The CAR WIZARD shares the top "SCHOOL CARS" TO Buy & NOT to Buy
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- Опубликовано: 23 июн 2023
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Taking from his years of experience working on cars the CAR WIZARD 🧙♂️ shares the top SCHOOL CARS, SUV's and TRUCKS TO buy and NOT to buy! ‼️ BTW... these vehicles would make great daily drivers too.‼️
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that's a great discount. got me a hedger. thanks wizard!
4:45 wrong cause that was a Daimler development of the 90s and reinforced that it coud withstand the old Mercedes S class half overlap crash.
That looked tiny but a lot money went into the crash structure and the safety cell.
You will not see much difference to a yaris which had been folded by a truck driving 80 km / h with 40 ton to the end of a traffic jam without breaking: both will be folded, also the mercedes S class of the 90s, but that will be a bigger fold too.
Safety is not the core issue, we had one for over 22 years and a lot of km. The emission will kill those when the biannual inspection is mandatory. And so the repairshop bought for an apple and an egg and brought it back onto the street for another 2 years so getting at least 24 years cause it had been sold in autumn 2021 and went back on the road again in early 2022. Quite reliable eeven though it had looked cheaper the older it got due to different behaviour of how the plastics were aging on one and the other side or parts in the front versus those in the back.
We had gotten it for cheap when it had been 3 or 4 years old with a 30.000 km mileage on the odometer. Now smart is history, I mean those daimler & mercedes engineered Smart which they needed to fullfill fleet emissions are over since they had sold it to chinese Geely which is now delivering electric smart and more or less Renault cars for the ICE Smarts.
I've never seen a more appropriate product placement. Well done.
Talk about a perfect team up!
@@funfunnystuff What, making money from advertising? What's wrong with that? Hell, if you don't have any interest in the product, you can just click past it.
Thanks! Now I just need to have kids, so one day I can buy them a reasonable first vehicle.
I can't believe I found you here 😂. I was probably in elementary school the first time I heard chocolate rain
Driving that school car when the weather is forecasted with Chocolate Rain 🍫🌧
NGL, I kinda simped for Tay back in the day 😆
And make sure that they stay dry so they don't feel the pain.
What are you willing to tolerate from women?
If you're worrying about your kid being safe on the road buy them a stick shift. Its pretty freaking difficult to text and drive with both your hands occupied... It also forces you to pay more attention to traffic lights and the space in front of you. On top of all that the transmission is going to be more robust and reliable by default.
I wouldn't say the manual is more robust and reliable by default. There are some cars where the automatics are better than the manuals. Some Toyota Corollas are this way. I'm still in the facebook group for my old car, a 9th gen Corolla (2003-2007) and most say to get the 4 speed automatic instead of the 5 speed manual for reliability reasons. The manuals typically have bearing failure requiring a rebuild at around 160k miles while the 4 speed is bulletproof and will drive 300k and more without issues.
It's more than that. Learning with a manual makes for far better drivers as there is much more going on. Knowing how the car works and how to manage it versus an appliance you push buttons in is huge later on.
@@bill_clinton697 The reference to the known issue with the 9th Gen Corolla is the exception to the rule - of which there was a 'threatened class action' - which I believe did not proceed. In general, manual transmissions are more reliable than autos mainly attributable to the manual trans simplicity of design. What's more, when autos do fail, repair costs will be high. Manual transmission cars, a less likely to fail and when there is a failure are normally much much cheaper to repair.
Nope. They will just drive with their feet and knees like every 90s kid did while rolling joints or drinking beer
You will be replacing clutch and tires. When I worked at Sears Auto Center in the late 80's we had a customer come in with a Chevette (kid's car) who was complaining the tires didn't last. Looked inside>>stick shift. NOPE, no adjustment for you! (Yes, you can catch rubber in a Chevette if you rev it high enough and start on sand or loose gravel)
I graduated high school in 2008 here in southwestern PA. Almost everyone was driving mid-90s cars that cost $400-2000. Now a high school car is $10k. Cash for Clunkers really killed the used car market and it has never gone back down.
I graduated in 2022 and drove a 93 v6 dodge daytona that I put about 300 dollars into lol. Not gonna say it didn't leave me on the side of the road but I knew what I was doing.
@@jellytheninja I haven't seen a '93 Daytona in over 10 years here. The rust just kills everything. It's rare to see any early '90s car at this point.
@mtfan very true I loved the car so much I went out of my way to buy a 88 shelby z. Fun car but the hard part Is being motivated to maintain and or fix it
Cash for Clunkers gets blamed a lot but NO, unless the car got really poor MPG, it wasnt allowed to be traded and crushed by the program. Most trades were big SUVs, vans, all high miles and worn out and barely maintained. I picked up a 2013 Chrysler 200 for my college bound kid recently. $3500. Deals are out there, if you're not too lazy to look for them.
@@TakuroSpirit77 The fact is, it took a ton of low-cost cars out of circulation. I was driving a 1994 Dodge Spirit during that period. I paid $450 for it in mid-2008, its blue book value was about $750 (it needed some rust work), and by the time I sold it in 2010 (after I put 55k more miles on it) the KBB value was $1450 and I got that for it when I sold it. There's no denying that the price floor on servicable used cars has far outpaced normal comparative inflation.
Love how Wizard is always straight chillin, lounging, while spitting facts.
My dad gave me my moms 2000 Honda Accord at 17 and drove it through high school and college. Campus was 30 miles from home and sometimes I drove home at 10 o’clock at night and never had any issues getting home. Even with over 250K miles, it was still dead reliable. Now I enjoy a 2021 Accord!
Yeah well my 2000 Honda accords transmission went out, and the went out again after the rebuild
@@kurtrussell5228
don't get an automatic.
