Best used car for $5K

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I am looking for a daily driver that will see a lot of miles - at least 25K per year. So the first requirement is that it must get at absolute minimum 25 MPG. I would like for it to get 35MPG (I have a very light right foot and always get better mileage than the EPA sticker). I do not care if it is American/[censored]/Korean/etc. I would love to find a Corolla, Civic, or Fusion 5spd with under 75K miles for around $4000.

Anyone want to chime in on any cars that I may be overlooking?
 
Ecotec Cavalier or Cobalt.

A member that used to be on here, 'OriginHacker21' still has an Eco-powered Sunfire 2-door, 5-speed, and regularly gets about 40mpg's highway with it.
 
5spd Cobalts are starting to get into the $5k range. Maybe try the seats in some of these cars, I find my Neon's suprisingly good and the Trackers not so good.
 
Plenty of ultra-reliable Civics and Corollas. Or if you need something bigger, a slightly older Accord or Camry. All are as reliable as water...but really boring.
 
I was asked to find my sister in-law a car just last month. She bought a 2005 Honda Civic with 20K miles for $5,500. That was the best buy I could find. Toyota's are good also but I think the Honda's may be the better buy of the two brands.
Good Luck!!
 
Originally Posted By: Radman
I was asked to find my sister in-law a car just last month. She bought a 2005 Honda Civic with 20K miles for $5,500.


That's a heckuva deal. My friend totalled his '97 Civic the other month and is looking for a replacement. It had 331,000 miles on it when he got rear-ended badly. He was hoping to see 333,333, but it just wasn't to be.

He can't find much below about $6,000, at least not without 100,000 miles on it.
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Ecotec Cavalier or Cobalt.

A member that used to be on here, 'OriginHacker21' still has an Eco-powered Sunfire 2-door, 5-speed, and regularly gets about 40mpg's highway with it.



And they tend to go for a while...
 
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
A 2.2 Ecotec powered Chevy Malibu Classic would be my choice.



This would work too.
 
I'd look for a private party Corolla. They're a dime a dozen on Craigslist and don't seem to hold value like Civics do. Either that or look for a Toyota Echo; those are consistent 40+ mpg cars with a 5 speed and will go forever.
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Ecotec Cavalier or Cobalt.

A member that used to be on here, 'OriginHacker21' still has an Eco-powered Sunfire 2-door, 5-speed, and regularly gets about 40mpg's highway with it.



And they tend to go for a while...

Not around here. In my area, it seems like the individuals who own the GM subcompacts and midsize sedans cannot afford to be driving. In other words, the cars in very, very poor shape.
 
Manual trans Olds Alero's are kind of interesting too, looks better than its pontiac twin and probably has had a more mature owner. I was tempted to jump from the Neon to one a year ago.
 
Also, look at Geo/Chevrolet Prizm. They're basically corollas.

To be honest, it's very hard to find a civic or corolla for $5k with 70k miles or less. At that price range we're talking about a 10+yr old car which means they drove it less than 7k/year.

Personally, I'll rather see an used car drove 15k/yr (mostly highway miles) than a car that drove 7k/yr (lots of stop/go).
 
One that has been well maintained. I read all the monkey posts that read I bought this used car and a month later found out the engine was all sludged up and there was no oil in the transmission.
 
You should get a 4.6 Ford Crown Victoria,Mercury Grand Marquis or Town Car..If you have a light right foot that will work for you...I get 26.5 MPG on the road with the a/c on...They all use regular gas.

You can find a awesome one for 5K bucks.
 
The "sleeper" car with your requirements: the latest model year Ford Escort with manual trans you can find (must be newer body style). I knew a body shop parts mgr. that bought one with 120k miles, commuted about 60 miles per day, 40 mpg, no problems. He did change timing belt. Last I knew, had over 200k miles (shop was recently sold and he moved on).
 
Remember the Cobalt XFE gets several MPG better. This car came out in 07 and you can probably find one right at 70k in your price range, private party.

The Alero and Escorts are good ideas but they stopped making them both in 02 or so and you probably want at least an 06. I've been under the hoods of 2000-something elantras and they're laid out very nicely, should make repairs cheap and easy. They remind me of 90s corollas, not a slam, I'm upset with the direction of mainline automakers lately.

No other requirements? Stick or auto? Cruise? Leather? Go by individual condition, easier said than done. Something like a late base saturn ION will take 14 or 15 inch tires, important to keep consumables cheap as well. (Though the ecotec oil filters are still $5+)

The market locally is really tight as snowbanks engulf unused cars. Might be different near you. Some shyster dealer near me wants $6k for a 1997 saturn, now that gas prices made a little blip.
 
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