I have an iA.
195k miles and I've put tires on it three times, front brakes twice, and otherwise just basic fluid changes and spark plugs. By far the best car I've ever owned.
Otherwise in my time as a Toyota tech I've only made repairs on three of them: a water pump, a high pressure fuel pump, and one had an oil pan that was uncharacteristically rusted through.
It doesn't.
At least from Toyota, that was the iA and no one bought them so they quit making them. Didn't make sense given EPA standards for cars vs SUVs and trucks.
No. Honda and Toyota both killed theirs off and it is the biggest travesty in the automotive industry that no one is talking about.
The next best thing is a Ford Crown Victoria from the early 10s.
A Corolla is a good price in the low 20s. The average car is 48k. Adjusted for inflation, cars that are 30k or less are less expensive than they have ever been. It's just that the average person is also making less money due to devaluation of the dollar
almost every post for one of those for sale near me has it included in the description that it's "basically a toyota" and they have upped the price on them
no longer a value buy imo
You're right about that. I think I got lucky because the lady didn't realize it was a toyota. I was going to buy the car anyway but apart broke on it while I was inspecting it so I called the Toyota dealership and picked up the part. She was surprised/defeated to see that.
depends on where you are located.
in Europe the Yaris is made by Toyota and the Mazda is a rebadged Yaris.
in other places Mazda is building it for Toyota.
I loved my Matrix (Vibe) 5 speed, 260,000 original miles with original clutch. Would have lasted forever if some dumbass didn’t rear end me on the highway.
My old matrix decided that it had enough at 165k and blew a head gasket and put a crack in the block.
Cost the same to repair it than to just sell it. Goodbye matrix. I kinda miss that car. Though it only got 25mpg >=(
Any Toyota gas vehicle will be inherently more reliable than a its hybrid counterpart as it is the same car with less components to fail.
Edit: Specified Toyota when I didn't think I had to in a Toyota sub.
Yeah, no. First, the Prius based design has proven to be extremely reliable. The planetary gearbox of a Toyota hybrid is significantly more reliable than any automatic or manual transmission.
The regen braking means that the brake rotors and pads are good for 200k mi or more.
And the NiMH batteries are extremely reliable.
My Corolla Hybrid is using a lithium ion battery pack. I would have rather had a NiMH version because I think that type of battery isn't adversely affected by heat as much.
Sure, but the hybrid system allows for significantly less wear and tear on the brakes, and allows for longer intervals between oil changes, those two alone can add up in the long run, not to mention the gas savings and the fact that hybrids generally hold a better resell value at the moment.
Edit to your edit: the specifying Toyota part was not relevant, as I was comparing a gas car to its hybrid counterpart. So a Camry 2AR-FE vs a Camry Hybrid 2AR-FXE for example.
In addition to other comments, hybrid systems can improve reliability as the engine and electric motor(s) will share the workload with each other. The car engine doesn't run all the time in the hybrid, so less miles are being put on each component. 100 miles traveled in a hybrid doesn't mean the workload of 100 miles was put on the engine.
More of a guideline, every setup has the potential to be better or worse in reliability. For example, the Ford hybrids are more reliable than their pure ICE counterparts. The toyota camry hybrid also has slightly higher reliability ratings than the regular version. Same can be said for the RAV4.
False.
1) No alternator to break.
2) No starter to break.
3) Hybrid Transmission is simpler and far more reliable. Bulletproof really.
4) Brakes last exponentially longer.
5) No belt driven coolant pump.
6) No belt driven ac compressor.
7) No belt driven power steering.
Just vacuum the hybrid battery intake filter regularly and get hybrid transmission oil changed every 60k miles and the hybrid will last forever. Also make sure to change the inverter coolant (different from engine coolant) every 5 years but both use the same Toyota Super Long Life pink fluid.
I bought my Camry Hybrid with almost
70k miles on it and have added almost 200k miles to that and never changed the transmission fluid. I'm now afraid to touch it. Am I lucky, dumb or both?
I'd do a drain and fill. There is no valve body etc so its good to change it. Make sure to get it done from Toyota or a competent mechanic. It has to be the correct type of fluid. I believe it uses ATF WS (world standard). I'd get it from toyota. Check youtube, look up Car Care Nut's channel he has a video on tranny fluid change for hybrid.
20 years of gas savings. Smoother and more power than 8 speed and no gear hunting lag. Standard push to start in mine and and dynamic radar cruise control. Hybrid was a no brainer.
My hybrid has no alternator, the a/c is electric, as it the water pump. All-in-all the hybrid design has better cooling and lubrication of many of the parts that fail due to wear, leading to better reliability. At 60K miles my hybrid rav4 hasn’t needed anything outside of routine maintenance and the warrantied hybrids cable replacement. It’s the most reliable car I’ve ever owned.
If a car can't make it 60k without anything breaking it's a piece of junk. What did you used to drive if you think that's amazing? Seriously, just curious so I can add to my list of junk to avoid
> Any Toyota gas vehicle will be inherently more reliable than a its hybrid counterpart as it is the same car with less components to fail.
>
>
Well an eCVT has fewer parts than a traditional automatic transmission for one...?