@@alphatrion100just about all of them are auto…
@@diablocls55
Ok.
I drive a six speed manual civic.
I have an 03 accord automatic never had an issue after 200k miles
You have come a long way from the blank stare when Tyler introduced you to us😅
It's funny how high IQ nerds are typically socially awkward but with time and practice even nerds can become amazing communicators and end up as a social media superstar!
Just gave my 16 year old daughter a 2006 Toyata Matrix with 93k miles. Great MPG, and very reliable. Also purchased a set of winter tires (Blizzaks) mounted on steel wheels for extra safety in the winter.
My cousin has one that he did the body work on, he bought it himself.
This video was actually very helpful, Thanks Car Wizard!!
0:00 Intro
0:36 Sponsor
2:46 Sub Compact Sedans
6:02 Compact Sedans
8:36 Small SUVs
11:47 Small Pickups
14:50 Sports Cars
18:03 Some more recommendations
18:50 One car you shouldn't buy
19:06 Outro
3. 05-13 Toyota yaris hatchback 4. 06-11 honda civic 6. 98-06 ranger
Toyota Camry , rav4
You've done well for yourself, David. May you, your daughter, Mrs.Wizard, and the rest of your family live long and prosper.
Let your beard grow long and smooth.
@@pistonburner6448 You really want him to use Manscaped somewhere else? 😅
@@AUTOdidact77 Let his scrotum be shiny and fresh too
Is that you Mr Spock?
Yes, and may your camper van grow wings.
2008 Toyota Avalon got me through college and still have it at 250k miles. The funny thing is that the toyota v6 it has boasts nearly identical horsepower and 0-60 times as a mustang GT from the same year! Off the line it certainly embarrassed some peers who thought they drove "fast" cars lol.
A nice sleeper. Perfect because it is practical and also does not attract the cops!
The Avalon is a good reliable car but if you are going to go with Toyota a 4 cylinder Camry or Corolla would be much less expensive to buy and operate which is usually a major consideration for a student. They cost more to buy but hold their resale value better than other brands.
Currently own an 08 avalon and love it
Got an 06 Avalon daily 426k on the clock and still going 😂🫡
@@1575murray in general I agree. I drive a 16 Camry myself. Good car.
I ended up getting a 2008 Pontiac Vibe (just a rebadged Toyota Matrix) in high school up to my 2nd year of college. Then I bought myself a low mileage 2011 Mustang with the 3.7l v6 and am absolutely enjoying it as much as I did the Vibe.
You took the words out of my mouth. Simplicity, reliability, durability, and safety is what you'd want in a vehicle for young adults. Americans love big vehicles so ideally something bigger than will keep them safe as well. A Rav-4, or a CR-V, are great vehicles too.
I had a Smart ForTwo CDI when I was studying in 2002, and it ended its days crashed in the highway at 135km/h. I lost control, rolled over, and crashed really hard against the concrete divider. The Smart Tridion cell (the black surrounding around the body, is a hard steel security cell) is hard as hell, and I can say by my experience that these small cars are strong and safe as hell. I’m afraid I cannot say the same about the stability. I think they are terrific cars for the city, and I wouldn’t mind to have one again (the diesel was more than 40mpg).
Yup, it's very safe, and the Diesel is super great on fuel, I've gotten 70MPG. Just done maintenance on it so far.
Glad you survived. That sounds like a terrible accident.
@@tuomasholo it was really ugly, but the little Smart Fortwo behaved outstandingly good. The guys in the car behind me thought I had to be dead. I came out the car by my own without problem, and the doors were working like a charm despite the huge impact. The car was ready for the junkyard afterwards, but it kept the shape of the Tridion cell without any kind of structural deformation at sight (although afterwards we discovered it wasn’t align anymore). It is the closest thing I’ve seen to a roll cage in a regular production vehicle.
As a European living in cities that are much more crowded than in the US or Canada, I have always had a Smart (for two) & still own one, since they were first introduced in the European markets.
Immensely practical as a run-around, that can easily be parked. Also, I never experienced great repair expenses, even out of warranty, whilst always going through regular maintenance (oil changes, filters etc.).
Even replacing whole plastic panels after someone drove into one of my Smarts was dirt cheap, as long as it is not a hit on the Tridion cell.
The Tridion cell is just like the core cell in supercars, which detaches upon hard impact.
A really great feat of engineering.
BUT: even if I am a fan of the Smart, I do not recommend it for prolonged highway use.
It is too vulnerable against side-winds, becomes unstable over 100 km/h (62mp/h) and in wet conditions can bruskly alternate from under- to oversteer and this is due to its extremely short wheelbase. The Brabus versions may have a slightly better handling, but only on a fatter summer tire at the back wheels; the front wheels are still too skinny = not much of a contact patch on the road for the tires.
As a humble conclusion: this car is more suited to our European ways of driving short distances.
We don,t get the diesel version here. Hardly any diesels but trucks. About the only choices are VW before 2017 or older Mercedes or BMWs. I've heard the Smart cars were safe.
Had a 2005 Escape Limited V6, used it for Lyft, and sold it with 200,000miles. Was a great car.
I am not a Ford fan , but the proof is in the pudding , we $till $ee the Escape on the road like GM $afari Van's , North American cars are far and few between worthy of a Toyota comparison.
My parents gave me their 2006 Honda CRV to drive during high school. Now Im in college, the CRV has over 200k miles and has need no major repairs. The 2nd gen CRV is actually a great car. It has a manual transmission, plenty of storage space and room for passengers, AWD, gets decent gas mileage, and even comes with a picnic table! Ive driven my CRV everywhere near and far without issue. Would highly recommend
I was lucky i got my 02 crv at only around 148k, and it now has 173k with ZERO problems. Never leaves you stranded, no mechanical, electrical issues, got me through my first couple years of school. Funny enough, i bought a jag bc it was my dream car, but if it ever bails its good to know you have a backup that never fails when relied upon.
