Not a Toyota or 4Runner specific question.

She's got around $2k saved up and she wants to buy her first car. I am not super mechanical (I am "bolt on" mechanical) and dont want to get stuck working on some POS, trying to fix issues that are above my head, or paying to get it worked on. My school of thought is to get a job, finance a $8-10k certified used car, and throw the $2k down on that. She wants to buy something for around $2k now. I was an impulsive teen so I get it.

Do you have any recommendations for a decently cheap, yet generally reliable, generation of vehicles? Doesn't have to exact but something like 1995-2000 Corollas or 1998-1999 Jeep Cherokee. Etc etc. Does not have to be Toyota. She says she wants an SUV nut not a deal killer either way. She does not want/can't afford a 4Runner.

I don't know what the market is there, but $2K will get you a decent (ish) XJ here.
Be prepared to work on it once in a while, or a lot, depending on how it's been beaten.

For 2K you're going to get something that needs work, that should be expected. If you don't want her having something you have to wrench on or pay someone else to wrench on, buy something new or newish with a warranty.

The value of decent XJs are going up, I doubt you can find a drivable 4wd XJ for around $2k ...

Yeah I had a friend tell me to get a 98-01 Cherokee. He said they are reliable and easy to work on.

She found a 93 on Craigslist with 150000 miles but had some electrical issues (kept blowing misc fuses or something - cant recall) for around $2k. I was semi interested but a bit hesitant. It's gone now.

It's all Doug's fault!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3STMfI_PS4Q

I can find you a dozen drivable XJs for $1500-2K.
But, I live in WV and we're neck deep in them here.

https://morgantown.craigslist.org/ct...621574666.html

https://morgantown.craigslist.org/ct...615130188.html

The Grand Cherokees are coming down in price too, but are more complicated so have more shit to break.

For $4500 you could get this.
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ct...621682648.html

I'm guessing prices in your area are much higher.

I personally would recommend any of the older corollas. They pretty much run forever and working on them is pretty simple and parts are cheap.

Honda civics are also good, but run the risk of getting stolen.

Both platforms are very simple to work on and can be done with a decent ratchet/wrench set and some pliers.

Other than that I think most things will be out of budget or need lots of work. Unless you get a hookup from a friend, cars for the most part really are "you get what you pay for".

Ok 3rd gen 4runners are $4-6k where I live.

I don't get the point of buying a $2k car, I wouldn't rely on driving one anyway.

I would tell her to save up/ find even a temporary job, and $2k would easily become $5k.

Or get a loan from a relative.

I had a 95-96 corolla i bought for 500.00 bucks. I drove it for three years, pushing that odometer up to 200,000. I sold it to my neighbor who then drove it for another three years and TRADED IT IN, it was still running.

Of course minor maintenance was involved, oil, brakes, couple gas/ brake lines, tires, but no major issues, the power accessories all worked, the AC worked. no issues.

When I get another beater car I'm going back to that honey hole.

Except for a possible casting issue with the heads around 2000 or so that is correct. I have had several of the Cherokee/Commanche from the 90's and loved them.

Given the constraints here I'd suggest looking at:

3rd gen Tacoma
3rd gen 4runner
Corolla
Civic

Pretty much everything else will be a huge gamble.

Moving to Off Topic.

Corolla or older Camry are good reliable cheap vehicles. I find that older Hondas can be ok, but that when they start having issues, they seem to snowball from there.

The straight 4 Cherokees are solid too. Find one with manual everything. The electrics tend to be the stuff that has issues down the road. Especially in the Jeeps.