Best Daily Driver for Approx. $6000

"Zohaibman72" (zohaibman72) 04/06/2015 at 13:05 • Filed to: Car Buying, New Car

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Background Info:

I need a new car, my 2008 Hybrid Camry has been... absolutely destructive on my bank account because of the high insurance. I want to get rid of it before I put summer tires on it, so I'm probably selling it for $8000 (I know this might be pushing it, but it's a Camry, the demand might make it worthy) . It was worth $12000 before the accident, and it needs new summer tires, if anyone in the Greater Toronto area is interested.

I can't say I'm not going to miss it, it was extremely comfortable and roomy, and hell, it was my first car. People like to assume both hybrids and Camrys have no character, but I feel like this just did have it's own character, being a hybrid, it was nothing like anyone I know has ever owned, it was like a toy for new people who entered it. And a great conversation piece.

I plan on selling it from $8000, dropping if I don't get offers, but $8000 is desired, and then giving half to my mom. I want it to be gone ASAP and I'm probably not selling it until mid-late April. I would get her Civic (my stepdad would get a demo from his dealership) and I would sell the Civic. Probably for $4000. With a range of $6000 - $8000 I want to get a car worth at least $6000, and any extra would be used on fixing anything or mods, or personal things for myself.

Same As Before:

- Budget is ~$6000

- I'm 18 so cheapest insurance possible (no hybrids or turbos. NA cars)

- Good gas mileage

- I need 4 doors

- Preferably Japanese. I can do American as long as it's something nice (I don't really like any domestic cars in the price range [G5, Cobalt, 2nd gen US Focus, Caliber, Fusion, Malibu, 200, Avenger]). European cars will probably just stretch to Volkswagen. 2000s BMWs and Mercedes I hear are hell to maintain.

- Earliest model year I'll stretch to is 2000.

- Something that likes cosmetic mods. Not rice, like tasteful small things.

- Preferably Auto, because there are no tracks here and it's going to be a DD. I could get a manual and learn, but It's just I hear they aren't the best for DDing.

Nibby > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:09

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TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:11

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best DD i have ever had

Zohaibman72 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 04/06/2015 at 13:12

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i'd get it but i need 4 doors :(

added it to the list

Dunnik > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:15

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Eighteen and driving in Toronto? I feel for you, our insurance rates are stupidly high.

A friend of mine, who is 27, was looking to get his 2nd car, with a similar budget. I directed him to the Acura RSX. We found a 1-owner, lady-driven, 5MT, dealer serviced example with 135,000km on it for $5200, from Downtown Acura, no less.

There are cars that are cheaper to insure, but the RSX is still quite reasonable. Insurance algorithms are pretty crude sometimes, looking at just raw horsepower. The RSX doesn't have much, but it's light, and so good power to weight ratio. Handles about as good as a FWD car can get.

Quite good on gas, especially with manual control. Keep the revs under 2k where possible and avoid the VTEC range (4500-5500 ish) and you'll enjoy good gas economy both city and highway.

A 2+2, but a practical one since it's a hatchback and the rear seats are not as stupid as some other 2+2's.

Unlike most Honda's, it has a timing chain, so no need to be wary of cars in the 130-160k km range.

Acuras, it may be obvious to point out, are well-made and quite reliable if you take care of preventative maintenance. Rust is usually what kills these cars.

Disclaimer: I own a 2008 Acura TL, so somewhat biased :)

P.S. One of these days we need to set up an Oppo GTA meeting (that's Greater Toronto Area, not Grand Theft Auto!)

CB > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:17

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Mazda 5 van life for under seven grand.

Mazda 3 for a similar price.

W8 life because fuck reliability.

There's a bunch of stuff out there. Using a Toronto postal code on Autotrafer for under seven grand and under 150,000 kilometres gives me 2286 results.

EDIT: Whoops, was looking at seven grand and not six. My mistake.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:18

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Honda Civic? This one looks shockingly cheap so I'm not sure how many options there would be in your price range.

3rd gen TL? Selection in your price range would be slim, but they are nice cars.

And from what you mentioned, the Fusion is a great DD car.

Last Gen Grand Prix is also a good (read: cheap) option. You can get great good optioned ones with heated leather seats and stuff like that for not very much money. Drivetrain is bulletproof too.

Milky > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:20

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Is getting it insured under your parents and just paying them possible? I'm 25 and still do it this way, don't see any reason not to.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:21

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What are the 4 doors for? If it is for insurance, a Miata is pretty cheap on insurance. I am 23 with clean history and my insurance did not change much when going from a 4 door civic to my Miata.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:23

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Dang those four doors

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 04/06/2015 at 13:24

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1000 times yes. I thought a Miata would be terribly impractical but I can still transport 99% of what I could ever need to. And for that 1% of the time that I need to transport more people or more things, I would rather borrow a car or have someone else drive. Plus I can still get over 25 mpg without effort, maintenance is easy/cheap, and TRACK DAY BRO.

