All,
Trying to find a used commuter car. Have been batting around a Chevrolet Malibu and Impala, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. However, the CVT transmissions in the Honda/Toyota worry me because I know nothing about them. I just want to buy something with about 50-80K miles, drive it to 250K and dump it. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Scratch the Chevys. Immediately.

I DD'd a Civic for 6 years. Best decision.

Golf or Passat with 2.5

Honda or Toyota out of your list.

White F150 EcoBoost to make this auto board complaint.

From what you've listed, Corolla or Civic. Not sure what people fear about the CVTs. My brother has commuted from Willis to the Ship Channel the past 4 years in a 2011 Altima, and it's given him zero issues. In fact, he's had more issues with his $65k 2019 F-250.

Mazda 3

Aggiemike96 said:

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Scratch the Chevys. Immediately.

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Corolla. Toyotas keep rolling.

EMY92 said:

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White F150 EcoBoost to make this auto board complaint.

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Toyota Avalon cause I love long sedans.

I'd look at the 1st gen Chevy Volt, depending on your daily mileage requirement.

Otherwise, depending on what your budget is, go with the newest Toyota/Honda/Hyundai in whatever size/spec is in your price range.

I'd be looking at 4-cyl Accord, Camry, or Sonata so I don't have to be in a Civic or Corolla every day. Worth the small hit to gas mileage for more space and comfort.

Or you can buy a Ford Panther platform, because that is always the answer.

Prius or Corolla

dubi said:

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Mazda 3

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my 1st choice if i needed a cheap reliable commuter.

EskimoJoe said:

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dubi said:

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Mazda 3

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my 1st choice if i needed a cheap reliable commuter.

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I agree, the Mazda 3 would be my 1st choice for used, cheap, and reliable.

Usually I miss entire words, but not the spelling.

I always recommend buying Toyota and Honda new because they don't depreciate. You won't save much buying used compared to the new price. Chevy Ford and Nissan if you're buying used since you can get an almost new car for a lot off the original price.

Thanks for the replies. I actually didn't realize a Camry/Accord had as good of an MPG rating as they do. There is a used Camry at a dealership near me that I think I am going to take a look at.

EMY92 said:

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White F150 EcoBoost to make this auto board complaint.

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This is my daily commuter (70mi roundtrip). The 2.7L is a nice highway cruiser for me...but it ain't ideal.

When I started this job, I drove an '04 4cyl Camry that I had inherited from my grandfather. That was the perfect commuter car.

As others have stated it's hard to go wrong with an Accord or Camry.

I like the Mazda3. It's A LOT of car for the $ and the MPG is awesome. We had a '14 for a little over a year until got rear-ended by some fool in an XTerra and totaled.

Another poster mentioned a 1st Gen Volt. We've owned a '14 for 3.5 years. Car has been very reliable and of course MPG is great. The downside on the 1st Gen is it requires premium gas but only has a 9 gallon tank. Also only seats 4. It's my wife's commuter car. Just last week I saw a '14 with 33k miles for under $12k.

drumboy said:

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Toyota Avalon cause I love long sedans.

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2012 Avalon limited for $13,000 and drive it like you stole it to 300,000 miles.

aTm2004 said:

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From what you've listed, Corolla or Civic. Not sure what people fear about the CVTs. My brother has commuted from Willis to the Ship Channel the past 4 years in a 2011 Altima, and it's given him zero issues. In fact, he's had more issues with his $65k 2019 F-250.

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That was about the time they got them under control, at least on the cars.

I'd go with a Corolla, Camry, or Avalons. The older Hondas have weak transmissions (sort of funny how people make fun of the Nissan CVTs) and the newer ones aren't as reliable overall as Hondas have historically been.

I did about 50k over 2 years in my wife's Fusion (2013). Great car. 1.4L ecoboost. Would get me in and out and comfortable to drive.

Can be had pretty cheap. I was getting 32+ MPG going to Freeport and Victoria from Houston.

~egon

Bonfire97 said:

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All,
Trying to find a used commuter car. Have been batting around a Chevrolet Malibu and Impala, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. However, the CVT transmissions in the Honda/Toyota worry me because I know nothing about them. I just want to buy something with about 50-80K miles, drive it to 250K and dump it. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

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I'm in a Malibu dealer loaner right now. Gas mileage is good but at 50K miles it shakes like a mofo, and there is really nothing impressive about this car.

I bought a 2012 corolla with 45k miles for $5k cash. I will drive it until the wheels fall off.

Didn't you just buy a new truck? Can't strap a buck to the roof of a Corolla?

aTm2004 said:

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Didn't you just buy a new truck? Can't strap a buck to the roof of a Corolla?

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I did buy a new truck. I've had the corolla for a couple years. I daily drive the corolla most days because I don't very much feel like putting 50+ miles a day on a brand new truck.

But I do drive the truck on snowy days or days where I just feel like driving my shiny new truck.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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drumboy said:

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Toyota Avalon cause I love long sedans.

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2012 Avalon limited for $13,000 and drive it like you stole it to 300,000 miles.

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This would be my vote. I bought a 2011 used and sold it about 1.5 years later to a TexAgs poster, who then sold it again.

Fantastic car. about 26mpg on freeway. still big enough for 4 adults comfortably. and most of all, very little road noise.

AggieChemist said:

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aTm2004 said:

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Didn't you just buy a new truck? Can't strap a buck to the roof of a Corolla?

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I did buy a new truck. I've had the corolla for a couple years. I daily drive the corolla most days because I don't very much feel like putting 50+ miles a day on a brand new truck.

But I do drive the truck on snowy days or days where I just feel like driving my shiny new truck.

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Does the corolla get jealous?

I bought a used Honda Fit for cash and it's been rather utilitarian and reliable, even if it is a bit noisy on the highway. It's semi sort of fun to drive as a manual, though fast it is not.

Hyundai Elantra