The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

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AverageBear
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The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by AverageBear »

I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
QBoy
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by QBoy »

We had a Honda Fit some years ago, and it was great.
bad1bill
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by bad1bill »

Buy the current Consumer Reports; it’s the annual auto issue. They have, imho, great recommendations in various styles ( suv, compact, etc.) for differing price ranges.
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gatorking
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by gatorking »

In that price range I would be looking at Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
hudson
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by hudson »

AverageBear,

I use a local used car dealer that I know and trust. I tell him what my wants are.
I recently asked about a low mileage Toyota Corolla that has new safety features and a backup camera. I wanted the price to be under $15K.
He said that he would see what he could do.
He called me a week later with a vehicle to look at. I passed on that one.
He called me two weeks later with exactly what I wanted...but it was $16K. I bit.
The dealer and his brother search auctions online; if they see something appropriate, they go to the auction, check it out, and buy.
Their mechanic goes through the vehicle and makes sure that it good. Many times, they'll put on new brakes and new tires.

Bottom line: I pay a dealer that I trust to go find what I want.
Jack FFR1846
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

$15k would buy a brand new Honda FIT. Or a slightly used Civic LX. What's important to you besides reliability and fuel mileage? Heck...a Mazda Miata fits the mpg and reliability requirements. A newer NB with low mileage fits your budget easily.
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teCh0010
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by teCh0010 »

At the top end of that range you can get a 2018+ Corolla with Toyota Safety Sense.
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jabberwockOG
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by jabberwockOG »

Try to find a 2015-2016 Toyota Camry or Rav4 with under 75k miles.
lazydavid
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by lazydavid »

Doesn't meet your "used" specification, but just over a year ago one of my employees bought a Chevy Cruze hatchback for his long (now nonexistent) commute. All in with tax and 120k mile extended warranty he paid $13k.

I'd probably look at the Hyundai Elantra. It's a great car, but doesn't have the resale value that a Civic or Corolla has, so you can get a newer one cheaper. There are plenty of '17s and '18s under $15k on Autotrader. You'd probably be looking at a 2015 or older for the Honda or Toyota.
AnisotropicTaco
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by AnisotropicTaco »

I bought an old age, low mileage Prius for about $12k about a year and a half ago and it's been great.
hi_there
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by hi_there »

2014 Acura TSX. One of the last great old school Honda cars.
squirm
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by squirm »

The used car market is very very large, nobody is smarter then it. In general you're not going to be able to beat the market by buying car A that depreciates faster instead of car B. So just buy a used Toyota or Honda as the market dictates.
Last edited by squirm on Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Watty
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Watty »

AverageBear wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:00 am I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
A big factor is how much you can work on cars yourself and how many miles you are driving each year.

If you are buying a five year old car and keeping it for ten years then you can expect it to need a fair number of normal repairs. These may may not be a big deal if you can do many of the repairs yourself but that can quickly get expensive if you would be paying a mechanic to do most of the work when it is an older car.

Toyotas and Honda do not depreciate fast enough to make buying a late model used one very worthwhile so lots of Bogleheads buy them new instead even in normal times.

Some Hyundais models have gotten pretty good reviews and in normal times they depreciate faster so for the best deal I would be looking at them even though they may not last as long as a Toyota would.

Hyundai comes with a full five year warranty so if you find a five year old Hyundai it has likely been well maintained. Be sure that you understand how the Hyundai warranty does not fully transfer to the next owner.

ESC is a very good safety feature to have and it became required as standard equipment in 2012 so if you are by any chance looking at a car older than that be sure to check to see if it has ESC.

The used car market has gone crazy with the pandemic so now is not a good time to buy a used car. There have been a number of threads about this.

For example I bought a new 2018 Corolla LE three years ago for just a bit over $17,000 and that was the out the door price with all the taxes and fees. Out of curiosity I recently got a Carvana quote and they would pay me $15,852 for it today since they are so desperate to get good used cars. It has relatively low milage so they would then sell it for more than I originally paid for it. :shock:

My purchase price was likely a very good to exceptional deal but I just looked at the Kelly Blue book web site and it looks like you can get a new Corolla LE today for a bit over $18K plus your local registration and sales tax. If that website is accurate then with careful shopping I would guess that I could get a new Corolla today with an out the door price of around $19,000.

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/corolla/2021 ... eid=448593

I have read that some new car models are in short supply because of a computer chip shortage but for the new car models that are not impacted by this the new car prices do not seem to be impacted as much.

