A recent Consumer Reports analysis of older used cars states, “There’s no reason for any car buyer to have to settle for an unreliable or dangerous vehicle just because their budget is tight. Many models that were smart choices when they were new still have those same good qualities years later as older, much less expensive used cars.”

In fact, CR analysts find that even models listed used for $5,000 or less can still be a good budget buy based on reliability data from their Annual Auto Surveys of CR members. The benefit to mining data from past annual surveys is that it provides used car shoppers with information on which models are proven dependable and could be a good buy provided their maintenance and care were managed well.

Be forewarned, however, as older vehicles require some personal concessions when it comes to road noise and comfort. Especially for trips that are longer than a few hours, let alone a family road trip that can become more arduous than fun in these old cars.

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