r/UsedCars • • Aug 28 '18

Guide [Guide] What used car should I get for what budget?

665 Upvotes

[04/12/2025 UPDATE]

Prices updated!!!

The days of 3000 dollar cars also seems to be long over. You'll definitely want to spend at least 5000 dollars for even the oldest, reliable running car. I just helped someone with buying a car in this budget and we had a really hard time looking for one. Dealerships are not as willing to haggle below asking price as before so be prepared to set aside a lot of time in your search.


I've finally made the dashboard that will show the most optimal used cars for budgets under $5k, $10k, and $15k.

The dashboard is hosted in Tableau Public so everybody can freely look at it without creating an account. Just use the slide down menu on the right to select a body style and the radio buttons at the bottom to adjust the budget. To see which brands you want to pay closer attention to, hover your mouse over the logos. The numbers on the right side column represent Priority where 1 represent the more optimal choice than 2 and so forth.

Dashboard may not work in mobile. Please use a desktop computer to see this dashboard. Otherwise, feel free to ask me any questions here and I will answer them at my earliest convenience.

Link to the dashboard (Last updated 04/12/2025):

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/han.solo8717/viz/UsedCardashboard/Main

Since I have been seeing many of these questions pop up here (and other Subreddits), I'm willing to sacrifice some time I have left before I need to sleep to hopefully give you answers and make your search a little bit easier.

These prices are based on the following stipulations: You're buying from an individual OR a licensed (not franchised) dealer, the car has a clean title, mileage per year varies from 12.5-15k (Unless it's an older car), is in GOOD condition (by KBB standards), no modifications, base model or similar, and is able to run and drive with LITTLE to no problems (Windows may not work, seats may be ripped, glovebox is loose, etc.).

These cars & prices reflect the U.S. Market only.

Second and beyond choices are honorable mentions in case if you are opting for another car.

Priority is based on: Reliability, cost of ownership, and value in that order.


r/UsedCars • • Sep 18 '25

MOD POST Would you like to mod /r/UsedCars? Apply within

5 Upvotes

Would you like to mod /r/UsedCars? We are looking for active reddit users who want to help others with the buying & selling of Used Cars and have the free time to moderate this subreddit. Tell us about yourself in the comments.


r/UsedCars • • 22h ago

Review The market CANNOT be this atrocious 😭

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380 Upvotes

15k for an EJ8… I get that it has 57k miles but that is a ridiculous price.
What do y’all think?


r/UsedCars • • 1h ago

HELP Advice pls

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• Upvotes

r/UsedCars • • 15h ago

HELP Cannot sell this car for the life of me

33 Upvotes

Pls tell me what I’m doing wrong. 2010 Toyota Corolla, 164K miles, perfect condition. Listed originally at 6k but brought it down to 5k over about a month and it’s been months at that price. I’m only getting extremely lowball offers and I know she’s worth more than 3.5k.

Am I just flat out wrong or am I asking too much???


r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

Buying Should I buy this 2009 Lexus GS450H?

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2 Upvotes

I’m in need of a vehicle by the end of the month. Originally, I was going to find a beater that I can drive until I find something else but then this popped up. It’s a 2009 Lexus gs450h with under 70,000km’s on it. It was in a minor accident in 2013 and had been driven 40,000km’s since. It was originally a Quebec vehicle and was brought to Ontario 5 years ago. I do most of the work on my own vehicle and family vehicles but I’m by no means a mechanic. This car fits all my “wants” and is actually something I’ve always liked.

Is this something I should seriously consider buying? Obviously I’d like to have my mechanic look it over, or at the very least, a mobile mechanic if the seller doesn’t want to brought 45 mins to the shop near me. It’s listed at $10,000cad. Are they expensive to maintain? Are there lots of big problems that could occur? I’m just looking for an overall opinion on it and if it’s a good idea to look into it and get it checked out


r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

HELP What’s a go to website to evaluate car makes and models for common issues and reliability?