If you are going to be spending near the top of your range, $15K, then it might make sense to pay a bit more and just buy a new Corolla instead.

The used car prices are so high that I am even toying with the idea of selling the Corolla to get a different new car but part of that is that my wife would really like a SUV where she is up higher than in a sedan.

Here is a post that I did a few years ago about how I bought the Corolla by getting bids and buying a new car on the internet if you decide to look at buying a new car instead.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=239526&p=3746230
steelhorse
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by steelhorse »

I'd suggest buying a Lexus ES 330 or ES 350. I'd look for an original owner, for sale by owner, inspected, with documented oil changes.
Keep the oil changed, they'll run forever.
protagonist
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by protagonist »

lazydavid wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:24 am Doesn't meet your "used" specification, but just over a year ago one of my employees bought a Chevy Cruze hatchback for his long (now nonexistent) commute. All in with tax and 120k mile extended warranty he paid $13k.

I'd probably look at the Hyundai Elantra. It's a great car, but doesn't have the resale value that a Civic or Corolla has, so you can get a newer one cheaper. There are plenty of '17s and '18s under $15k on Autotrader. You'd probably be looking at a 2015 or older for the Honda or Toyota.
That seems like a good idea.
Used cars are selling at a large premium these days... new ones seem like they might be a more economical choice in the long run (though I have not researched this....just speculating...)
stoptothink
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by stoptothink »

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:07 am $15k would buy a brand new Honda FIT. Or a slightly used Civic LX. What's important to you besides reliability and fuel mileage? Heck...a Mazda Miata fits the mpg and reliability requirements. A newer NB with low mileage fits your budget easily.
Last time we were looking for cars (January '17) the fit was actually our first choice, but that changed once we test drove; a tin can on wheels. Plus, we couldn't find one anywhere close to us for <$19k OTD. We ended up with a new jetta for <$14k OTD, WAY nicer car. Reliability may be a concern (it's my first VW, but zero issues in 4yrs and 50k miles), but you can still get a brand new base model jetta for ~$15k if you buy at the right time.
michaeljc70
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by michaeljc70 »

My brother bought a new Toyota Corolla about a year ago and it was under $20k. I just looked on Truecar and you can get a new one for $18k with no negotiation. I know this doesn't meet the OPs criteria. I am just pointing out that buying a couple year old Honda or Toyota may not save very much or be worth it. You have less (or no) warranty, don't know how it was driven and because of the high resale value save little.
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illumination
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by illumination »

steelhorse wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:52 am I'd suggest buying a Lexus ES 330 or ES 350. I'd look for an original owner, for sale by owner, inspected, with documented oil changes.
Keep the oil changed, they'll run forever.
+1

Just a nice blend of luxury and economy in a really reliable package.

Sedans have terrible resale value, so picking up one used, you can get a lot of bang for the buck.
alfaspider
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by alfaspider »

If you have ability to home charge, I'd look at a Chevy Bolt. You see used examples going in the $15k range, and given the fuel savings, it is likely to have cheaper total cost of ownership than most $10k vehicles with an internal combustion engine.
Beach
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Beach »

We bought a used 2015 Toyota Prius 3 years ago and it has been amazing. Bought a stripped down model and had aftermarket leather and heated seats added.
mikejuss
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by mikejuss »

The Toyota Prius.
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mikejuss
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by mikejuss »

Beach wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:43 am We bought a used 2015 Toyota Prius 3 years ago and it has been amazing. Bought a stripped down model and had aftermarket leather and heated seats added.
What--may I ask--did the new seats cost you? I'm considering adding GPS to my Prius. Otherwise, it's perfect.
50% VTSAX | 25% VTIAX | 25% VBTLX (retirement), 25% VTEAX (taxable)
Beach
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Beach »

mikejuss wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:45 am
Beach wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:43 am We bought a used 2015 Toyota Prius 3 years ago and it has been amazing. Bought a stripped down model and had aftermarket leather and heated seats added.
What--may I ask--did the new seats cost you? I'm considering adding GPS to my Prius. Otherwise, it's perfect.
The dealer had a working relationship with an interior specialist so not sure how much (or less) it would have been if I had walked in on my own. However I believe it was about $1500 for leather install plus adding a heating element and switch to each seat. The leather installed was from a company called Katzkin. The heating element has a low and high setting and gets super toasty, well worth it!
We'll See
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by We'll See »