I was surprised by how good that era Ford Rangers are. I worked delivery for a company that has these, and they never seemed to give any problems, in spite of constant use, and the most abysmal maintenance. Downside, is that in Northern climes they are marginal in ice and snow, not much traction, easily swapping ends with little provocation.
Proud Lexus owner here! and I can say that nothing beats the quality build and long term performance of my 2005 ES330!!! Amazing
I have a 2002 ES300 and definitely feel the same ! The 4th Gen ES 02-06 were the best quality Lexus’s ever built! Mine has 177k miles and is bulletproof. I’m the 2nd owner and have all service records from Lexus dealership. I change the synthetic oil myself every 5k miles. After buying it 2 years ago I had to have 20 year old OEM parts changed: starter, alternator, exhaust flex pipe and struts. Now it rides like new. Whisper quiet. Love this car. There is one on RUclips w 596k highway miles still on original engine and transmission!
My es350 ans rx350 have been great . Love the 2grfe their bullet proof
Year 1 & 2 in college, no car. Lived in the dorms, food was paid for, downtown was within walking distance, all the university was within walking distance. Year 3 & 4, moved to an off-campus apartment, so I used the car I had in high school to get around. Campus parking was a real pain, so many times I caught the city bus which had a stop close to the apartment. My car was a 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500XL, with a 390 c.i. P-code (Police Special) engine, fitted out. My father was a county sheriff, and spec'ed it out. He gave the car to me when I was a sophomore in high school. The car was a beast. Bucket seats, automatic on the floor. Great car, wish I still had it.
My college days were 180 degrees opposite yours. 1st semester I lived in the dorms with no car. Caught rides with friends. Did my fair share of rabble rousing.
Year 2, I brought my old heap I used in high school, a 1973 Chevy Vega, this was 1983. The car burned oil like a 2 stroke about 1 quart per 75 miles. It had no A/C and school was in West Texas.
I finished college in that wreck. I never changed the oil, because I always was putting oil in the damn thing!
Amen to the Mustang styling comments! The fifth gen is my favourite as well for the same reasons you mentioned. The nice thing is that they're at the age where they're pretty cheap to snatch up too, as long as you can find one that's not rotted out (if in the north).
While I like the 2011-2017 V6 Mustangs (same engine and mechanicals, body panels aside), I would not recommend them as a first car. 2nd car for sure, it's everything the old V6 was and more. 305HP and a very easy to press too hard throttle is basically the same as the old V8s from the previous generation - it'll get out of control the second they try to experiment with the traction control button. 100% of the time. I own one and it still surprises me how quickly things happen when I press the throttle down more than 25%. The 120mph speed limiter means nothing as it'll get to 90-100 in no time at all. 2nd best car I've ever owned, but NG for kids.
Best car was my 1967 Mercedes 230S. Manual transmission, absolutely indestructible and yet beautiful as well. The old 60s and 70s Merdedes say bling and class while staying away from the showing off/try-hard image as well. I've never had an engine sound more like a giant well oiled clock than this, as well. It finally died at 40 years old due to seals and wear. New engines can't seem to last 5 or even 10 years - this one lasted 40 years of use.
Totally agree and still own my 2006 Mustang V6 and are very extrememly relaible. Love the body of the car and to me, the 5th Gen is my favorite body se even the Saleen looks sharp
Another contender for the sub compact is the 09-13 Honda Fit. Proven to be stupid reliable will go over 250k miles if taken care of. Timing chain so no belt to do every 100k, good mileage and hold way more than anything that size should which is perfect for all the moving they will do at that age.
agreed however in my experience i have seen transmission issues in the fits
Yeah we had one great car ours was auto I'd get a stick.
2011 to 2016 Scion tC. They're damn reliable because the powertrain is pretty much from a rav4 (or Camry) and they're good looking. And they have an insane amount of storage in the back. I literally turned mine into a little camper with a tent extension. Gas mileage isn't the greatest but it's totally good. It doesn't get you bankrupt or anything. Just look out for a clean one because a lot of them are pretty beat up. And they're a little bit pricey but well worth it if you find a good deal.
Loved your comment on Ford Fusion repair costs vs. German car repair costs. I had the same exact idea when in 2016, I bought my son a fully loaded 2013 Fusion SE with 32,000 miles when he turned 17. He put over 70,000 miles on it in 7 years. Was stylish, ultra-reliable, comfortable and fairly economical. Repair and service costs were absolutely minimal (brakes, tires, oil changes, a washer fluid motor and an emissions part that he replaced himself)… The car was recently totaled when my son was T-boned at an intersection. Was a harddd crash. Side curtain airbags deployed and he wasn’t hurt at all. Best part was, his insurance paid out $13,500! I only paid $15,800 (+ tax) SEVEN YEARS AGO! The car only cost probably $5,000 in total, not including gas over 7 years and 70,000 of ownership. I’d say that’s a great purchase and I still think a Fusion from 2013 and up is a great car for school. It probably stick with the base S model with the 2.5 non-turbo engine. I’ve hear that the turbo engines have a pretty high failure rate, though my son’s SE with the 1.6 Ecoboost had no issues at all. They made a LOT of these cars and most are still on the road. Parts are plentiful and relatively inexpensive and Ford service at a dealer or a private shop will be MUCH, MUCH less expensive than any German car shop. And parts for German cars are usually very expensive , and they break ALL the time! I know, I had Audis and BMW’s before. My 2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet was an enormous money pit and I have sworn that I will NEVER buy a used Audi ever again.
