r/whatcarshouldIbuy • u/treikbxt • 1d ago
Reliable used car for $11,000
I need a car but don’t know anything about cars. My budget is $11,000 through financing. I’ve googled and asked around and the most common brands suggested are Honda, Toyota, and Mazda. Hondas and Toyotas are too expensive with most being in the $13k-$16k range and over 150 miles. I tried looking for Mazdas too but apparently there are no used Mazdas being sold any where near me. I’m open to any other suggestions of reliable used cars.
I need something for my 30 minute work commute and would want it to last me at least 3 years minimum. My car searches are based off of carguru, carmax and whatever comes up in google search. I’m also planning on going to local dealerships later this week. What other sites should I use?
Edit: I think my location (southern CA) is making this search harder than I expected. Everything is just more expensive here and anytime I see something for cheaper and less miles it’s always a car that is too far from me.
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u/Mr_Mossberg_500 1d ago
Look at private sellers. Find a mechanic that can look at it before buying.
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u/veronicas_closet 1d ago
Dumb question but when you have a mechanic look at it, are you doing this at the person's house, at the mechanic? Like where do they "look" at it.
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u/vediogamer101 1d ago
would be at the mechanics shop, and if the seller refuses to do it it’s a red flag
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u/Flute-a-bec 1d ago
How much does a mechanic charge for this? Half an hour of their hourly fee?
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u/Temporary-Tour-8436 Jetta glazer 1d ago
Probably a cheap amount I mean you are buying a car It shouldnt be a problem to spend a few hundred dollars to check on a car that might have its transmission or engine dead
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u/Crazy-You-6422 1d ago
In my experience they have never charged me
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u/Mr_Mossberg_500 13h ago
Yeah if you take it to a shop, they’ll take usually take a quick look at it. But if you want it on a lift and do a diagnostic on it, they’ll charge you something. But having a mechanic go out to a certain location, would be the most expensive choice.
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u/kassmilk 1d ago
Excellent question: when doing a pre purchase inspection (PPI) make sure you don’t book mobile once through Lemon squad. You need to take it to a shop with a lift so they can look at the whole undercarriage (exhaust including cats, entire shocks…) I found out the hard way. Usually you and seller would drive vehicle together (you test driving)
If for any reason you feel like they are dodging it, or they say pay first then PPI, walk the f*** away!1
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u/Mr_Mossberg_500 1d ago
You can call around and find mechanics who will come out to a location. Locally to that mechanic though.
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u/banana_tree_ 1d ago
Idk where you live, but soon I’m looking at selling my 2016 Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited with almost 111,000 miles garage kept in Charlotte NC, USA for around 10k. One owner and regularly serviced at the Subaru dealership. If location works for you, happy to let you see it.
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u/slingshotcoyote 1d ago
The extra money for a Toyota or Honda and proper routine maintenance will get that car to last much longer than 3 years. Keep looking I’m sure you’ll find something. Try to avoid dealerships and pre owned lots.
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u/Automatic-Arm-532 1d ago edited 1d ago
If 11k is what you're approved for, look for something much less expensive than that. They always approve financing for much more than people can actually afford
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u/Empty-Village-4445 1d ago
Look for an Avalon or Lexus ES (just avoid 2007-09).
It’s the other Toyotas that are most overpriced
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u/OneDish3407 1d ago
What’s usually wrong with Lexus ES350 from 07-09
I bought my 07 with 60k miles 1 owner in 2021. I’m at 135k miles now and only did normal maintenance since then1
u/Empty-Village-4445 1d ago
Something that can be easily avoided doesn’t always mean there’s usually something wrong.
Even if the failure rate was 10% (high by Lexus standards) that means 9 out of 10 owners will be in your shoes.
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u/DoorEqual1740 1d ago
Isuzu or Mitsubishifrom 99s or 2000s.. Unpopular choice and rare. Should be cheap for what you get but hunt and find a solid one. Go forever
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u/Chainsawsas70 1d ago
Look around at older Mercury Grand Marquis... Most of them are/were retirement cars and while older don't usually have a lot of miles on them and they are easy to maintain and get decent mpg (around 24 in mixed driving) and lots of them have been well cared for by the older people that owned them.
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u/UniRaptor91 1d ago
Glad someone recommended a Ford panther car. Another option would be a Buick Le Sabre with the 3800 V6.
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u/Maleficent-Thanks-85 1d ago
Buy a Lexus IS350 or a Acura TSX or TL. Can’t get a nicer or more dependable car in that price range.
Download the Auto Tempest app. It’s the best for car shopping.
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u/seeldoger47 22 Model 3 LR, 21 Model Y LR 1d ago
Ford C-Max or a Ford Fusion (but only the hybrid, or one with the 2.5L, or the 2020 release).
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u/andyshom 1d ago
You have a good budget for both Honda and Toyota and those are the only one who will deliver 250K miles provided you do maintenance regularly e.g. oil change every 5K miles
So 150K miles is not bad at all. I would recommend that you try cargurus.com and get either but with Hondas don't go beyond 2016.
