I’m looking to buy either a Corolla or a Camry and have a budget of around $12K, but ideally, I’d like to spend closer to $8K-$9K if possible.
I need a reliable car for work, which will be about a 30-minute drive each way. I’m looking at model years 2010 and newer, and I want to know which years are the best. Also, at what mileage should I start being concerned about major repairs? This will be my first Toyota, so I appreciate any advice.
I know salvaged title cars aren’t recommended, but I’ve seen some really clean Corollas and Camrys with salvage titles in my price range. Has anyone here bought one? Should I consider it or just stick to a clean title? Thanks in advance!
You’re better off getting an older car with a clean title than a newer one with a salvage title—especially if it has good service records. Late 2000s Camrys are solid, but if you’re looking at that generation, avoid the 2AZ-FE 4-cylinder models as they had oil consumption issues. Instead, look for one with the 2GR-FE V6.
@Tanisha
That can go either way. If you don’t know how to spot a bad repair job or don’t have a trusted mechanic to inspect it, I’d recommend skipping the salvage title and getting a clean one instead.
@Ollie
You might also want to consider a Yaris sedan. They’re super reliable and easy to maintain. I almost bought a manual Yaris S sedan back in 2009—still wish I had.
I had a 2010 Corolla S and loved it. Sadly, it got totaled, but it was fun to drive, looked sporty with the small spoiler, and got great gas mileage—about 700 km per tank.