AverageBear wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:00 am I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
I don't recommend buying a late model used car in that price range now. The used car market is waaayyy too overpriced. Why not spend a little more and get new with full warranty, newer safety features, etc.?
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Kenkat
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Kenkat »

You don’t really give any criteria for what you’d consider best beyond gas mileage or reliability, but general good choices would be Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. If you really want to splurge, move up to an Accord or Camry.
iamlucky13
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by iamlucky13 »

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:07 am $15k would buy a brand new Honda FIT. Or a slightly used Civic LX. What's important to you besides reliability and fuel mileage? Heck...a Mazda Miata fits the mpg and reliability requirements. A newer NB with low mileage fits your budget easily.
The Honda Fit is discontinued in the US market after the 2020 model year, which is unfortunate since the compact market is getting rather sparse now, and the Fit was arguably one of the best.

It looks like there are still a decent number available, but Kelly Blue Book numbers suggest that getting it for very much below MSRP is going to be difficult to accomplish in the current environment - with the relatively low new car supply in general, I noticed when I was shopping for a car last month that dealers are often preferring to wait for more eager buyers than negotiate by much.

When I tried a no-hassle pricing service I have access to as a work benefit, the responses I received for Civics were all at or above MSRP, before fees. I tried calling one dealer to let them know I was interested in a test drive, but I needed to know they could offer a better price than full MSRP. He said he's check with the sales manager, and then didn't bother calling me back. Clearly they had no interest in going any lower than MSRP.

Based on that and the KBB data, I suspect dealers are playing tough on pricing and it may be hard to get a new Fit below $16,000 + destination fee + taxes.

Civic LX's from the current generation (2016+) also seem to be going for over $16,000 unless they have been in accidents, have unusually high miles, or you buy from a private party.

In general, I think for Honda or Toyota, you're going to be looking at lightly used Fit's or Matrices, and 5+ year used Civic's and Corolla's for the price target stated. Those cars should still be good for 10+ years of reliable use, though.

I did see a decent number of 2-3 year old Hyundai Elantra's and Kia Forte's listed at around $15,000 at dealers, though. I think these continue to be one of the best bargains for an almost new vehicle, where as Honda's and Toyota's reputations hold their used prices high enough that there is little to no total cost of ownership benefit compared to buying new.
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Chrono Triggered
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Chrono Triggered »

VW GTI if you want something that's fun to drive.
inbox788
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by inbox788 »

michaeljc70 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:24 am My brother bought a new Toyota Corolla about a year ago and it was under $20k. I just looked on Truecar and you can get a new one for $18k with no negotiation. I know this doesn't meet the OPs criteria. I am just pointing out that buying a couple year old Honda or Toyota may not save very much or be worth it. You have less (or no) warranty, don't know how it was driven and because of the high resale value save little.
Yup. Nothing wrong with a late model Honda or Toyota, but their depreciation is so low, buying them new is always an option. The answer to the question may be the NEW Honda or Toyota buy today in about 6 years.

Larger used cars are unpopular now, so you can find great deals on a Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata or Mazda 6 in that price range that have depreciated more than the similar Honda and Toyotas. You don't save much on the cost of the car going smaller and gas savings aren't that much unless you drive a lot, in which case Prius should be at the top of the list.

2018 Fusion SE
https://www.carmax.com/car/20351274

2018 Sonata SE
https://www.carmax.com/car/20089203

2017 Mazda6 I Sport
https://www.carmax.com/car/20195097

2017 Camry LE
https://www.carmax.com/car/20126109

These are listed just above the range, and private sales or higher mileage or older vehicles should be in the zone. Accords appear priced higher than Camry for similar ages.
lazydavid
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by lazydavid »

iamlucky13 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:58 pm In general, I think for Honda or Toyota, you're going to be looking at lightly used Fit's or Matrices, and 5+ year used Civic's and Corolla's for the price target stated. Those cars should still be good for 10+ years of reliable use, though.
We must have different definitions of "lightly used". 2013 was the final model year for the Matrix, so we're talking about 8+ year old cars at a minimum here.
surfstar
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by surfstar »

BRAND NEW PRIUS PRIME!!!
AverageBear wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:00 am I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
If you're in the right area for $5k Toyota rebates/cash on a Prius Prime, you can get one for about $20k. Brand new. 2021 LE model.