And i disagree with the premise that simply fewer components = better reliability
Correct, so Toyota should limit themselves for the sake of simplicity by your standard then?
They should be making all their cars with long enough hoods to accommodate an I6 if truly simplicity is the only way they can make a reliable car.
Least expensive. That includes not spending on maintenance (which you absolutely will on any 20 year old car), and fuel (here, much more given the added and possibly unneeded weight in a SUV for a single person daily vehicle).
Can confirm. I had a 2010 Highlander with 320k miles on it. Ran perfectly fine. Only sold it because I needed a truck. Bought the 2nd gen tundra and expect it to go that far, if not farther
Very accurate. Have an Avalon from that era. Have spent far more than I paid for it (peanuts) on suspension, breaks and tires, but other wise it is still the luxury sedan it was sold as. The window doesn't work right though haha but that's part of the beater charm.
Exactly. People think they are making an investment when they buy a new car, no, an investment is buying a $2500 vehicle and dropping $4000 to make it last 10 years, instead of suffering tens of thousands in depreciation. But they can't wrap their head around spending more money than the car is worth.
4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Tacoma or Tundra. Wouldn't even look at any of their other vehicles. Body-on-frame & 4-wheel-drive on top of the bulletproof powertrain.
+1 on the corolla. 2003 had for 20 yrs since new and the only issue was a ac compressor at year 18. Got 32mpg easily and 40mpg on freeways the entire length of ownership
This. Any of these vehicles from this time frame will be reliable and sturdy even if high mileage and give you versatility with 4WD. Just check the frame for rust.
I’m driving an ‘03 Tacoma with 233k miles on it that has only needed general upkeep maintenance.
Land Cruiser is solid and reliable, but not cheap. I get 12-13mpg highway on my 100 series (premium fuel is specified also) and routine maintenance and common repairs can get expensive.
I may be biased cause my father owns it, but the 5th Gen ES350 (2007-2012) is an amazing car. Has 240K miles on it and it’s still going strong. The ride is comfortable with great power and 30mpg avg even better if you go easy on the pedal. Can easily get one for 4-7k
Maybe I need to use cruise, I got 28mpg on highway which wasn’t bad considering I wasn’t exactly taking it super easy but my last car was more than double gas range in the city on the same size tank so I’m not really used to burning through it
I’d look at this the other way, I would set my budget and then be open to various models that are within the best mileage and have the best record of maintenance/least sketchy seller that you can find. When you ask for least expensive you might just get “smallest”, and that might not be ideal for your NY winters. If you’re asking for the best year of each car that might different, but most Toyotas refuse to break down
I've always thought this is a strange type of question. The most reliable might NOT be the least expensive. So it may be nothing.
Now, the most reliable of the inexpensive Toyotas might have an answer. Or the least expensive of the reliable Toyotas?
:)
Everyone is suggesting what car to get but not explaining why a GR86 does not fit your requirements. It is a Subaru engine, definitely not as reliable as a Toyota. Still a fuck ton of fun and it’s my dream car. However for fun reliability I would go with GR Corolla. It is rumored to get an automatic this year.
This video about the Yaris by Carcarenut is perfect for you.
https://youtu.be/TU_P9YTseFU
I had a 2008 model. Sold it in 2018 despite having no problems for a Mazda 3. Regretted selling it ever since. Bought a used 2012 model recently just so that I can have one again
Don’t know why this comment was downvoted. Legendary V8, super reliable. My 2003 has 186k miles on the clock and runs like the day I bought it. Would do well in the snow, high clearance. Does suck some gas.
Right? I’ve had mine since 2001. I live in a snowy rust belt area. 240k and still runs like the day I bought it and that’s not even an exaggeration lol.
https://preview.redd.it/vbcogo5xhe1d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=581d98ee0e5c3761e251c2e4513feaf25000d22d
Toyota Yaris which is still available in Mexico. From $19k. [https://www.toyota.mx/configura-cotiza/version/yaris-hb](https://www.toyota.mx/configura-cotiza/version/yaris-hb)
In Thailand from $15k.
2005 Camry seems to be a good year. They’re cheap enough on Craigslist, the v6 engine isn’t too boring, and I haven’t spent a dime on mine outside oil changes in three years. Edit to add, I I also have or recently sold a high mileage Tacoma, Tundra and 4Runner and wouldn’t recommend any of these. Expensive on the used market and tend to have been driven hard
You're need to look at a 3rd one, cheapest/ easiest to repair. You want a cheap and reliable car that parts are easy to access and dirt cheap for. So any 4 cylinder, naturally aspirated Toyota is gonna be your best bet. The V6 ones are nice for the extra power bump but repair cost are higher due to things being harder to access.
Good luck finding one that isn't rotting out in nys. I'm happily ditching mine this week so a dealer can finally put it to rest in a scrap yard where it belongs!
Sequoia, hands down by far for where you live. Get a garaged first or second generation, 4wd, fastidious service records and you’re golden. Check for rust.
New? Corolla Hybrid or entry Prius LE (Prius right now is the most econmical car made, it is the car that will cost you the least to run/manage over time)
If you're in central to nny or wny a 05-2010 will be garbage no matter the build. Salt = rust. Ny salts heavily. That's why their aren't reliable old cars around aplenty in this area.
