I need a cheap commuter car in NJ to hold up until the market cools down, let’s say 2yrs. My commute is 3miles each way.
Trying to figure out the best move here for least cash spent, would appreciate any help. I don’t really care what car/make/model it is. My only requirement is working AC.
I tried looking for some $3-5k cars on craigslist, but that site is littered with shady people trying to flip cars that barely run with sleezy repairs.
I’m debating the following
Buy a Corolla ~$25k then sell it in 2yrs
Lease a Tacoma if they come in around $250/month
Find some other way to get a decent used car without paying too much
A Tacoma isn’t going to come in at an effective $250 / month payment.
Have you checked on the NextDoor app, occasionally people are selling decent vehicles on that app. Ask around with friends and at work and see if someone knows of something like Uncle Joe selling his Corolla, etc…
I’m on ND here in Monmouth Co. NJ, there’s no bargins buys popping up. 10-12yr old Honda’s and Toyota’s w/ 140k miles, for $12k is not a good deal. People are still expecting top dollar for older cars.
If you want beater, also consider a used Nissan Leaf with a degraded battery, sometimes if you get lucky you can find some online selling for almost dirt. This crazy car market has made these cars appreciate way too much, but some gems fall through the cracks. Unless the car is in desperate need of new tires or brakes you won’t need to do anything maintenance wise to them, they’re pretty rock solid aside for the battery degradation. Strictly charge it at free stations to make your operating cost practically free, goes for any EV.
