Best cheap, green car? (used)?

Question

I'm trying to figure out which car I should buy. I want something that is fuel efficient and cheap. I also want something reliable, because I intend to buy it used. I have roughly 18K to spend at max, but I would like to buy closer to 11K. Some cars I'm looking at are the smart car, the Toyota prius, and the Toyota yaris.

Answer 1

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/...

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/a...

The Toyota Prius is in Consumer Reports' and Edmunds' lists of best bets for reliable used cars, but not the Smart models, nor the Toyota Yaris.  (I suggest looking at the older NHW11 sedan model Prius if you are looking for a lower-cost option, rather than the newer 2004-current NHW20 hatchback model.)

Other fuel-efficient vehicles in your price range would be a used Honda Insight (2000-2006 model years) or used Honda Civic Hybrid (2003 to current).

If by "green" you also meant low-emission, then maybe even a Honda Civic GX if refueling is available in your area.  The Smart models available in the US, and the Toyota Yaris, are ULEV in CA-emission states, while all the others I've mentioned are the cleaner SULEV or AT-PZEV.

Unfortunately, pretty much any fuel-efficient car or one with a hybrid label on it is selling at higher prices now (as opposed to before summer) due to higher demand (with the recent run-up in gasoline prices), even used ones.

All hybrid cars on the market use NiMH batteries, which are non-toxic and contain no heavy metals (as opposed to the traditional 12v lead-acid "starter" batteries that all other cars use).  see:  http://www.hybridcars.com/battery-toxici...

Usually the mythic "article" from The Mail on the nickel in the hybrid cars' NiMH batteries is quoted from a now retracted article. The retraction that clears up this bit of misinformation is at: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live...  (They were using data from the early 1970's about the INCO-Sudbury nickel mine, which was more than 20 years before the first hybrids needed NiMH batteries, and the plant has greatly cleaned themselves up and reforested the area since then. If you were to add up the amount of nickel in the million+ hybrids sold since 1997, the total is less than 1% of the world's annual nickel production (far more nickel is used for stainless steel, for example).)

Answer 2

those are all highly overpriced cars in the market today.

Wait off to buy the prius. The high demand for them cause the price to be inflated. Used prius's actually go for about the same price as the new one. the old body style prius which is in your price range, has many problems so STAY AWAY.

The smart car would be a good option, but that car has a 14 month average waiting list, and it'll run you about 16k for a decently equipped one. The base one has no air conditioning, power steering, or anything like that.

The Yaris is the LEAST favorite car on the market today. It's cheesy design is really cheap, it feels unsafe when your driving it and the interior is horrid! the quality of the car is just unacceptable, and the car starts making winding noises after you get past 45 MPH.

I would recommend you looking into a Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic or the Honda Fit. They are all great "green" cars, and they can be found new or used within your budget. None of them are hybrids, so you don't have to worry about the battery going out on you like the Prius ( that battery makes the prius actually an un-green car! its toxic to the enviornment). All of the cars i mentioned get over 30 MPG, and are great.

If your looking for a car like the yaris, try the fit.

If you like the prius, try the corolla or the civic.

good luck!