Please help me decide which one should I buy (first time buyer)
State : Michigan
Priority : Value for money for around 3-4yrs of usage / Reasonable comfort / Least repair cost
Estimated Usage : Regular <10 miles per day but monthly interstate travel
Financing is not a trouble since I plan to prepay anyway.
I have shortlisted and test drove the following 3 options and need help deciding:
| Honda Accord '21 (Private Seller) | Toyota Camry '19 (VW Dealership) | Subaru Impreza '22 AWD (Family-owned dealership) |
|---|---|---|
| OTD Price (After Max Bargain) | 14k + 1.1k (reg + plates estimate) | 15.7k |
| Trim | Sport 4dr Sedan | LE Sedan |
| Mileage | 64k | 110k |
| Accidents | 1 minor (sideswipe) | None |
| Previous Owners | 2 | 3 |
| Carfax/KBB FPP | 21.2k / 19k | 15.2k / 13.6k |
| Carvana resale val | 14.5k | 10.5k |
| Engine | 1.5L Turbo VTEC | 2.5L DOHC |
| Exterior Condition | Few scratches and dents, else good | Door knobs and underside has material wearing off |
| Interior Condition | Requires deep cleaning and air circulation, else good | Rear right seat leather taped, multiple tapes and gearbox panel coating wearing off |
| Last Owner Driven | Nov 2025 | Feb 2026 |
| Test Drive Feel | Good | Decent |
| Pre-purchase Inspection | Minor issues (Wipers, Struts). 300$ to fix | TBD |
| Main Drawback | Private Seller, Different State | Appearance |
| Main Concern | Honda 1.5L Turbo Head-gasket issue, sitting idle for 3 months | Resale value (Bad appearance) |
| Maintenance, Battery / Tires replacement | Decent | Decent |
Also for the private seller one, seller is in Canada (lost legal status in USA) and car is out of state. However, seller is agreeing to me paying 0$ until I get title transferred in my name and get possession of the car. Also we have been talking for 3months now since initially I was looking to rent. So I don't think there's a chance of me getting scammed here but I'd appreciate advice regarding this.
I am really in need of good advice here since I'm new in US and do not have much info on what to look for in used car market. Thanks in advance!