My son liked his Fusion so much that he bought a 2019 Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in-Hybrid Titanium. Has every safety feature you need, still looks great, gets amazing gas mileage and has pretty much every option available on any car in this price range. Only cost 22,500 for a 42,000 mile, one owner car (probably a 3-year 36,000 mile lease. MSRP was around $38,000, so depreciation was pretty steep. I think you can get them even cheaper if you have patience. I’ve heard these hybrid drive trains are tried and true and should last a long long time. I don’t think spending $38,000 for a Hybrid to save some money on fuel makes sense but at $22,500, I think it’s a very smart move. And you can gat older, higher mileage SE Hybrids for around $10,000 to $12,000. Maybe that’s a risk, because the Hybrid drive train is complicated and very costly to repair, but from what I have heard, the Ford Hybrid system is VERY reliable and should last a long time. Hopefully, I’m right.
I heard that the Ford hybrid system is basically a copy of the Prius design so they tend to be pretty reliable.
life has its ups and downs. thanks for sharing. glad ur boy is ok.
My first car was a 2005 Bonneville with the 3800 engine. It’s no longer my daily driver but I still have it around.
Love the honesty. And don't let anybody fool you about those German vehicles. The value drops like a rock for a reason. Great video, thank you
Exactly. Except for Porsche, all German cars are Empty money pits after 5 years old and/or 50k miles
🎯
@@stephendibari5010 Maybe the ones you get in the US. For some reason, and I don't know why, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, they all have decently reliable cars available in Europe. BMW:s 6 cylinder diesel engines are quite reliable for instance. Volvos P2 generation with the 5-cylinder are quite reliable. Volkswagen 1.9TDI is a bulletproof engine, etc.
You guys in the US sadly don't get the reliable versions, you only get the ultra-complicated luxury spec version. Here in Europe you'll see Mercedes taxi cars with diesel engines going over 500,000km with no major issues as long as they are serviced and taken care of.
@@tobias_dahlberg diesels are the exception, they are very reliable
@@stephendibari5010 Yes, especially the older ones. Even newer ones are good if taken care of. My dad had a BMW 320d 2014, I think it went to almost 200,000 miles before he sold it, it was dead reliable. Some small things here and there like with any car, but no biggies.
I have a 2006 Corolla which was bought with around 190,000 miles on it. It now has 215k on it. Only major repairs I've had to have done were the starter and tge Serpentine belt, which were surprisingly easy to replace.
That’s maintenance. Kudos on the Corolla. Last summer My son was gifted a 2003 Corolla from my ex wife’s mom w only 55k miles. I detailed it. He had the front brakes changed and we drove (moved) him to Texas last August. 1600 miles over 2 days. Not one issue and that car never went on a trip longer than 30 miles in nearly 20 years!
If maintained properly it can last well over 300k miles
@@stephendibari5010 07 camry se here. I have oil consumption notorious for the four's. bad rings. I hear the 1.8 corolla engines are some of the best toyota ever made.
Been looking around now for my youngest in high school and my oldest heading to college in August for their sophomore year, so this video is perfectly on-time.🔥 I’ve been looking up old dealer brochures, videos, and all regarding the Yaris, so this is a good sign.
I love my 2005 mustang gt, manual coupe. Been really reliable, fun, and gets 20mpg as a daily driver. Its great tbh
I love my Yaris . Fun fact: the cheapest Yaris on Autotrader last week was indeed a $5k Yaris and it had 240,000 miles on it. The secret is out. Keeping mine till 300k.
Go for 1000000 miles. The parts are still available in several levels. OEM vs el cheapo and even some performance radiators are out there. Listen for the water pump if you haven't replaced it.
What year model is your yaris?
Honda Fits are another great option as well. If you can find a older model Mitsubishi Lancer (02-06) or Galant (98-12) with the 2.0 or 2.4 liter engine with a 4 speed automatic transmission, these cars are good but not as good as a Toyota or Honda. I would keep up with the timing belts on these cars because it may be an interference engine. Two manufacturers that is not European or American to stay away from is Hyundai and Kia. They have been proven to be very unreliable and very unsafe in collisions although the newer models are safer than the older ones.
As someone in this age group, this video should be made mandatory to be shown to all people my age range. I always laugh at other kids with fairly new bmws giving them (their parents) tons of trouble, while my 2001 toyota sequoia has not one lick of trouble. I always tell them to call me when their BMWs inevitably break down and they need to be towed.
When I was in high school a kids BMW burned to the ground in the parking lot. According to the firefighters on the scene they think the heated seats stuck on after he turned off and left the car.
I wish I was smarter and done the research and been more practical when I was younger. I loved Cadillacs bc they were still actually popular (CTS, 2011 DTS models specifically) in the bronx/Italian neighborhoods of nyc. I got one and found it had blown head gaskets… so luckily, I have a decent job and I was like maybe I’ll get approved and I won’t get something old. Found a great deal on a Hyundai Senada 1.6 turbo. Had the necessities plus some extra gadgets that added convenience. 70,000 miles later had zero issues, did regular maintenance with a trusted mechanic, I loved it, but just a week ago sadly, I hear a ticking noise from my engine. I immediately got it to the mechanic and tried a couple of things, but the light was on the noise was louder and louder and lost power and it’s fried, HYUNDAI is putting up a fight to cover a engine replacement, they denied the request which they are doing to a lot of people lately, and even if they could do it, it would take months because there’s so many backlogged. I’ve been having to use my girlfriends car when available and take Uber to get to work, but I have about 10 grand put away for emergencies so I’m looking for a older jeep, Toyota or Honda, that will hopefully last cause all I need is point a to point B
Excuse the rant, my point was I wish I had been smarter and gotten Toyota/Lexus/Acura/Honda don’t take out a loan or waste money on luxury cars and expensive repairs. Every months that I would have made a car payment, I could have paid my savings account. Then when the old car finally falls apart, I’ll be in a good position to put a down payment and lease whatever car I want without the stress of reliability and engine, failure and transmission failure while being able to drive, nicer, newer vehicles, and enjoy them. the current prices for buying cars is insane, and a public has excepted and gotten use to it, so $25,000 mark ups from the dealership are normal, and then you’re buying something that may or may not last. It’s crazy.
