Rhode Island mechanic shares car you can buy for 'dirt cheap' as no one realizes how good it is
Published on Nov 06, 2025 at 3:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Nov 06, 2025 at 6:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A Rhode Island mechanic has revealed a super reliable car you can buy for ‘dirt cheap’ because no one realizes just how good it actually is.
The average price for a new car in the US topped $50,000 for the first time this year.
For those hoping to save a bit of cash, buying a used vehicle is a great idea – with some cars selling for a lot less just months after being bought new.
But buying new can be a bit of a minefield, because let’s face it, no one wants to end up with a lemon.
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The ‘extremely reliable’ car you can buy for ‘dirt cheap’
Thankfully, Rhode Island mechanic Scotty Kilmer, who has decades of experience in the industry, has helped to cut through the noise.
Kilmer has previously shared all kinds of interesting tips and hacks on his channel, including revealing a $33 item that can save you hundreds later down the line.
In a recent post on his YouTube channel, he revealed an ‘extremely reliable’ car you can buy for ‘dirt cheap’ due to the fact that few people know how good it is.
According to Kilmer, the Toyota Camry Solara, more commonly known as just the Toyota Solara, is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to used motors.
The vehicle was introduced back in 1998, and had two generations: first launched as a coupe, followed by a convertible model released in 2004.
However, its entire production run lasted just nine years.
Despite seemingly being on the production line for a good time and not a long time, Kilmer reckons that the Toyota Solara is one of the best used cars out there.
In a clip, he revealed that a pal had snapped up a convertible model for just $5,500 with 62,000 miles on the clock ‘years ago’.
The car had been damaged in a crash and needed some repair work before it was road-ready.
But today, the car is still up and running and now has 90,000 miles on the clock.
“These things can basically run forever,” the Rhode Island mechanic said in the clip.
“And since this thing’s only got like 90,000 miles on it, it’s going to go a really long time.”
Affordable used cars are getting harder to find
While you might be able to bag yourself a bargain if you happen to find a Toyota Solara, a recent study found that affordable used cars are disappearing.
According to the study from iSeeCars, the average price of a three-year-old car is a little over $32,000, rising from $23,000 back in 2019.
However, cheaper cars, those costing less than $20,000, now only make up one-tenth of cars on used car websites, compared to around half just six years ago.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