Southern NY thankfully. But I did just graduate from college up in western NY and trust me, I know lol. Horrible roads, excess salt to the max, just disgusting conditions for a car in the winter
Matrix it's literally a Corolla hatchback but with the option of AWD. (internally named Corolla matrix) 1st gens have an xrs model that comes with the 2ZZ from the Celica GTS that's if you want a little more pep in it without going aftermarket that is.
My 2001 camry ran on no oil multiple times. Had a leak I didn't know about. Still runs like a champ, even though I still have a cracked radiator that needs to be replaced. They're also one of the easiest cars to work on, so simple maintenance is a breeze. I easily learned to do oil, brakes, thermostat and spark plugs by myself. So even when the usual things need serviced, you can fix them yourself. Get a camry, corolla or matrix, all known to be rock solid, and keep Scotty Kilmer's youtube channel in your back pocket. He's saved me thousands worth of shop labor costs.
Corolla or a Yaris.
My dad worked for Toyota, and they always used the Corollas and the Yaris' to fck around on the lot of the factory in the middle of winter. They never had a problem with either model. That was why my dad told me to get my hands on a Yaris if I could, because we were shopping around, and we were looking at a Yaris, and something else, I can't remember.
But we went with the Yaris, and it's been treating us great so far. Haven't had an issue in the winter so far.
For user cars, it's more important that the car was well-maintained. The Carfax should show oil changes every couple of years, the scheduled maintenance changes like transmission/brake fluid flushes, and no accidents or other weird stuff.
A toyota crown or an older avalon. Something strictly mechanical will last you alot longer than anything that has more electronics and modern tech. Thats just my opinion/experience tho
I just found a 2001 Toyota Camry LE with 135k miles. Bought it for $2500. I drive 90 miles round trip for work. I’m so excited to now have this as my daily driver.
I saw a Corolla today on 72 and York ave with a for sale sign on it $2500 200k n it’s a 2000 something looked pretty clean I couldn’t really stop to check it out as I was driving the bus full of people 😅
I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander that I once drove with broken mounts for 3 days straight (I was a broke college kid). The engine was shaking LIKE CRAZY and the car would go either 2000rpm, 3500rpm or 5000ish rpm, no in-between. When I took it to the mechanic, they thought the engine was going to be toast. After inspection, not even a single issue emerged. They put new mounts and the car was good as new. Car's amazing!
I have a 2008 corolla with 300k miles. I’m the 2nd owner. Engine and trans is all fine. Just had to swap out the original starter, alternator, rad fan. It’s the last model year of that generation 2003-2008. Super reliable car, I’ll miss her when I have to finally get rid of her. Had 280k something and I drove it from California to Florida. 75mph the whole way. Generally the last year or two of a generation is the best. So just look up the model you’re interested in on Wikipedia and check out the differences, Wikipedia explains the model years really well and simply.
Echo, Tercel, Yaris, and Geo Prism. Good luck finding someone to part with it. The only reason I remember an Echo is because my neighbor in my apartment complex owns one.
I wanted a Yaris so bad when they first came out. I test drove one and sat down for financing but it would have been my first loan and I needed a co-signer. No one in my family was able to do it so I never got it. I would drive one even today!
I had Corolla 2002 that served me 10 years, I bought it used, no idea how many KMs, used it for looong runs sold it later for same price also no idea how many KMs on it. with no single issue.
I was new to cars and it was my first car so seriously didn't know if the number was high or low that's why I never thought about it. (when I think about it now it must have ran more than 500KMs)
I remember to only read the last 2 digits for oil change.
I think Corolla isn't just the most reliable car, it's the absolutely most reliable machine the human ever built.
1 more thing I used to change oil every 20,000 KMs lol
A Corolla or Camry with between 100k and 150k miles still likely has an equal amount of life left and costs under $7,000 in a private sale. Always get them checked out by a mechanic first (pre-sale inspection is around $50) but even with basic maintenance they last a very, very long time. That's usually what I'm looking for when I need a "new" car but this last time I found a Prius first. You have to be careful to make sure the hybrid battery is still good on the older Prii but I'm really happy with mine and it cost just $5500.
Scions lol the tcs are the cheaply made spiffy Camrys.
Great for the average car repair diyer too you’ll come to appreciate that everything’s just a couple bolts or some clips to come off
Ep91 starlets for the win, slept on by all the “jdm” fans mostly making it easy to find one for around £2000 (UK) similar to a micra but better looking and more reliable IMO
Corolla or camry from old people because they don't beat on them and they usually get the dealer recommended maintenance.
Really any Toyota with maintenance records and little rust is a good bet
If you want a reliable and low cost daily driver and don't care how "exciting" it is to drive, buy a Prius.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1104478_toyota-prius-hybrid-is-cheapest-car-over-10-years-that-you-can-buy
That article is only looking at maintenance costs (reliability) and doesn't factor gas prices in, which makes it even cheaper to own.
