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These days it seems that everything is expensive, and that includes cars and the fuel they use to operate. Many people are delaying purchasing new cars or are choosing to hang on to older vehicles. However, there are still some very nice cars and trucks available that you can buy for under $5,000. Here is my list of the best cars to buy used under $5000.

Important Factors In Choosing Cheap Used Cars

The main things to be concerned with when choosing a used car costing under $5,000 are the safety of the vehicle, the gas mileage it gets, age of the vehicle, the condition of the vehicle, and how much longer it is likely to operate after you purchase it.

For example, if you were to find a 2003 Honda that was in good shape, low mileage, etc., then it could be a better deal than a 2011 Honda that had been in an accident and was in bad shape. However, you have to take into consideration that an older model car most likely wont have a warranty, so be sure to have it checked out by a reliable mechanic before buying it.

You also have to consider your own lifestyle and the type of vehicle that you need. For example, if you are single and dont need to worry about carrying around a lot of things, you can go with a small car, but if you plan on hauling anything, you may need a truck and if you have a family, then you need a larger car, van or even an SUV.

Here is a listing of the 10 best used cars under $5,000 in no particular order:

Honda Civic, 1994-2000

The Honda Civic is a small model of car that you can find for between $2,000 and $5,000. It is said to have one of the least expensive records for repair and durability and it is rated for good gas mileage with between 31 and 35 mpg average for models in the 1990s. It has a B15 series engine, available manual transmission, and customers rated it highly for low maintenance costs, comfortable ride, and ability to go over the 100,000 miles of usage milestone and still go strong, in fact, one customer noted that his 1994 Civic had more than 200,000 miles on it and was still going great.

HondaAccord, 1995-1999

Honda has always seemed to rank highly in quality and fuel economy for smaller cars. In this range, you can find quite a few Accords that cost between about $2000 and $5,000 at dealerships, car auctions and other locations. The Accord is a bit bigger than some of the other offerings from Honda, so it could also work for a family. The Honda Accord has a V6 engine, and these are well-known for being durable. In fact, statistics on these cars back to 1991 show high customer satisfaction ratings and high ratings for safety and reliability.

Hyundai Accent, 2003-2007

Another Honda also makes the list of best cars under $5,000, as it can be purchased for between $3,500 and $5,000. This model is considered to be very economical and long lasting. It is rated highly by customers for its reliability, and many say it lasted more than 100,000 miles of usage. Even the older models manage to get in the 30s for gas mileage, which is comparable to some of todays vehicles.

Subaru Impreza, 2000-2002

This car is considered to be a very frugal four door sedan that handles well during bad weather due to its all-wheel drive feature, which helps to make it a safe car to own. It is said to need a bit more maintenance than some of these lower priced cars, but it is still considered to be a good buy if you keep it maintained well. It can be purchased for between $4,000 and $5,000. You can get them in manual or auto transmission and they are considered very fun to drive, almost like a sports car.

Ford Ranger, 1998-2002

If you need a pickup truck, the Ford Ranger is a good choice for between $2,000 and $5,000. The maintenance is considered to be low cost and some owners even do some of the repairs and maintenance on their own. The models in these year ranges are four cylinders. Its reliability for things like the brakes, heating and cooling, transmission, startup and charging, etc., are rated highly by customers. Plus, it got four stars in safety ratings by the NHTSA.

Ford Mustang, 1999-2003

The Ford Mustang is also considered a good used car for between $3,000 and $5,000 and you can get some good buys in the 1999 to 2005 years. It has a high rating for satisfaction, appearance, performance, and horsepower. Ford considers it one of their most popular models.

Audi A4, 1999-2000

The Audi4 is another great car you can find under $5,000. These cars are well-known for being luxurious, comfortable, attractive, and fun to drive. It can be found in both manual and auto transmission versions. It also has a turbo charged four cylinder engine. It is highly rated for its transmission, heating and cooling system, and its steering and suspension. Several owners stated in their review of this car that they had had it for multiple years and even though it had over 100,000 miles on it that it was still going strong.

http://www.carcity.com.au/