/r/whatcarshouldIbuy
Car model advice and general buying discussion.
Please be specific and provide as much information as possible! No templates or tags are required, but location, budget, and example cars you've already looked at will always give you better answers.
If you have to ask, you shouldn't buy a salvage/branded title
Looking for a basic car for under 5K in the US? Here's a table, courtesy of 4chan's /o/ board! Or in album form: https://imgur.com/a/GPaSiEw
Keep topics limited to what car to buy. Questions about timing can be submitted to r/askcarsales. No pandemic related questions and no low-quality or repeat memes.
Please be respectful in your answers, and remember that this community is equally intended to help devoted gearheads and people who aren't auto enthusiasts.
Made a decision and getting ready to make a purchase? Make sure to get a PPI (Pre Purchase Inspection) and head over to /r/askcarsales for help on all the details!
Buying new? DOC fees by state
Did we help you find your new car? Submit an update with a link to your original post and show off your new ride!
No self promotion, no selling.
Commiserating about bad dealer experiences is understandable, but do not post any personal information.
Feel free to meme, but we reserve the right to remove reposted, lazy, or offensive content.
Don't be a dick.
/r/whatcarshouldIbuy
I'm getting a used car soon, and the focus of my search has been for a RAV4 or CR-V or something similar. I'm hoping to get something that's new-ish and has under 60k miles on it. Would like it to last. I'll treat it well.
I know the RAV4 and CR-V are reliable, though in my criteria there are few options and only in the bottom trim levels. What other options are out there?
Holy shit this is harder than expected.. I’m at the point where I’ve overthought about every car I want and read so many reviews that I now I just have analysis paralysis
Hi all,
I'm looking to get a midsize SUV to last me the next 2-3 years. My budget is max $4000, but preferably lower than that, and from what I've seen on marketplace I have two good options. Option 1 is a 2009-2012 Subaru Forester with anywhere from 140-190k miles. Option 2 is a 2004-2008 Toyota Rav4 with anywhere from 190k-220k miles. My question is, which would I be better off with?
I was leaning towards the forester as I figured a newer, lower milage car would be better, but I've heard that Subarus are made with cheaper parts that require more maintenance. On the other hand, I only need it for the next 2-3 years, and I'd appreciate the newer technology like Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, and better MPG of a forester. What do you guys think?
I'm looking at a 2002 Saturn SL2 with 150k miles 1 owner their selling it for $2500 and are firm. It's being sold by a wholesaler who seems to have a decent reputation. I'm looking for an inexpensive car that will be somewhat reliable and not have me stranded or spending hundreds in repairs every other month. I had a 97 Toyota Avalon for 5 years before this. I'm well aware of Toyota's, Honda's so please don't advise on those. People and the used market are dillisuional and anything with those names go for 5k minimum near me beat up or they are absolutely junked out cars and their still asking 4k. Also the new trend seems to be people (not dealers or wannabe dealers) picking up cars at auction and selling them as if they were theirs for thousands more.
It looks good I haven't saw the Saturn in person. My other options is I can get a brand new VW ID.4 lease for 189 a month 189 down 36 months but that's alot for me because of the costs involved. Insurance, excise tax is insane in my state. 2k is average rate of full coverage insurance on a new car. So I'm looking for a cheap cash car that will cost me little to run. I don't have the money anymore. $2500-4k is my budget but for 4k there's junk and nothing. Would you buy a 2002 Saturn SL2. I've heard so many mixed things. My main concern is the transmission and this seems like the weakest point of the car I just don't know how common failure is. Also I know it depebds on the owner and maintenance. Any help appreciated.
I'm looking to buy a used car for around 30k less would be nice. I live on a pretty bumpy dirt road out in Rural NM. It needs to handle extreme cold & heat well. I need something that has decent gas mileage, can handle off roading, most importantly reliable as I work 50 mins away from home. My current SUV is giving a lot of issues and I can keep affording to repair it every 2 weeks. Thank you so much in advance !
