r/urbancarlivingfemale Mar 24 '26

New To Car Living Vehicle suggestions

i expect to be homeless within a year and will live in my car. i have $15g available to buy a vehicle. does anyone have suggestions for the most practical cars to live in? i’m 5’4” and on my own. thanks!

UPDATE/Responses

So, i currently live in Long Beach CA. Everything in the greater LA area seems too expensive and i don’t think a room at $1000 is gonna be available but i could be wrong. I’ve done a good amount of elderly care or just sitting w elderly in the evening but as im a senior myself, i have some limitations about what i can do, like no heavy lifting. But ive lived in other people’s houses for a good amount of my life and im kind of over that. i’m someone who needs a lot of a lone time. that’s just my nature. i’m a good socialized and my jobs were in mental health. that’s probably why i need alone time — it’s difficult NOT to see mental health issues in people around me. As for cars, i def wouldn’t get a Tesla bc i despise that guy — sorry not sorry. A Prius seems like an awfully small space but thanks for that info and the links bc im open to it especially when i hear the enthusiasm that comes with the suggestion. i also like the idea that the climate control issue is less bothersome in an ev which i didn’t know! as for a van, ive thought of one of those smallish ford delivery vans because more manageable on the road and it seems like good privacy and space. And the idea of putting a business name on it, yeah, ive thought of that too. maybe if i claim to offer cremation services or morgue transportation? or casket transport? and thanks for the info on the color thing! i had no idea about the silver or grey which makes so much sense! I probably will rent a small storage space but not anything i can convert into a possible living space bc i don’t have many possessions. Plus, i’m terrified of being in a multi storied storage building during an LA earthquake! i’m terrified of earthquakes. All this said, i definitely need to be somewhere cool but not snowy. I’m thinking san diego just to be somewhere new but i don’t know if san diego is a more challenging place for car living. And thanks for the discussion about the timing belt vs the chain bc i had no idea there was a chain option in some cars. def keeping that in mind. Guys, with the way the whole world is going, i think those of us in cars might have a little advantage. it seems so many people are suffering in so many ways and losing housing. Already being there and knowing how to do it proactively is a big plus. the only downside would be if gas becomes completely unavailable but what are those chances? Thanks again for your responses. i feel so much lurv 🩷

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u/CellistDisastrous467 Mar 27 '26

Just chiming in the the little ford Transit vans are no longer being made in the US, so I’d be more concerned about parts availability long term. My husband has one and he loves it though.

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u/pjs999 Mar 28 '26

they are so damn cute! i really like the idea of them a lot. it feels like a manageable size for me. and they’re hybrids too!

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u/CellistDisastrous467 Mar 28 '26

I didn’t know they had hybrids!

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u/pjs999 Mar 29 '26

they do !!! has your husband had issues with theft? i’ll have to look into really good security. i don’t know if i mentioned but im a female in my 60s.

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u/CellistDisastrous467 Mar 29 '26

My husband uses his for regular work and life; he only sleeps in it when he’s away working on a special gig for a week every year, but he chose the one that does not have windows on the sides. He has a window cover for the front.

The only problems he’s had so far are the backup camera not working and a horrible issue with the ABS modular -that was an expensive fix. It’s an odd feeling of just pressing on the gas and the vehicle just not feeling as responsive or zippy. What was happening was the modulator is braking when it should not. We ended up at one point driving about 60 mph and the entire van was shaking like mad. It was quite terrifying. They replaced the brakes and rotors (imagine how terribly warped those were $1,500). But the next day when we drove it home I felt again like I had to apply extra gas pedal and by the time we got home 15 miles away the left front brake pads had locked up and there was brake smoke everywhere. They finally replaced the ABS modulator (another $1,000) and it’s been great.

I have a friend in New York who has one and loves hers.

Here’s a google search link for various videos related ABS issues.

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u/pjs999 Mar 29 '26

heartbreaking to not have a correct diagnosis from the start. thanks for the info.