Welcome back to another week of Shitbox Showdown! We’re doing a bit of a theme week this week in an attempt to answer the question: In this age of insane used car prices and low inventories, is it still possible to find a viable daily driver for next to nothing? Just what does the bottom of the barrel look like these days? To find out, we’ll look at two cars from each of four cities, and at the end of the week, we’ll choose the best of the worst.
First, let’s check out last weeks final results:
Bit of a Saab story for our topless Swede. There was no lack of support for it, but it’s hard to beat a good, honest old truck. The ex-fleet F-150 is our second Shitbox of the Week winner.
Back in the dark days before the internet, when AutoTrader was printed on actual paper, there was a section called “Transportation Thrifties.” It’s where you looked if you just needed wheels to get around — something that you could drive as-is for a week or two until you got another paycheck to start fixing stuff. Back when I was shopping those pages, I saw a lot of Ford Fairmonts, Dodge Darts, Oldsmobile Omegas, and similar cars with alliterative names. The cars have changed, but the need for cheap rides has not, so let’s open up our metaphorical paper to the Thrifties and see what we can find.
First stop: Chicago. My kind of town. I’m from here originally (well, the west suburbs, technically). I got lost in the Field Museum of Natural History on a field trip in fourth grade, I saw Michael Jordan score his 20,000th career point in the old Chicago Stadium, and I have a usual Portillo’s order. (Italian beef, dry, with sweet peppers and a side of onion rings.) There are two seasons in Chicago, winter and construction, and they are both hell on cars. From this crucible of pothole filler and road salt, I have extracted two ingots of potential used-car gold; let’s see what you think of them.
2005 Mazda 3 – $1,200
Engine/drivetrain: 2.3 liter inline 4, 4 speed automatic, FWD
Location: Norridge, IL
Odometer reading: 107,000 miles
Runs/drives? Ad says yes, but no other details are given
Mazda’s small cars have gained a reputation over the years as reliable, fun-to-drive, good-performing miniature sports sedans that dissolve like tissue paper when exposed to road salt. This one appears to be no exception: its inevitable date with the tinworm is well underway, but structurally it sill looks more or less there. You wouldn’t make any long-term plans to restore it, but it should get you around for a couple more winters yet.
Mechanically, these cars have a good record; Mazda’s MZR series four-cylinders are stout dual-overhead-cam units (with timing chains, not belts) that were also found under the hoods of zillions of Ford Focuses (Foci?) and 2000s Rangers under the Duratec name. It’s a good, revvy engine that gives decent performance and is easy on gas. This one is backed by an automatic, which saps some of the fun but it makes life easier on the tollways in rush-hour traffic.
The ad is scarce on other information about this car, but then again, the only way to really find out what you need to know about a potential beater is in person anyway. Start it up, drive it around the block, push buttons, turn knobs, see if stuff works. Accelerate hard and brake hard, take a corner or two too fast, listen for clunks or growls or vibrations.
Really, that’s about all most sellers will let you do for a car this cheap; don’t plan on taking it anywhere for a pre-purchase inspection. And don’t expect any sort of discount for non-functional accessories. (Who do you think you are – Abe Froman? The sausage king of Chicago?) It is what it is. Take it or leave it.
2002 Chevrolet Prizm – $1,175
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter inline 4, automatic, FWD
Location: Tinley Park, IL
Odomter reading: 147,000 miles
Runs/drives? “NO PROBLEMS” the ad says
The seller has this car listed as a “Geo Prizm,” but GM dropped the Geo nameplate in 1998 and ported all the remaining vehicles in the lineup over to Chevy. Everyone still called them Geos, though, so the seller’s confusion is not surprising. But what this car really is, for all intents and purposes, is a Toyota Corolla — a car with a reputation for being invincible, if dull. Prizms were built alongside most U.S.-spec Corollas in the joint GM/Toyota NUMMI plant in California, which is now home to Tesla’s production line.
This one is from the final year of the Prizm, 2002; the vehicle sits on Toyota’s E110 Corolla platform. It has a variable valve timing-equipped 1.8 liter four (oooh, fancy) connected to a four-speed automatic. Nothing too exciting, but it’ll keep sipping gasoline and pulling this little Prizm along for another 100,000 miles at least, if rust doesn’t kill the car first.
Actually, the rust doesn’t look too bad on this Prizm yet. The color makes it hard to tell, but I bet there’s more good metal left under this one than the Mazda. The worst rust I see is on the left rear: The wheel arch is unsightly but no big deal. Though that left rear jack point might be compromised.
There are a couple other battle scars, but those can be an advantage in Chicago traffic. The ugliest car goes first, if it wants to. Besides, think back to the old Kenner Star Wars toys: there was an X-Wing Fighter,and a “Battle-Damaged” X-Wing Fighter, and we all know which one was cooler.