Zohaibman72 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/06/2015 at 13:27

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I mostly drive people and my car is used for alot of things. My stepdad works long hours so when my mom gets home my car is used for everything.

4 Doors is also needed because I'm the only one in my friends group who drives, so if I ever want to see them, I have to take my car. I live too far from them, and I wouldn't be able to drive the demo.

Also personal prefrence, as much as I love the Miata, I wouldn't get one until I have a solid four door personal car.

I'd get a two door if I could drive my stepdad's demo, but ever since the accident (which wasn't my fault), nobody in my family trusts me driving without insurance. They just that anything could happen so they are super cautious.

Zohaibman72 > Milky 04/06/2015 at 13:29

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I do that right now and it's still alot. I partly want lower insurance so it's less stressful on my mom, which it has been. Even with me paying. It might get better when my stepdad gets his demo, because Honda pays for his insurance, but who knows.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:32

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Ahh, makes sense. I think something an Acura RSX or Nissan S13 (if you cant find a clean-ish one) could be fun. Im thinking a 2 door hatch which could be really practical for carrying and carry 4 people for short distance. Plus it could always be really cool to drive and mod tastefully.

Zohaibman72 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 04/06/2015 at 13:32

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All of these are actually under heavy consideration. Since my mom owns a Civic, I was thinking of just selling both the camry and civic, and just buying a fully loaded Civic. I'd prefer sedan because I just don't like the way that gen coupe looks.

Fusion I have looked at alot, but it's also very plain jane to me, even more than the Camry (because Camry is japanese, I see alot of modified ones here owned by young people).

I like the TL, but i'd rather get the 1st gen TSX

Gran Prix has also been an open option for me, I know someone whos an expert on all things Pontiac, and it would help when owning one.

Zohaibman72 > CB 04/06/2015 at 13:34

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These are all decent, but I wanted to stray away from Mazda. I like the Mazda 5, I might look at one. The Mazda 3 is good but it eats gas and rusts :(

Zohaibman72 > Dunnik 04/06/2015 at 13:37

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The RSX sounds great but I still feels like it falls into the realm of impractical for me right now. I'd rather get a TSX or TL because I need seating for 4 adults. I might look into it thought, I think a test drive of one would be good.

I'd love to do a oppo GTA meet when I get a decent car actually.

Zohaibman72 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/06/2015 at 13:39

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I want an S13 so badly. It's just impossible to find a clean one. Someone on the street of my Grandma's house has a perfectly clean one, nothing done to it, manual, sunroof, and owned by an old lady. It's perfect.

There is a used car dealership on the way to my College that has two R33 Skylines (one is a GTR), RHD RX7, and an imported S15 Silvia. It's amazing.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 13:54

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You should just try giving that old lady an offer. Even if it is not listed for sale, just try anyways. That is definitely the best kind of 240sx to find! Haha trade her the camry, that seems fair to me!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 14:21

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Buick regal GS . The supercharged 3800s are very tough and no worse on gas than the naturall aspirated versions. The regal is dirt cheap on insurance and it's a buick so it's a wonderful cruiser. It's an early 2000s car so the ABS, traction control, and safety systems are modern and you're at the peak of spare and aftermarket parts. The one I listed has some title issues but a clean titled one with ~100k miles in good condition is about 5-6k.

NoneOfYourBiz > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 15:54

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Honda Fit (no brainer but more expensive than the other options)

Hyundai Elantra (Touring, GT - something with a hatch, preferably - the 2004-2006 Elantra GT will be in the $2500-4500 range and give you plenty left over with which to pay for maintenance or modifications; heck, you could afford a full engine rebuild, essentially zero-timing the car)

Mazda 3 (rust prone - make sure it's been oil-sprayed - otherwise great unless it's been abused - look for bone-stock driven by a middle-aged public servant)

Ford Focus (ditto rust - they're also not built to the same standards as the Asian models above)

Forget European cars or any American car that isn't Ford.

Pick up the Lemon-Aid Guide to Used Cars and read it. Pulls no punches, gives no f*cks; the author tears into any car that has a questionable service history, based on actually recall and user data. The "recommended" and "above average" lists are the ones to buy from (all of my recommendations are on there). The "average, below-average, and not-recommended" lists are the ones to avoid ... and it will shock you how many cars are "average at best."

http://www.amazon.ca/Lemon-Aid-Used…

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Zohaibman72 04/06/2015 at 17:48

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Crown Victoria LX Sport/P71/P7B.

+Badass, cheap, damn near indestructible, responds great to cosmetic mods and mild upgrades, very practical, automatic (with column shift!)

-American

Dunnik > Zohaibman72 04/07/2015 at 00:57

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You may need to spend a little more to get one in good condition/low mileage, but the TSX should be in your ballpark. The TL really isn't, unfortunately, unless you want one with a bad automagic (04-06), high mileage and a history of molestation/rice.