Hi guys ! I’m from Canada, and I need some advices on buying my first car. My budget is under 5k. What models/car brands are reliable ? Also, what do I need to verify and ask the seller ? Thanks a lot !

  • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
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    3 months ago

    I bought a 10 year Audi for $5,000 (USD) but then spent something like $10-15,000 in repairs because I’m an idiot.

      • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
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        3 months ago

        Well the good news is that after I dumped a ton of money into it, it’s running smooth and still looks pretty new. It’s a Typ 8P A3 hatchback which are kind of rare here in the US.

        The impression I got from the car history was that owner #2 drove it pretty hard and never maintained it. I’m dreaded owner #3.

          • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
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            3 months ago

            It isn’t here either. That’s over the course of ~2 years but I’m not wealthy by any means either. I’m lucky to not rely on it for work, so I can wait and take my time repairing it when needed.

  • nicerdicer@feddit.org
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    3 months ago

    I recommend a japanese car (Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Honda) with not too many miles (below 60000 miles) and not older than 10 years. These brands have a good longevity. Keep an eye out for engines with a timing chain instead of a timing belt, as the latter needs to be replaced regularly, adding to maintainence costs.

    • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      Japanese car with under 60k miles is going to be well over $5k. Considering these things can go well over 400,000km with proper maintenance, finding one in the mid 200s would be fine

      • Thoven@lemdro.id
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        3 months ago

        Is the car market in Canada that bad right now? In 2021 I got my 2011 Nissan versa with around 60k miles for about 4k (USD). You just have to be willing to pass up some luxury features and find the right deal instead of buying from a dealership.

  • mybuttnolie@sopuli.xyz
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    3 months ago

    Cars are unique, get one that was properly maintained. You will hear a lot of “avoid germans, get a toyota” but I had 0 problems with my previous vw and audi, while my family and friends all had japanese cars and spent ridiculous amounts fixing them. A car’s history matters the most. Oh and stay the hell away from anything french.

    • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      I’ve owned 4 golfs, and my impression of vw is regardless of how they’re maintained little issues start popping up everywhere after about 100k miles. No amount of maintenance is going to prevent window switches from breaking for example

      • mybuttnolie@sopuli.xyz
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        3 months ago

        My 3.2 vw passat had 250k km or 155k freedom units and it worked like a dream. It even had the much feared dsg gearbox. I only swapped it for audi a4 because I got bored with it.

    • applemao@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      German cars can either go 300k miles and be great, or 25k miles and take a crap because their plastic water pump failed (bmw). I’d say they’re very reliable when all preventative maintenance is done. But then so is any car, and most people don’t do preventative maintenance because we are humans.

  • eezeebee@lemmy.ca
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    3 months ago

    Consider getting a line of credit to increase your buying power and in case you have repair costs in the future.

    Absolutely get a set of winter tires, not just for safety in Canadian winters, but also because it should lower the cost of insurance. Do not skip the winter tires.

      • kinkles@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        Yeah even then. It’s one of those things you just shouldn’t entertain because you don’t want to later discover that a small accident actually did more damage than first realized.

          • kinkles@sh.itjust.works
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            3 months ago

            I dunno, my philosophy is that cars are a dime a dozen so you shouldn’t ever settle for one with damage when you can eventually find the same one without if you keep looking.

            • Ziggurat@jlai.lu
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              3 months ago

              Actually, for a used car, I would recommend to look for a nasty but cosmetic scratch. It’s the kind of stuff which gets you a great discount while not impacting the mechanical performance.

  • shittydwarf@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 months ago

    Generally you’ll want something from a Japanese company (Toyota corolla, Honda civic) and check the carfax report for accidents. You can ask about regular maintenance, check to see when the timing belt maintenance is due / if it was done, see if any recalls were taken care of, that sort of thing. If you have a mechanical friend try to bring them to take a look with you.

  • TheWeirdestCunt@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    Idk if they’re a thing over there but Kia Picantos are great, they’re basically go carts (the 2011 onwards models anyway). My only issue is that you can be problem free till it hits 10 years old and then once the first electrical gremlin shows up they all turn up one after the other.

