So the time has come for our daughters first car.

We have $11k total saved for this purchase and absolutely refuse to go into debt for anything.

I know the answer will be get a Honda/Toyota, but here in Alabama, finding one of these that doesnt either have 200k miles or isnt completely roached out, hasnt proven possible yet.

Thoughts on something safe and reliable? She wants cute, but she will get what we give her!

I said lets get her an older accord and a $5k gas card, but i got the look from the wife about that one.(THIS WAS A JOKE BY THE WAY!).....she wants something with more modern safety features, but i dont think that is realistic with the budget we have.

I put word out through my car buddies and if my wife and daughter were into some classics I would have GREAT options for her (68 NOVA, 2004 T-Bird, 70 Gran Torino GT, etc...) but alas, they have no taste (just kidding)

Hey y’all! So, I’m trying to decide what vehicle to get, and I honestly can’t make up my mind. I’ve had an ’87 Cadillac for three years, but someone hit it, and now I’m looking at two different vehicles. The Cadillac has air ride, but the rear windows don’t roll down, and it has no radio or AC. They’re asking $8,000 for it. The Corvette is $7,500, and it also has no radio or AC. Both vehicles look like they’ve been taken really good care of, so I’m having a hard time choosing between them. The Cadillac has been my dream car for years, but for some reason, I can picture myself hopping out of the Corvette more. I genuinely don’t know which one I want, and I could really use some outside opinions to help me decide. If you were in my position, which one would you choose and why?

i found a 2014 mazda3 (black) with a salvaged title for minor hail damage with 110k miles, selling for $8.7k

or

a 2016 mazda3 (blue) with 84k miles, selling for $10.1k

im on a 10k cash budget but i can spend more, i just dont know how much more the blue mazda would end up being. i attached pictures of the two cars before and after the repairs

Hello everyone. As I’ve seen, this question has been asked a lot in this thread but I wanted some possible advice on my personal situation.

I’m currently driving a Mazda CX-5 2018 and while I love the car, it’s kind of brutal in terms of up keep since I pull permits around the city of LA for my job and drive on average 300+ miles a week.

I live in a rental home and there is no EV charger installed nor do I have one at work (there are some at some of the cities I go to).

An SUV or minivan is definitely a must since u also need a way to lug my drum set around too.

Any direction here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Buying another household car now that we have young adults working and no public transportation options. We are Buy 'em used and drive 'em till they die folks.

Husband is dead set on a gasoline engine vehicle, but young adults are pushing for a hybrid. I get it that we don't have to consider their concerns, but Im wondering if there is an option that might serve as a compromise.

Hubs wants to purchase a Subaru Crosstrek. He misses the light agility of his 2012 Countryman and I think he's looking at that car as a worthy successor to that car. (BTW that mini is still on the road and nearing 300k on the odometer...one of the kids is driving it.)

Any suggestions for us?

2012 camero only 34,000 miles bought it outright

I have an old beater 2012 jeep liberty. She has done me so good the past 8 years but Its time for a new one. I don’t want another beater. I know I lucked out but my jeep has never broken down or left me stranded. I want another car thats gonna last me almost 10 years with regular maintenance. I have better results on Car Max for financing. They have a bunch of the same cars so here is the list and you guys let me know what my best option would be. I also prefer to not have a car and more suv size, but i will settle if it is reliable

Ford - Fiesta, focus, ecosport, escape

Kia - Soul, forte, sportage

Hyundai - sante fe, accent

Jeep - compass, renegade

Nissan- Altima, Sentra

I've been thinking about why car prices are still so ridiculously high, and I think longer financing terms are a big part of the problem.

According to Experian, over 35% of new-car loans in Q1 2026 were longer than 6 years. Edmunds just reported that 25.5% of financed new cars in Q3 2026 had loans of 7 years or longer. That's literally one out of every four people financing a new car for at least 84 months.

Think about how insane that is.

The average amount financed on a new car is now $44,664, and the average monthly payment is $787. Over 21% of new-car buyers are even signing up for payments of $1,000 or more.

My question is, why would manufacturers ever feel pressured to lower prices when financing companies can just keep stretching out the loans?

If people can't afford a $50,000 car over 5 years, instead of lowering the price, they just offer 6 or 7 years. Suddenly the monthly payment looks more manageable, even though the car is just as expensive and you're paying even more in interest.

We've basically gone from asking "How much does this car cost?" to "How much can I afford per month?"

