I’m a mechanic – here are the six most reliable cars for under $10,000
A mechanic has revealed the six best used cars he thinks you should buy for under $10,000.
US-based content creator David Long shared the most reliable vehicles in a three-part TikTok series with his more than 40,000 followers.
The car enthusiast explained that his top picks were the 2000-2005 Buick Lesabre, the 1999-2006 Chevy Silverado or the GMC Sierra, the 2004-2009 Lexus RX 350, the 1998-2012 Ford Crown Victoria, the Lexus LS 400 from 1996-2000. and the 2001-2007 Toyota Highlander.
David said the six cars were ‘no brainer buys’, which for him meant that ‘as long as it has been well maintained, hasn’t suffered any damage, or isn’t a flood car, then these cars are cars you can buy with confidence.”
The mechanic started his video by discussing his first choice: the 2000-2005 Buick Lesabre.
US-based content creator David Long has shared the six most reliable used cars in a three-part TikTok series with his more than 40,000 followers
The car’s advantages include a 3.8 V6 in automatic transmission, and it goes up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
He said it was less likely to break, and if it did, the parts could be bought cheaply and easily available.
David noted that if the original plastic coolant elbows under the alternator were to leak, they could easily be replaced with metal.
The car will last 300,000 to 400,000 miles over its lifetime and costs between $2,000 and $5,000.
The second car on the list was the 1999 to 2006 Chevy Silverado, aka the GMC Sierra.
Explaining why he hadn’t gone past 2006 when it came to the model, he said: “We’re starting to look into active fuel management, and we all know that this is waste, and if they fail, the engine grenade. or it could give the engine shell.”
The car is ‘the 4.8 or the 5.3 LS-based V8’, and ‘they’re called the Vortec 5.3 or 4.8’, and it has six liters.
He added: “You can get them in specialty trucks or three-quarter ton, but we’re only talking about the cheap half-ton trucks.
David said some of his top picks are the 2000-2005 Buick Lesabre, the 1999-2006 Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra, and the 2004-2009 Lexus RX 350.
‘These can have a manual transmission, but you can also get them in automatic, and four by four [or] a two-wheel drive – that’s up to you [and] what you’re looking for.’
The car can also tow a small camper or trailer, and the price ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.
The third car on his list was the 2004 to 2009 Lexus RX 350, a midsize SUV.
It comes in a 3.3 V6 or a 3.5 V6 and can easily get 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
The older models of the car before 2009 cost $5,000 to $10,000.
The fourth car to win was the Ford Crown Victoria from 1998 to 2012, which was the police car of choice, but the popular car was discontinued in 2012.
David wrote: ‘These cars are the epitome of bulletproof. They are dead reliable.
‘Ford really hit the nail on the head. They really hit the mark when they built a car that was reliable, comfortable and easy to maintain.”
The car has a “4.6 V8 and an automatic transmission,” but David noted that “they are not fuel efficient.”
On the highway it can get up to 25 miles per gallon, and it has a lifespan of 300,000 to 400,000 miles.
If parts needed repairs, they were “very plentiful and very cheap,” he also noted.
David added: ‘This is called the Panther Platform – it’s also the Lincoln Town Car, [or the] Mercury Grand Marquis.
“There are several vehicles that use this platform, but it is one of the best, if not the best, platform that Ford Motor Company has ever created in the history of their company. It’s definitely a no-brainer purchase.”
The fifth car on the list was the 1996 to 2000 Lexus LS 400.
David explained: “These are getting old – they are [24] years old now, but for a 2000 they are reliable.
‘There are still so many on the way. They are literally tanks. They are built extremely reliably. They have a world-renowned level of reliability.”
The car has a four-liter V8 and an automatic transmission.
If you need to replace parts, they “may be a little more expensive because it’s a Toyota.”
The car can get between 25 and 27 miles per gallon on the highway.
The three-part video series racked up more than 500,000 views – with many people taking to the comments section to share their thoughts
The 1996-2000 build year means the car is OBD2, which David says means, “If you have a check engine light, your local parts store can still read the code for free and you might be able to fix the car yourself if it’s cheap.”
The price of the car ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, with most being on the higher side.
David commented, “They knocked it out of the park with the LS 400. You can’t go wrong with that.”
The last and sixth car on his list was the 2001 to 2007 Toyota Highlander, a mix between a small and mid-size SUV.
David spoke about his personal connection with the car, explaining: “My own father has one.
‘He asked me years ago what kind of car he should buy, he [was] looking for a small SUV. I said, “Go get a Highlander, you’ll thank me later,” and he did.
‘Years later he thanked me. He said: “I’m coming to the stage of life – I’m getting older. I don’t have time to sit under the hood all the time, [and] trying to fix things.”
He said his father added, “This car has served me so well. It always starts, it always runs and not a drop leaks anywhere.’
The car displaces 2.44, three liters and is a 3.3 V6 that gets between 25 and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
David added that the car was “very economical,” offered third-row seating, had a lifespan of 300,000 miles and was priced between $5,000 and $10,000.
Finally, David said, “Yes, you should go buy one of those six. Please go out and buy one. You won’t regret it, but make sure you check out the interior.
‘Make sure it’s taken care of – it hasn’t been shredded, torn up by children, or literally peed on by pets or anything like that. Make sure that’s clean too.’
The three-part video series received more than 500,000 views, with many people taking to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One person wrote: ‘Everything Toyota. The end,” while a second person commented: “Nothing is more reliable than a Toyota.”
A third person agreed: ‘Toyotas are the bomb. I bought a 2005 Sequoia sr5 2wd and it is a rock star.”
“Toyota, Toyota, Toyota… period,” a fourth person wrote.
A fifth commented: ‘Any Ford with the 4.6 will last forever.’
Another user added: ‘I’ve always wondered why car companies shut down ridiculously successful motorcycle platforms, and I’ve never understood it.’
Another said: ‘New Toyotas have turbos and failing engines.’