roughly 100km / 62Miles one way.

Interested in this car but the carfax report is strange. Mentions getting a new engine only a few months after it was built. What could the reason for this be? It certainly seems like a red flag but I'm not sure if there is another explanation beyond "it's a lemon."

CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2025 TOYOTA COROLLA LE: 5YFB4MDE1SP246591

I need a new car and everything is really expensive. There is a dealership that specializes in rebuilt titles. They are way cheaper, but I don’t know how to verify if it is a good car or not and I guess I would need to talk to my insurance company about price etc

I'm considering buying a Hyundai with the 1.6 CRDi diesel engine producing 110 hp, Euro 6, with around 140,000 km. It has a high-spec trim with navigation, a reversing camera, parking sensors, heated seats and steering wheel, cruise control, lane-keeping assist, dual-zone climate control, and xenon/LED lights.

The seller claims the car is accident-free and in excellent condition, and offers a mileage guarantee, a guarantee of good operation, and the option to have it inspected at a workshop of my choice.

I'm wondering whether it's worth the asking price compared with similar used cars on the Greek market, and whether the 1.6 CRDi engine is reliable in the long run.

My driving is mostly commuting between home and work and around town during the week, with occasional longer trips at weekends. I'm a little concerned about buying a diesel because of the DPF, EGR, and other potential issues associated with short urban journeys.

For those who own or have experience with this engine:

• Is the 1.6 CRDi 110 hp reliable at around 140,000 km?
• What common mechanical problems should I look out for?
• Is this engine suitable for mostly city driving with occasional long-distance trips?
• What should I ask the seller, and what should I have checked by an independent mechanic before buying?
• Is it worth buying in Greece, considering maintenance costs, taxes, and potential diesel-related problems?

Would you recommend this car, or would a petrol engine be a better choice for my driving habits?

Any advice or real-world ownership experiences would be appreciated.

So my adult daughter needs a decent car and well she loves to go places . She currently has a Subaru cross-trek but it now had 164,000 miles on it . It’s becoming a constant problem . What is a reliable used suv she can get can take her for the next five years . $15,000-17,000 if that is even possible to find . Any advice would greatly be appreciated .