Good used cars are hard to come by, and bad ones… Well, they are just about everywhere. Finding a great used car means avoiding all the worst used cars.
2023 is a great time to buy a used car. Even though used car prices are going up right now, they are predicted to drop significantly throughout the year. So, if you need a car, it will be worth your while to learn which ones are not so great. With so many options to choose from and a seemingly limitless amount of places to buy from, it can be hard to pin down a used car that is good for you. Reliability, affordability, and functionality are the most important factors when it comes to buying used cars. Brands like Toyota, Honda, and Ford are known for making used cars that can last the test of time.
Make sure you avoid buying a bad used car. Here are the top 5 worst used cars you can buy right now.
Some Good Ones
Before we dive into this list, you should probably know which used cars are good, too. If you are searching online or scrolling through Facebook Marketplace for cars, there are some that you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
The Toyota Corolla and Camry are amazing options for used cars. They are reliable, budget-friendly, and will save you tons of money on maintenance and gas. Similarly, the Subaru Outback is a great car if you are looking for an SUV that will last forever. Subarus are known for their longevity, but they need constant maintenance. The Honda Civic is classic and perfect for the daily commute. It is cheap, reliable, and fast if you find one with an upgraded engine. Even used cars like Hyundai models are known for their reliability and affordability.
Now, on to the rejects.
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 has decent handling, but that is pretty much where the good news ends. It’s a small car with not a lot to offer the driver. It looks cool, but coolness is not a standard when buying reliable used cars. These cars typically have suspension and steering problems at some point, and many owners have experienced engine failures on a number of occasions. Fiats are known for their frequent maintenance costs and their sub-par reliability.
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is an American classic, one of the most popular SUVs in the country, but it is not recommended when bought used. While these cars are great for family trips, they have so many problems. They are pretty costly and they’ll cost you even more at the mechanic. When buying a used car, you don’t want to buy something with problems, so it would be smart to steer clear of this one.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a special car. Its off-roading capabilities are second to none, but it’s not a good used car. The Wrangler, like the Fiat and the Ford, often gets problems that prove costly. Unless you are looking for an off-roader, this is one you will want to avoid at all costs.
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper is a sweet car, but this isn’t the Italian Job. Unless you can afford to fix this car frequently, I’d suggest looking somewhere else. The Cooper has a decent engine, but its reliability will leave a sour taste in your mouth.
BMW X1
The BMW X1 is a very disappointing used car. While BMW makes a lot of very impressive vehicles, this is not one of them. There are way better and more impressive SUVs that you can find on the used car market. Plus, this thing’s reliability is terrible, just terrible.
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