Any reliable car under $15k? Whats my budget
Posted by shiesttoofazz@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 33 comments
I’ve been looking for something new and reliable at a price range of $7k-15k with low mileage.
I need a daily commute to work, I drive 80 miles daily to work and home because right now I’m pumping $70 a week for gas.
I’m looking for something that will take me to work and last long with low maintenance cost.
I make $29 an hour with overtime and bonus i exceed over $70k a year. Whats my budget? If there are something luxurious and reliable I would like to know y’all opinion.
No-Relationship-2169@reddit
If you can charge at home. A Chevy bolt will save you 50 bucks a week.
Money-Worldliness-51@reddit
Used Nissan leaf, electric so no gas not a ton of maintenance and super cheap
MajesticCat98@reddit
Going and will get hate on this, but Ford Explorer.
Have had two of them with the NA 3.5L, only maintenance on both. Still have one of them and it’s never let me down, limited and got it for 9k.
The other gave to my mom, it’s had about 40k put on it and again only basic maintenance. They just go.
JJ-Dream-Big@reddit
I thought it is an exploder.
Super-Article-1576@reddit
It’s actually boggling my fucking mind that there are 2012-2015 base model corollas and civics going for over 50-60% of MSRP if not higher with close to 100k miles. Are we just done forever? Do all cars just appreciate now?
JJ-Dream-Big@reddit
It does because now they also found a way to increase the price of a new car every year. The car used to 20K pre covid is 35K now. I remember buying brand new civic for 16K OTD not too far back.
JJ-Dream-Big@reddit
I will ask you to buy brand new Toyota Corolla for 22K. You will pump half the gas and the car will drive 20 years. Or drive 10 years and then switch to something else when hook make 200K a year. You will get half of your money back.
smward998@reddit
Toyota Camry with no accidents and under 100 k miles. Budget 1500 for maintenance off the rip
Stelios619@reddit
If I were you, I’d look for the lowest mileage Honda Civic owned by an old person for $15,000, then drive it for 20 years.
shiesttoofazz@reddit (OP)
Thats a good idea, I’ve been looking at a used 2013 Civic LX with 51k miles for $13k. Clean title, only 2 previous owners, no accident reported. Is that a steal?
Stelios619@reddit
I don’t know if it’s a steal, but it’s probably a good choice
trainrover@reddit
2020+ Tesla model 3. If you can charge at home... Low maintenance, easy driving, just make sure battery health is good!
Agent0_7@reddit
High maintenance tbh, nothing but high mileage at that level of price
trainrover@reddit
I had a close friend who bought one for 20k like 2 years ago now... He's put like 50k miles on it... Just needed tire changes.
I've had a friend who still has his model S from 2016 and barely any maintenance.
I've got a model y for 4 years now.. And all the maintenance was tires, everything else I did myself - wiper blade change, filter change.
ravage214@reddit
Nissan Frontier
2WheelTinker-@reddit
I drive a 2010 Prius I paid $2500 for 80 miles a day to work and home.
There are hundreds of answers to your question accross multiple budgets and comfort expectations.
Your budget is what you are effectively willing to throw away to keep your job.
Getting a “luxurious” vehicle to commute in seems crazy to me. Tanking its value and reliability fighting 80 miles of traffic. Anyway, you do you.
I commute in my Prius to be able to afford multiple motorcycles and other vehicles for fun. My budget for your use case(driving to work) was $2500. My combined budget for the other use cases(fun) is over 200.
shiesttoofazz@reddit (OP)
Its either a Prius or Civic but I want something more mid 2010s or late if I can get my hands on one of those
2WheelTinker-@reddit
If you have a 15k budget you can get either.
Just open Facebook marketplace and type “thing you want” and you will get all of your options.
Agent0_7@reddit
Golf gti 2018
ZaphodG@reddit
I put 142,000 miles on a 2001 1.8T and 100,000 on a 2007 Fahrenheit special edition. The 2001 had one repair of some turbo plumbing. The only big bill was the timing belt replacement. The 2007 had an A/C valve fail. That was the only repair.
Agent0_7@reddit
Joking I think Honda civic or a scion tc 2014.
gmehodler42069741LFG@reddit
Every car i own is reliable under 15k
Dolphin_Princess@reddit
Tesla Model 3
Extremely reliable, luxurious, gas savings alone is 2-4 thousand per year depending on where you live, less maintenance than Toyota, and you can get a lot newer one than Toyota because Tesla depreciate much more than Toyota (A very good thing for you since you are buying used)
Its an EV which means its a much better ride, less wear on brake pads, far less moving parts, no oil changes.
The tradeoff is higher insurance, if you are a young professional male, its going to offset some of the savings.
Pretty-Ticket5071@reddit
Your best bet is a honda civic or a toyota carolla however if you want something newer a nissan versa is good too
run_uz@reddit
Mazda 3
Captain3leg-s@reddit
I just bought a 2012 corolla with low miles for 12k. Reliable car
HistoricalHurry8361@reddit
Yaris
J-Rag-@reddit
Sportswagon TDI all day!
Dolphin_Princess@reddit
Tesla Model 3
Extremely reliable, luxurious, gas savings alone is 2-4 thousand per year depending on where you live, less maintenance than Toyota, and you can get a lot newer one than Toyota because Tesla depreciate much more than Toyota (A very good thing for you since you are buying used)
Its an EV which means its a much better ride, less wear on brake pads, far less moving parts, no oil changes.
The tradeoff is higher insurance, if you are a young professional male, its going to offset some of the savings.
Coolmacde@reddit
Lexus or Toyota.
whiskey_piker@reddit
You just told us. Your budget is $15K.
You can get plenty of reliable Hondas and Mazda’s for between 7000 and $8000. If you want a reliable car after purchase, budget money (about $1500) to replace all the belts, hoses, battery, brakes and tires. Maybe the water pump and timing belt. That might even run you closer to $3000, but those are all the things they’re gonna leave you on the side of the road.
TheBobInSonoma@reddit
Last summer I sold a 2016 Mazda 6 with less than 60k miles for $14k. So look for something like that.
StonedPand4@reddit
'98 Ford Taurus SE.
You'll thank me later.