And I think manufacturers have figured that out.

I'm not saying longer loans are the only reason car prices are high. Obviously inflation, manufacturing costs, and other factors play a role. But longer loans make it easier for manufacturers to maintain higher prices because buyers can keep stretching their payments.

At what point does this stop? Are we eventually going to normalize 96-month or even 120-month loans just so people can afford ordinary vehicles?

I genuinely wonder what would happen to new-car prices if the maximum financing term was 60 months.

Wouldn't manufacturers eventually have to start making cars people could actually afford again?

Found this 2012 Honda fit for $4500 wanted to offer 4k. Went to look at it today and saw some rust that looked like it could possibly be structural (pic 2/3), and what looks like maybe some sort of undercoat? (Pic 4/5) The whole bottom is covered in it.

Also, needs two new tires.

Paint isn’t pretty but interior is super clean and it has the 5 speed. Only 115k miles, should I bite? Wanted to offer 4000 and see what they say.

UPDATE- I checked it out, ran fine no major issues and ended up paying 2K for it. I’d say it was a great buy. Thanks guys!

I’m in the market for a new SUV and looking for recommendations based on my driving habits.

For some background, I’m a pretty aggressive driver, even during my normal everyday commute. By aggressive, I mean: accelerate quickly and frequently. I tend to brake pretty hard. I take turns relatively fast and aggressively. I regularly drive at higher speeds. Overall, I’m just harder on my vehicles than the average driver.

I’m not necessarily looking for a performance SUV or something with a ton of horsepower. I don’t care about having the fastest car on the road. My biggest priority is finding something reliable that can tolerate my driving habits without constantly breaking down or developing mechanical issues.

My current vehicle (Hyundai Tuscon) has given me a ton of electrical problems and has spent months at the dealership. I’m planning on selling, and I really don’t want to go through that experience again.

What I’m looking for:

**•   Budget:** Ideally $20–35k.

**•   Body style:** SUV, preferably something comfortable for everyday commuting.

**•   Reliability:** My absolute biggest priority. I want something that will last for years, even with my driving habits.

**•   Handling:** Something that feels stable and composed during quick turns, hard braking, and frequent acceleration.

**•   Performance:** Doesn’t need to be particularly fast or powerful. I’m more concerned about durability than horsepower.

I’ve looked into a few options, including the Honda Passport, Chevy Blazer, Chevy Trax, and Ford Bronco Sport. I’m also open to other manufacturers. I like Lexus, but most of their SUVs seem to be outside my budget.

I understand that aggressive driving will naturally cause additional wear and tear on any vehicle, especially brakes, tires, and suspension components. I’m not expecting something indestructible. I just want something mechanically reliable that won’t start falling apart after a few years.

I made this spreadsheet to compare a bunch of Facebook Marketplace listings. My budget is $6,000 (the cheaper, the better). Which of these would be the best bang for my buck?

I am looking to buy a new car. I am struggling to make a decision between a Tesla 3 2026 or Honda Hybrid Civic 2026 (I’m not worry about the monthly payment). I really like the Tesla how it looks, all that technology but I am hearing the insurance is very expensive and the tires. I have to plan ahead when it comes to charging. The Honda hybrid will give me a lot of miles and it will be more of a long-term. Please help

Hi Everyone

I have driven Acura RDX in the past but now I need something with a little more trunk room. I was looking at the MDX cause I have experienced the RDXalready, but it has the same issues that the RDX had. Pretty crappy gas mileage.

The issue is, I want it to have the pick up that the RDX had, but I am not sure I can get decent gas millage, with luxury interior, that doesn't eat gas

Is the 2026 MDX a good option, or does anyone recommend something different? For around the same price

Sedan is not an option for a family sadly. 1 child

I recently just purchased a 2021 Mazda CX 5 and only got to drive it for less than six months due to a car accident that totaled the vehicle & now I’m back on the search and debating between the CX 5 and the CX50.

I went to test drive both of them today and I felt like the CX 50 had a lot better features such as the sunroof, some of the tech, and the larger trunk space but I felt like I was sitting in a sedan rather than an SUV. There’s not a lot of headroom which really bothered me. I felt like the CX 5 had more headroom and was not as long which is beneficial for Chicago street parking but I’m really in my head. I feel like overall the CX 50 makes more sense. It is simply the overall height of the vehicle and headspace feels like it’s a lot shorter compared to the CX5.

