Hi, long story short. I need to find a daily driver that will get me to work everyday safely and without hitch (reliable) , 40 miles each way in traffic sometimes. I also need to drive this to construction sites so nothing too flashy. I came down to these two cars, I don't know how, haha. My budget is under 8000. I have a weekend car, NSX so don't need something fun. I am having a hard time deciding.

Money and safety goes high in priority. I just totaled my 2001 Honda Insight so I am scared now (please don't call me a pussy) because of how dangerously unsafe the 1st gen insight can be. It is a tin can that weight 1800 pounds. I got hit slightly and it pushed all the way to the median and I bounced around like a ball. Both bags deployed and I have a scar on my face now, sigh, crazy.

1995 LS400 (3,800)

- 130k miles (low mileage for the year)
- Timing Belt Changed
- One Owner
- Nice Quality Ride
- Big and safe
- Old car tho
- Cheap, and I can save about 4000 dollars, I would.
- 28 MPG highway

2005 Prius (7500)

- 173k miles
- Package V, navi, BT, Back up Camera, Leather
- Newer
- Doesn't have the Lexus Badge when driving to Construction Sites
- Saves Gas
- I am worry about the battery
- Seven Air Bags, pretty safe, Five star rating.

I am also consideration a:

- TSX (Might be more expensive
- S80/V70 Volvo (Reliability is a concern)
- IS300 (kinda small and gas gusler for its size)
- Acura Legend 1995 (Kinda dated tho)
- 1995 Mercedes E320 Wagon W124 (Always liked it, I found a great example for 4500 tho, expensive)
- ES300 (kinda small)
- RX300 Gas Guzzler

Any advise would be great, thanks

 

I'm not sure where to begin here. (insert long winded diatribe about what's wrong with all of the cars you listed) So, long story short spend your 8 grand on a Corolla or Civic with considerably less than 100k miles, get good gas mileage, don't frustrate construction workers with a baller status badge, and rejoice in the reliability.

I really can't decide which is worse; a Prius with a zillion miles or mid 90's luxury car. Both sound like you're just begging to spend money on repairs due to the inherent gratuitous complexity of both vehicles. A daily driver needs to be practical and disposable unless you have money to burn.

 

you are right but I like those cars and Civic and Corolla seems small. I really want to drive a SUV but too much gas for 100 miles each day.

 

So you want a big car that is good on gas, that is cheap and reliable.

 

LS400 from what I heard is quite reliable and can gets 28 mpg. To me, that's pretty good. If timing belt is changed, the major works been done. Aside from that, I can do my own wrenching. I just want to see if any of you have these cars and experience.

The prius, as much as I don't like them to begin with (the looks and all), is quite spacious and full of tech. A great car in general.

 

5k can get you a civic w/ 100k miles or less, those things are indestructible. A good friend in high school kept his 5 speed in vtec most of it's life and it finally went out at 190k miles

 

I wouldn’t touch a Prius with that kind of miles.

You say you want an SUV, how about a CR-V? My wife has a ’97 with 170k trouble free miles.

 

I'd get the LS and just drive it into the ground. Fix. Mechanical issues as needed and let the rest of the stuff break.

 

if safety is a big concern id go with something german IMHO. since you do your own wrench work id go VW. GTI maybe? they can be found cheap, good mileage, safe. (more expensive tho). Not a big fan of civics/corollas in accidents. seem like they crumble really easily (yes i know it crumbles to distribute the force)

 

This.