No it shouldn’t. Enough people such at used car shopping to the point where certain good cars remain on the underrated side of things even when everyone has the entire internet at their fingertips.
Could you imagine a world where every last GOOD car is extremely overpriced like a nicely equipped Toyota while only the most unreliable cars are cheap? On top of the extremely high insurance that high schoolers (particularly C-D average students nowhere near a 4.0+ GPA) will face between college and their 21st birthday depending on how they drive?
Another great addition to this list would be the first two generations of Honda fit. Very under rated cars in my opinion, very robust, roomy, underpowered a little bit but they get out of their own way just fine. They Get 35mpg easy. Also fairly easy to find one in stick. They had a few issues but most of the ones around today have had those things taken care of, and if not they’re fairly inexpensive fixes.
100% agree with you. Knew someone who owns one, and based it up like crazy yet it has absolutely no problems.
Finally something in my fleet makes Wizard's "to buy" list. My son drives a 2010 Civic.
put em in a Crown vic/gran marquis..its not good on gas, but it has a HUGE trunk and is built like a tank! and modular 4.6 2v is very reliable if you keep up with maintenance..
Very much agree. I drive a $2000 beater 1997 town car to college, and it’s been super reliable. It only broke 1 time in the 2 years I have owned it, just had to replace a $35 ignition coil in 10 min and I was back on the road. Easily the most comfortable car on the road, a shame they don’t make them anymore
Plus when you kid gets into an accident….they win…the bigger/heavier the better..
I am so happy to see that the Wizard and Mrs. Wizard have a sponsor.
I had to read that twice.
I thought they had bought another boat.
I bought my own used, old Honda Civic with my own money for a first car. Kids who have that stuff handed to them should consider themselves lucky and grateful.
Had a Northstar V8 01 SLS as a first car, gifted by my uncle. Great car no maintenance but it blew going to an exam. Then bought an RSX at 100k miles and now 7 years later and at 217k miles, university is almost over but the RSX is still working perfecly!
I hope you made to school in time for your exam, because that is a nightmare for a student.
@@rockstar6790 Called school and then talked with teacher. Mom bought me her car on side of the road and waited for towing while I went to my exam. I'm really lucky to have her, she saved my life that day!
@@12chrisrob That is a relief. So glad your mom helped you out.
That sucks. I love and hate northstars. Smooth and economical V8 but the damn head gaskets. My dad had a 01 Deville. He bought it from an old guy in 03 with almost no miles on it and he had it to 220k miles. Only problem he ever had with it was the head gasket.
The Ford Escape mentioned to Buy is notorious for right quarters and rear wheelhouses to rust out where the top part of the shock absorber mounts. Speaking from someone who lives in the midwest. Just a warning to anyone in market check that out or have their eye on one of those inspect that area before buying! This is definitely a great channel to watch!
Just get a 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4 and save yourself from that issue.
Yeah I laughed when he said he dosent see many in his garage, they rust out before they need service.
I am a Toyota man , BUT they rust as well !
These ford escape were recalled for gas pedal gettin stuck open. Suprised he suggested this suv
@@JohnnyAFG81 Hmmm , but we $till $ee them on the road , along with those Safari Vans , $eeing is believing , people $ee my 1999 Camry daily and will for another decade
All sensible choices for a first car, reliabilty is a must and not all cars are that reliable.
Even here in the UK, our love affair for German, French or Italian cars is over, they will go wrong
and spares if you can find them cost a fortune.
Keep it simple if you want a car that is reliable and cheap to run, avoid the lastest models
that are stuffed full of electronics just waiting to fail.
Aren’t parts far cheaper for a German car anywhere else in the EU (outside of Germany) compared to the US or elsewhere? The latter to which there appears to be plentiful evidence that said cars moreso HAVE TO go to the dealership instead of a trusted local mechanic?
@@schwenda3727 German car spares are expensive wherever you buy them, recent models use far too many parts made of plastic that fail very soon after the warranty expires.
It is always great seeing Mrs. Wizard in your videos. You as well. Also, glad to see the Chevelle lurking in the background. I remember your video with the 2000- 2005 Chevy Impala with the 3.8 v6 . One of the best cars out there with one of the best engines out there.
You can also find the Ford Escape by searching for a Mazda Tribute or Mercury Mariner.
I would try to look for a FWD Hybrid model since it’s the most reliable variant and the most fuel efficient for the Escape. There’s several Escape Hybrids with over 300,000 miles on them that were used as taxis in New York City. They have very good luck with these cars. The NYPD also used them as Traffic units.
Agreed, these Escapes have a planetary gears off a Prius
Agreed ! I have a 2010 4 cylinder escape 245,000 and it still runs ok!
We put our daughter in a new JL Wrangler Sahara when she was in high school, she drove it pass high school, college and now she has a job. The Jeep is solid and going strong.
Can personally vouch for the Ford Escape, Proud previous owner of a 2002 XLT with the 3.0 v6 that lasted all the way to 312,231 on the odometer before a collision totaled it. I will gladly buy another.
I still have nightmares over my wife’s Jetta. We bought it new and got rid of it after 63,000 miles. Oil leaks, water pump, and every electrical problem you can think of.
vw's have that rep.
