THE BEST USED CARS FOR EVERY NEED

The Best Used Cars For Every Need
By Michael Frank, Popular Mechanics, 6 December 2012.

Drop-top, band van, luxury wheels, or basic transportation: There are great used cars of every stripe out there, but you've got to be careful. So we asked some pro mechanics what they would buy. (And if you are going to buy one, first use PopMech's Used Car Checklist app, a 101-point inspection guide.)

There have never been more reliably-made cars across the board than in the last decade. It's one reason (besides the recession) why Americans are keeping their cars longer. Still that doesn't mean every used car on the road with 100,000 miles is created equally. (Unfortunately, when excitement goes up, reliability often ebbs. You can't get a Ferrari to be as trouble-free as a Civic. Sorry, that's life.)

So to find the most reliable oldies, we did some internal polling of our staff experts and surveyed a fistful of mechanics, like Derick Karabec, who owns Beek's Auto in Gardiner, New York, to see what they would buy for themselves or their family members. No matter the buyer, here's our list, complete with warnings for what to have your own mechanics check before purchase. (Any seller or reseller who refuses to let you have your own mechanic check out a car is hiding something.)

Note: As for what to buy for your kid, multiple mechanics agree: don't. "Don't ever buy a car for your kid," says Scott Wands, who owns Champagne Service in Seattle. "You want them to have some skin in the game" - that way they'll take better care of what they drive. Karabec agrees. While it's hard to convince a kid to drive cheap, reliable, sexless transportation, it's easer to coax them into such a ride if they're the ones paying for the maintenance.

1. Totally Painless Transportation

Toyota Corolla

A Corolla will never be the car of anyone's dreams, unless they dream of trouble-free driving. But there's a reason these cars hold their value, as they have for decades: Hardly anything breaks, and when something does go wrong, Toyota's stalwart econobox tends not to break down catastrophically. Models five years old and older have had less-than-stellar paint wear and some brake issues, but that's about it.

Warnings: Be sure the Check Engine light works and that it's current on inspection.

2. Slightly Fun, Basic Transportation

Honda Civic

Brakes, paint, and a few squeaky trim bits - these are the quibbles you'll see raised pretty frequently. But otherwise Civics, like Corollas, command a premium despite their age and mileage because they're reliable, period.

Warnings: A worn driver's seat seems common. Suspension components, especially bushings, should be looked at.

3. Sporty Car

Hyundai Tiburon

The (somewhat) sporty "Tib" was discontinued in 2008, but for a car that looks cool it remains relatively cheap to maintain. (Parts are less expensive than, say, those of a BMW 3-Series.) Is it world-class? Heck no, but we're balancing scales here: A 2008 will cost you roughly US$9000, while a used 3-Series of the same age/mileage could go for double that.

Warnings: Be careful of incomplete maintenance records. Be patient and hunt for a Tiburon with lower mileage, because they don't hold up quite as well as comparable Japanese sports coupes of similar age and mileage.

4. Band Van

Honda Element

The CR-V-based Element wasn't everyone's cup of driving joy, especially in a cross wind. Even though its four-cylinder engine isn't especially muscular, that not-exactly-aerodynamic shape killed fuel economy, which is why Honda phased out this box. But if you think of the Element as a non-minivan-van with lots of room for hauling you and your instruments from gig to gig (or from home to dorm), its practicality and reliability are hard to top.

Warnings: Take a tight turn in a parking lot and listen for chatter from the rear end. Failing to maintain rear viscous coupling fluid can lead to damage or wear. Also note that older Elements (pre-2007) got dinged for poor side-impact crash tests, as the side-curtain airbags weren't standard. If you're shopping for the 2003-06 vintage, try to find one with the optional side curtains.

5. Band Van, Plan B

Nissan Quest

Older Quests (pre-2007) don't score well for reliability. But they're bigger than the Element, and if you can find a reasonably clean one with low miles, it could be a viable alternative.

Warnings: Have a compression test and a brake inspection done. Look out for the catalytic converter and for leaking oil.

6. Mid-size Truck

Toyota Tacoma

One of the most coveted used vehicles around, the Tacoma holds its value ridiculously well. That's partly because mid-sized trucks are a dying breed in the U.S., where sub-par editions like the Dakota and Ranger, not to mention the Colorado, were (or continue to be) afterthoughts for their respective carmakers. The Tacoma, however, has proven to be reliable. The inflated prices may just be worth it if you don't want a full-size pickup.

