Best Little Runner Around 5k

I have a new position at work and I am tried of running the hell out of my truck.
Averaging 1,500 - 2,000 miles per month. I get paid mileage and the gas savings alone will pay new car payment and insurance.

Looking for minimum of 30mpg

Let's here your opinion of the cheapest most reliable car for high mileage and MPG.

 

2005 Toyota Camry - 4 cyl

I get 30 MPGs.

 

theyll be cheap to find

 

How many trips to the shop? I have days with 300mile round trips

 

shop?

 

*Garage for repairs

 

Zero.

Never had a problem w it.

Ever.

330,000 miles on the ODO

 

I just did this.. driven 2,000 mi in July so far for work and about to head to Vegas next week. So far I'm really happy with my Camry. In stop and go traffic/freeway driving in SoCal I'm averaging 30 mpg and 400+mi per tank.

I've had the 1.8L they put in the Corrolla in my old mr2 and it was an oil burner. I think that engine can be hit and miss so I opted for the 2.5 4 cyl. No complaints! I thought I would at least miss the power of my old v6 Camry just a little bit, but so far so good!

 

Avoid the 2006-2010 Civic unless the seller has proof that the engine was replaced. The blocks were cast shitty and are nothing more than ticking time bombs.

 

Thanks for the reply. I heard people say Camry is bullet proof and seen a lot of them around 4K just wondering on the nickel and dimes adding up. I live in the salt belt so older models may be hard to get a good one.

 

This is the info I'm looking for. Around here it's hard to find one without a modified tin can exhaust.

 

I would avoid it just for the fact that it will get stolen.

 

+1 for Camry 4-cyl. Don't know if they get 30mpg but they are super reliable and are easy and cheap to fix.

 

Ah, my grandpa lived in MA and the salt seemed to destroy all of their cars pretty quickly.

If CPO is an option, maybe go try that route. I did and added the 7/125k warranty so I'll be covered for 3 yrs at least lol. I figure the mileage reimbursement will more than make up for the slightly higher price of CPO over the next 6-8 mos. I was looking for comfort and cheap/simple engine to run - Down time in the shop affects my pocketbook. The 2.5L 4 cyl is hard to beat. Good luck with your decision! It took me entirely too long to give up my 4Runner.

 

I think everyone I know who has owned a civic has had it stolen.