First off, I will provide as much context as possible to help out with my request:
I currently make $20/hr. My monthly paycheck is pretty much exactly $2,550 after taxes (Taxes zap about 20% of my bi-weekly paycheck). I work full-time, 40 hours a week, and do not have any other form of income, since I do not have any side-gigs or another job. This would equate to about $30,600 per year, and I do plan on making more in the future but as of right now this is what I have until I get more job experience under my belt since I do not have a degree to makeup for lack of experience
23M, reside in the state of Kentucky
I do have student loan debt. I attended university up until Junior Year and then dropped out. I have 5 loans, and in total it equates to roughly $14,250. The interest rates for three of them is 5%, the other 2 are about 3%. Currently on Deferment until September 2025, waiting to see what happens to IDR/SAVE Plans, but I would be projected to make monthly payments of about $145 on a Standard Repayment Plan, however I do not plan on doing this and am hoping that the SAVE/IDR Plans are still around come September
My credit score is 760, and I am currently with PNC Bank. I don't have any other debt besides my student loans, which I have been told is pretty low compared to what most other people have.
Monthly payments are only for my S25 Ultra($55) and Rent. I live with my Mom and 2 younger siblings, and fortunately my Mom is willing to charge me only $500 in Rent. I do NOT pay for groceries, utilities, amenities, HOA, insurance, 401k, anything like that. Total monthly payment as of right now I would roughly say $600 since I do pay for some occasional stuff like shampoo, soap, mostly cleaning products or snacks. Also tacking on Gas but that can vary greatly since it can be anywhere between $2.50 - $3.50 and how often I need it
The car that I want is a 2024/2025 Toyota Prius LE Trim which isn't exactly 30k but pretty close to it. It is available at my local dealership and the TSRP is a little under $30,000 for a 2024 model.
I did submit a claim for an accident that occured on December 2023, and I was considered at-fault. I am on my mother's insurance though, so I am unsure if getting a new car would affect my insurance rates since I would be getting insurance under my name instead of my mom. Idk if it would reset or something and as a result wouldnt affect my own personal rates?
I have never owned a car. I have driven a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle since I was 16, however this is my Mom's car and she also owns a 2016 Dodge Journey which she uses. Because of this I wouldn't really have anything to offer in terms of trade-in since my Mom wants to keep our Beetle as a backup car incase anything were to happen. We bought the Beetle at 70k miles and now currently has 90k miles on it and I'm the only person that really uses it so.
I currently have about $4,000 dollars saved up in my account.
Any and all advice will be extremely helpful! I can provide any other additional information as well if it will help.
hi so i saved up money, enough for a cheap car. it doesn’t need to be perfect or new or gorgeous, just a simple car.
its a 1996 honda civic, only 179 miles, 4 cylinder gas, the only issues is that the head gasket and oil leaking needs to be fixed. but i dont drive far, just to school, work and get iced coffee tbh. i dont do much lol
My grandmother is looking for a new-ish automatic car, but is super strict on it not having a push start. I've tried to sway her, but it won't work. Can anyone recommend a car that sits higher off the ground and has manual key start? For example, I have a 2024 Hyundai Venue and she loves it, and it's easy for her to get in and out of. She just hates the push start... Thanks!
I have a 23' Integra A-Spec Tech Blue black interior with 19,000 miles on it. My buddy has a white 23' GR86 Premium with 9,000 miles on it. Both are automatic and have normal wear and tear ( 2 of my wheels are curb rash, one of his are) otherwise Carfax is clean and both inspected by mechanics. He is offering a straight swap keys for keys do I take it ? Do I just mod my Integra into a sportier car?
2 years ago I was deciding between the Integra and the 86 and went Integra for the hatchback but I kinda miss having a peppier, sportier car.
I'm negotiating on a 2021 Mazda GTR with 63k miles. Kelley Blue book is 17.3 k to 21.3k. I managed to knock them down to 19k and they're offering a comprehensive Zurich warranty plan for 2K.
How is Zurich? People are telling me that Zurich paint is terrible but their insurance is middle of the road. Dealership is currently calling around to see if the warranty would be compatible with my local Mazda dealerships as there are no certified mechanics in Massachusetts for Zurich.
What are your thoughts, is 2K for 5 years comprehensive a good deal?
I have driven Honda and Toyota all along.
