Used Cars Deal or No Deal: 2002 Chevy Prizm
While doing the research on fuel-efficient used cars worth from $2000 to $12,000, I stumbled across a gem of a used car that had previously flown under my radar: the 2002 Chevy Prism.
It’s my used car deal of the week.
This four-door compact sedan is best summed up as Japanese technology with an American nameplate. It’s a Toyota Corolla masquerading as a Chevrolet. The beauty of it is you could end up paying $1000 less just because it’s a Chevrolet. Excuse me, but how dumb is that?
Consumer Reports [subscription required] gives the Prizm above-average reliability marks. Peruse your favorite used cars website for a 2002 Chevy Prizm if you’re in the market. Of course, no used car should be purchased without a complete inspection by an independent mechanic.
Photo © Chevrolet
Comments
All Toyota baby. People pass these cars up all the time because of the Chevy nameplate. I bought one for $1200 and it gets 32 mpg. Insurance is nothing and I can park it anywhere and not worry about it. Grab one if you can.
I bought my Chevrolet Prizm new in March 2000.
It gets great gas mileage, easy driving even on long trips. Be sure to keep good tires on it, all weather made the driving/riding a little rough.
I told my salesman to find me a car that fits me. 5′1, 102 pounds. He found the Prizm. The only car on the market I can see over the dashboard. I love it and hope it will last another 8 years.
Mary - that’s a great story. Thanks for sharing it. It’s yet another reason for folks to consider the Prizm.
George - Thanks for reinforcing my point. Savvy buyers know when a vehicle is rebadged and can save a lot of money.
George, I bought the Prizm because it had the Chevrolet nameplate.
My husband (now deceased)always said when they pay me in Yen, I will buy Japanese. So, I felt I was almost doing the right thing. I think my Prizm may have been made in Canada.
I want to mention, we had been a Dodge family for more years then I wish to remember. I did not like the 2000 Dodge, and the huge dashboard problem. How do little people see where they are going?
I have the opportunity to buy a 1998 Prizm with 123,000 miles on it. It runs good, but I have questions about the automatic transmission. It seems to be a 3spd without a lock-up torque converter. Is this correct? I thought it was a 4spd auto.
Keith
I bought a used 2001 Prism in November 2001 with 8,000 miles on it for around $10K. Today it has a little over 100,000 miles on it and I plan to put on at least another 100K. Prior to this I drove a 1987 Chevy Nova, which at the time was Chevy’s Corolla clone. That car went over 225,000 miles, then started to rust - the engine was going strong.
My Prizm (manual 5-speed) currently gets about 33-35 mpg around town, and 37-40 mpg on the highway! It’s the best car, and it breaks my heart that I couldn’t buy a comparable car today. Today American auto makers brag that their “fuel efficient” cars get aroung 30 mpg on the highway. Sorry, but I’ll keep my old GM car until they go back to making ‘em like they used to!