Are there any good still reliable 90s cars on the market?
Posted by Impressive_Risk_8556@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 41 comments
I've decided to start doing a bit of saving in hopes of buying a new to me car next year. I wanted to go with something reliable above all else however the look and style of 90s cars beckons to me. I will above all else go with the smart decision however I was curious to know from folks who know more then me about cars if there was a middle ground of some type of car from that era of automotive that till this day uphold their reliability and reputation as good daylies? Seems a bit like a golden goose question but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.
30thTransAm@reddit
If it was made in the 90s and still running today id say that's pretty reliable. Not many if any cars made today that'll make it to 2060.
Doberman831@reddit
The 90s Nissan Maxima was a great machine. The nice model had great seats and the Bose sound system as well as the 4DSC badges.
JCDU@reddit
Anything can be reliable if you repair & maintain it - anything 30 years old at this point you need to expect to need to do some work to get it good, and then actually maintain it properly to keep it reliable.
My daily is 20+ years old, my camper is nearly 40 but I will happily jump in either and drive 1000 miles across Europe because I make the effort to maintain them.
Cool-Bunch6645@reddit
A car from the 90s is great if you have a second car as a back up. Otherwise, no.
_EnFlaMEd@reddit
Toyota Hilux.
gazzadelsud@reddit
Lexus, Camry, Accord, all from 94-98 are probably the best cars Japan ever made.
DDG_Dillon@reddit
Pft. My 99 rolla would like a word with you
unpolire@reddit
E30 BMWs are solid. Any Toyota or Lexus. W210 Mercedes-Benz. I can drive these cars anywhere today without concerns of reliability.
weirdoldhobo1978@reddit
That depends entirely on your budget, what car you want and how well it's been taken care of.
Impressive_Risk_8556@reddit (OP)
My budget is 10k as im still in college I can't really go much more than that. And im not all too picky with what I want just at least good gas mileage. My current car is rocking an average of 27 mpg so around there i think would be pretty ideal
Chasingwires47@reddit
I'd get a 2010s prius at that rate
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
Where I live there are still a lot of W124 Mercedes cars in traffic. I see them almost every single day. Volvo and Toyota also made some very good cars back then.
ExcellentWinner7542@reddit
No
AKentPhoto@reddit
3rd Gen 4Runners....
stabbingrabbit@reddit
F150 with online 6
docnsx01@reddit
i get the idea of saving money on the initial purchase, but like others have mentioned the vehicle your thinking about is over 30 years old and will require some maintenance just due to time and wear esp if you want to daily it , and if you find a true well preserved example driven by the little old lady with no miles , things can wear just bc of brittleness , like electronics used capacitors back then that leak over time , abs pumps were hydraulic vs electronic now and fail ! i have a garage queen from 93 with 40k on clock (my screen name gives it away) that is pampered (never in rain) maintenance is impeccable and things just go bad from time to time ! on top of that these cars are well made but the tech and safety features are primitive to newer cars and sourcing parts also can be an added nuisance !
the plan you have is logical in theory but maybe not so practical in real world execution ‘
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
Camry lol
teddymoon22@reddit
I've been pleasantly surprised my '98 Camaro still runs great. Not a daily driver anymore, but was for nearly fifteen years after buying it in '02. Other than basic maintenance, the only real work I've had done was replacing the clutch at around 200,000 miles.
CrazyErniesUsedCars@reddit
98 Camry. I've owned two. Best car ever made.
OlYeller01@reddit
‘01-up Panther platform Ford/Lincoln Mercury (Crown Vic/Town Car/Grand Marquis). There’s a reason they were used as cop cars and taxis. Parts are plentiful and cheap, they’re safe, and the Ford 4.6 2V is one of the most reliable engines out there, though it won’t set the world on fire with its power. I said ‘01-up because ‘01 is when the Panther got the “Performance Improved” version of the 4.6.
You can still often find nice examples cheap from estates of passed owners.
Highway MPG will be low to mid 20s, though city MPG will be in the teens.
If they’re a bit too “old folks” in performance and appearance for you, lots of Mustang GT parts will bolt right on.
wrxtasy846@reddit
I found a 100k mile 1994 legacy wagon in 2010, 130k miles, for $1000. I used it to commute for almost 10 years, with just regular maintenance. I traded it in 2019 just after it turned 200k miles. It was rock solid, incredibly well engineered and built. I put my stock wrx wheels on it which really helped its ride and handling. The clutch was worn when I first got it, it would slip if I floored it in first, but I never replaced it, I drove it like that the whole time.
Other than early 90’s Subaru, I believe 90’s Lexus’s are still holding together too.
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
No such thing as a "reliable above all else" 30 year old vehicle. In fact "reliability" will be below all else on a 30 year old vehicle.