Looking to buy 2024 BMW X1. It’s prices around 47.5k with premium package. I test drove and loved it.
However, it’s the only 2024 BMW left there and I wonder why. dealership is even suggesting they can offer further discount.
Is there something I am missing or should look out for. Would like to get some inputs about this and about BmW X1 in general as I have never owned one.
Thank you.
I bought hyundai santa fe brand new in 2015 and put 218k km on it. It needs a major repair now.
i'm thinking about buying instead of repairing and wonder if this sub can give me some advice.
we are a one car family, hence the high mileage on the vehicle. do you think we should buy a new car or a low km-mileage used car? if a used car, how low mileage to $ (from original msrp) should i be looking at/that would seem like a good deal?
This car would be used as a daily driver. 35-40,000 KM / yr.
We have an old mini van as a primary people mover, family of 5 with young kids.
I need something that's decent on gas, don't necessarily need a 3rd row, but should be able to fit 3 kids (car seat, boosters) in the back.
Preferably quiet on the highway, and somewhat engaging to drive.
new or used, doesn't matter.
top end of my budget would be 60k CAD (40K USD).
open to EV
thanks in advance.
Hello,
I am currently considering the Honda Pilot and the Volvo XC60. Although these two vehicles have different characteristics, their similar price range makes the decision quite challenging.
[2025 Honda Pilot-Elite] We have only one child, so a third-row seat is not necessary. However, I appreciate its spaciousness and durability. That said, I find it quite disappointing that a 2025 model priced over $5k still comes with halogen rear turn signal lights.
[Volvo XC60-Plus] While it is not as large as the Pilot, my wife, who will be the primary driver, really likes its interior and design. The seats are also exceptionally comfortable. However, I am concerned about its durability and the potentially high maintenance costs.
I would sincerely appreciate your valuable insight, as it would greatly help me make an informed decision.
Thank you.
So I'm 19 looking to buy a new car after I turn 20 on my contract renewal with work. I am a software developer who currently works permanently from home so I do low mileage. I have a budget of £16000+-£1000 as I'll finance a bit of it. What fun cars can I buy to enjoy in my spare time? and insurance companies are nice to me so I can get some nice ones like a BMW 35is for £900 for the year with Platinum Admiral
Is this even worth looking at with the mileage? 2005 Highlander with 196k for $5,000.
Short description of current situation. Wife and I are separated and headed for divorce. We only had 1 car, so I left it with her for the kids school. I work from home, but I do need a car. Can’t depend on family forever.
Got a new job with a long commute, about 50 miles one way. With that in mind I imagine I'll be putting on a about 25k miles a year in this car. I'm looking for a decent car with good fuel efficiency that will last me a good number of years with hopefully low maintenance costs. Hoping to spend around 15k. Any advice is appreciated.
someone is locally selling their 2007 toyota yaris for 1k. it has 210,133 miles on it. slight damage on the passenger door, and "loud when you turn it on but after that it's smooth sailing"
i've never owned or bought a car. i just want a starter car to dip my toes into driving safely. if this could last me like two years, it would be well worth it in my eyes.
my dad said it's hard to get parts for nowadays. does anyone have any insight on that? mileage too high? worth the gamble?
Hey folks,
In last couple of years I havent had good experiences with old car. So, I am thinking about buying my first brand new car in Canada. I have checked the local price it seems like both 2025 civic hatchback sport hybrid and camry se hybrid has quite similar price. I have one lil kid and trank looks better on hatchback. I'm not really sure which one I should go for. Which one would keep the value in long run. Also, I will be driving a lot. Should I buy extra warranty?
Thanks
Hello! I’ll be turning 21 in a few months, and am looking into what my first car should be. I’m looking for an SUV that’s decently fuel efficient and is relatively inexpensive. I’d like to be able to purchase second hand within the next 5 years, so I’d like to look at some good options so I have a price point to save for
Our options are:
2011 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X Crew Cab 4WD $13,250 99k miles. (will be Titan swapped)
2018 Chevy Colorado ZR2 $22,500 80k miles
2019 RAM 1500 Classic Warlock Ext. Cab 4WD $28.945 45k miles
2016 RAM 2500 Power Wagon $27,977 91k miles
Looking for opinions/advice on which one we should choose. We live in very rural NW Pennsylvania with lots of back/dirt roads with sometimes snow.