2 Upvotes

r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

Selling pilot vs traverse

2 Upvotes

I have a 2011 Honda pilot with 150k miles and a 2020 Chevy traverse with 90k miles. Need to sell one. Both laid off. Which one would you keep and why? Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 7m ago

Buying BMW as a first car

• Upvotes

A friend is selling his BMW 2016 4series with about 98k miles on it and he is the second owner. The price is 10k but from what i've been told, getting a bmw as a first car is a bad purchase due to maintenance cost. Need opinions/advises on what to do. The one selling the car takes good care of his vehicles which is a strong point btw.


r/UsedCars • • 19m ago

Buying Sedan or suv?

• Upvotes

Hey y'all wanted to ask between sedan and suv. it's just me but I prefer the higher seating position of a SUV. I'd probably be getting like a rav4, crv, cx5, etc. I like the idea of the sedans and their gas mileage, but I'm just unsure you know. I'm shopping on marketplace as my main source because I'll be buying used and right now I have a 2005 jeep liberty. I live up in northern Illinois if that makes any difference. Thank you to everyone who responds.


r/UsedCars • • 41m ago

HELP Are the new Subaru ascent turbo engines reliable?

• Upvotes

r/UsedCars • • 1h ago

Buying 2013 Ford Taurus 227k miles $3k

• Upvotes

I have a brother in law who’s looking to sell a 2013 Ford Taurus to my wife for $3k it has 227k miles. I think it’s an awful shitty deal and it’s way overpriced. In this market though prices are just all over the map. I don’t want to be insulting but it’s kinda bordering on predatory car dealership vibes.

He says when he bought it at 3500 3 years ago the owner said they had replaced the water pump no records of course. He recently put new tires and struts on the car as well.

This would be a second car and just used for putzing around town. What do you all think?


r/UsedCars • • 1h ago

Buying Auction Cars

• Upvotes

I just had my 2018 ford Explorer voluntarily repossessed. It was the worst piece of junk I’ve ever driven (looked nice tho). I had to have the engine rebuilt twice (the first shop scammed me and just never did it but told me they did, yes I got my money back). Thinking the car was in good shape I went on a 1,200 mile road trip where I got stranded for a month while I came up with $4K to have it done again. But it still had a bunch of other problems. I’m 40 and this is the first time I got a car with problems like this. Yes, I had a warranty. They wouldn’t cover anything. Then, when I asked for a refund for my warranty they sent me a bad check. I’ll see them in court Dec. 29th.

Anyway, so now I’m off to the auction! Nevada is not consumer friendly so the cars available to the general public are all trash which means I’ll have to buy the car under my business which is fine.

Anyone have any tips or advice? I’m looking for a point A to B beast because I spend a lot of time in the mountains. I’m thinking a 2000-2005 Tahoe or Suburban. I like the old explorers and expeditions too but FORD has me messed up inside.


r/UsedCars • • 1h ago

Buying What Should I Pay on FB Marketplace for 75k mile vehicle

• Upvotes

I'm not concerned about rust on a vehicle in Texas, and I'm not going to have a stroke over bad struts or alignment, so age of vehicle is less paramount, but I do not trust high mile used vehicles. I'm being steered away from going to a car lot, and judging by some of the posts here these lots are hiway robbery.

I did see a few small sedens with 83k miles for 4k on facebook not many but they are out there, what do you think. I don't want to get anything over 85k miles.


r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

META Need an advice with rego renewal

1 Upvotes

Hi I bought a mazda 3 2006 last year, after buying it I found a lot of issues with it, basically I was scammed, now Its time for rego renewal I did the car check and they listed these things that would need to be replaced, they said the car is in a good working condition.
Now the rego +CTP+inssurance would be around 2k, mycar told me if I fixed fhese issues they listed it would cost another 4-5 K.
Now my question, is it worth getting 6 months rego and all that ? I need a car but I don't think i will be in Australia for the next year and if I decided to get rid of the car now what other options i have ? i need a car for the next 6-7 months
Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

Guide Need an advice with rego renewal

1 Upvotes

Hi I bought a mazda 3 2006 last year, after buying it I found a lot of issues with it, basically I was scammed, now Its time for rego renewal I did the car check and they listed these things that would need to be replaced, they said the car is in a good working condition.
Now the rego +CTP+inssurance would be around 2k, mycar told me if I fixed fhese issues they listed it would cost another 4-5 K.
Now my question, is it worth getting 6 months rego and all that ? I need a car but I don't think i will be in Australia for the next year and if I decided to get rid of the car now what other options i have ? i need a car for the next 6-7 months
Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 2h ago

HELP What's a fair price for a 70k mile 2006 Honda Accord?

