Best used economy car

[Hatchbleezy]

So I'm not looking for something that's fast, fancy, don't care about looks, room, aftermarket availability, etc. I want cheapest to insure, best mpg, least expensive to buy all of the important aspects of what really important to any car buyer really. Don't care about resale value and I'm going to take care of her. Ones that come to mind from my knowledge are metros, corollas, kias, hyundais, civic, accord, sentras, escort, cavalier, neon, tempos ones like those. Oldest generations are fine to me as well.

[Copytech99]

I always look for service records, inspect for the stickers placed on the original body panels. And of course.... go over it with a fine tooth comb. Have had wonderful luck with all of my Toyotas, Hondas & Mazdas , some purchased at over 100k on the clock.

As always, buyer beware.

[Hatchbleezy]

Well I'm not gonna put on the plastic gloves and inspect the anal cavities on this one. Just wondering what some gem models of this criteria that I might not realize are such gems.

[Copytech99]

The Civic and the Corolla are candidates (and hard to come by used) But some vehicles are for sale for a reason.

[MikeCStig]

Originally Posted by Hatchbleezy

Ones that come to mind from my knowledge are metros, corollas, kias, hyundais, civic, accord, sentras, escort, cavalier, neon, tempos ones like those. Oldest generations are fine to me as well.

I think there are a few you may want to remove from your list. The metro- I know you're not looking for anything fast, but metros are so slow you may grow to hate it. Ford escort- they never were all that well built, cheap interior trim that often falls apart, and if you get one with a manual transmission, the shifts are very clunky. Look for a Focus instead. Chevy Cavalier- electrical problems are pretty common. Dodge Neon- also has common electrical problems. In addition to that, there are sometimes issues with the brakes and drivetrain. Ford tempo- I would honestly be surprised if you find one of these that is still roadworthy, and if you do, it won't be that way for long. Also, not very good on fuel.
My picks from your list would be the two Hondas. The civic- good on gas, reliable, well built, solid almost indestructible engine, an all around good car. The accord- all the same qualities as the civic, but with a more comfortable roomy interior and more power from the engine. Finally the Toyota Corolla- legendary reliability, good on fuel, you really can't go wrong with one of these. My only complaint is that the interior isn't very comfortable, but it's still a great car. I would also suggest looking into Volkswagen. You may be able to find a good deal on a Golf or a Jetta, both of which are solid, reliable and good on fuel. They are both also available with diesel engines, which are even better on fuel. Replacement parts are a bit pricey, but it's not often that anything goes wrong.