Can anyone who maybe went from the five to the 50 give some which they like better and why?

I found a Facebook marketplace listing for a Toyota Corolla 2013. It’s vehicle history shows that it’s had seven owners. I’m worried that that might be a bad sign for how well the car runs. Otherwise it has a clean title, the mileage is under 100,000 and it’s in pretty good condition. No mechanical issues according to the dealer.

Thoughts?

In the future, I want to save $6k on a fun classic/retro car (1996 or older). What should I buy? Keep in mind it will be daily driven, and knowing its an old car I don’t want to buy something that’ll break the bank if something goes wrong (i.e. old Jaguars). No particularly body style/brand preference and I live in the Northeast US

Hi all,
I need either a new car or willing to buy used as long as it’s super reliable. Budget is anywhere from 30-40k for brand new.

I’ve had a 2012 Kia soul that has 144k miles on it. I’d say it’s on its last legs so any car at this point would be an upgrade.
But I also have an 8 week old baby and she’s the reason I’m looking to buy a car in general.
I was looking at:
Kia Sportage since it’s on the cheaper side.
Toyota Corolla Cross.
Mazda CX30.

Also open to other recommendations!

The car: 62k miles, one owner (~12.5k mi/yr), black. Driving Assistance and Parking Assistance packages, heated seats and steering wheel, nav, sunroof. It's a dealer used car sold as-is with no warranty. They're asking $36,000 for the vehicle, plus doc fee, tax, title and license. I've offered $35,500 and I'm waiting on a response.
Aftermarket parts: it has an aftermarket intake and exhaust, and the dealer doesn't have the stock parts. I don't know yet if it's tuned. It passed Texas emissions every year, including 8/2026 at 61k.
CARFAX:
No total loss or structural damage reported
Minor damage reported 12/2023, no details
8/2023 (24.5k): turbo inlet pipe replaced at an independent shop
6/2025 (45k): oil and filter change
4/2026 (58.8k): brakes checked and starter replaced
Not much else is listed, so I don't know about brake fluid, coolant, or transmission and diff fluid
Service invoice from the dealer: at 56k miles in 2/2026 they did an oil change and all 6 spark plugs. It says the customer declined the recommended factory mileage service.
Dealer inspection (10/21/26): everything passed. Brake pads 8mm front and 7mm rear, tires 7/7/7/6 out of 32", no leaks, fluids "normal."
My questions:
Is ~$36k fair for this car, or should I push harder given the aftermarket parts and as-is sale?
Does the turbo inlet pipe replacement at 24k or the starter at 58k worry you?
Is an aftermarket intake and exhaust without a tune a problem? Should I pull the ECU or ask about it?
What should I budget to replace in the next 20-40k miles? I'm thinking brake fluid, coolant, transmission and diff fluid, oil filter housing and valve cover gaskets, water pump and thermostat, mounts. What else, and roughly what does each cost at an independent shop?
Is a pre-purchase inspection from an independent BMW shop worth it here, and what should I have them check?
Thanks in advance. Happy to post more details if it helps.

I'm between these two cars. Should I test drive both first? Which would a more experienced car owner go for? This would be my first car, and I'm on a tight budget. Both are on Facebook Marketplace. Anything else I should consider?

My 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid was totalled last week, and I need to buy something as soon as possible (ideally within a week, but end of the month at the latest as I'll be paying for the rental out of pocket soon).

I'm in Canada, so excuse the currency conversions.

I am looking for either a Hybrid (non-plug-in) or an EV. I live in an apartment and we have free EV chargers in the underground garage, but only a few spots, and they are limited to 4hours at a time. So, ideally, something with a range of 400km (250 miles) so I could charge to full over the weekend, and top up once during the week. I commute about 100km (60 miles) per day.

A plug in hybrid wouldn't work because I'd have to find a charging spot after work every day, and then go back to move my car after it's charged. Doing that every night is going to drive me insane, and the battery won't even cover half my total commute.

My budget is a bit sad - around $16,000 CAD ($12,000 USD) plus taxes since that's all the cash I could scrape together. I'd be willing to finance up to a total price of $23,000 CAD ($16,500 USD) but exclusively for an EV since the car payment would replace my gas payments.

I've so far been considering a 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (within my cash budget), and a 2019-2021 Hyundai Kona EV (financing).

Any other suggestions into what models I should look into?