Recommend me a small car to commute in, 4 cycl,automatic

mrrman

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2004
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I am looking for a small reliable car that can be used as a 2nd car to get from point A to B. Nothing fancy, no major malfunctions, dependable. What would you recommend?

Moved from Off Topic.
Moderator allisolm
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
4k

I'd look into a Focus. Toyota's/Honda's will give you a lot less car for the same amount of money.
 
Apr 20, 2008
10,065
984
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Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
First gen Subaru Impreza

This.

Keep in mind, I only paid $750 for mine and its an awesome little car. Its quick and pretty good on gas.

AWD is the shit too.
 

EMPshockwave82

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2003
3,012
2
0
1998 Nissan Altima..... mine is worth about 3000 bucks, has 130k miles on it and will run for another 50k without anything for me to worry about.... 30-32MPG highway
24 or so MPG city driving

1998-2001 was all the same body style and within 1k of each other on price

Find one with low miles and it's a gem
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,500
6,044
126
Going by you description: Small, 4 Cylinder, Auto Transmission, at no more than $4k would seem to be a perfect match.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: zerocool84
4k

I'd look into a Focus. Toyota's/Honda's will give you a lot less car for the same amount of money.

no way....a focus that cost $4k will be a money pit.....

anyways, I say a subie, nissan or a corolla. Becareful with the corolla though, because they tend to suffer from "previous owner had no idea how to take care of a car - itis".

 

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
Mazda 626. Or, if you can get one, a very late model Geo Prizm. They're basically cut-price Corollas (same engine/gearbox/chassis) and you can get one with under 70,000 miles for $4k. Late-model (2004 and later) Hyundais are generally pretty good, too.

Originally posted by: zerocool84
4k

I'd look into a Focus. Toyota's/Honda's will give you a lot less car for the same amount of money.

Depends on where you live - Foci cost a LOT around here for what you get - almost as much as a Civic of comparable miles and age.

I'd also avoid Hondas and Toyotas (good, but overpriced when used) and Nissans (reliability is spotty.)
 

Falloutboy

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2003
5,916
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Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: zerocool84
4k

I'd look into a Focus. Toyota's/Honda's will give you a lot less car for the same amount of money.

no way....a focus that cost $4k will be a money pit.....

anyways, I say a subie, nissan or a corolla. Becareful with the corolla though, because they tend to suffer from "previous owner had no idea how to take care of a car - itis".

that's just not true, a 2001-2004 focus can be had for about that money in good shape and in reasonable milage. I still have my 01 focus, and i'll be the first to admit I beatt he piss out of it, and while it has some of the traditional american car issues mechanically very sound, and even if the interior is cheapish its not bad, or as bad as some of the compact gm cars around that age.

while a honda or toyota around that vintage may be a bit better choice, your going to pay for it, those car fetch rediculas resale to the point its pretty dumb to buy them.
 

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
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Originally posted by: Falloutboy
that's just not true, a 2001-2004 focus can be had for about that money in good shape and in reasonable milage. I still have my 01 focus, and i'll be the first to admit I beatt he piss out of it, and while it has some of the traditional american car issues mechanically very sound, and even if the interior is cheapish its not bad, or as bad as some of the compact gm cars around that age..

$4k for an econobox with over 100,000 miles is really stupid. Around here, you can get a 626 with 10,000 less miles for a lower price. And the 626 is bigger and better made.

That said, YMMV. I live in Wisconsin; you likely do not. If you could get one with under 70,000 miles for 4K, I'd go for it; while the interior is a little spartan the engine and gearbox are very good indeed .
 

desy

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2000
5,442
212
106
Just make it a 03 or newer Focus
Saturn S series works too
Sentra's, Proteges
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
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Any Focus with the Duratec will be near-bulletproof, but the earlier Zetec and SPI motors commonly used on '00 to '04 were mediocre in terms of reliability. That probably pushes things beyond the $4k price limit.

Something you can do if you want a good commuter car with low mileage for cheap, is to look for one with low miles and cosmetic damage. I'm not saying get something that was wrecked, but something that's been in a fender-bender or two, has bad paint, whatever, but has low miles and is mechanically sound (checked by reputable mechanic) makes more sense than jumping into a ten-year-old car with 150k miles on it.