Could a 6-8 year old corrola be a good investment?
Posted by mikeybagodonuts8@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Got a DUI and got rid of my car a few years ago. Anyways I can drive again just need a car and will need a interlock. Anyways I was pretty discouraged looking at the used car market. At first I wanted a 5000 car. But that doesn't get you much. So I want to be patient. I would have to save for a while and I was just browsing at like 10-13 k. And at that price a corrola will be like 6-8 years old with close to 100k. I know Corrolas can last much longer. But similar type cars like a Ford focus or Nissan Sentra would be maybe 2 years newer and more like 50-60k miles. I guess with that price seeing Corrolas near 100 k scares me. Any thoughts?
jeepsies@reddit
I would take the corolla over the focus and sentra everyday.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
That's what I keep hearing. Is the 100k just scaring me? So hypothetically if I find a good one. 1 owner car fax looks good looks like it's taken care of the motor and tranny should last but at 100k is there other stuff that brakes down? I don't know much about cars but want to learn. I just don't want to keep getting hit with expensive repairs. I can live with a few hundred bucks here and there and spending a Saturday youtubeing and trying minor stuff I just don't want to get hit with something that's like 1500 plus
jeepsies@reddit
The corolla is the car with the lowest cost of ownership in my opinion. Ive owned 5 of them. They require normal stuff like oil, brakes, filters, fluids, tires, battery..
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Yeah of course I know any car will have that stuff more concerned with miscellaneous things. AC compressor water pump ECT shit like that that's expensive
jeepsies@reddit
Corolla is the safest bet
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
We shall see I'm just gonna be patient and try to get the best one I can. maybe by the time I'm at 10k my credit will be good enough to get a decent apr and get a new one or one thats like 2 years old
imothers@reddit
The Nissan and the Ford are infamous for early automatic transmission failure. If you can find one with a stickshift that could be a good purchase, but I wouldn't touch an automatic.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Yeah I had a Ford escape years ago. Motor blew at like 100k fixed it because I just bought it. Tranny blew at like 110 k. Any idea any brands that are maybe not Toyota or Honda that are reliable might be a bit cheaper used?
imothers@reddit
For $5k, a VW Golf or Jetta with either the 2.0 or 2.5 engine (no turbo on either) are pretty solid. Stickshift is better than automatic, as is usually the case. GM sedans (mostly buick, some Pontiacs) with the 3800 engine are durable. They used this engine until about 2008 or so.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
I don't know much about cars in general but from what I know stick shifts are usually better less moving parts less to break down so I'll look into some VW I've read the v6 3800 buicks are a good choice as well. My main concern is other parts as well breaking down besides the tranny and motor. But I would like to learn I'm thinking that's not a bad idea to learn while I live close to work so if it's down for a few days I can take the bus or ride a bike to work at least. Also I'm in Arizona so rust isn't much of a factor
imothers@reddit
Stickshifts are basically all metal parts. Automatics you have different parts that rely on hydraulic pressure and are generally more complicated. An old automatic can get pretty sloppy, which is no fun. And they can quit on you, then car doesn't drive any more.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Makes sense I'll keep my eyes peeled
imothers@reddit
Mazdas are pretty much as good as Honda or Toyota. Older ones tended to rust, especially in the back, but that's pretty obvious if you look under the car.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Sweet. Looks like Mazda holds their value more than ford Chevy Nissan ECT but a bit cheaper than Toyota and Honda. I will start looking into those. Also I'm in Phoenix so rust isn't a huge factor. Something to look into for sure but I used to live in New England so the rain snow salt on the roads ECT would rust up cars good. Not as bad here
imothers@reddit
Ya in Pheonix you can probably get 20 year old cars with no rust, and if they run good get 5 years out if them
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
I would love that. I just had terrible luck with what I thought was a reliable car I bought cash so I'm super skeptical but gotta give it a shot
E90BarberaRed6spdN52@reddit
The Toyota Corolla is the better bet in most all cases. Nissan likely next and Ford last although still not bad cars if maintained, The miles on the Toyota if maintained are no issue at all. Most Corolla owners take care of the cars. Look at the interior as an indication and ask for maintenance records.
PreviousWar6568@reddit
I’d much rather a ford focus over a Sentra, especially the older ones
E90BarberaRed6spdN52@reddit
I had some Fords and Mercs and they absolutely were solid. Problem was if in areas where salt or brine was used they rusted out. So many of the good ones are gone. My thought process was more related on what I see which is rusty ones by me. They could be just as good or better with the v6 if maintained dna not rusty. Seems there just were more inexpensive, newer and not rusted Sentra around by me. So I agree with you if the Ford isn't rusty and unibody going expecially with the v6 it may be better.
PreviousWar6568@reddit
I had a 2008 ford focus, only parts that rusted significantly were the 2 pieces that go under the doors(rocker panels maybe?) that being said it had 260k km before I sold it, wish I’d kept it to be honest.
E90BarberaRed6spdN52@reddit
By us they use a brine with a binding agent in the winter so it takes more of a toll than salt alone on the floors, unibody, etc.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
For sure.Maintenance is a big factor. I had a mercury milan so a Ford basically with immaculate service records and appeared to be garage kept. It treated me well. To bad some I got a DUI and got rid of it. Oh well live and learn if I keep learning from mistakes eventually I'll be pretty smart
AdvancedRiver8284@reddit
Depreciating asset, not an investment. Solid car nonetheless.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Yeah I didn't mean like a investment for the future more so is it a good value. I even looked for private sellers and holy crap they apparently keep their value more than any other used cars
AdvancedRiver8284@reddit
for sure the depreciation curve is epic with Toyota products
JCDU@reddit
No car is an investment.
100k on a modern car is nothing, especially a Corolla.
That doesn't mean nothing will go wrong - cars are machines and need maintenance, especially at this sort of age. But if you expect & budget for it it should be fine for another 100k easily.
Particular-Koala1763@reddit
Like any other car within 100k miles you have to be ready for something to fail. They may be reliable but that's only if you keep up with maintenance.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
Yeah makes sense I'll look at the service manual check out what needs to be serviced soon/ if they did what was already due
mandatoryclutchpedal@reddit
Corolla isnthe type of car you can drive for 500k+
Nissan? No Focus? No.
Corolla is cheap to own. Cheap to maintain and cheap to insure.
It's the default recomendation for a reliable appliance that you can keep for 30 years
Sleep_adict@reddit
Cars are not investments.
gearhead5015@reddit
At least not modern daily drivers.
Classics, sure.
mikeybagodonuts8@reddit (OP)
I know I meant like would that still be a decent buy. Because 13 k to me is alot
owlwise13@reddit
All things being good, get a carfax, take it to a mechanic to check it out, I would go with the Corolla, but at a 100k miles, you will need to do the normal maintenance things you will need to get done: all the fluids replaced, brake inspection, transmission inspection, computer diagnostics, etc, if everything is good, you would probably get another 100k out of the corolla.