  • VirtigoMommy@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    Avoid Volkswagen, Audi, bmw… German cars will run a long time if they’re well taken care of but they’re total money pits (I drive a vw gti and love it but even basic maintenance and repairs are expensive)

    Avoid subaru for the same reason.

    Honda and Toyota engines run a long time, even with poor maintenance but take care to keep up with maintenance and they will run forever.

    Old fords are great, new fords not so much. Dodge makes engines built to die. Most modern trucks have catastrophic engine issues.

    Avoid anything that came out after 2017, touch screens, capacitive touch, and other ‘luxary’ electronics are prone to fail and become expensive nuisances. AWD, cvt transmissions, and anything that turns the engine off when you come to a stop will come with expensive maintenance and repairs.

    Ask about service history, ask if the timing belt or water pump have ever been changed, get a carfax or auto check report (cars with accidents will be cheaper but come with hidden issues), ask how far their average commute is (the longer the commute the better, short drives don’t let the engines warm up properly).

    Look at the condition of the tires, look for even gaps where the body panels meet, turn the wheel all the way and check out the suspension and underneath the car for any serious rust (in Canada, everything is going to have rust, but you don’t want to see any cracks or chunky build up), after it’s warmed up listen for any ticks, chirps, knocks, or grinding noises. Look for water stains in the headliner.

    Don’t be afraid to look a little above your price range and negotiate down, people want money, but lots of people just want to get the car off their hands.

    Get something as close to or under 100,000 miles as you can but most importantly, get something you feel good in.

    • VirtigoMommy@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      Availability and price with vary depending on what’s available near you but Toyota Camry, Toyota corolla, Chevy Cruze, Chevy cavalier, Honda accord, Mazda 3 are all great cars reasonably within your price range.

  • TheOSINTguy@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    You live in canada, so buy something with both 4wd / 2wd. Having 2wd for the summer will save you gas money, and having 4wd means its safer to drive in snow (regarding safety from your vehicle and not others).

    • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      4wd is not a luxury one can afford on a $5k CAD budget. Snow tires and driving slow are enough to navigate our winters.

    • applemao@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      A 1st ot 2nd gen tacoma would be awesome for this but WATCH FOR FRAME RUST. some of them have major issues here.

    • keepee@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Please stop spreading this misinformation. 4wd/awd does not make a car safer in the snow. Winter tires do. A 2wd with winter tires will perform better than 4wd by a long shot.

      • TheOSINTguy@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        According to your logic, a 2wd w/ snow tires will be a 4wd w/ snow tires AND even with a locking rear diff. Have you ever been off roading or gone up a icy slope in the winter?

  • applemao@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Keep an eye out for shady things sellers do too, like starting the car before you get there (why wouldn’t they show you a cold start?). Listen very hard for any sounds and ask the owner if they have had it looked at or even noticed it. Ears are a big advantage in car buying. Make sure you don’t notice any shakes or rumbles while driving or turning sharp (bearings=expensive fixes). I won’t recommend brands as other already have, and I’m too into weird cars to offer a normal opinion.

    • TheOSINTguy@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      Make sure to check the oil dip stick and transmission dip stick too. And if the car is already when you get there turn it off first thing and just look through car.

  • Nikls94@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Not a Canadian, but: get something that’s common. The more people that have had the car, the more reliable it usually is and the cheaper are parts and repairs.

    My first car was a Hyundai Getz which was about 10 years old when I got it, and she died of rust 4 years later. But it was cheap, reliable and had AC.

      • Nikls94@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        It had a dead transmission when I bought it, poor thing did not get a wash after winter.

        My Audi that I’ve been driving for 8 years gets her belly washed every month. No rust in sight so far.

  • comfyquaker@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    i think i’ve hear that a Toyota Camry supposed to be the goat in terms of reliability and repairability.

    i always asked what they mainly used it for and if it had any repairs or has been in accidents. though i think you can find accidents on the vin number of the car.

    good luck! i hope you find a car :)