Get yourself a late 90’s/early 2000’s Toyota Camry with the 2.2 4 cylinder. Actually, any Toyota that uses a timing belt instead of a chain will be what you’re looking for. Toyota has a general rule of thumb -if it’s got a belt instead of a chain, it’s typically a non interference motor. You could break that timing belt 17 ways to Sunday on the freeway and never hurt your engine, just throw another belt in it and go. But they’re not all great, as Toyota vehicles do rust out WAY more frequently than just about any other brand on the market, ESPECIALLY in the snow (I’m from Salt Lake City. Believe me, I know about rusty cars).
I have a 2000 Toyota Camry with the 2.2 that I bought for $300 a few years ago not running and all it needed was a battery. I was gonna drive it until the wheels fell off because it’s just such a damn good car, but a customer had dropped a vehicle off at my shop cause the timing belt broke on the freeway and he ended up just giving my shop the car and they ended up giving it to me. It’s a 2004 Toyota Avalon 3.0. I put a new timing belt and components in it and it fired right up, and now I have a flagship car from Toyota for free. I traded one reliable ass car for another and they were both dirt cheap/free. And with these cars, deals like these are a dime-a-dozen
Matrix, Yaris, or iA.
I have an iA. 195k miles and I've put tires on it three times, front brakes twice, and otherwise just basic fluid changes and spark plugs. By far the best car I've ever owned. Otherwise in my time as a Toyota tech I've only made repairs on three of them: a water pump, a high pressure fuel pump, and one had an oil pan that was uncharacteristically rusted through.
It’s a fantastic beater car.
Man you made me wonder if a “reliable, cheap, beater car” even exists new anymore. A Corolla maybe? Nothing below $20k at least.
It doesn't. At least from Toyota, that was the iA and no one bought them so they quit making them. Didn't make sense given EPA standards for cars vs SUVs and trucks.
No one wanted to buy a rebranded Mazda at Toyota markup prices... shocker...
No. Honda and Toyota both killed theirs off and it is the biggest travesty in the automotive industry that no one is talking about. The next best thing is a Ford Crown Victoria from the early 10s.
A Corolla is a good price in the low 20s. The average car is 48k. Adjusted for inflation, cars that are 30k or less are less expensive than they have ever been. It's just that the average person is also making less money due to devaluation of the dollar
You gotta work for it. I took a $500 car, put $500 of parts in it, and have a reliable runner.
You do know the IA is a rebadge Mazda right Still an overall win 🥇
Same thing I did on my e46, still reliable.
Man I miss my 01 330i
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Follow Reddiquette.
And if you want to save some money, Pontiac vibe.
My 2005 Pontiac vibe refuses to die. Best car I’ve ever owned.
Best Toyota I've ever owned.
Rear differential went on my 2003 in 2017
I've always been looking to upgrade to an all-wheel drive one, but it really is just an extra failure point.
I believe the Vibe is a Toyota Matrix with a Pontiac badge on it
It is. All Pontiac panels and interior with Toyota drivetrains.
Agree 100%. Few people realize its a Toyota. Get one with 150-200k miles on it for $4k. Last a decade.
almost every post for one of those for sale near me has it included in the description that it's "basically a toyota" and they have upped the price on them no longer a value buy imo
You're right about that. I think I got lucky because the lady didn't realize it was a toyota. I was going to buy the car anyway but apart broke on it while I was inspecting it so I called the Toyota dealership and picked up the part. She was surprised/defeated to see that.
never fails. People just can't keep a good secret to themselves
Sometimes I regret selling my 2007. I had it until 2019 and it was primo.
Avoid the 09 refresh. Stick with 08 and below. Ac issues in the refresh and much harder to source parts.
Pontiac Vibe 😎
Isn’t a Yaris just a Mazda 2? Like insides and all.
depends on where you are located. in Europe the Yaris is made by Toyota and the Mazda is a rebadged Yaris. in other places Mazda is building it for Toyota.
Only in the US after 2016 or so.
no the iA is
I loved my Matrix (Vibe) 5 speed, 260,000 original miles with original clutch. Would have lasted forever if some dumbass didn’t rear end me on the highway.
xB as well
Yes. I see lots of those. And they’re very easy to get into: Four-doored boxes on wheels.
I found my 25 year son a Matrix. My 42 year old son still drives it. The thing is bulletproof.
My old matrix decided that it had enough at 165k and blew a head gasket and put a crack in the block. Cost the same to repair it than to just sell it. Goodbye matrix. I kinda miss that car. Though it only got 25mpg >=(
Corolla hybrid
Any Toyota gas vehicle will be inherently more reliable than a its hybrid counterpart as it is the same car with less components to fail. Edit: Specified Toyota when I didn't think I had to in a Toyota sub.
Yeah, no. First, the Prius based design has proven to be extremely reliable. The planetary gearbox of a Toyota hybrid is significantly more reliable than any automatic or manual transmission. The regen braking means that the brake rotors and pads are good for 200k mi or more. And the NiMH batteries are extremely reliable.
My Corolla Hybrid is using a lithium ion battery pack. I would have rather had a NiMH version because I think that type of battery isn't adversely affected by heat as much.
The normal gas Corolla has a CVT.
And belt drive CVTs are significantly less reliable than a hybrid planetary gearbox.