A friend had a 2012 Jetta. They kept me busy fixing it left & right. I ended up hating that car so much & only drove it a few times to clear the I/M. They finally wanted to sell it & get a 2015 CC. I went with them to look at one - & managed to convince them to get a 2015 Camry instead. That was 3 years ago & I've never had to touch that car.
@@Megasty15 07 camry here. would run from any vw.
Beard of knowledge, love it... keep on making great videos
I had a 94 Crown Vic Interceptor as my first car. It was simultaneously the best and worst first car. It was the best because I beat the absolute shit out of it and it would basically laugh at me for doing my worst.
It was the worst because "v8 go rawr!" I never got pulled over and always drove like a moron. It was also surprisingly stable on wet and snowy roads. The only way you could have too much snow for that car was when you're plowing with the bumper.
So if you get one make sure it has limited slip differential and high gears. Sure, it'll go 140 but you probably won't try because it's such a heavy car.
The Mustang you are talking about is 2005-2009. They changed the body style in 2010 to a more aggressive Euro look. I agree, they are the best looking Mustangs ever. I had a 1986 5.0 Mustang. With the 5 speed manual transmission and highway gears. It got 18 mpg in town and 25-28 on the highway. But it only had 225hp.
toyota hybrids are more reliable than the majority of pure gasoline engines.
if you want to be sure you can do a hybrid health check in a toyota dealership as a pre purchase inspection.
these batteries will last usually for over 200.000 miles as long the hybrid battery filter is being maintained and in the summer driven with ac on.
The only problems with the escape is the rear shock tower rusts out completely and can be difficult to repair. Otherwise good little suv.
I'm an independent college student from Oklahoma, I do all the work to my cars myself, and I drive 2 Buick LeSabres. A 98 and a 2000.
These have the 3.8. I started driving in 2016 and I've only had cars with the 3800. I've had 5 of them, I've put over 1/4 million miles on them, and I've never experienced an engine or transmission failure.
Last time I went looking for a new car I was wanting a Honda/Toyota but I can't afford a nice Toyota. All the ones I can afford are over 200,000 miles. Meanwhile my $2200 LeSabre was clean, had no lights on, and had 92,000 miles.
I've put 70,000 miles on that car. I have about $700 in parts, and while I've been stranded from tires and a bad battery, it's never broke down on me.
Had a 2019 Rav4 from my parents throughout high school, it was a great car loved it so much. In college at the moment right now, moved onto a GR86 and I love it so much. Truly grateful for the RAV4, one of my favorite cars in my heart forever.
We're going to have to get two vehicles before the end of next school year. We have 6 daughters and two of them are graduating this next year. This was very helpful information. Thanks, Wizard.
98 Ranger is a good choice, I bought mine new and loved it. I have a co-worker now that has a 2006 V6 Mustang, good reliable car - she loves it. Just be aware the plastic tabs on the wheel covers weaken and they fly off. Two stainless steel zip ties keep them on now. I would add to the list a cheap Crown Vic or Grand Marquis.....not great on fuel, but they can carry all their friends (6) plus gear and they are very cheap and robust to maintain. I actually drove a used Grand Marquis when I was in college....did.everything I needed it to do as between work and school the car was on the road 7 days a week for 4 years and it never broke down...not even once.
2005-2008 mustang is the perfect blend of old and modern. Damn I miss my mustang
As a sports car I’d recommend Hyundai Coupé from 2000 - the one with spider eyes and 2.0l engine and 143 hp. My first car and really easy to maintain! I had it for 3 years and almost nothing went wrong with it except that one accident where I hit the hole on the road and broke a damper. It didn’t leave any leaks and was really nice going through the city - 9-10l/100km, was about 8-9 on the highway :)
Don’t get them a Hyundai sports car there shit the motors burn oil at 15k miles
I didn’t even have a car in college lol. Didn’t get one until 4 years after college while I was working. Parents giving a car for there child for “college”, are spoiling them.
As someone who owns one, I can say that the Mazda3, sedan and hatchback models, are an equally good choice for young people going to school and for daily use. I have never had any issues with the ones I have owned. They do really great on gas, you can go about two weeks, depending on how you drive, without having to fill up your tank. Super reliable, they will never let you down. Wizard, what is your opinion on Mazdas?
Agreed. They’re of a far better value for the money than some years of the Honda Civic and post 1997 Toyota Corollas (except for the 2006-2008 Corollas). Don’t really see many issues out of the Mazdas, beyond engine and transmission mounts.
What year is your mazda3?
I have owned my 2010 4.0 mustang for a good 4 years. Most reliable car I've ever owned
My high school car was my Dad's hand-me-down '86 Buick LeSabre. More rust than not, blown shocks, and missing every cap in the engine bay. My college cars were a '00 Nissan Altima that was great until it met a tree, an '05 Altima that I had to give up because I moved across the country, and a '02 Saturn SC with a manual. Fun!
I have a ford ecosport 2018 inline 4 with a 6 speed gear transmision. Almost five years with it. No problems. Only oil changes and break pad changes. My father has a ford mustang v8 2015 and loves it. My mom drives a ford 150 raptor 2019 absolutely loves it. So far no complaints. Most fords cars are reliable and the best thing i love about their cars is that no matter the year their AC system is the best hands down. Their AC system will Freeze your bones in just a few minutes. Also ford cars don't have cvt transmission. Ford likes their cars to run with actual gears and not a belt that will break withing 100k miles. Ford cars will bring either a 6 speed or 8 or 10 speed transmission. Thank god no cvt's.
Car Wizard be like "Damn kids, get off my lawn!"
FACTS! Now, that is hilarious!
