Second-hand cars receive little press and warrant no glitzy auto shows, but Canadians buy many more used
vehicles than new ones each year.

To help these budget-conscious consumers, we've picked six second-hand vehicles that are well-suited to weather
the looming economic downturn – and rising gas prices – with a minimum of maintenance and repairs.

Any of these can be found for about $8,000 today, which tops out at less than $10,000 with the requisite taxes and fees.

Driving is never cheap, but your loans officer couldn't accuse you of living beyond your means with one of these.

Best Gas Miser:

2000-2003 Toyota Echo
Instead of giving us a penalty box, Toyota introduced some fresh concepts to the subcompact segment when it released
the 2000 Echo, features such as tall seating, better visibility, easy entry and egress, and decent power.

Propelling the Echo is a sophisticated 1.5 L DOHC four-cylinder that puts out 108 hp, hooked up to either a five-speed
manual or four-speed automatic transmission. It's lively and returns great gas mileage, typically 7 L/100 km.

Inside, the centre-mounted instruments take some getting used to, but it becomes second nature, owners assure us.
The car is chock full of storage crannies and the trunk is spacious.

In terms of gripes, owners miss the decadence of a clock, centre armrest, intermittent wipers, tachometer and power locks.

Some note the Echo's ride is a little bucky, due to the stubby wheelbase. But thanks to its low mass, this carlet is fun to drive.

Best Compact:

2001-2002 Mazda Protegé
Once a shy wallflower, the Mazda Protegé successfully elbowed the Honda Civic aside to become the favourite compact
car among people who enjoy driving.

We especially like the 2001 and newer models, which had either the gas-sipping 1.6 L four-cylinder engine rated at 105 hp,
or the new 130-hp DOHC 2.0 L engine under the hood of the ES sedan.

All models got stiffer suspension pickup points, beefier torsion bars, improved engine mounts and additional sound insulation.

Offering sportier manners than many of its econobox rivals, the Protegé is rewarding to drive, though the tradeoff is a slightly
stiffer ride. The car is also geared lower than most, which makes for noisy highway cruising.

The Protegé5, added in 2002, is more expensive and can't carry much more cargo than the sedan.

Durability is good, though you should watch out for defective ignition coils and power door locks, loose weatherstripping,
worn sway-bar links and shifter bushings, and premature clutch failure.

Best Family Car:

1998-2001 Honda Accord
The sixth-generation 1998 Accord arrived as a swoopy two-door coupe and four-door sedan; the practical wagon
expired with the previous generation.

With a roomy cabin and significantly bigger back seat, the Accord qualified as a large family sedan for the first time.

The base car uses a 16-valve 2.3 L four cylinder, good for 135 hp or 150 hp, depending whether the engine has variable
valve timing or not. Equipped with balance shafts, this all-aluminum motor is a paragon of smoothness.

Not recommended is the 3.0 L V6, which has a habit of stressing out the automatic transmission and breaking it.

The four-cylinder Accord has earned a sterling reputation for its reliability. Reported problems include faulty EGR valves
and seat belt sensors, as well as short-lived wheel bearings and alternators
(some models got Delphi alternators instead of Denso units).

Best Sports Car:

1994-1997 Mazda Miata
The Mazda Miata is responsible for planting more smiles on drivers' faces than sildenafil citrate.
It's the perfect little happy pill on four wheels.

True, this two-seater is impractical (as noted in the movie Go), but what it lacks in utility it more than makes up for in
top-down, springtime motoring glee.

For $8,000 you will be able to find only an improved 1994 to 1997 model with the larger, 128-hp 1.8 L engine,
a passenger-side airbag and some structural stiffening (compared to the 1990 original).

There are faster cars, but few hug turns so amorously or provide a silkier gearshift action (a four-speed automatic is also
available). Fuel consumption is decent.

Best of all the Miata is very reliable, unlike the Lotus Elan upon which it was modeled. Things to look for include peeling paint,
a cracked rear window or worn-out roof, and evidence that the timing belt has been changed.

Who says drivers on a budget can't have fun?

Best Minivan:

2001-2004 Pontiac Montana (et al)

Beyond their distinguishing grilles, the Pontiac Montana (Sporty Spice), Chevy Venture (Value Spice)
and Oldsmobile Silhouette (Posh Spice) are virtually identical and have been depreciating fast because of their cheap
construction – which actually suits second owners fine.

The vans come in two lengths, regular and long, but both configurations can seat seven or, optionally, eight.

All have dual sliding doors and clever seats that fold and can be removed with little effort.

The front-drive platform uses GM's pushrod 3.4 L V6, good for 185 hp. This motor is not particularly refined, but it acquits
itself by pulling with vigour and returning class-leading gas mileage.

In terms of cautions, the GM triplets suffer from the dreaded leaky intake manifold, so look closely for any evidence of a
repair with the new, improved gasket and bolts. The 2003 and 2004 models were upgraded at the factory.

Other complaints have to do with faulty wheel bearings, air conditioners, body control modules, ignition coils and
other electrical bugaboos.

The transmission has been known to fail, but then, so does the Honda Odyssey's.

Best 4x4:

2000-2002 Chevrolet Tracker/Suzuki Vitara
Recognizing that not everyone has a snowplowed road waiting for them for the morning commute, we recommend one
(actually two) sport utilities that deliver on the seemingly mutual exclusive promises of four-by-four utility and economical
ownership.

The made-in-Ontario Chevrolet Tracker and Suzuki Vitara never won any beauty contests, but they do offer stout
body-on-frame construction – an increasingly rare SUV attribute. Hey, you can plow with them.

The pair was redesigned for 1999, gaining badly needed power with a 127-hp 2.0 L four cylinder, more refinement
and a fourth gear in the automatic transmission.

These trucklets are fairly durable, but avoid high mileage examples since oil consumption and head gasket failures
have been reported on them.

The four-door wagon is recommended, since it does a better job of quelling noise and bumps, though long-distance
travel can become tiresome just the same.