Buying a used Toyota

I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
to drive it til the wheels fall off).

Thanks!

[email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:30:17 +0000, sherly.batarse wrote:
[color=blue]
> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>
> Thanks!
>
> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]

If it has "Toyota" on it, you're good to go.

Personal favorites: Corolla, Camry, Rav-4, Matrix
Echo (if you can find one), small light and efficient.
Celica for a coupe, though I've heard not as reliable.

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:30:17 +0000, [email]sherly.batarse@booomail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
>considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
>to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>
>Thanks!
>
>sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/color]

My '92 Corolla Wagon fits your bill.....but it ain't for sale!!!

--

Scott in Florida

Still Voting Democratic?

You are Stuck On Stupid!

I agree - you should be fine with any of the cars. Trucks might not be
quite as reliable as the cars, but they're still better than any other
trucks out there. I've been very happy with my Vibe (actually a Toyota
Matrix under a pontiac nameplate, which is actually a Corolla with a
bigger body), as well as my Camry. Both excellent vehicles, no major
problems with either. My Camry has 113K miles, and I expect it to go
twice that. If you need a little more space, the RAV4 is based on the
Camry.
Andy

<sherly.batarse@booomail.com> wrote in message
news:62bbb$43551509$d99c5301$17354@allthenewsgroups.com...[color=blue]
> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>
> Thanks!
>
> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]

They've all got a good reputation for reliability but I'd suggest going to
the public library and looking in Consumer Reports for the used car ratings
in issues 4 to 5 years (or more) after the model year of the car(s) you're
interested in. Sometimes there are trouble spots in certain models that you
may want to avoid. I suggest looking at a older issues because that will
show problems that didn't show up in the first year or two.

Most everybody here has good experiences with Toyotas but we mostly
don't have the big picture of overall reliability.

There is also a topic back on 10/15 called "Certified Used Toyotas" that
may interest you. You do pay more for a certified car but you might
decide it's worth it for you.

If you don't go certified, get the prospective car checked out by a mechanic
you trust. If you do go certified, you might still want a mechanic you
trust to
look at the car.

[email]andynewhouse@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> I agree - you should be fine with any of the cars. Trucks might not be
> quite as reliable as the cars, but they're still better than any other
> trucks out there. I've been very happy with my Vibe (actually a Toyota
> Matrix under a pontiac nameplate, which is actually a Corolla with a
> bigger body), as well as my Camry. Both excellent vehicles, no major
> problems with either. My Camry has 113K miles, and I expect it to go
> twice that. If you need a little more space, the RAV4 is based on the
> Camry.
> Andy
>
>[/color]

The Camry line includes the Sienna and Highlander. I am not sure where
the RAV4 came from. The Corolla line includes the Matrix.

I looked at a 2001 RAV4 and a new 2005 model. The price difference
was minimal, especially considering the improvements the 2005 model had
- four wheel disk brakes, STAR safety package, bigger engine etc. We got
the new 2005.

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:59:43 -0400, ma_twain wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>
> [email]andynewhouse@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I agree - you should be fine with any of the cars. Trucks might not be
>> quite as reliable as the cars, but they're still better than any other
>> trucks out there. I've been very happy with my Vibe (actually a Toyota
>> Matrix under a pontiac nameplate, which is actually a Corolla with a
>> bigger body), as well as my Camry. Both excellent vehicles, no major
>> problems with either. My Camry has 113K miles, and I expect it to go
>> twice that. If you need a little more space, the RAV4 is based on the
>> Camry.
>> Andy
>>
>>[/color]
>
> The Camry line includes the Sienna and Highlander. I am not sure where
> the RAV4 came from. The Corolla line includes the Matrix.
>
> I looked at a 2001 RAV4 and a new 2005 model. The price difference
> was minimal, especially considering the improvements the 2005 model had
> - four wheel disk brakes, STAR safety package, bigger engine etc. We got
> the new 2005.[/color]

RAV 4's were built off the Celica AWD chassis, and have pretty much
followed Celica/Camry development.

Should have told that to the guy that was looking for an AWD drive train!
A 96 or 97 RAV probably would have fit the bill!

I'm still waiting for my '79 Celica's wheels to fall off, after 193,000
miles.
<sherly.batarse@booomail.com> wrote in message
news:62bbb$43551509$d99c5301$17354@allthenewsgroups.com...[color=blue]
> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>
> Thanks!
>
> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]

"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:1129659457.ff8593a097f6e7f74dfb7c91d5ff748c@teranews...[color=blue]
> <sherly.batarse@booomail.com> wrote in message
> news:62bbb$43551509$d99c5301$17354@allthenewsgroups.com...[color=green]
>> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
>> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
>> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]
>
> They've all got a good reputation for reliability but I'd suggest going to
> the public library and looking in Consumer Reports for the used car
> ratings
> in issues 4 to 5 years (or more) after the model year of the car(s) you're
> interested in. Sometimes there are trouble spots in certain models that
> you
> may want to avoid. I suggest looking at a older issues because that will
> show problems that didn't show up in the first year or two.
>
> Most everybody here has good experiences with Toyotas but we mostly
> don't have the big picture of overall reliability.
>
> There is also a topic back on 10/15 called "Certified Used Toyotas" that
> may interest you. You do pay more for a certified car but you might
> decide it's worth it for you.
>
> If you don't go certified, get the prospective car checked out by a
> mechanic
> you trust. If you do go certified, you might still want a mechanic you
> trust to
> look at the car.
>
>
>[/color]


What if I don't have a mechanic I can trust ? Should I buy a used car?

