Buying Used...Toyota or Honda?

[funky]

Well, after reading the consumer reports used car guide, it looks like both Honda and Toyota is the way to go. I'm looking at a later year model, probably 93-98 Toyota or Honda.

The question is for you folks, what would you recommend as far as generally the cheapest to maintain? Which year, which make/model?

I currently have a '94 honda accord and I have put about $4,600 into it since I got it in 1998.

Thanks for the help!!

[JennyDee]

Originally Posted by funky

Well, after reading the consumer reports used car guide, it looks like both Honda and Toyota is the way to go. I'm looking at a later year model, probably 93-98 Toyota or Honda.

The question is for you folks, what would you recommend as far as generally the cheapest to maintain? Which year, which make/model?

I currently have a '94 honda accord and I have put about $4,600 into it since I got it in 1998.

Thanks for the help!!

I would suggest that you go with a 1.8 L Corolla or 2.2L LE
Camry. Both engines are non-interface compared to the Honda in those years. If you can find a one owner car from a private sale, you may be better off. I would stay with 95 and above.
JD

[americansk8er85]

yea my dad had a corrolla till 260,000 miles, and he never changed the oil....never

[americansk8er85]

oh i might add he sold it for 500 bucks and its still being driven today

[zdude]

toyota paseo, 230,000 miles, kid drivin for a year, up to 250,000 miles, then blew a valve. kid drivin, may i say. swapped in a jspec engine of the same size, symbols for the vin and everything!! just the same exact motor, and it still runs like a champ. nothing else has broken on it. i sold it for 30 bucks to a friend to get rid of it, he did the swap.

now, 95 corolla, 195k, still kid drivin, im starting to worry though, since my last ticket, ive eased off a ton. i barely went 27 through town and never went over 2 grand

[funky]

wow i must say the corolla is sounding like the winner. any particular year that we should look at as far as the best deal? i saw a 2000 corolla for 8k...but jdpowers says 96/97 was the award winning year for it. dunno.

[Mecha2]

I would have to stick with Toyota. All cars have their share of problems but quite a few people
I have met mention problems with Hondas that seem
to be quietly "swept" under the rug. We all tend to have short memories.

Hondas have timing belts that must be changed
according to maintenance schedules. We all know what happens when they break. Adds extra cost.

Hondas have peculiar fluid requirements ie.
Power Steering, Automatic transmission, engine oil.
The newer Hondas require 5W20 oil which costs
at least 5 dollars more per gallon than mainstream
5W30. So if you do purchase a used Honda, how do you know if the owner used 5W20 as recommended
by Honda? At the auto parts counter and service centers. I have been told that about 1 in 4 customers won't pay for the extra cost 5W20 oil and just use 5W30 instead.

Remember the infamous 85-89 Honda automatic
transmissions? These failed quite often for those
owners who care to admit. Ask yourself why
Honda has their own type of ATF and why it varies
with the mileage of your vehicle should you need
a top up? (Late models) ie. up to 20,000 miles -
bottle A, 20-40,000 miles- bottle B and so on.
Hondamatics IMO are still junk.

Comparing are late model Civic with an equivalent
Corolla... Kind of crude... But count the number of
lug nuts that hold each wheel onto the car.
4 for Civic and 5 for the Corolla. Sounds kind of
cheap.... I am just copying similar advertising
from Landrover vs. Jeep Cherokee.. (Chev Cavalier
and Pontiac Sunfires have 5 also!) This is not a joke, look at the GM trucks vs. Chrysler's trucks.
The real machine has 6 bolts (GM) versus 5 Bolts
to hold the wheels onto their axles.

Overall... Honda engines (with the exception of the timing belt) are slightly a notch ahead of Toyota engines. I have been informed that Honda
would be switching to a timing chain setup much
like its rival Toyota. Honda engines are great for
tuners and modders, Toyota is just behind catching
up.

If fuel economy is your thing, try to find a good used Honda Civic FX (rare and in limited numbers).
Otherwise a used Toyota would be adequate.

Just my opinion..