Cheap 5 speed used car, any advice?Follow

Right now I'm looking at a 2006 Cobalt, 5 speed, decent packed, and certified for about 8000. Not the color I'd like, but I can deal. Cobalts are pretty much the cheapest cars you can buy, but what other options are there for that price range.

Buy a Honda or a Hyundai. The Cobalt is just a redesigned Cavalier and just as worthless.

You can even find an '05-'06 Mazda 3 for that price.

You didn't specify mileage and 70K on a Mazda is a lot different than 70K on a Cobalt. Cobalt is part of the throw away class, along with neons, Saturn SC and SL series, low end Kias and all of Daewoo. Most of these cars start falling apart around 100K, opposed to a decently maintained Mazda which will easily hit 200K. 300K+ isn't unheard of in a well maintained Mazda, Honda or Hyundai.

Having looked at a lot of used cars and Consumer Reports reviews last spring, I agree that going with the Ford Focus or an older Honda or Hyundai would be a far better choice then the Cobalt. They go fast, so finding one before someone else grabs it, can be frustrating

So frustrating that we ended up buying a new Honda Civic, using the cash we had put aside for a used car as the down payment.

Jonwin says that if you got 8k for a used car, a dealer can help you find one. His brother would email us info on used cars, as they came into the dealership where he works.

Ford Focus, don't even think twice.

Edit: Ive only ever heard of one ford focus major problem between the many people I know who own them. This guy had a gearbox failure but I can assure you it was due to his abuse of the car. The car is by far the best and most enjoyable to drive (and practical and economical too!) at that price range.

Edited, Sep 28th 2009 4:08pm by Lokien

I could buy that for the suspension. I drive daily on some pretty crappy roads, but not the rust. None of other cars that we've had longer, but under the same conditions, have rusted like this little Mazda is doing.

Don't get me wrong. I've loved the car and think it's been worth what I paid for it, I just don't think Mazda - at least their economy line - it known for it's longevity. Honda and Nissan would be my pick if I was buying used and wanted to be able to rack up a ton of miles.

Not suggestions, just other ideas.

Mazda 6 S

Nissan Altima SL

Chevy Impala LTZ

The G-8 is a very nice car, and comes with a very affordable V-8 if that's what you're looking for. Personally if I were going GM I'd look at a Chevy Impala or a Buick Allure, there's more comfort and similar power for a similar price in those vehicles.

Thanks to work I've recently had the opportunity to test out all sorts of various midsize and fullsize cars through rental places, and the most fun I had was in a Nissan Altima. It was the 4 Cylinder, 2.5L model, and it has real pickup as far as 4i cars go(not a terrible amount of difference between it and my 2008 Impala V6 3.9L), and was decent on gas(900 km, ~600 miles of highway driving for 65L of fuel).

After that, the Mazda 6 was a great car, very similar to the Altima in a lot of ways. I obviously can't vouch for the durability of these cars as they were only rentals and practically brand new. In terms of overall styling, I prefer the 6 to the Altima.