Most important being.... how far is work from your home?? + do you plan on taking any long drives on weekends? + do you live in a crowded city where you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic? (determines your milage requirements....)
Insurance = I always touch base with my agent and get the rates prior to obtaining a new ride. IE: If I was to by a 2023 _______, what would my insurance be...???
Resale: what does a 3 year old _______ sell for in your area?? This number gives you a good idea of what your trade will be if you decide later you want something else.
Disclaimers: I like to buy cars new and "drive them till the wheels fall off". I own a (6 yr old) Corolla and have had zero issues other than replacing batteries (2) and windshields (1). ... But where I live we often joke that you are just renting the batteries and windshields anyway (so I carry FULL glass coverage). And I have a newer (4 yr old) Ford SUV.... replaced a battery the other day .... no issues otherwise.
Most maintenance is cheap.... TOYOTA CARE changes the synthetic oil for 2 years after purchase and checks the status of a whole bunch of stuff and no further cost to you. Use it! Change the air filter and wipers at least once a year and the oil when it needs it (after your Toyota Care ends or when another brand of vehicle requires it). Treat any car nicely and it usually will be good to you in return.
You forgot depreciation. The Wrangler has the lowest depreciation by far of anything on your list. The opposite would be true of the Mini, Buick and Lincoln.
Toyota will top the list for reliability and lowest cost to maintain. The Prius is the better if the two choices you’ve noted, assuming you’re going for the Corolla Hybrid. If you can wait, look at the Corolla Cross Hybrid. It’s the best combo of the three imho.
I just happened to have recently started reading the April 2023 edition of Consumer Reports. It is all about best rated cars for 2023. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Corolla in general, were rated the best in most all areas, including affordability and gas mileage.
I did already know Toyota makes good and reliable cars, since I've owned and driven one for decades.
Νοt sure about them but my grandpa's corolla of 2003 is working just fine hahah it's definitely reliable, toyota in general is I think but I don't know much about the newest models. What about a yaris hybrid, they seem pretty good too.
My wife is looking for a new car and I'm really liking the 2023 Prius Prime (plug-in hybrid). Should be 35+ miles on electricity alone; about 50+mpg according to EPA, and, allegedly, fun to drive! They aren't available in the US yet.
My understanding is the Prius made some big jumps in their latest model. A lot of good reviews on it. And way better gas mileage than the others you listed. I don't think the insurance is crazy but that's a state by state thing. If reselling is part of your thinking I might look at Subaru. Best resale value, very safe, lots of bells and whistles and AWD can be a really nice thing to have.
For the 3 items that you mentioned, the Toyota Corolla.
But since I'm an outdoorsman and a landscape photographer, the utility of the Jeep Wrangler is more to my liking. Because it has a proven track record of handling 99% of the terrain on the planet. That track record has been in existence since at least 1942. So, over 80 years.
Plus you can buy a smaller truck today. You don’t have to have a full size like I drive a big 3500 dodge diesel. You don’t need something like that but trucks drive as nice as cars you got a whole box +4 doors are just so useful
@exexec The better half has a 2016 Encore that just turned over 50k in mileage. I have a 2014 Silverado 4x4 that just turned over 125k in mileage. So GM or Dodge/Ram/Jeep for us. I've been known as dakotaviper since the mid 1990s. I used to own a custom shop. I took a 1989 Dodge Dakota truck and installed the engine/trans/drivetrain/rearend from a wrecked 1992 Dodge Viper in it. Sold the truck with the business to a friend back around 1996. He passed from a massive heart attack in 2019. I don't know what happened to his estate after COVID.
@Funlov you got that right. I'm a Journeyman Layout Tech by Trade (QA Coordinate Measuring Machine operator) and there is no one being trained in my area to replace me. I learned everything OLD SCHOOL. Now it's all computers.
@mbai2223 I think any Toyota holder value so well you’ll do OK you’ll make the right choice. I know you will do your research there’s forms out there if you Google the vehicle type owners will say they’re good experience they’re bad experience you’ll be OK just do your research it’s a big investment I know for me when I bought my truck I’ve always ran dodge diesels, but my new one was 106,000 so lotta money so I did my research
@ChipmunkErnie it’s only two types of people that drive a van today people that use them for work and tell me that has one that’s done up for camping oh and the paedophiles at your age and I see your age you’re not working so you’re one of the other two
None of them. If you want reliability: Mercedes W116, W123, W124, W126 or Toyota Century (with the V12) If you want easy maintenance: Ford Model T or first generation WV If you want low insurance: Ford Crown Victoria If you want good gas mileage: anything made by Detroit Electric Sadly none of these are made anymore
I tend to buy subaru. They aren't as good as they used to be. But I think they still have a good safety rating and resell and trade in value. Repairs can be a little pricey though.
I've heard the Corolla is supposed to be alright. Looks like alot have voted for that one. If you can, I'd say buy the hybrid Corolla