+ TTL, but minus $4502 federal tax rebate and any local/state/utility offers.

You will immediately own a vehicle that is worth MORE than you paid. Very reliable. Very economical and just about the greatest mpg of any vehicle.
Plus all the 2021 standard safety features.

I think you'd do well to look hard at one of these. Review the last few pages of price paid thread to see how to negotiate: (aim for $3k dealer discount)
https://priuschat.com/threads/prius-pri ... 3/page-222
and check the offers for your zip
https://www.buyatoyota.com/

Example: last month I purchased one that will be $18k, after taxes and all rebates/tax credits. Sure its "3k above" your $10-15k range, but the car has a cash value of $23k+, so I think it is justified.
tdmp
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by tdmp »

surfstar wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:54 pm BRAND NEW PRIUS PRIME!!!
AverageBear wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:00 am I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
If you're in the right area for $5k Toyota rebates/cash on a Prius Prime, you can get one for about $20k. Brand new. 2021 LE model.

+ TTL, but minus $4502 federal tax rebate and any local/state/utility offers.

You will immediately own a vehicle that is worth MORE than you paid. Very reliable. Very economical and just about the greatest mpg of any vehicle.
Plus all the 2021 standard safety features.

I think you'd do well to look hard at one of these. Review the last few pages of price paid thread to see how to negotiate: (aim for $3k dealer discount)
https://priuschat.com/threads/prius-pri ... 3/page-222
and check the offers for your zip
https://www.buyatoyota.com/

Example: last month I purchased one that will be $18k, after taxes and all rebates/tax credits. Sure its "3k above" your $10-15k range, but the car has a cash value of $23k+, so I think it is justified.
I can't agree more with this. I have owned a prius prime for almost 4 years now. it has served me well. With all the rebates (federal + state + dealer's + manufacturer): it isn't expensive. Low maintenance. Low cost of ownership. Very reliable. And don't have to go to gas station as often. Prius Prime should one of the top choices for boglehead car of the year, every year.
phxjcc
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by phxjcc »

Porsche Boxster.

Yes, I am serious.
YeahBuddy
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by YeahBuddy »

Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Light weight baby!
michaeljc70
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by michaeljc70 »

tdmp wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:21 pm
surfstar wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:54 pm BRAND NEW PRIUS PRIME!!!
AverageBear wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:00 am I don’t drive expensive vehicles. I purchase used vehicles with low mileage and then drive them for at least 10 years.
What are some good options for reliability and great gas mileage that you like?
If you're in the right area for $5k Toyota rebates/cash on a Prius Prime, you can get one for about $20k. Brand new. 2021 LE model.

+ TTL, but minus $4502 federal tax rebate and any local/state/utility offers.

You will immediately own a vehicle that is worth MORE than you paid. Very reliable. Very economical and just about the greatest mpg of any vehicle.
Plus all the 2021 standard safety features.

I think you'd do well to look hard at one of these. Review the last few pages of price paid thread to see how to negotiate: (aim for $3k dealer discount)
https://priuschat.com/threads/prius-pri ... 3/page-222
and check the offers for your zip
https://www.buyatoyota.com/

Example: last month I purchased one that will be $18k, after taxes and all rebates/tax credits. Sure its "3k above" your $10-15k range, but the car has a cash value of $23k+, so I think it is justified.
I can't agree more with this. I have owned a prius prime for almost 4 years now. it has served me well. With all the rebates (federal + state + dealer's + manufacturer): it isn't expensive. Low maintenance. Low cost of ownership. Very reliable. And don't have to go to gas station as often. Prius Prime should one of the top choices for boglehead car of the year, every year.
I looked at that thread and TrueCar. It seems like where I live you can get $200-$800 off. I imagine maybe a little more with putting some effort into it. My state offers no incentives. So, basically you are paying sticker and get the $4500 federal tax credit where I am.
inbox788
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by inbox788 »

lazydavid wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:51 pm
iamlucky13 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:58 pm In general, I think for Honda or Toyota, you're going to be looking at lightly used Fit's or Matrices, and 5+ year used Civic's and Corolla's for the price target stated. Those cars should still be good for 10+ years of reliable use, though.
We must have different definitions of "lightly used". 2013 was the final model year for the Matrix, so we're talking about 8+ year old cars at a minimum here.
LOL. It could be different definitions of "lightly used" or "Matrix". I sometimes refer to Matrix to mean generically the Corolla Hatchback and all the variations, such as the Pontiac Vibe, Scion iM, Corolla iM, Corolla Wagon, etc. (if they ever bring it to the US https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a730470 ... o-america/ )