This is also helpful for retirees who are on a fixed income and need a cheap car as a daily local driver. Thanks Car Wizard!
Thank you very much for this video!!! We're looking at used cars for two of my soon to be driving daughters. Very helpful and insightful. Love your channel! Please continue making content like this!
I had a 2006 Mustang GT, everything was easy to work on except the spark plugs, the original plugs. When I was looking at Mustangs, all the V6 options were significantly cheaper, yet looked to be in excellent shape. People must take care of them better. None of them had rear quarter damage lol.
Lol thats just a given with the v8
My college car was a '66 VW bug. Did my own work too.
Mine was a Kawasaki GPZ900R. Not sure how I made it through alive. God loves idiots I guess.
My high school car in 1984 was a 73 VW Super Beetle.. still have it!
I had an 08 Hyundai Sonata, the most reliable Sonata by far. It was such a well built car.
I’m a college student with a 2008 Mercedes E Class. 156,000 miles. Neglected by previous owner. Surviving off oil changes and basic maintenence. It’s a German camry. Super reliable
No '99 to '05 Buick LeSabre?
Also what car not to get your kids: '96 to '01 Honda Prelude. 😅
🤫🤫🤫 if he doesn’t mention them, it keeps the prices down!
As a kid I approve 😂 I like all of the recommended cars but I think I'll get a civic or a Toyota yaris, these two are my favourite
One last dig at bmws. I love it. I actually really like them but he is 1000% right.
my hand me down 61 Bug got me thru highschool, college, work, still drive it 44 years later. It was dads old car, engine/tranny died so we rebuilt it ourselves when I was 15.
I bought an 02 E320 in 2017, and other than regular maintenance, I've had almost no issues. It had 150K when I bought it, and 223K now. Of course, I'm not a high school kid or a college kid...and I know how to fix most of the stuff myself.
I got my driver's license at 31 it was a cold yet sunny day on my birthday on October 30th. I passed on my first attempt, my first car was my mom's old high mileage Kia Rio that sat in the driveway for 6 months, you get what you get and with vehicles costing more than a home I can't complain
Just what I needed to help me sleep tonight. Thank you, Car Wizard!
You are spot-on! I absolutely love my 2009 Mustang V6. Nearly 200,000 miles on it......runs, looks and drives like brand new!
My 06 Escape with he 3L V6 just blew up at 208K. Aside from the 8 hour alternator job, it was a nice, reliable car, even got rear ended and still ran fine.
common issue for them
Used Honda and Toyota car prices are outrageous. I’m currently looking for one.
My son got a great deal on an 02' Mazda B4000 (Ford Ranger). It has 113K, does not leak a drop and has the 4L V6 so you can actually do 'truck stuff' with it. I told him if he maintains it, he can get a couple 100k more miles out of it.
Thumbs up Car Wizard! That 05 to 2010 mustang is looking like a pretty good anniversary gift for my wife.... but don't tell her 19:38
…back in ‘85 I turned 16 and my Grandma gave me my late Grandfather’s 1972 Mercedes Benz 280 SEL 4.5, it was a beast and yes it was not easy on the budget to maintain. But with proper care it still looks like new to this day for I still drive it around every now and then.
Love watching all of your videos keep up the great content
Here in Belgium the kids take the train and the bike,only the rich kids have a car
In Scandinavia too: it's a socialist hell where kids have no chance of owning a car unless their parents buy it for them. And it's worse since the distances are long and the weather is very, very harsh. Population density is completely different to Belgium. Politicians' income and their dictated socialist utopia is more important than the lives of the people. (Far out in the back woods it's a bit easier, but still not common)
We're just too spread out here to have consistent public transit. In the big cities like New York and Chicago many people take trains or buses, but in less popuated areas it's not available.
Now that's actually funny. I mean it's not really funny, it's actually sad, but I mean the situation in my country. I'm polish and people here always say and think that western countries are rich and better and whatever. Polish people are constantly placing themselves as worse than people from western europe while here in Poland actually almost every teenager drives a car. Noone here wants to go by a train or bus (I hate them too). We're not buying any expensive cars, it's usually some 20 year old german cars. And I am convinced 100% that Car Wizard really hates german cars and it's not because they're bad, it's just his preference. And he loves japanese care. Here in europe most people drive these BMWs, Audis and VWs and they're mostly bulletproof. Yes, they have some issues since they're old and very used cars, but they're easy to fix and cheap to fix and to buy. I used to work as a mechanic and I hated working on japanese cars. They're not that easy to work, they rust as hell so it's sometimes impossible to unscrew some things etc. Also they're ultra-boring as far as looks and here in europe parts for japanese cars are expensive. Also they're more expensive to buy for some reason. And they're not fuel efficient, or at least they're not any better than any other european cars. I got lucky and my parents bought me a 2006 3.0TDI Audi A6 as a first car when I was 17 in 2017. I had it for two years and it was problem-free. Then I bought a 2009 3.0TDI Audi A6 in 2019 and I still have it. It's bulletproof. It has 300hp diesel, air suspension and plenty of options, actually it has almost everything minus blind spot monitoring and s-line exterior appearance package. I just change the fluids and filters. I put maybe a equivalent of 1000€ in repairs in over 4 years into it.
Stick to the train if you can. You can text, sleep, eat or talk with friends and co-workers without having to deal with stress, avoiding accidents or getting stuck in traffic for hours.
This man speaks the truth. Had a V8 mustang in high school. Wrapped it around a pole.
6:09 As a 3 time 8th gen Civic owner, I 100% agree that Honda got the styling right with those cars. It’s crazy to think that design originated back in 2005! And I get a good amount of people thinking that they look a lot newer than they actually are!