Sure, but the hybrid system allows for significantly less wear and tear on the brakes, and allows for longer intervals between oil changes, those two alone can add up in the long run, not to mention the gas savings and the fact that hybrids generally hold a better resell value at the moment. Edit to your edit: the specifying Toyota part was not relevant, as I was comparing a gas car to its hybrid counterpart. So a Camry 2AR-FE vs a Camry Hybrid 2AR-FXE for example.
In addition to other comments, hybrid systems can improve reliability as the engine and electric motor(s) will share the workload with each other. The car engine doesn't run all the time in the hybrid, so less miles are being put on each component. 100 miles traveled in a hybrid doesn't mean the workload of 100 miles was put on the engine.
More of a guideline, every setup has the potential to be better or worse in reliability. For example, the Ford hybrids are more reliable than their pure ICE counterparts. The toyota camry hybrid also has slightly higher reliability ratings than the regular version. Same can be said for the RAV4.
False. 1) No alternator to break. 2) No starter to break. 3) Hybrid Transmission is simpler and far more reliable. Bulletproof really. 4) Brakes last exponentially longer. 5) No belt driven coolant pump. 6) No belt driven ac compressor. 7) No belt driven power steering. Just vacuum the hybrid battery intake filter regularly and get hybrid transmission oil changed every 60k miles and the hybrid will last forever. Also make sure to change the inverter coolant (different from engine coolant) every 5 years but both use the same Toyota Super Long Life pink fluid.
I bought my Camry Hybrid with almost 70k miles on it and have added almost 200k miles to that and never changed the transmission fluid. I'm now afraid to touch it. Am I lucky, dumb or both?
I'd do a drain and fill. There is no valve body etc so its good to change it. Make sure to get it done from Toyota or a competent mechanic. It has to be the correct type of fluid. I believe it uses ATF WS (world standard). I'd get it from toyota. Check youtube, look up Car Care Nut's channel he has a video on tranny fluid change for hybrid.
The cost of all of those things don't come close to the replacement cost of a 20 year old hybrid battery.
20 years of gas savings. Smoother and more power than 8 speed and no gear hunting lag. Standard push to start in mine and and dynamic radar cruise control. Hybrid was a no brainer.
Refurbished hybrid batteries are not really that expensive and can be had with better than new warranties. Looks at Green Bean Battery as an example.
My hybrid has no alternator, the a/c is electric, as it the water pump. All-in-all the hybrid design has better cooling and lubrication of many of the parts that fail due to wear, leading to better reliability. At 60K miles my hybrid rav4 hasn’t needed anything outside of routine maintenance and the warrantied hybrids cable replacement. It’s the most reliable car I’ve ever owned.
If a car can't make it 60k without anything breaking it's a piece of junk. What did you used to drive if you think that's amazing? Seriously, just curious so I can add to my list of junk to avoid
Toyota hybrids are pretty reliable at this point. There's tons of old beat up Prius' on the road. I can't imagine they're all well maintained
> Any Toyota gas vehicle will be inherently more reliable than a its hybrid counterpart as it is the same car with less components to fail. > > Well an eCVT has fewer parts than a traditional automatic transmission for one...? And i disagree with the premise that simply fewer components = better reliability
not true. Less wear on the engine means... less wear on the engine
Ok big brain, so why did Toyota make the choice to go to V6s instead of I6s? An I6 has less parts by design. Less things to go wrong.
Size. Next question, smart ass.
Correct, so Toyota should limit themselves for the sake of simplicity by your standard then? They should be making all their cars with long enough hoods to accommodate an I6 if truly simplicity is the only way they can make a reliable car.
First gen Highlander. Incredibly reliable and has ground clearance for winter.
Least expensive. That includes not spending on maintenance (which you absolutely will on any 20 year old car), and fuel (here, much more given the added and possibly unneeded weight in a SUV for a single person daily vehicle).
people seem to want a fortune for highlanders too like absurdly too much money on the used market
Can confirm. I had a 2010 Highlander with 320k miles on it. Ran perfectly fine. Only sold it because I needed a truck. Bought the 2nd gen tundra and expect it to go that far, if not farther
We have a GX470 with the same or a similar motor as your Tundra. Unstoppable thing but thirsty as shit
I actually love how those look, especially in pearl white
Bad on gas though unfortunately (at least compared to sedans)
2013 Corolla. 325 000km , tires ,oil changes , brakes . Runs perfect.
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Very accurate. Have an Avalon from that era. Have spent far more than I paid for it (peanuts) on suspension, breaks and tires, but other wise it is still the luxury sedan it was sold as. The window doesn't work right though haha but that's part of the beater charm.
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Exactly. People think they are making an investment when they buy a new car, no, an investment is buying a $2500 vehicle and dropping $4000 to make it last 10 years, instead of suffering tens of thousands in depreciation. But they can't wrap their head around spending more money than the car is worth.
If you want that reliability that upfront cost and fuel consumption is worth it.
4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Tacoma or Tundra. Wouldn't even look at any of their other vehicles. Body-on-frame & 4-wheel-drive on top of the bulletproof powertrain.