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:25:42 -0400, Jesse wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
> news:1129659457.ff8593a097f6e7f74dfb7c91d5ff748c@teranews...[color=green]
>> <sherly.batarse@booomail.com> wrote in message
>> news:62bbb$43551509$d99c5301$17354@allthenewsgroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
>>> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
>>> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]
>>
>> They've all got a good reputation for reliability but I'd suggest going to
>> the public library and looking in Consumer Reports for the used car
>> ratings
>> in issues 4 to 5 years (or more) after the model year of the car(s) you're
>> interested in. Sometimes there are trouble spots in certain models that
>> you
>> may want to avoid. I suggest looking at a older issues because that will
>> show problems that didn't show up in the first year or two.
>>
>> Most everybody here has good experiences with Toyotas but we mostly
>> don't have the big picture of overall reliability.
>>
>> There is also a topic back on 10/15 called "Certified Used Toyotas" that
>> may interest you. You do pay more for a certified car but you might
>> decide it's worth it for you.
>>
>> If you don't go certified, get the prospective car checked out by a
>> mechanic
>> you trust. If you do go certified, you might still want a mechanic you
>> trust to
>> look at the car.
>>
>>
>>[/color]
>
>
> What if I don't have a mechanic I can trust ? Should I buy a used car?[/color]


Let's see. I'm NOT a mechanic, but I know a fair amount about cars. I
bought a 1995 Tercel in 2001 with 99,000; drove it for 35,000 miles and
sold it for $200 more than I paid, did very little repair in the mean time.

Bought a 1985 Celica for $250, put 30,000 on it in 3 years.

Bought a Supra last year for $600, paid $300 for ALL new belts and hoses.
This car does need some failry serios work, but I drive it every day, just
adding oil and tranny fluid once a month.

Yeah, I'd buy a used car...

"Jesse" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:dj5vj1$ee1$1@rumours.uwaterloo.ca...[color=blue]
>
> "DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
> news:1129659457.ff8593a097f6e7f74dfb7c91d5ff748c@teranews...[color=green]
> > <sherly.batarse@booomail.com> wrote in message
> > news:62bbb$43551509$d99c5301$17354@allthenewsgroups.com...[color=darkred]
> >> I'm in the market for a used Toyota and was wondering what is generally
> >> considered to be the best model for reliability and durability (I want
> >> to drive it til the wheels fall off).
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
> >> [email]sherly.batarse@realcredits.com[/email][/color]
> >
> > They've all got a good reputation for reliability but I'd suggest going[/color][/color]
to[color=blue][color=green]
> > the public library and looking in Consumer Reports for the used car
> > ratings
> > in issues 4 to 5 years (or more) after the model year of the car(s)[/color][/color]
you're[color=blue][color=green]
> > interested in. Sometimes there are trouble spots in certain models that
> > you
> > may want to avoid. I suggest looking at a older issues because that[/color][/color]
will[color=blue][color=green]
> > show problems that didn't show up in the first year or two.
> >
> > Most everybody here has good experiences with Toyotas but we mostly
> > don't have the big picture of overall reliability.
> >
> > There is also a topic back on 10/15 called "Certified Used Toyotas" that
> > may interest you. You do pay more for a certified car but you might
> > decide it's worth it for you.
> >
> > If you don't go certified, get the prospective car checked out by a
> > mechanic
> > you trust. If you do go certified, you might still want a mechanic you
> > trust to
> > look at the car.
> >[/color]
>
> What if I don't have a mechanic I can trust ? Should I buy a used car?
>[/color]

Unless you're going to have nothing but new cars under warranty (or ride the
bus), it's probably a good idea to ask around and find a mechanic or shop
that's trustworthy.

If you don't have a trusted mechanic and are thinking about a used car,
check back issues of Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and Consumer Reports
for articles on how to buy a used car - or look for a book on that subject -
at your public library. These articles will tell you what to look for,
where to check for smoke, oil leakage, etc.

Angie's List (a web thing) might be able to help you find trustworthy auto
repair. At least I think it's called Angie's List. It's a list of services
and suppliers recommended by Angie's members or subscribers. It might also
list new and used car dealers found to be trustworthy.