Five affordable used cars for students

The Toyota Corolla is the world's best-selling automobile. The engine is miserly with fuel and wears like an anvil, Wheels reviewer Mark Toljagic says.

Mark Toljagic

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Most students heading off to university in Ontario get a taste of the working world right from the first day — as commuters.

Unlike their counterparts in the United States, where up to 90 per cent of undergraduates live on campus, the majority of Canadian students shuffle to class, travel mugs in hand, on crowded buses and traffic-choked highways with the rest of us every weekday.

With transit-friendly downtown campuses hemmed in by new developments, it’s the suburban locations that are growing more quickly. And, like it or not, many students are driving to these suburban schools.

For some, acquiring a good used car has become an essential part of back-to-school shopping.

For them, we’ve assembled a list of five second-hand vehicles priced under $8,000 that can whisk students to campus economically and reliably. Other penny-pinching commuters may want to take note, too.

2003-05 Toyota Corolla (photo above)

With some 35 million copies sold since the first diminutive sedan rolled out of Toyota City in 1966, the Corolla is the world’s best-selling automobile. From Kamloops to Kandahar, it’s as familiar as Coke and Lady Gaga.

The ninth-generation redesign for 2003 brought a welcome 14 cm increase in wheelbase and 11 cm in overall length compared to the outgoing model, resulting in a more accommodating cabin. White-faced instruments, a high-mounted audio system and multiple storage cubbies completed the handsome cockpit.

Its unibody structure was built stouter to absorb collisions better. All models came with dual-stage airbags up front along with belt pretensioners standard. Unfortunately, anti-lock brakes were optional, as were side airbags.

Under the hood lived a chain-driven DOHC 1.8 L four-cylinder, good for 130 hp. It featured a redesigned intake manifold and a larger-diameter throttle body, along with Toyota’s variable intake-valve timing. The Corolla could be had with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

While dull to drive, the engine is miserly with fuel and wears like an anvil. Owners’ complaints are minor in nature and centre on interior rattles, loose weatherstripping, fussy door locks and short-lived wheel bearings. This one can take you through grad school and beyond.

2003-06 Mitsubishi Lancer

No longer just a purveyor of stereos and trans-ocean ships, Mitsubishi brought its cars to Canada for 2003. Its entry-level offering was the front-drive, four-door Lancer sedan (a Volvo-esque wagon was sold briefly starting in 2004).

Boxy is the operative word here; the Lancer’s fridge-inspired lines yielded a spacious cabin that measured up to bigger cars. In an attempt to make its econobox memorable, Mitsubishi had fitted the interior with a stylish dash, large instruments and quality materials.

The Lancer was tuned for North American expectations: comfort and quiet. At idle, the engine generated 39 decibels — no more than a Lexus. The 16-valve SOHC 2.0 L four-cylinder was good for 120 hp. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic optional.

The 2004 Lancer received fresh front and rear fascias, and an optional 2.4 L four in the Ralliart edition. Equipped with MIVEC, Mitsubishi’s variable valve-timing system, the larger engine produced 162 hp.

The few mechanical problems recounted by owners included prematurely worn clutches and brakes, as well as paint that seems to scratch and chip easily. The Lancer is not a household name yet, but it is a solid buy from this Japanese mega-corporation. Curious shoppers will be rewarded.

2003-05 Pontiac Vibe

Its dealerships may have bitten the dust, but the Pontiac Vibe is destined to grace our roads for a long time to come. Because it’s a Toyota in Pontiac chaps, the California-built Vibe is powered by the same fuel-efficient DOHC 1.8 L four-cylinder that makes the Corolla such a reliable winner.

The Vibe is configured as a mini station wagon topped by a standard roof rack. The cargo hold behind the 60/40-split folding rear bench isn’t particularly spacious, but it’s finished in hard plastic rather than carpeting to accommodate wet and sloppy cargo. The glass on the liftgate is hinged, allowing it to open separately.

The GT model used a different, hyperactive 1.8 L four lifted from the old Toyota Celica. It makes 180 hp, but only when the high-revving engine is tickling the lofty redline — a neighbourhood many drivers are reluctant to visit. It came with a six-speed manual transmission only.

Owners of GT models did complain about short-lived clutches, suggesting the friction material wasn’t up to snuff. Faults found in the more common models included loose weatherstripping, leaky sunroofs, poor wheel alignment and that old chestnut: errant dashboard rattles. Some owners felt the paint was too susceptible to scratches.

2003-06 Ford Focus

The Focus delivered choice with a three- and five-door hatchback called the ZX3 and ZX5, as well as a conventional four-door sedan and five-door wagon. The interior was smartly laid out, the tall cabin making room for the biggest of occupants — although some owners found the seating uncomfortable. Try before you buy.

For a small car assembled in Michigan and Mexico, the Ford Focus never forgot its European grooming. Suspension travel was long, absorbing bumps with aplomb; there was plenty of body lean during cornering, yet it remained well planted.

Ford’s smallest North American model was freshened for 2005 with revised — some would say more conservative — styling and more power. The DOHC 2.0 L four made 136 hp and 133 lb.-ft. of torque, a marked improvement over the old motor. If you look carefully, you may find Mazda’s smooth 151 hp 2.3 L four-cylinder in selected models — a gem of a motor.

Early Focuses were beset with problems, but later models were better. One nagging problem involves faulty ignition switches that won’t allow the key to turn or be removed. Other headaches include short-lived alternators, window regulators and automatic transmissions (in small numbers). The Focus eats brakes, so be prepared for frequent service.

2003-06 Hyundai Elantra

A relatively young automaker hasn’t made the big time until its vehicles can be recommended as used cars. Hyundai’s time has come. South Korea’s Corolla fighter gained some sound engineering and its own sense of style with the third-generation Elantra in 2001.

While it carried over its 2.0 L DOHC four-cylinder “Beta” engine, it was thoroughly renovated with a ribbed iron block and eight-counterweight crank, putting out a robust 140 hp. The motor pulls strongly and can deftly handle the cut-and-thrust of daily commuting.

The front-drive platform is solid with relatively few creaks and rattles announcing themselves with age. Many owners liked the Elantra’s soft ride and quiet demeanour characteristic of Hyundai’s cars. To compensate for the demise of its wagon, Hyundai introduced a handy five-door GT hatchback for 2002.

The Elantra featured a contemporary and comfy interior with excellent ergonomics and good sight lines all around. The centrepiece was a standard six-way adjustable driver’s seat to accommodate all shapes of drivers.

Early models exhibited some electrical problems, including faulty headlamps, power windows, CD players and other accessories. Also reported were short-lived clutches, fuel pumps and a few cracked exhaust manifolds. Newer Elantras have held up better, putting to rest the predictable wisecracks.

More videos from Wheels.ca and our partners