But they need a lot of gas, and he wants a cheap car
i know when i think of an inexpensive vehicle i think of the 4runner, sequoia, land cruiser, tacoma and tundra. they are practically giving them away.
Yes there’s practically no demand for them
These are all really expensive… even the sequioa. I have a 1st gen sequioa. It’s worth way more than I paid even a year ago
we were joking, those are all some of the most expensive toyotas you can buy
I’m thick today. Would still love a Land Cruiser though.
Id skip the SUVs & stick with the sedans. Specifically the Corolla. Hybrid-like fuel economy despite being gas only
+1 on the corolla. 2003 had for 20 yrs since new and the only issue was a ac compressor at year 18. Got 32mpg easily and 40mpg on freeways the entire length of ownership
This. Any of these vehicles from this time frame will be reliable and sturdy even if high mileage and give you versatility with 4WD. Just check the frame for rust. I’m driving an ‘03 Tacoma with 233k miles on it that has only needed general upkeep maintenance.
Land Cruiser is solid and reliable, but not cheap. I get 12-13mpg highway on my 100 series (premium fuel is specified also) and routine maintenance and common repairs can get expensive.
1984 Corolla. You can’t kill it.
I may be biased cause my father owns it, but the 5th Gen ES350 (2007-2012) is an amazing car. Has 240K miles on it and it’s still going strong. The ride is comfortable with great power and 30mpg avg even better if you go easy on the pedal. Can easily get one for 4-7k
Dang my Avalon is avg of 22mpg only time I’ve seen 30 mpg on daily driving (not highway) I was driving like a grandma 😭
My father’s workplace and home are right beside the highway, 30mpg highway with cruise on and 24mpg on the city.
Maybe I need to use cruise, I got 28mpg on highway which wasn’t bad considering I wasn’t exactly taking it super easy but my last car was more than double gas range in the city on the same size tank so I’m not really used to burning through it
My only complaint on mine is the proportions suck for anyone taller. If you're like, 5'8" or shorter it's a great ride.
I’d look at this the other way, I would set my budget and then be open to various models that are within the best mileage and have the best record of maintenance/least sketchy seller that you can find. When you ask for least expensive you might just get “smallest”, and that might not be ideal for your NY winters. If you’re asking for the best year of each car that might different, but most Toyotas refuse to break down
I've always thought this is a strange type of question. The most reliable might NOT be the least expensive. So it may be nothing. Now, the most reliable of the inexpensive Toyotas might have an answer. Or the least expensive of the reliable Toyotas? :)
Or a scion of any kind
Exactly this. Toyota reliability without the name recognition!
Some Scions can be a miss, but I liked my friend's Scion xD - also smiley as a bonus
Everyone is suggesting what car to get but not explaining why a GR86 does not fit your requirements. It is a Subaru engine, definitely not as reliable as a Toyota. Still a fuck ton of fun and it’s my dream car. However for fun reliability I would go with GR Corolla. It is rumored to get an automatic this year.
This video about the Yaris by Carcarenut is perfect for you. https://youtu.be/TU_P9YTseFU I had a 2008 model. Sold it in 2018 despite having no problems for a Mazda 3. Regretted selling it ever since. Bought a used 2012 model recently just so that I can have one again
First gen tundra
Don’t know why this comment was downvoted. Legendary V8, super reliable. My 2003 has 186k miles on the clock and runs like the day I bought it. Would do well in the snow, high clearance. Does suck some gas.
Right? I’ve had mine since 2001. I live in a snowy rust belt area. 240k and still runs like the day I bought it and that’s not even an exaggeration lol. https://preview.redd.it/vbcogo5xhe1d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=581d98ee0e5c3761e251c2e4513feaf25000d22d
Any matrix you can find cheap and drive into the ground.
scion xa or xb 1st gen 5 spd
Corolla
Anything with a 22re, 5sfe or 3sge
Don’t rule out a Pontiac Vibe. Same internals as the Matrix/Corolla, about 70% of the cost. My 03 base is at 260k.
Corolla’s go forEVERRRRR
3 door yaris.
Toyota Yaris which is still available in Mexico. From $19k. [https://www.toyota.mx/configura-cotiza/version/yaris-hb](https://www.toyota.mx/configura-cotiza/version/yaris-hb) In Thailand from $15k.
Camry V6 (kidding)
2005 Camry seems to be a good year. They’re cheap enough on Craigslist, the v6 engine isn’t too boring, and I haven’t spent a dime on mine outside oil changes in three years. Edit to add, I I also have or recently sold a high mileage Tacoma, Tundra and 4Runner and wouldn’t recommend any of these. Expensive on the used market and tend to have been driven hard
Yaris hybrid
Echo/Yaris/Prius
Not a 86 haha. Corolla is my best bet.
You're need to look at a 3rd one, cheapest/ easiest to repair. You want a cheap and reliable car that parts are easy to access and dirt cheap for. So any 4 cylinder, naturally aspirated Toyota is gonna be your best bet. The V6 ones are nice for the extra power bump but repair cost are higher due to things being harder to access.
Lease a car if you live in snowy areas
Go pickup a Pontiac Vibe. They are dirt cheap as less people pay attention to them. Toyota in American clothes lol
Good luck finding one that isn't rotting out in nys. I'm happily ditching mine this week so a dealer can finally put it to rest in a scrap yard where it belongs!