Edit: Reliability is a factor. We are paying cash and would like it to go another 100k+ more miles.
Hey Reddit! I’m working on building a car app that aims to make car buying easier and more transparent. Here’s what I have so far:
But I want to make this app awesome, so I’m turning to you for suggestions! If you could design your dream car app, what features would you consider:
Looking forward to your creative ideas—thanks in advance for helping me build something truly useful for car buyers! 🚗✨
You guys just helped me dodge a 2006 Murano, and I’m now considering a 2008 Prius Hatchback Touring. It has 200k miles, the battery was recently replaced, it has had two owners, and an ABS light is on. The seller is looking for $2,500, and he’s getting rid of the car because he works in the oilfields and he was being made fun of.
I'm also wondering whether I should be concerned about the ABS light. He says that it takes 10 seconds for a beeping to stop when you turn it on. He also says that the brakes are soft before the 10 seconds, and then they become normal after. Any advice would be appreciated.
I’m 21f and looking to get my first new car. Curious to see what your first car was!
The transmission in my last vehicle (2008 Saturn Outlook) decided it had had enough and died last week. So now I'm stranded without a vehicle. Looking on this forum (and others) seem to suggest Toyota's and Honda's are the way to go. However, many of them are out of my price range (under $10k). I don't have a lot of cash on hand, but enough for $1000-1400 down payment and finance the rest. I do have a few options and wonder what some thoughts on those make models might be.
First and second are two model years of Honda Fit (first: https://www.hillsauto.co/details/used-2011-honda-fit/108282558 and second: https://www.hillsauto.co/details/used-2010-honda-fit/109281617). One is newer but with more miles compared to the other one, and more expensive (technically out of my price range, but not by too much.)
There's also a 2012 Honda CR-V but $10.5k for over 150,000 miles seems like a bit of an ask (but I could be wrong).
Other than that it's like cars with bad reliability histories. Some quick googling suggests a Kia Rio might not be bad or a Forte could work, but other than that it's like Escapes and Traxes but those seem to be pretty unreliable (even though I am looking at a Trax).
Mostly I'm concerned as I'm in the middle of trying to recareer and am going back to college, and will be full time next fall and I don't yet know how that will affect my ability to work. So yeah, any help or insight would be appreciated.
We’re looking for a used SUV and need advice.
Key features:
Always wanted to try a luxury car - but is it worth it? We’re debating between a CPO luxury SUV (2021-22) Mercedes GLE/BMW X5 with ~30K miles, extended warranty) or a relatively newer (2023-24) non-luxury SUV (Mazda CX-90, VW Atlas) which may have better tech at higher trims.
How do these compare in reliability, depreciation, and value? Open to other suggestions too!
Thanks!
Hi
I am looking at buying a Volvo V40 1.6 d2 and have seen a good example today from 2014 but the exhaust pipes were covered in black soot. Just wanted to ask whether that's a fairly normal thing in diesel cars or should I stay away from it ?
$4500
Desc. off marketplace:
V6 3.0L 4 door Honda Accord LX
Well maintained
Oil changes every 4,000 miles
Brakes replaced 02/2024
Routine Transmission Servicing has been performed
Engine and Cabin filter replaced 9/2024
Tires just 1 year old
Battery replaced 09/2024
Heat and AC work perfectly
Driver and Passenger Seat Heaters
Low mileage for age, 98,000
Vehicle was originally purchased and operated for first 75,000 miles in Florida, virtually RUST FREE
$4000
Desc. off marketplace: 2006 Toyota Avalon up for sale. Drives good
I'm leaning more towards the accord, even with the extra $500, simply due to the maintenance record given in the description. I just had a '05 Camry I bought in November blow it's head gasket after a collision and I need a car as soon as possible. I did basic research into both cars and didn't particularly find anything major with them, is there anything I should know about either car to help my decision? This will be the second car I've purchased, and (not that I had issues with the Camry until the accident), I want to ensure I do it right.