Warnings: If you can find a 2000 or newer Tacoma that wasn't recalled by a factory warranty for frame rust (thousands went to the crusher) you're golden. Still, have a mechanic make sure the frame rust isn't an issue just in case the owner ignored the recall.

7. Mid-size Truck, Plan B

Ford Ranger

The Ranger is nowhere nearly as refined as the Toyota, but you can find them cheaper. Aim for the smaller of the available V-6s for better fuel economy.

Warnings: On the Ranger and Mazda B trucks (basically a Ford Ranger clone), look for shackle rot where the rear spring attaches to the body of the truck. If they need replacing have the mechanic get the parts directly from Ford (even for the Mazda), since they're far cheaper from Ford.

8. Little Luxury

Mini Cooper

Like the Miata, the Mini is relatively cheap for an entertaining sporty, fairly refined ride. Unlike the Miata, there are more mechanical concerns to watch out for.

Warnings: The older the Mini, the more you'll see engine issues, with the S having more than the base model. As a result it's wise to shop for newer editions with lower mileage. Pre-2007 models have timing chain issues, a $1000 job. They also get rattling plastics on the interior because the gaskets that secure the screws erode. Don't get the early CVT.

9. A Little More Luxury

Lexus IS

The IS has come in wagon guise, with AWD, and with a V-8. It has never quite matched the BMW 3-Series it was designed to compete with, but it's a fun, compact luxury sedan that holds up well.

Warnings: Maintenance is expensive because they're harder to work on; tires are expensive.

10. Very Basic Transportation

Ford Escort or Chevy Cavalier

These are nobody's idea of a thrill ride, but mechanics of every stripe will tell you that the Escort and Cavalier just keep going and going and parts are cheap. Both are rattle-traps and loud inside. But we're talking cheap cars that stay on the road, period.

Warnings: Check on the timing belts.

11. Convertible

Mazda Miata

The Miata is that rare car that's well-balanced, light on its feet, with just enough power and one of the best manual gearboxes ever put on the road. Autocross fanatics love first-gen editions, but even in stock condition, the Miata is an excellent re-creation of what fans loved about MGs (and not what they hated about them).

Warnings: Check the drop-top not only for leaks at the window seals, but also make certain the top opens and closes easily and that it locks in place simply and securely.

12. Convertible, Plan B

Honda S2000

Like a Miata on steroids, the S2000 is a faster, more capable sports car, especially at higher speeds, and a little more stable for longer highway travel.

Warnings: The S2000's fuel cut-off is over 9000 rpm. Owners who regularly flogged them that hard couldn't be doing anything kind to the hardware, so a standard compression check and inspection for leaks is in order. Also, excessive rear tire wear is a sure sign your seller has been having lots of fun flirting with the redline. Be wary of accident history; some of these get driven very hard.

13. If You're Willing to Tinker

VW Jetta

The Jetta is polarizing. It continues to be the poor man's Audi, more engaging than any comparable sedan (until the latest Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze came along) and with a hint of luxury nothing else in the price range offered. But nagging electrical issues remain with these cars, and it's advisable to find an independent mechanic who knows VWs to do your once-over.

Warnings: Check all the window motors. Check the A/C. Confirm the check engine light. Check for unresolved emissions issues, which can be costly to repair.

14. Diesel

VW Golf or Jetta

The praise and concerns that we noted for the gas Jetta go for its diesel brethren too. However, both Golf and Jetta diesels have fewer engine problems than gas editions and as a result hold their value better.

Warnings: Expensive to acquire and repair.

15. AWD

Audi A4, 2000 or newer

Some A4s hold up great and others have chronic problems, especially electrical ones. The four-cylinder, in general, is cheaper to maintain and gets better fuel economy.

Warnings: The A4 sits on the same chassis as the Jetta and the same electrical issues and engine concerns apply. It pays to have an Audi specialist do the inspection.

16. AWD, Plan B

Subaru Impreza

The older Imprezas with 2.0-liter power plants were rugged, if rudimentary. There are lots of older Subarus on the road and they tend to be pretty cheap to obtain and maintain.

Warnings: Oil leaks are an absolute concern. Engine seals go, requiring adding oil. It's a cheap fix (keep adding oil), but an owner who fails to do so risks damage. Have a dedicated Subaru mechanic do a compression test and to inspect for bad seals. Also, run - don't walk - away from any Subaru with a leaking head gasket on either side.

[Source: Popular Mechanics. Edited.]