i have 6k for a new car.....

[Canuckistani]

FWIW, I gave 3k for my 2001 Ford Taurus with 68k on it. I get about 23-24mpg around town, and up to about 28 on the highway. I find them super comfortable compared to the more sub-compact cars like the Civics or Corollas, they're cheaper to maintain, and the difference in gas mileage is reasonable.

[Holger Danske]

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/3304993889.html This is nice and leaves you 2K for a the for sale section.

[JohnnyEgo]

When you are forking over $7k for battery replacement, a used Prius looks much less attractive. In a similar vein, I had a buddy who bought a 1980s Ferrari for $10K. Then discovered that the scheduled maintenance due was another $15K.

There are so many high MPG imports available that I would just go with the lowest mile 4 cylinder light car or truck I could find.

[tmleadr03]

what should i get??my only requirements are.....reliability and gas mileage in that order. i would go for a vw diesel but somethiing is always breaking or just about to break on a german car.

i have been looking at the prius but battery replacement is pricey and the ones that i can afford look to be right at the age that there going to need that soon....the wife likes the chevy aveo cause we can get a 2009-2010 but there reviews are awful.

im not willing to finance so its gotta be something you can find on craigslist for 6k or less

Of all the VWs the diesel is the most reliable. And not just the engine. That said, you are not going to get much in the way of VW Diesel for 6K. Those hold their price dramatically. I just sold my 2003 for 1500 over blue book with 122 miles. And you do know of a good German tech, so even if something does break you should be good to go. ;-)

While I am not a fan of the Prius, you are stressing more then you need about battery replacements.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...9084403AABl3kl

Find one in the 2004 and later range.

[KS63]

Subaru would be my choice. Anything AWD. Downside is Subarus in that price range will have a TON of miles on them, but I understand they are quite reliable.

[spqrzilla]

$6K is a problematic price level in my opinion. Not quite enough money for a good reliable used car useful in Colorado and too much money to be able to pull off the plates and toss a can of gas & match over it on the side of the road when it blows an engine.

[T-Giv]

You need to buy a supermoto and then a $500 beater to drive in the snow. Problem solved!

[brutal]

Another vote for Subaru. We've had one or more in the family for 20+ years.

I love driving my 8 year old Audi A6, but it's kind of a money pit on maintenance. I spent more than your budget to replace turbos on it last year. Old A4's can be had on the cheap, but also $$ to maintain even using a (certified) indy like I do.

Damn hard to beat a Suby for 4x4 capability, decent mileage, and reliability.

[Clint45]

Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Corolla all have very high reliability ratings. You should be able to get one that is over 5 years old with roughly 100K miles on it for under 6K. Your best bet is to buy from a private party off craigslist rather than a dealership. Just look it over really well, check the transmission fluid, check the codes for free at an auto parts store, and have your mechanic put it on the lift to see underneath. If it wasn't owned by a teenager or a blonde, and if there is a stack of maintenance receipts showing regular oil changes and a new timing belt, you are good to go. Take care of a car like that and don't beat on it, and you can get 300K out of it.

[spyder]

what should i get??my only requirements are.....reliability and gas mileage in that order. i would go for a vw diesel but somethiing is always breaking or just about to break on a german car.

i have been looking at the prius but battery replacement is pricey and the ones that i can afford look to be right at the age that there going to need that soon....the wife likes the chevy aveo cause we can get a 2009-2010 but there reviews are awful.

im not willing to finance so its gotta be something you can find on craigslist for 6k or less

I found my Volvo for $4200 on Craigslist in Oklahoma City. Volvo's are Swiss, and are friggen tanks (really, I totaled an Audi on mine and just bolted the bumper back on). The engine and tranny parts are treated with nitrocarburizing (like Glocks, Hk's, and M&P's). Subaru's are awesome cars also, those boxer engines are bullet proof.