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A reader question about cheap but reliable used cars got us thinking – what are some safe bets under $5000?
If you’re looking for a reliable used car for under $5000, your options are limited.
RELATED: What year of Toyota RAV4 is best to buy used?
Recently, the Drive team received a query from a reader seeking a small car with a budget of $4000.
“We are looking to buy a small, reliable car for about $4000. The car will only be needed for about three months whilst we wait for delivery of our new car,” the reader said via email.
With new-car waiting times for some models still extending out to a year or more, this is becoming a common question.
Here’s what you need to know about buying a used car on a budget.
What are some reliable used cars under $5000?
Brands with a good track record for reliability – although this is never guaranteed when you get into an older car – include Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Honda.
A reliable choice is the Toyota Corolla, although it might take you over the budget benchmark as Toyotas tend to retain their resale value a bit better than other brands.
After a cursory look online, we managed to track down a s=SSE-AD-5254540>sSaleId=SSE-AD-5254540>sViewType=showcase&rankingType=showcase” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>2002 Toyota Corolla for $5000 that offers an automatic transmission and air conditioning, which is about the best you can expect for a car of that age.
If you’ve got less than $5000 to spend with no flexibility, you might have to settle for a manual transmission, as there are far fewer options under this price point with an automatic transmission.
Other models to investigate include a Mazda 2, a Kia Rio, a Mitsubishi Lancer and a Honda Jazz – but aim for post-2000 models. Obviously, the more recent the better.
If you want to safeguard reliability even further, aim for an odometer reading that works out to no more than 15,000km a year, and a very up-to-date servicing logbook.
Of course, unexpectedly affordable pricing could be a red flag that the car has had a hard life.
As such, it can’t hurt to double-check any used car’s credentials and fact-check the owner’s claims about its odometer reading and accident history.
You can do this simply by following this link and running a $2 car search on the Australian Government’s Personal Property Securities Register or PPSR.
The post What are some reliable used cars under $5000? appeared first on Drive.
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