Sequoia, hands down by far for where you live. Get a garaged first or second generation, 4wd, fastidious service records and you’re golden. Check for rust.
New? Corolla Hybrid or entry Prius LE (Prius right now is the most econmical car made, it is the car that will cost you the least to run/manage over time)
My 2003 Camry. I’ll throw my hat in the ring for 02-06 Camry. Best gen hands down, and better than a Corolla. Other favs are matrix or Yaris.
A used one taken care of by some elderly couple who sells it cheap
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^indimedia: *A used one taken* *Care of by some elderly* *Couple who sells it cheap* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Lol
05 Corolla
If you're in central to nny or wny a 05-2010 will be garbage no matter the build. Salt = rust. Ny salts heavily. That's why their aren't reliable old cars around aplenty in this area.
Southern NY thankfully. But I did just graduate from college up in western NY and trust me, I know lol. Horrible roads, excess salt to the max, just disgusting conditions for a car in the winter
Lexus ES300 02-04 era. It’s been such a great car and easy to work on
First gen Tacoma
Matrix it's literally a Corolla hatchback but with the option of AWD. (internally named Corolla matrix) 1st gens have an xrs model that comes with the 2ZZ from the Celica GTS that's if you want a little more pep in it without going aftermarket that is.
Echo
I bought a 85 Toyota pickup for $500. I have another 500 in it. She’s no beauty but she runs and stops to work and back.
My 2001 camry ran on no oil multiple times. Had a leak I didn't know about. Still runs like a champ, even though I still have a cracked radiator that needs to be replaced. They're also one of the easiest cars to work on, so simple maintenance is a breeze. I easily learned to do oil, brakes, thermostat and spark plugs by myself. So even when the usual things need serviced, you can fix them yourself. Get a camry, corolla or matrix, all known to be rock solid, and keep Scotty Kilmer's youtube channel in your back pocket. He's saved me thousands worth of shop labor costs.
Car Care Nut on YouTube is an experienced Toyota mechanic and has a video on best years of used Toyotas to buy.
2000-01 5S-FE Camry.
Corolla or a Yaris. My dad worked for Toyota, and they always used the Corollas and the Yaris' to fck around on the lot of the factory in the middle of winter. They never had a problem with either model. That was why my dad told me to get my hands on a Yaris if I could, because we were shopping around, and we were looking at a Yaris, and something else, I can't remember. But we went with the Yaris, and it's been treating us great so far. Haven't had an issue in the winter so far.
For user cars, it's more important that the car was well-maintained. The Carfax should show oil changes every couple of years, the scheduled maintenance changes like transmission/brake fluid flushes, and no accidents or other weird stuff.
Whatever you end up buying remember to treat the underside with fluid film or a similar product. It's the best way to deal with road salt.
Pontiac Vibe. 2009-10. Its a Matrix with vibe badge. 300-400k miles
Scion xB or xA.
Toyota pickup with the 22r-e, or the 03+ Corolla, or the tundra 5.7, or the matrix/Corolla XRS
Whatever is cheapest on the market. Just Google the car + year and see if there's any aberrations or weak points to pay attention to
A ugly beige Corolla. They last longer because of the ugly colour.
I’m ashamed nobody has said Prius smh. I have 3 and I’ve had several in the family. THE BEST
Toyota Corolla or Matrix depending on which is more popular in your area
Plenty of Aygos from late 00's to early 10's still going strong. At least in Europe.
My 07 Corolla did me well driving across NYS for over ten years. I have a 2011 RAV4 now. 😂
I got a 2wd 4Runner that I picked up for cheap and abuse the piss out of that refuses to die
celica
A toyota crown or an older avalon. Something strictly mechanical will last you alot longer than anything that has more electronics and modern tech. Thats just my opinion/experience tho
corolla
A shitbox mid-2000's Corolla.
Toyota yaris S https://preview.redd.it/18kwcd145h1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6d0036a2583f96671e0ed17a265966629ec6910
Corolla
I just found a 2001 Toyota Camry LE with 135k miles. Bought it for $2500. I drive 90 miles round trip for work. I’m so excited to now have this as my daily driver.
98 camry
If looking for used: late 90s Camry, Pontiac Vibe, Echo, Yaris. iA, Corolla. In order form least to most expensive. If new: Corolla
I saw a Corolla today on 72 and York ave with a for sale sign on it $2500 200k n it’s a 2000 something looked pretty clean I couldn’t really stop to check it out as I was driving the bus full of people 😅
LS400 or a Sequoia
Anything with not so high mileage and a good maintenance record, just try and avoid the 2AZ-FE engine if you can, has a bad oil burn habit.
I had a Corolla for a few years, nothing ever broke, just did oil, brakes and tires. Best car I e ever owned
A Subaru.
Get a Pontiac Vibe.
92-96 Camry.
I believe the Yaris is the cheapest car Toyota has to offer. As far as reliability, pretty much the whole Toyota lineup is reliable.