Another small truck to avoid is (especially the early versions) the Chevy colorado/ GMC canyon, looked into buying 1 of these that had an engine problem, turns out not only are the engines unique to this truck but hard to find and expensive when a replacement is found, the guy selling the truck tried to rebuild the engine but it didn't run right when he was done and they couldn't figure out why
I have the 4-cylinder manual version and it’s much better then the 5-cylinder that is the more common option. I’m at 225k and it’s been reliable. The HVAC system and a clutch, everything else has been standard maintenance.
@ChrisHeninger1985 the 2.8 4 cylinder is what this truck had, it is good until it isn't and replacements are like $3-$4K IF you can find 1
Also the Dodge Dakota and the Mitsubishi Raider which is a rebadged Dodge Dakota with the 3.7 or 4.7 engines are bad as well especially prior to the 2009 model year. Even after 2008 they still weren’t great engines. The Dodge Dakota doesn’t get good fuel economy either even for a small truck. An older Ford Ranger/Mazda B series, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier would be a better choice. If you can find a 2WD 4.3 V6 Chevrolet S10, it would be a great choice as well although they aren’t as fuel efficient as other midsize trucks. They were reliable trucks as long as you keep the 4L60e off overdrive while hauling ass. Also the Ford 4R75 and 4R70 transmissions are known for weak overdrive gears and I also don’t recommend driving them with the overdrive on while hauling ass either. Towing and/or hauling heavier loads with overdrive on will kill the transmission no matter if it’s a Ford, Dodge, or Chevrolet truck.
@@trentryan27 fair enough, the 5 cylinder is the one I hear the most problems with, me being somewhat mechanical has helped. I’ll see how long she last I guess lol
What if you don’t hate your kids?
remember to check the rear shock mounts on that Gen 1 Escape! that is the first failure point for rust issues.
And also the rubber brake lines. They should be replaced immediately after purchase if it hasn’t been done already. Gen 2 Escapes are good as well. Gen 3 Escapes, not so much except for the 2.5 models.
I bought a nice 2003 Subaru Baja with 40k miles that needed head gaskets. Paid $5k for the work to do head gaskets, water pump, timing belt and pulleys, tubes, etc. It now has 160k miles on it and is still running strong with basic maintenance, and it is worth what I paid for it. I took it on an 8k trip this summer and it was flawless. So I’d disagree about the Baja, it’s a keeper. I guess it’s overdue for timing belt service though. People often ask it’s for sale. Great car.
Another compact to avoid: 2012+ Ford Focus with dual clutch automatic... That transmission is a ticking time bomb
I own currently at it makes me nervous every time I drive it
The sad thing is that when it works , it’s not a bad transmission.
@@ianweber9248yes it is, it’s a herky jerky POS.
@@tails300 only when the clutches start failing, up until that point (which is admittedly very brief, less than 5000km) it’s great. I actually still miss mine, the more conventional auto they replaced it with, while infinitely more reliable, is nowhere near as smooth as that PowerShift was when it had working clutches.
@@ianweber9248 as long as you don't drive it hard it shifts smoothly
My first car was a Subaru Baja. That thing ran and ran and ran and never left me stranded. That thing had 275k miles but still kept going.
If it wasn’t rusted out I would still have it
So I replaced it with another Baja which I still own. Love that one too. Really nice condition, no rust, and hasn’t had any issues so far. I was so lucky to find one in good condition
100% facts on used german cars. I had a Audi Q5 and was the second owner. Literally every month, I had a new issue and I worked from home so it wasn't like I was daily driving it. Couldn't imagine a 10+ year old one with 150k miles. Nightmare
I have a 2002 Corolla, and she’s pushing 241,000 miles and still runs very well for her age.
Just get a Corolla.
When it comes to safety in the subcompact category, nothing beats Chevy Spark. It has better crash test ratings than Yaris, Fit, or any other car in its class. It’s also extremely reliable. My friend has one since new and in almost 10 years and 120k miles the only thing that broke was the reservoir tank and thermostat.
2013 ONLY!!!! That’s the year with the Aisin (Toyota) 4 speed automatic. Every other year has a Jatco CVT transmission
Had a V6 mustang all through high school and never once had an issue with it. Those are great cars as long as they are maintained.
Good choices all around. The Ford Escape was a surprise, learn something every day
Car Wizard must be in cahoots with a Ford trans rebuilder, those Mustangs and Rangers, and especially Explorers, have really weak 5R55E/W transmissions.
You weren't specific with the Ford Escape but I assume you're talking about the 4 cylinder versions because the V6 versions while excellent do not get very good gas mileage...
1947 - 1967 split-window Volkswagen ( VW ) transporter ( type 2 ) ... [ the bus ]. Had the 1966 Kombi when earning my electrical engineering PhD degree. Loved it, and now they are worth a fortune ( in any condition ).
Made the mistake of buying a BMW one time to flip. Ran beautifully on the test drive, it was a 2000 3 series manual. 130k miles, clean title, no rust, all factory original. Bought it from a 60-year-old guy. Handled extremely well. I got it home, parked it in the driveway, went out the next morning and without exaggeration, it had leaked about 2 quarts of oil all down my driveway.
My first car my parents bought me. It was a 2013 Focus with 97,000km on it, we got it in 2015 and I drove 30,000km on it in 8 months and loved it! It never left me on the side of the road, it got AMAZING mileage too. Cruise set at 65km/h on a back road I was able to get over 50 MPG but on the highway, regular driving 105km/h I got about 35-40 MPG
30,000 kilometers in 8 months? That is 134 Kilometers a day. Did you work a log drive away to drive that much. 2-3 hours a day.
@supercharged2414 no lol I was a new driver and I loved driving so I took the car on several road trips of 500km+ and also I just enjoyed driving it