And there you have it: just about the two cheapest potential daily rides I could find in the “City of the Big Shoulders.” Which one would you rather be in, runnin’ south on Lake Shore Drive, headin’ into town?
The mazda all day. Should be fun to drive along with being cheap. The geo/toyota will be dead reliable I’m sure but soul sucking.
It never ceases to amaze me how Mazdas can accumulate International-levels of rust.
Corolla all day, I bet this one even has the optional rear speakers!
My kids may have had me watching a little TOO much Disney+ lately but, does anyone else here “Shitbox Showdown” sung to the same tune as “Grandkid Roundup” from the first song in Encanto?
Now I do… thanks.
The Corolla looks just about as rusty to my eye as the Mazda, looking at that left-rear corner. So both those things being equal, I’d take the 3 for a little more Zoom-Zoom in my life.
The Prizm takes the prize, but it’s a contest you never want to be in
I had a tough time choosing because, well look at them. Who cares?
Went with the Chevgeoyota.
I drove quite a few of those first gen 3s during my time at a Mazda dealer and I really like them. They aren’t exciting but felt pretty well built and seemed to be pretty good for what they are. I even had a later gen 3 as a regular old daily and it was a great no nonsense commuter car
With that being said, I’d pick the Geo here. It’s slightly less rusty, has that Toyota reliability, and cheaper so I’d have some extra cash for lunch on the way home.
Toyota makes the best cars, and the Prizm is no exception :o)
Also, that Mazda3 is rusty, though not by Mazda3 standards :p
Yeah, that was going to be my comment on the Mazda. It has “barely any rust” by that-era-Mazda standards.
But, I’d still go for the Toyota.
Now I’ve got the 588-2300 Empire commercial running through my head, so thanks for that. I think.
Going with the Geo, er, Corolla. For that price I wouldn’t give a crap about the dent.
NUMMIcorn me. I already have one in my Vibe, so I might as well get its older brother, too.
I’ll go with the Chevrolla assuming the rust is less than the Mazda. Keep up maintenance and the car will just keep going. Just pull the Chevy badges and tell people you drive a Corolla.
I mean, I’m a Mazda guy (like half the commenters here, it seems), but the Prizm looks the better buy. Plus the extra $25 will buy you and your date a Portillo’s dinner, or a Lou Malnati’s pie.
The Mazda has that “My older brother is a weed dealer” vibe, which is nice, but the Prizm is the winner here just because it’s not rusted to hell.
The older I get, the more I appreciate the Corolla, almost like a war of attrition. As new cars evolve past both my taste and aptitude, Corollas no longer seem boring–they’re comforting. And an 87 Chevy Nova (Corolla, hatch) was a perfect stick-shift learner car.
I agree – my own daily driver is a stick-shift ’95 Corolla. There’s something to be said for a car that just does what it says on the label.
I always order my Portillo’s beef half dipped, which is apparently a difficult concept for some employees.
All the delicious jus a sandwich needs, plus a firmer end to actually hold it with when eating.
Meanwhile, the people that order it dipped with an additional side of jus to pour on it should just admit they wanted soup for lunch.
A difficult concept for most if not all of them. I just order “dipped” now when back home or visiting AZ. And now my stomach is grumbling.
Dipped, even halfway, was always way too messy for me. If I was running to grab lunch back when I was painting houses, I ended up eating in the car, sometimes while driving back if the line was long, and a big soggy sandwich plus a manual transmission just meant a big mess. Dry was just safer.
The Toyotalet for me. Yes it’s a dull ride. That said it’ll be a perfect beater for Chicago where traffic is horrible.
Honestly, they both look like they’re held together by thoughts and prayers so I’m going to go with the Mazda because you could probably do something more interesting with the guts.
I suppose the more practical option is the Geo/Chevy/Toyota Prizm/Corolla. However, the first gen Mazda 3’s design has aged so well and is the much more inviting place to be. I want to select the Mazda, but even with 40k additional miles, probably should go with the Prizm if you’re looking for cheap, reliable transportation.
Prizm all the way.
I’ll put it one of those automotive bubbles and call it my Geo-desic dome.
????
Chevy Corolla, assuming the underside doesn’t look worse than that Mazda.
I’m a Mazda guy through and through, but that rust is more than I can handle. Gimme the bowtie.
The Mazda is ready for scrapper, I would not drive that thing on a dare.
The Chevy, while battle damaged, would be the better low cost choice. IMO.
I vote for the Toyota, it has more robust engine and less rust.
Less rust on the Toyota? I see holes in the Prism and bubbles on the Mazda. I think you and Mark are falling for the lack of close-ups and the red paint color.
AH the memories…grew up in Southern WI. Burt Weiman your TV Ford Man…Nicky Chevrolet (Can’t do the backwards K)
I’m going with the Georolla.
And let’s not forget Celozzi-Ettelson Chevrolet, “Where Ya Always Save More Money.”