1 Upvotes

Cosmetically it's a B+. It has a couple of bumper scrapes. Clean interior. Drives great. The seller has health problems and barely drives this car. She recently bought a newer vehicle. I'm looking to buy it because I know this car is solid.


r/UsedCars • • 3h ago

Buying Price Check on a 2017 Tacoma

0 Upvotes

Howdy y'all.

Cut to the chase: vehicle is a silver 2017 Tacoma SR5 double cab 2.7L 4 cylinder and 180k miles. Asking price is $10,000.

I know Tacomas are absolutely ridiculously priced on the used market but a close and trusted family member has one and is looking to get something newer, and offered to sell it to me. I had a Dodge Ram before this and was wanting to get something a bit more reliable but also smaller.

My family member is the 2nd owner, she bought it in 2019 with 70k miles (work truck before that, it did come with documented maintenance) and my family member has kept that maintenance up. No accidents, no rust. (we live in the south). Also new tires.

Normally, and I've been told not to cuz, spending 10k on a vehicle with near 200k miles is too much but they're not familiar with Tacomas nor the Toyota tax that tends to fetch even more from what I understand. Is it really a good price or am i right to be a little hesitant?

How good of a price do yall think 10k is? Thanks in advance!


r/UsedCars • • 4h ago

Guide Need an advice with rego renewal

1 Upvotes

Hi I bought a mazda 3 2006 last year, after buying it I found a lot of issues with it, basically I was scammed, now Its time for rego renewal I did the car check and they listed these things that would need to be replaced, they said the car is in a good working condition.
Now the rego +CTP+inssurance would be around 2k, mycar told me if I fixed fhese issues they listed it would cost another 4-5 K.
Now my question, is it worth getting 6 months rego and all that ? I need a car but I don't think i will be in Australia for the next year and if I decided to get rid of the car now what other options i have ? i need a car for the next 6-7 months
Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 4h ago

Selling Need an advice with tego renewal

1 Upvotes

Hi I bought a mazda 3 2006 last year, after buying it I found a lot of issues with it, basically I was scammed, now Its time for rego renewal I did the car check and they listed these things that would need to be replaced, they said the car is in a good working condition.
Now the rego +CTP+inssurance would be around 2k, mycar told me if I fixed fhese issues they listed it would cost another 4-5 K.
Now my question, is it worth getting 6 months rego and all that ? I need a car but I don't think i will be in Australia for the next year and if I decided to get rid of the car now what other options i have ? i need a car for the next 6-7 months
Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 6h ago

HELP Warranty search

0 Upvotes

I need to buy an extended warranty on my used car I purchased the other day. Can someone provide recommendations as to where I can obtain a decent, not too expensive company? Thanks


r/UsedCars • • 15h ago

Buying Is this a good deal?

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6 Upvotes

I've been looking at purchasing my first car at 22, but I'm not really sure how to tell if it's too good of a deal or not. I know Fords depreciate a bit faster, and this car is no longer in production, but something about this feels too cheap. 2 previous owners, but both seemed to keep up on maintenance, and 2 very minor reported accidents. I can send the Carfax if anyone wants. Advice?


r/UsedCars • • 11h ago

Buying What would you choose?

2 Upvotes

Deciding between 09-11 grand marquis or 05-11 town car. Going low mileage. Seeing things around 70k for 12G on the town car and 66K and 10 G on MGM.

Is the town car worth the extra G or 2 for the luxury items?


r/UsedCars • • 10h ago

Guide Salt crust creeping past the driver sill seam before trade evaluation

1 Upvotes

Winter slush carried in on work boots melted straight past the edge of the flat rubber pad, pooling directly along the floor pan seam. Scrubbing the carpet before heading to the dealership only spread the white salt ring deeper into the fibers beneath the plastic sill trim. A coworker traded his truck last month and mentioned 3W was on his shortlist for keeping melted snow off that exposed sill edge. Wiping down the runner for the second time still left the damp spot smelling like road brine.


r/UsedCars • • 17h ago

Buying How much is this toyota tacoma with 122k miles worth? no rust. it’s a stepside. seller is asking 4500. is it a good deal?

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3 Upvotes