Reliable car under $2k

Hi there! =)
I'm looking for a new car... As much as I read - most recomend Honda as most reliable.
First test on car would be trip from Orlando, fl to Chicago, IL (1200 miles)... (lol, I'm crazy %)... well, not the first, but it'll be in a week after purchase.
So first requirement is that car must make this =)
Second - it should be high mpg.
Third - cheap/easy on repair, so that I can repair it myself =)
I've checked reliability ratings on autos.msn.com... Civic is more reliable than Accord... Can I trust those ratings? anyways 100k miles Accord would be much more reliable than 170K Civic... =))

Actually... what I wanted to ask - is mileage... As I understand, it's much better indicator than age.... Would you recomend to buy car that has over 100k miles? 150k miles? 200k miles? How much engine/tranny usually run on these?

Or may be you recomend other makes?

Thanx for help.

well yea honda accord or honda civic, but i have seen that many of the older ones, like in the late 80's have clutch problems, fords dont show it today, but back in the 70's and 80's they were very reliable, i have a 83 4 door pickup that has about 350k miles on it, and has no major repairs at all, it does burn oil, but at that age what car wouldn't?

I'm oriented on not older than '90...
But mileage... Where is the border when reliability becomes very questionable?

Toyotas are good for high milage. I had a 82 pickup with 230K on it when I sold it with the original engine. With any car if its not taken care of it could be crap with 50K on it. Also get a stick, automatics tend to go between 100-150K on them. Hondas are a good car also.

$2,000 and reliable dont usually go in the same sentence.....but if anything find a civic and make sure its been taken care of and that should be your best bet

How do I make sure it was taken care of?
What to check? Pay attention to?

the engine compartment, always check the oil, and take it for a test drive and listen to how it runs, and run a carfax

basic things that you owuld tihnk a car should not do, sounds vauge, but when you feel, or hear them you'll know, also i guess it would depend on your area, but good luck finding a car for 2000 that is 1990 and older.

No, I don't trust my feelings anymore after buying `92 chevy lumina with over 220K on it, + with non-working odometer =) And a bunch of other problems I experienced very next day =)

well lumina's are pieces of shit anyways, especially with 220k miles

He-he... I don't know why I was so stupid when I bought it... 220k miles!!! oh my gosh! I trusted the owner when she told that she owned car for 2 yrs, and that she's second owner... VIN check showed only 8 months and total of 6 owners, and travel all over US =) (damn, I didn't know about carfax month ago!)
Anyways, it was probably cheep lesson for me =) Only some $900, but now I know that lumina is piece of crap, and that there is carfax, and that there is repair manuals (with them it's 3 times cheaper to do repairs), and that you shouldn't trust anyone (me stuppid!), and many more things =))) for just 900 bucks! =)) he-he...

Hm... I had offer... Chevy Beretta.... 86K miles. No more details, and didn't take a look at it yet.
What can you say? What to pay attention to for this vehicle?
Thanks!

everything

he-he =))
How's that car reliability?
Should I consider it for 1200 miles test?

more info...
`89 year... 4 cylinders... automatic tranny...
Didn't test it yet. Will on tuesday...
Any suggestions? May be I shouldn't waste time on that at all?

automatics usually have a little more mantenence or will crap out sooner than a manual, but it also raelly depends if you can drive with the clutch right.

Yeah, I know... but anyways...
If I'll take a look, and it will look like the one, that was taken care of... If I'll not hear any strange sounds, and it'll not look suspicious... Should I buy?

Thanx,
Serg

PS: What do you mean "if you can drive with the clutch right?"

Just go see VW Jetta `95 with 167K miles... Drives good, no strange noise, only starts not very good, but found this:
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Intermittent no-start or stalling condition is often due to the #3 relay. No trouble codes are stored in computer.
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also has airbag warning light on...
After fixing airbag light - $1500.
with light on - $1350. (seller don't know what's the problem yet =) shoud she? =)
Looks well-maintained, clean... only battery wasn't replaced long time =))
What do you think? Are these good?

Thanx.

5spd manual, BTW...

what i mean by if you cant use a clutch right is there are many people that just dont know how to use it correctly but think they do, they will buy brand new vehicles and need a new clutch within months sometimes.

Hm, I think I know how to use it right =)) I originally learned to drive with manual... Only problem I have is when shifting (exept starting from a full stop) - I cannot make it very smooth. engine speed is not the same as wheel speed after gear change... But I think it's not that big deal...
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ppl!! What do you think about VW? any ideas?

the engines on those old berettas were pretty reliable and the engines made so little power they don't put alot of stress on the transmission. The only thing is, that car's 16 years old, the wiring is probably in lousy shape and the suspension is probably a little rusted and may have been bent up at some point. Berettas are pretty good cars though.

And VW?

`95 Honda Civic EX Sedan
170K miles
5spd manual tranny
one owner.
Looks clean.
$2000
What do you think?

i have an 89 toyota camry v6 with about 180000 miles, origional owner was my mom, regular maintainance kept, just replaced the radiator and hoses and thermostat not even a month ago, i am replacing the factory air box with a k&n high flow adapter kit with a cone filter to get a few more horses and better mpg. drives great, looks great, paint in great shape, interior in great shape, engine kept very clean and runs great, power everything(locks,windows,sunroof,cruise control) great gas mileage, looking to sell around christmas time. kelleybluebook value is 2200. asking 1500 obo

pictures on request by e-mail