What kind of car?

[Fiona C]

I drive about 800km a week, and I want to buy a car that is cheap on gas, low repair costs, cheap parts etc. I don't want a car that is 10 years old, but I can't afford anything over $10,000. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what type of car would be the best for that?

[amorak]

My suggestion to you would be to use $8000 of the $10,000 as a downpayment on either the 2005 Kia Rio/Rio5, or the soon-to-be released, all-new Hyundai Accent.

These cars are reliable, cheap on gas, and have ero repair costs, due to their 4 year bumper to bumper warranty.

If you put $8,000 down, and you live in Ontario, if you negociate a 1/2-ass'd deal, you will be paying no more then $200 a month for a fully loaded, automatic transmission Rio with Convience package - that means power doors, locks, remote entry, AC, heated seats, etc, etc... It's a great little car and offers you years of worry-free driving.

If you want to go this route, I would suggest waiting a month or two if possible for the new Accent, as it has available ABS brakes, which the Rio5 does not. Cruise control is available aftermarket for these and all other small economy cars for a few hundred bucks.

I wouldn't go for the Toyota Yaris, as it takes a Civic price-level low $20,000's to get ABS, auto, air, etc in the RS model... The sweet spot for you would be the Accent, as it has 6 airbags + ABS.... If your 800km a week is mostly highway with the cruise on, then a few hundred for dealer-isntallec ruise control is well worth it.

If you want to go used, again I suggest the Hyundais. Why you ask? Easy, resale value. Late model Hyundais have industry-leading reliability, but their resale value is much lower then that of other top levels car makers, namely Honda/Toyota. I think you could get a sweet, sweet deal on an 2003Model Year Accent, which would likely still have the balance of the then 7-year warranty (so 3-4years!).

In Alberta, which has significantly higher used car prices then somewhere like Ontario (since you don't have a location listed, I don't know where to look), a 2003 Accent with some options and an auto tranny can be had in good shape for $8,000.

That's probably the best spot to be, used car wise... SInce you'll be dirving it such long distances, resale value probably isn't the hugest of concerns, you'll never make up the difference in resale that a Toyota/Honda would bring you, compared to teh savings of buying a Hyundai/Kia.

[Pritch]

Find a used Honda Civic in good shape with a million miles on it for next to nothing. Vacum said honda civic, give it a bath and keep the oil and timing belt fresh, and it will go on almost indefinitely.

[The General]

Find a used Honda Civic in good shape with a million miles on it for next to nothing. Vacum said honda civic, give it a bath and keep the oil and timing belt fresh, and it will go on almost indefinitely.

This sounds like the best idea to me. I will assume that you are not interested in having monthly paiements so a nice used car would be best. A 40,000 km a year lease will cost you way to much money and your down paiment will be lost and you monthly paiements will be too big, even on a small compact car.

Buy it used and drive to your heart's desire and do not worry about excess mileage fees and whatnot.

For $8,000-9,000, buy a 1998-2000 Civic (depending on mileage and equipement), have it inspected, rustproofed and drive. Keep the extra $$ for repairs and winter tires.

[kilby]

Honda Civics are amazing cars, as someone pointed out, oil, timing belts and I would add exhausts and front rotors (cheap) they will go forever, if I was living in Eastern Canada I would spent the $100 or so on having it treated with "Krown" or "Rust Check" I believe it used to be called. On older cars it creeps everywhere, even stops squeaks and rattles, I have been doing my winter"ski cars" for years, really makes them last and look presentable for years. Used to get great reviews from the Lemon Aid folks.