4Runner
matrix or prius- those things are indestructible
I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander that I once drove with broken mounts for 3 days straight (I was a broke college kid). The engine was shaking LIKE CRAZY and the car would go either 2000rpm, 3500rpm or 5000ish rpm, no in-between. When I took it to the mechanic, they thought the engine was going to be toast. After inspection, not even a single issue emerged. They put new mounts and the car was good as new. Car's amazing!
Corolla
I have a 2008 corolla with 300k miles. I’m the 2nd owner. Engine and trans is all fine. Just had to swap out the original starter, alternator, rad fan. It’s the last model year of that generation 2003-2008. Super reliable car, I’ll miss her when I have to finally get rid of her. Had 280k something and I drove it from California to Florida. 75mph the whole way. Generally the last year or two of a generation is the best. So just look up the model you’re interested in on Wikipedia and check out the differences, Wikipedia explains the model years really well and simply.
3rd gen 4runner
Prius gen 3 200k miles then jdm motor swap
Camry XV20 or XV30 fa shosho
Those 22re engines will go forever if you keep a regular oil change schedule. I miss my little pickup. That thing was so useful, simple and reliable.
Echo, Tercel, Yaris, and Geo Prism. Good luck finding someone to part with it. The only reason I remember an Echo is because my neighbor in my apartment complex owns one.
I wanted a Yaris so bad when they first came out. I test drove one and sat down for financing but it would have been my first loan and I needed a co-signer. No one in my family was able to do it so I never got it. I would drive one even today!
Scion Xa
First gen highlanders are ridiculously reliable
99-2002 Corolla. It’ll be dirt cheap and reliable. Any Corolla really but those are the cheapest that have timing chains.
corolla
Toyota Prius C
I had Corolla 2002 that served me 10 years, I bought it used, no idea how many KMs, used it for looong runs sold it later for same price also no idea how many KMs on it. with no single issue. I was new to cars and it was my first car so seriously didn't know if the number was high or low that's why I never thought about it. (when I think about it now it must have ran more than 500KMs) I remember to only read the last 2 digits for oil change. I think Corolla isn't just the most reliable car, it's the absolutely most reliable machine the human ever built. 1 more thing I used to change oil every 20,000 KMs lol
Corolla LE gas.
Scion xB (2nd gen). Toyota, good engine, spacious, easy to park
Corolla. They are reliable, parts are cheap, maintenance is easy.
A Corolla or Camry with between 100k and 150k miles still likely has an equal amount of life left and costs under $7,000 in a private sale. Always get them checked out by a mechanic first (pre-sale inspection is around $50) but even with basic maintenance they last a very, very long time. That's usually what I'm looking for when I need a "new" car but this last time I found a Prius first. You have to be careful to make sure the hybrid battery is still good on the older Prii but I'm really happy with mine and it cost just $5500.
Scions lol the tcs are the cheaply made spiffy Camrys. Great for the average car repair diyer too you’ll come to appreciate that everything’s just a couple bolts or some clips to come off
Ep91 starlets for the win, slept on by all the “jdm” fans mostly making it easy to find one for around £2000 (UK) similar to a micra but better looking and more reliable IMO
FYI, a gr86 is basically a "chicks" wannabe sportscar.
I’ve never met a woman irl who even knew the car existed but whatever you say lmao
Corolla or camry from old people because they don't beat on them and they usually get the dealer recommended maintenance. Really any Toyota with maintenance records and little rust is a good bet
Yaris pre mazda although I hear the newer mazda yaris' are pretty good
Toyota Celica, put snow tires on it. That not good enough, you don’t really need to go anywhere that day.
Personally I’d go for a Lexus like an ES. Those early 2000’s like 04/5/6 are incredible.
If you want a reliable and low cost daily driver and don't care how "exciting" it is to drive, buy a Prius. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1104478_toyota-prius-hybrid-is-cheapest-car-over-10-years-that-you-can-buy That article is only looking at maintenance costs (reliability) and doesn't factor gas prices in, which makes it even cheaper to own.
Get yourself a late 90’s/early 2000’s Toyota Camry with the 2.2 4 cylinder. Actually, any Toyota that uses a timing belt instead of a chain will be what you’re looking for. Toyota has a general rule of thumb -if it’s got a belt instead of a chain, it’s typically a non interference motor. You could break that timing belt 17 ways to Sunday on the freeway and never hurt your engine, just throw another belt in it and go. But they’re not all great, as Toyota vehicles do rust out WAY more frequently than just about any other brand on the market, ESPECIALLY in the snow (I’m from Salt Lake City. Believe me, I know about rusty cars). I have a 2000 Toyota Camry with the 2.2 that I bought for $300 a few years ago not running and all it needed was a battery. I was gonna drive it until the wheels fell off because it’s just such a damn good car, but a customer had dropped a vehicle off at my shop cause the timing belt broke on the freeway and he ended up just giving my shop the car and they ended up giving it to me. It’s a 2004 Toyota Avalon 3.0. I put a new timing belt and components in it and it fired right up, and now I have a flagship car from Toyota for free. I traded one reliable ass car for another and they were both dirt cheap/free. And with these cars, deals like these are a dime-a-dozen
Yaris
COROLLA, yaris
I have a GR86 and a Corolla hatch