Like we always say…, “Cars are expensive.”
This is true, which is why we say it all the time. But, you don’t always have to spend an arm and a leg – relatively speaking – to find and purchase a halfway decent vehicle that you are just never sure will start in the morning.
Even though vehicle prices are generally on the rise, there are plenty of sub-$5000 vehicles on the market that will get the job done for you if you need to spend as little as possible.
These are some of the easiest used vehicles to find for under $5000:
Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
A long time staple of police departments and elderly people’s garages for many years, the Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis is one of the best vehicles you can easily find for under $5000.
The platform on which they were built is renowned for its longevity, they are virtually bulletproof, and they can often be found with very few miles on the odometer considering how old some of them are.
Two reason they are so inexpensive is because they are large, thirsty cars – the type of vehicle that is losing traction in the market by the day. What you will get is an extremely comfortable and reliable vehicle at a cheap price. If you do have to fix one, costs will also be low because these things are still everywhere.
Buick LeSabre
The LeSabre is similar to the Crown Vic or Grand Marquis without the police department pedigree to back it all up.
Another staple vehicle for the more elderly generations, low mileage examples are almost as prevalent in the used market as the Fords. They are also comfortable, easy to maintain, and pretty reliable.
At this point in time, seventh generation models will be the easiest and best ones to find, although eighth generation models can also be found if you look in the right place. These might not be the most fun vehicles to drive, but the 3800 series engines fitted in these vehicles will get you where you need to go all the time.
Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy
The Chevy Blazer, more specifically the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer or GMC Jimmy, is one of the few SUVs available on the market today that is available for $5000 or less and doesn’t have an unreasonable amount of miles.
The second generation Blazers are the ones that are still generally new enough to still be available, but old enough to have depreciated to reasonable levels.
These SUVs were pretty good. They had their issues just like every other vehicle, and they are seriously outdated by today’s standards, but an SUV for $5000 is hard to beat just about anywhere today.
Chevrolet Impala
Another GM product makes the list. Eighth and ninth generation models are everywhere, with the eighth generation models being almost cheaper than a handful of dirt.
Again, the segment has just outgrown the Impala, Chevrolet manufactured a ton of them, and parts are still readily available if they break – as well as plenty of running and driving models from which to choose.
Ninth generation models are a bit nicer than eighth generation models which are a bit more comfortable. Both can be found at a bargain, because fleet sales and their general ubiquity have made resale values plummet.
Nissan Sentra
You might expect Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas to make this list, but there are alternatives as well. The Sentra is one of them. Fifth and sixth generation models are widely available on the sub-$5000 market, and they don’t hold their value as well as Civics and Corollas.
They are large for small cars, offer a sporty SE-R trim for those who can’t afford a Civic Si, and have proven reliable enough to remain on the market for this long.
Sixth generation Sentras are the ones you really want. Seventh gen vehicles were ok, but they signified a transition year for the Sentra which proved to be quite underwhelming, dull, and not as good as years before it.
Honda Civic
How can we forget the Civic? Well… we didn’t. So, here it is.
Most of you know the deal, and most of you know that the Corolla can go right here with the Civic, but I had to choose one.
The Civic is practical, reliable, easy to maintain, inexpensive to run, easy to find, fun to drive, good on gas, and many more things that have gained it its reputation. This one is a no-brainer, but finding one with fairly low miles can be challenging at times.
Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevy Cobalt was built to replace the Cavalier – another good inexpensive vehicle if you can find one. The reason that Cobalts are readily available is that they were cheap to begin with.
Quality is noticeably lacking in a lot of different areas, and reliability is definitely not that high on the list of bulletproof-ness. But, if you just need a car to get around in, the Cobalt might just be the one to do it.
The good news is that, because it is so cheap, parts are inexpensive, and examples are all over the place for when it does break.
Ford Explorer
Another SUV that you can find for $5000 or less makes the list. This is a good thing because really good SUVs are quite hard to find at this price. Explorers have hit or miss years, but generally speaking, the ones still available on the used market are not bad for what you will pay for them.
They are iconic American SUVs that have also seen fleet and government use, ensuring that the market is flooded and resale values are low.
Third and fourth generation models (2002-2010 model years) are readily available on the sub $5000 market with second generation models becoming scares from overuse and fifth generation models not quite dipping to low enough resale values yet.
Toyota Avalon
This one might surprise a lot of people just because the Corolla and Camry are so ubiquitous. You can, in fact, get a reasonably-priced Avalon for around $5000. Second generation models are hiding everywhere in plain sight.
They are relatively problem free, but they are not as luxurious as newer models and again, hit the large car segment, which is slowly fading out of the market in favor of SUVs.
You can a lot of car for $5000 with the Avalon. It may just be the best alternative to a family SUV that you can find at a really good price.
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai used to have a reputation of building really cheap cars that fell apart. Whether or not you still see it that way, they have greatly improved over the past decade, and the fifth generation Sonata has proven that.
Pre-2011 fifth generation models are comfortable, inexpensive to maintain, and readily available on the used market. The Sonata bridged the gap between the large comfortable cruisers favored by the elderly population and the sensible family sedans such as the Camry, Accord, and Malibu. Because of this, low mileage examples are more common than you think.
There are plenty of vehicles to be had a bargain prices if you look long and hard enough – and get a little lucky on the way.
Most vehicles with a sub-$5000 price tag are usually not in the best shape, and finding one with low miles can be quite challenging. Nevertheless, these are some of the most commonly found vehicles that will most likely be able to get the job done for you. Of course, there are many more that we could put on this list, and maybe one day there will be a part II, but for now, you can take what you know and find the car you need without taking a second mortgage out on your house.