Generally they make lousy daily drivers unless you can diagnose and fix them yourself. Most vehicles made before 1996 will not have OBD2 diagnostics, so troubleshooting diagnostics and support will likely be paperclips & blinking lights, with paperback repair manuals. Not difficult once you learn it, but also not as quick/easy as plugging in a $10 OBD2 scan tool and using your phone.
Parts can also get scarce unless it's a popular/collector/show car with good aftermarket support. You just as often as not end up replacing 30 year old burnt out electrics/electronics with other 30 year old junkyard parts.
Also consider safety. There were some also significant safety improvements made in vehicles when NHTSA started doing front-offset crash safety tests in 1995. Requirements didn't go into effect until at least a decade later. And a lot of supposedly safe vehicles tested poorly at the get go in the mid-1990s. So do your research if this matters to you.
Whereisthesavoir@reddit
There a shit ton of 96-2002 4Runners still being daily driven. Many with 200k on the clock. Even those go for $6-10,000. Parts are cheap, easy to work on. Goes anywhere. Not huge, but very spacious.
Best vehicle ever sold in the US really.
rhysisacreep@reddit
GMT400 brother, golden age of the 350, best engine there ever was
VivienM7@reddit
I would have said your late 90s/early 2000s GMs with the 3.8L engine.
Good news - most of the models I'm thinking of were made into 2003-2005 so you're looking at closer to 20 years old than 30.
But... unless you find grandma's mint condition Buick with 30K miles (which will probably be sold for top dollars by Specialty Motor Cars on YouTube), by this point, they're going to be old and tired.
A 20+ year old car is simply not going to be a reliable daily driver...
Impressive_Risk_8556@reddit (OP)
Thats about what I expected to be the reality of the situation figured id poke the bear and see what I could find. Sucky time to be a car buyer especially with a 90s taste
UncleSlayton77@reddit
GM cars with the 3800 V6. Most were FWD sedans or coupes, with an optional supercharged version. The Buick 3.8 V6 goes and goes with basic maintenance. My supercharged Pontiac Bonneville made it to 200,000 miles when the transaxle died but the motor still had perfect oil pressure and ran great. Tons of models had the 3.8 and you can find them pretty cheap now for the most part.
floridamaannn@reddit
Don’t listen to all the nay sayers, been dailying an 04 Mustang cobra for 2 years, dailies an 01 Mustang gt for like a year before than, just choose a reliable platform, it’ll be easily serviceable
ExcellentMaize4141@reddit
I still see millions of 97-01 Camrys around. The generation before is slightly uncommon but they are still around.
TheBobInSonoma@reddit
Reliable above all else and 30 years old don't go together.
Substantial_Team6751@reddit
You just have to find one that has been garaged and barely driven. You'll have to pay extra fro someone's 30 year old time capsule.
TheCarcissist@reddit
This is a fine line, it has to be regularly driven in small intervals. If it sat for long periods of time thats almost worse than being daily driven.
Substantial_Team6751@reddit
Dude wants a car from the 90s.
It's going to be threading a fine line there to find one to be a daily. If it was driven daily for 30 years, it's had 500k miles on it by now.
TheCarcissist@reddit
This is a loaded question. The easy answer is no. The hard answer is, it depends. If I had the money, a fully restored 80 series cruiser would probably last the rest of my life. My current 80 series is hanging on by a thread but I wont let it die.
OkCartographer175@reddit
There are plenty of first gen Lexus LS400s. They're a reliable car (some have made it to a million miles) but it all depends on how well the owner has kept up with the maintenance.
mackerman1958@reddit
This is what I was going to say. I had a 94 LS and would likely still be driving it but my daughter rear ended another car and the air bag deployed and insurance totaled it. Great cars that will easily go 500k with timing belt replacements every 90k.
twelfthfantasy@reddit
Old Civics and first gen CR-Vs, any Toyota or Lexus (my friend has a 97 Corolla with almost half a million miles on it), still a few Miatas from the 90s, I see Volvo 850s and 940s around all the time. Any car that age is going to need significant upkeep, but if they're running strong now, there's no reason to think they're going to stop any time soon.
Mouser29@reddit
Can't go wrong with ls1 4th Gen camaros if you're looking for a v8
Ok_Narwhal6356@reddit
I love my e34 bmw. Get on marketplace and don’t be Afraid to take a road trip. Be prepared to crawl under the car to inspect for rust.
d__max@reddit
Daily driving anything from the 90s is ambitious at this point I mean these cars are 30 years old . You’re going to have leaks and random stuff going bad even if it’s a mint low mile car . I’d buy anything with a good PPI and service history and check how pricey and more importantly available common parts are . Especially weird stuff if known to be notorious for going bad based on model.
FlashyKick8963@reddit
1995 Honda si