2009 Matrix
https://www.carmax.com/car/20237702

2018 Corolla iM
https://www.carmax.com/car/20297346
iamlucky13
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by iamlucky13 »

lazydavid wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:51 pm
iamlucky13 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:58 pm In general, I think for Honda or Toyota, you're going to be looking at lightly used Fit's or Matrices, and 5+ year used Civic's and Corolla's for the price target stated. Those cars should still be good for 10+ years of reliable use, though.
We must have different definitions of "lightly used". 2013 was the final model year for the Matrix, so we're talking about 8+ year old cars at a minimum here.
Oops. That's just me being out of touch with Toyota's lineup. Is the Corolla now the smallest car in Toyota's lineup? I know they also discontinued the Scion line, which had a couple compact/sub-compact models.
Last edited by iamlucky13 on Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
inbox788
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by inbox788 »

phxjcc wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:21 pm Porsche Boxster.

Yes, I am serious.
Hmm...2007 or older when I look for under $15k

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Po ... xster-d408
Aged Maduro
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by Aged Maduro »

You can get a three year old, off lease Ford Fusion for that amount. Or Ford Edge if you need an SUV. They have solid performance, are reliable and very safe. In my opinion, the more reliable American brands like Ford and Buick are the best value proposition if you are looking to go for a used, depreciated vehicle. Toyota and Honda deprececiate so slowly that you are better off just buying a new one and holding it for a very long time.
GG1273
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by GG1273 »

Can use autotrader.com to look around, go to advanced search and set the priorities you want, mileage, year, miles from your house, price. Great tool and usually carries a much larger selection than other car sites. I tend to only use Dealers with at least a limited warranty included in the price.


Advanced search page https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... ced-search[/u]
In general, I tend to find that Hondas are more common on the site than Toyotas even though Toyota outsells them. A co-worker of mine needed to find something last winter and simply looked for her price range and got a good deal on a 6-year old Accord with just over 40,000 miles on it.

An important one for negotiating, take a look at the CarFax report to get an idea of how long the used car has been on the lot

This 2017 Accord w/39,000 miles, near me, has been on lot since end of Aug 2020, great tool to use to say that you'd offer several thousand less than they are asking to take it off their hands

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/a ... LBF03ngZ0Y
inbox788
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Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by inbox788 »

iamlucky13 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:40 pmOops. That's just me being out of touch with Toyota's lineup. Is the Corolla now the smallest car in Toyota's lineup? I know they also discontinued the Scion line, which had a couple compact/sub-compact models.
Honda dropped the Fit and looks like Toyota dropped the Yaris. The Aveo/Sonic/Cruze are gone too. Not a lot of small cars left and parking is going to be harder to find. Maybe this creates an opening for smaller electric vehicles, especially if charging infrastructure improves in dense areas.

https://jalopnik.com/small-cars-could-s ... 1846238921
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhenry/2 ... a3c02d20af
https://www.autonews.com/article/201812 ... enge-grows
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/17/why-che ... rooms.html
bloom2708
Posts: 9855
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:08 pm

Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by bloom2708 »

steelhorse wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:52 am I'd suggest buying a Lexus ES 330 or ES 350. I'd look for an original owner, for sale by owner, inspected, with documented oil changes.
Keep the oil changed, they'll run forever.
We still have a 2005 Lexus ES 330. 84k miles now. Wow is that a well built car. Just rides so nice and quality. No plans to sell that car.

We had a 2007 Lexus ES 350. Something changed and that car felt much cheaper. Like how the doors closed and materials. We didn't keep the 2007 as long.

I still see 2002-2006 with low miles pop up now and then on Craigslist.

$10k to $15k opens up to some good values if you hunt. I always look By Owner (not dealer) on Craigslist. Look for someone with a car they grew out of and want to part with.
manuvns
Posts: 1465
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:30 pm

Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by manuvns »

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/10-gre ... 15000.html

Kia Soul , honda accord , Toyota corolla, jeep Cherokee , Subaru Forester
Thanks!
Topic Author
AverageBear
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2021 5:30 am

Re: The best $10,000 to $15,000 vehicle.

Post by AverageBear »

Thank you very much everyone! Lots of good information!
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