“Any Toyota dump truck is overrated.” What Romanians say about used cars with inflated prices
“Which second-hand cars are overvalued in Romania” – is the question that started an interesting discussion on the Reddit platform. The conclusion was that they are all overrated, but the most mentioned name was Toyota.
Used cars have become more expensive. PHOTO: Shutterstock
A seemingly trivial post on Reddit ignited one of the most honest and harsh discussions about the second-hand car market in Romania. The question was simple:
“Which cars are overrated on the SH market in Romania? I mean, they ask for a lot of money, but don't offer much in the way of reliability or features.”
The responses came quickly and, without much detour, directly aimed at brands considered “safe”, “legendary” or “problem-free”. Most mentioned name? Toyota.
“Any Toyota dump truck is overrated! I see 2020 Corollas for 20k, though new now is about 23-24k. Absolutely gorgeous”one user writes, summing up the frustration of many.
Another ironically adds:
“I read every dump truck Toyota Supra is rated for and laughed heartily.”
Jokes aside, personal experiences paint a clear picture of absurd price increases:
“I bought a 2010 Avensis T27 with 140,000 km in 2020 for 5,000 euros. Now, after almost 6 years, I see them with 200,000 km at 6-7,000. Totally absurd.”
So does the Corolla: “A 2013 Corolla 1.33 with reasonable miles was 7k in 2020. Now it's still 7k, maybe more. Ridiculous.”
Criticism does not stop at the price. Many directly attack the comfort trade-offs:
“Ok, they're reliable, but in terms of features, materials, and soundproofing, they're pretty bad.”
“Soon it will be full of hybrid cars for sale that no one will buy”
Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUVs are another frequent target:
“Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUVs are terrors. Especially the RAV4, a car I would never touch.”
Another user warns of the future of the market:
“Soon it's going to be full of hybrid cars for sale that no one is going to buy.”
The discussion quickly moves to direct comparisons. Mazda consistently appears as a more balanced alternative:
“Got Mazda3 2022 with all safety options, Bose, matrix headlights, automatic, Burgundy Red interior, 19k euro with 26k km. Car was 38k new.”
And the comparison with Toyota is sharp:
“I agree, Toyota is overrated. Reliability is about maintenance, not logo. Like comfort and materials, it's super poor compared to Mazda3.”
Audi A 3 and Golf, criticized
The premium area does not escape criticism. The Audi A3 is considered a classic example of overpriced:
“You get 22–24k on a 150hp Golf with a dry clutch DSG that sooner or later fails.”
A user's decision is revealing: “I looked for the A3 8Y and in the end I said fuck it and got the A5.”
At the extreme pole, there are also examples of prices that are difficult to justify: “2010 Mercedes G-Class. I looked at the price and couldn't believe it.”
The off-road segment is described as dominated by specula: “Land Cruiser or Hilux. One from 2007, with 400k km, tired diesel, 9,000 euros? It's something to be afraid of.”
Another comment reinforces the point: “J90/J95 from the 90's spins around 10,000. Good, good, but the specula is murderous.”
Controversy arises when the discussion reaches Alfa Romeo: “Giulia and Stelvio are wrecks where you put another 5-10k in 2 years.”
The replica is not late: “How the hell are they overvalued when they lose 50-60% of their value in 3 years? Only people who have heard that Italians are unreliable say that.”
And the conclusion is sharp: “No-you get an old Alfa or BMW because they are reliable. You get them because they drive cool.”
The Honda Civic also appears on the list of cars with questionable prices: “In 2021 it was 26.5k at the dealer. Now the SH is selling for 20-22k.”
“Right now? Pretty much everything is overrated”
Volkswagen Tiguan: “Any Tiguan, regardless of engine, km or year.”
And, again, Lexus: “Same car as mine, same features but no warranty. Gave 30% more just for the logo.“
The general conclusion of the discussion is grim but honest: “Right now? Pretty much everything is overrated.”
The SH market in Romania seems caught between fear, myths and speculation. “Safe” brands sell dearly regardless of what they offer, and cars that emphasize driving pleasure are penalized at resale. In the end, we no longer pay for the car, but the story around it. And as can be seen from this debate, more and more Romanians are starting to wonder if the story is really worth the money.
The used car market is growing year by year in Romania
The car market in Romania ended 2025 growing. The number of used vehicles purchased by Romanians was double that of new ones. Thus, according to ZF.ro, last year, 156,803 cars were registered in Romania, an advance of almost 4% compared to 2024. The figures are even more categorical regarding second-hand cars. Practically, in the same interval, during the year 2025, Romanians registered 360,103 second-hand imported cars, more than twice as many as new cars.
The second-hand car market in Romania also registered a significant increase compared to 2024, the year in which 328,000 used cars were sold, according to AutoLaTest data. The wall of second-hand cars starts from a few hundred euros and can reach tens of thousands of euros or even more, in the case of luxury models.
According to the specialty site Plus-Auto.ro, cited by Digi24.ro, only 28.53% of the cars registered last year in Romania were new. Thus, 7 out of 10 vehicles bought in Romania were second-hand.
The ratio of more than 2 to 1 between used and new cars reflects, as is known, the limited purchasing power of consumers in Romania and Eastern European countries. In countries like Germany, France and the Scandinavian countries the ratio of new versus used cars is exactly the opposite.
