Xv 20,30, and the first half of 40 Camrys were made in a plant in Alabama instead of Japan and have factory body coating that helps them resist the salt.

The corollas are good too, but you lose headroom and a lot of other comfort features.

The domestic production is a huge plus because jdm vehicles are basically all built for the big ten year inspection that country requires by law; which is designed to fail cars and get them off the road to juice consumption. Export vehicles built in the same places as jdm tend to have “it wasn’t meant to be around that long” problems. Nissans are famous for this. Perfect beautiful car for exactly 12 years.

You probably don’t need a 4wd/awd. If you live down a dirt road (below the highway, as in you travel downhill on a dirt road to get home) or literally don’t know how to drive then you may need that feature.

Another fantastic option, classic car guy recommendation, first or second gen Honda fit. Roomy, reliable, performant. More spartan than a Camry, but they’re all hatchbacks. They’re getting expensiver now that people have caught on.

Small trucks: mid 90s to about 2012 tacomas and manual transmission 4cyl rangers unless you’re willing to put the work in to really know exactly which v6 you have because ford sold one that was basically perfect alongside one from the 70s that had three timing chains.

Full size pickups or suvs: gmt-800 up through the cateyes. The dodges are all falling apart from abuse and that time period was fords wandering in the wilderness years when it comes to the f150. You can’t afford the Toyotas.

Since you don’t drive much, make sure to tell your mechanic and actually get your oil changed at that 6 month mark instead of waiting the whole year.

E: Camrys come out of Kentucky, not Alabama.