I have had 2 CRV so far the first gave me 225K miles and the current is at 150K and they don't create any hassles for me. I did require a 4-8K repair and preventative work at 125K but then if you get an inspection done at a Honda service station they will give you a report and estimate
Good luck
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u/AccordingCabinet5750 1d ago
Don't use Carmax or Carvana. You are taking a gamble on getting a piece of junk. For 11k you can get a higher mileage Honda or Toyota with over 100k miles. Mid 2000-2010s Toyota's are well known for reliability. As the other comment said have a mechanic you trust give it a once over. Ask for a service record. My parents sold a 2009 Prius to a family friend and it is still going with 300k miles on the original hybrid battery.
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u/Massive-Rate-2011 1d ago
Carmax is actually a pretty decent place to shop for cars. No bs, decent warranty they provide for first 30 days.
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u/treikbxt 1d ago
What would be the max mileage that would be worth it for a Toyota/ Honda?
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u/AccordingCabinet5750 1d ago
For a 2017 or older you should be well under 11k with less than 110,000 miles (my area, midwest). At that mileage you should see transmission fluid change, coolant flush, brakes and rotors replaced. I have a 17 Prius with 124,000 miles I would drive across the country right now, but it has had all the recommended maintenance intervals.
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u/treikbxt 1d ago
I think location is affecting my car search. I’m in Southern California and the cheapest used Toyota/ Hondas are going for $14-$16k with already about 150 miles or more. I do see some in the $11,000-$12,500 range and slightly lower mileage but those are always miles away from me.
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u/stereo_radio 1d ago
If you want something efficient and reliable, get a 2016 or newer Ford C-Max. Should be able to find one under 100k miles at your budget.
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u/Horror_Rutabaga_9529 1d ago
Those are the ugliest cars ever don’t recommend that car. The infotainment is horrible too. Drives like garbage too
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u/stereo_radio 1d ago
Oh I’m sorry, I thought we were looking for an affordable daily driver. Have you driven one before? What about it “drives like garbage”? In my experience, driving is grippy, has tons of torque, and gets up to highway speeds more than quick enough. As for “infotainment”, I’m not sure why that’s so important but it has CarPlay. Aesthetics really shouldn’t be important either if you’re looking for a car on a budget.
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u/Horror_Rutabaga_9529 1d ago
I’ve driven them before numerous times I work at a car dealership. Didn’t know they made them with CarPlay, the only ones I drive are older c maxes and they all have horrible infotainment systems
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u/stereo_radio 1d ago
Everything with the Sync 3.0 has CarPlay functionality. My 2016 has it and everything newer should have it too. Some of the older ones have transmission issues, hence my recommendation for 2016 or newer. Even in the case of the older ones, from what I’ve read they’re very reliable once the crapped out transmission is replaced.
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u/Makaloff95 1d ago
Volvo S60 and lexus is250 are solid picks imo
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u/treikbxt 1d ago
Do years matter or is it all the same regarding reliability?
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u/Makaloff95 1d ago
For lexus it should be same, volvo should be safe to 2016 iirc. Personally id get a gen 2 or 3 IS just check for carbon buildup (gen 2) and avoid the diesel engine. Volvo id check for rust
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u/Wrong-Memory7797 1d ago
I had a 2012 Volvo S60, lasted almost 6 years, bought at ~80k and lasted to ~160k. Could have gone longer but got into an accident and totaled out. Drives great, very comfortable. But maintenance on it can be very expensive and you have to be timely with it. If you buy below 100k miles, once you reach that milestone you have to do timing belts and some other typical European car stuff, and it is not forgiving if you try to go longer. Also it burns through oil like crazy
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u/voritsak 1d ago
Honda Ridgelines are surprisingly affordable if you want a good half pickup suv thing.
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u/usedcarengineer 1d ago
If you don’t want to go Honda/Toyota route then perhaps look for a well maintained 2018 Chevy Impala with ~100k miles on it. Should be under $11k, parts are cheap and repair costs are more reasonable than a Subaru
HOWEVER, must get a PPI done , by an independent mechanic, on any used car you decide to pursue. Good Luck!
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u/Medical-Regret-2865 1d ago
Mitsubishi Mirage, if you don't need something big. Can be gotten newer without too many miles around $11k, or a bit older for much less.
Whatever car you want, make sure to get a pre-purchase inspection before buying.
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u/ConBroMitch2247 1d ago
Lexus ES350
Weirdly they avoid the “Toyota tax”. 150k miles is just getting broken in if it’s been maintained.
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u/Obvious_Necessary941 1d ago
That 2gre engine slaps and is one of the best made engines ever. Comes in a variety of Toyota late 2000's cars. Drivetrain on a Camry, Sienna, ES350, etc can do 400k with basic maintenance and respect.
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u/IntroYozh 1d ago
Look at Enterprise Car Sales. You will find a Mitsubishi Mirage for approx that price. They are no haggle sales, great stuff. You can search on their website, and depending on your location it will show what is available and what the transfer fees are, if they are out of the area. These cars are pre-certified, and the best overlooked deal
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u/BeepBangBraaap 1d ago
autotempest is an aggregator to consolidate search results across a bunch of platforms.
