Recommend me a cheap commuter car!
#1
Recommend me a cheap commuter car!
I'm tossing around the idea of getting rid of my '12 Mazda3 hatchback in exchange for a cheaper commuter car with no car payment. It can be auto or manual trans, preferably manual, fit at least one car seat safely, and cost less than $10k. The cheaper the better, but it has to be reliable and get decent fuel economy. I am thinking of old Escorts, Protégés, etc....but maybe something more sporty that I could tune a little too.
Any recommendations?
Any recommendations?
#9
I LOVE my Acura TSX.
I picked up an 06 with 210k miles (well maintained with receipts) for $4500
The interior has held up very well for the miles.
It's a nice mix of reliability, luxury, comfort and cost.
You can find lower mileage examples within you budget.
If you're looking for an even cheaper car early to mid Camry and Corolla are great.
I picked up an 06 with 210k miles (well maintained with receipts) for $4500
The interior has held up very well for the miles.
It's a nice mix of reliability, luxury, comfort and cost.
You can find lower mileage examples within you budget.
If you're looking for an even cheaper car early to mid Camry and Corolla are great.
#10
I was in a similar situation a couple years ago and ended up with a '04 6sp G35 Sedan. It's a nice car especially for the price, decent power, reliable, carseat fits fine, rwd, I get ~20mpg in town which was good enough for me. The manuals are tougher to find than autos but not impossible.
#11
Seriously considered this, but it won't accommodate the car seat (legally).
The car is a Grand Touring so it has all the standard bells and whistles. The payments are actually tiny, around $150/month at crazy low interest, so part of the motivation is just to take the equity out of a car that I'm not in love with and put it towards something that is done depreciating. Also, insurance will be cheaper on a paid off beater car.
The car is a Grand Touring so it has all the standard bells and whistles. The payments are actually tiny, around $150/month at crazy low interest, so part of the motivation is just to take the equity out of a car that I'm not in love with and put it towards something that is done depreciating. Also, insurance will be cheaper on a paid off beater car.
#12
I second the Acura TSX.
I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
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I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
��
#15
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I second the Acura TSX.
I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
��
I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
��
#16
I second the Acura TSX.
I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
��
I recently got a 2004 with 175k miles for dirt cheap. I've been driving it instead of a 2007 Accord with 100k less miles, and I much prefer the TSX. They're also available with a 6 speed and are fairly "tune able". TL rear away bar, intake/exhaust, 50 degree VTC gear, and Hondata reflash or Flashpro are all easy mods that would make the car more fun but still 100% comfortable DD. Gas mileage is food too, I've been getting ~26 ish combined, which is equivalent to my newer accord but the TSX requires premium.
Actually...I take that all back, I would recommend a low mileage 2007 Honda Accord SE. I have one for sale, super low miles, two owner. It will literally run forever, has nothing super fancy to break, easy and cheap to maintain/repair.
��
#19
I like the idea of the TSX above, but here in AZ a clean one with under 160k miles is $6-8k.
My wife drives our '13 NC daily, and due to a promotion her commute recently went from 20 miles/day to over 100... Piling the miles on the MX-5 is driving me nuts, but there's no way to financially justify another car when it gets 30+mpg already.
My wife drives our '13 NC daily, and due to a promotion her commute recently went from 20 miles/day to over 100... Piling the miles on the MX-5 is driving me nuts, but there's no way to financially justify another car when it gets 30+mpg already.