Nothing is available in mass supply in that price range.
Especially considering the inflationary environment we're in.
You need to find a needle in the haystack.
Under $10K, I always recommend Japanese vehicles: Toyota, Honda.
They are typically the most reliable in the short and long-term.
If you can’t find Japanese vehicles, I recommend American: Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, GM.
Whatever you do, stay away from German: Mercedes, BMW, Porsche.
You will spend $1000s on repairs and they will give you nothing but trouble.
- If you’re intending on paying cash, try FB marketplace or Craigslist.
- Pros: You will find what you’re looking for.
- Cons: Sketchy people. Vehicle may have undisclosed issues. Overall a risky move.
- If you need to finance but have decent or good credit, try going to a new-car dealership.
- Pros: You may find a gem.
- Cons: The dealership will know it’s a gem and charge you an arm and a leg. It will also sell very quickly. Tough to find.
- If you need to finance but have bad credit, try going to a used-car dealership or buy-here-pay-here lot.
- Pros: You will most likely find something decent. This is your best bet for a cheap car.
- Cons: Dealership might sell the car as-is given it’s so cheap. Not as risky as option 1, but still some risk.
They may have a trade-in laying around.
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