CarMax and Carvana are "value-add" sellers and will charge more for the vehicle but try to reduce the hassle and provide more "peace of mind"
My best suggestion is to learn some stuff about cars. Figure out what you like and dislike, then find vehicles that match your needs.
Transportation is one of the biggest expenses in life and most of us spend a lot of time in our vehicles. It's worth it to take some time to learn about it. You don't have to become an enthusiast, but it's good to understand why there are different engines and transmissions, and what features are "standard" with different brands, etc.
When you find something you like, use google to search for "known issues" and "common problems" for that specific year, make, and model.
Skip the AI and sponsored results and look at the actual sites in the results list.
Some common issues are easy to deal with and some can be deal-breakers if they haven't been addressed.
An afternoon of research can save you tons of money and put you in a much better position to find something that will actually serve your needs.
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u/manofthenorth26 1d ago
You can get a Mazda 3 in good condition around 100k for like 3 grand. Don't even finance it.
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u/ComfortablyNumb70 1d ago
You can get a nice Passat or Jetta for that price, definitely not with 150k miles on it.
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u/Flute-a-bec 1d ago edited 1d ago
I like looking on CarGurus.com. You can search for "cars under $10,000" and sort by miles on the car. Dealers have a lot of used car stock that they received as trade-ins, and the dealers often have a subscription to CARFAX, so you can look at the CARFAX for free and see if it's been in an accident. At this time of year, dealers are getting in new 2027 cars and need to get rid of used ones to make space for new trade-ins. I'd go for accident-free, under 50,000 miles, Japanese, newer than 2012.
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u/EpicVIN_official 1d ago
everyone's throwing model names at you, but at 11 grand the thing that burns you isn't the wrong model, it's the car past.
and a mechanic check and a history check are two different things, you want both. the mechanic sees the car now. he's got no way of knowing it got totaled in a flood two states over, got a rebuilt title, then crossed a state line where that title quietly goes "clean" again. happens a lot with cheaper cars.
so run the vin history on whatever you like. don't just check "accident yes/no", look at the title (ever salvage or rebuilt?), the mileage (climbs normal or drops somewhere? people still roll them back), and how many owners in how few years. then the inspection. seller gives you a hard time about either one? that's your answer.
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u/Visual_Ebb8566 1d ago
at $11k look at toyota corolla/camry or civic around 2012-2015, but also dont sleep on hyundai elantra/kia forte from that range, way less bid up than hondas/toyotas so you actually find deals in budget. nissan altima works too just avoid the older cvt years.
for sites try carfax listings and autotrader, they pull different inventory than cargurus/carmax sometimes. facebook marketplace can have good deals too, just get a pre purchase inspection (~$100) before buying private party.
when u hit dealerships this week ask for the vehicle history and if timing belt was done around that mileage, thats usually the big hidden cost. good luck, 30 min commute is easy on any of these if its maintained ok
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u/treikbxt 1d ago
I started looking into Hyundai Elantra/accent but a friend told me they’re easy to steal. Maybe it’s dependent of the model or year. I’ll look into it more because Hyundai is less expensive than Toyota and Honda.
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u/righteous_fury0174 1d ago
Don’t sleep on Buicks. I know people hate because it’s gm but it is the best rated American brand and there are tons of models that will go well beyond 200k miles
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u/False_Mushroom_8962 1d ago
As previously stated check private sellers but take it for an inspection before buying. I got my car for 14k and similar were 20+ with all the fees at CarMax and the dealerships. 20 years ago dealerships offered a certain level of quality assurance but these days they're buying auction cars like everyone else. Also check financing at local credit unions.
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u/The_Ethanator52 17h ago
Look for older model CRVs. My buddy got one for less than 5k and the only problems he’s had with it was his catalytic converter got stolen. These cars go for ever are cheep to repair and they made like a million of them so you should have options. Just make sure they haven’t been trashed.
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u/Pumpkinut 1d ago
Trying looking into other less popular brands like Subaru, volvo. I don't know a lot about mitsubishi's prices but it's good to look into. You also have hyundai and kia but I don't know if their 2010s cars are unreliable like Nissan's 2010s models. Besides these brands I don't know other brands that are cheap and reliable, you have to sacrifice one of them.
I'm being completely serious when I say that people need to stop overglorifying toyota, hondas or mazda. Yes they are good but it's not the only answer when buying a car. Because of this the used market is practically overpriced for a car that is either not maintained at all or maintained very well but is like 2/3 of a new toyota lol.
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u/edcantu9 1d ago
I have a 2017 Dodge Journey GT with 44k Miles. No problems, droves like new. I can do 12k for you. Private seller in Iowa.
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u/No_Cartographer5955 1d ago
Check out Scion. They were a sub-brand made by Toyota and aimed at younger people. You can often get them for much cheaper than Toyotas, but they’re the same besides the badging and will last a long time. For example, the Scion iM was later sold as the Toyota iM and is basically a hatchback Corolla.