I've got about 8-10 thousand dollars to spend on a car and I need something reliable for work. I don't care if it's old, but I need it not to break down every couple weeks. What brands or models would you guys recommend that hold up well over the years?
With that budget you can get something decent if you aim for brands that have a reputation for lasting. Toyota and Honda are practically essential in this conversation because people keep buying them used specifically because they don't die. A Corolla or Civic from 10-15 years ago can run perfectly fine if they've had basic maintenance done. Nissan falls into that category too, though I personally have seen their automatic transmissions sometimes be a problem, so if you go with Nissan better look for a manual. Hyundai and Kia from more recent generations also hold up pretty well and sometimes you can get better features for less money in that price range.
What you really have to check before closing any deal is the maintenance history. Ask if it has its services up to date, if the transmission shifts smoothly, what the engine sounds like when it starts. Getting it checked by a trusted mechanic before you buy saves you from headaches later. Cars that people maintain well cost a bit more but it's worth every dollar, because a car that needs work every week ends up being way more expensive than paying a bit more upfront.
Avoid the newest stuff from sketchy brands or models that come out of the factory with problems. With 8-10 thousand dollars you don't need the latest, you need something that works. A 12-15 year old car in good condition is going to give you way more peace of mind than a newer one but with a pile of repairs waiting to happen.
A Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic from 10-15 years ago will fall within your budget and they hold up pretty well; the important thing is that you check the maintenance history thoroughly before buying, make sure it's not something that was just pulled out of an abandoned lot.
Looking for used cars at that price point, what actually works is finding something with high mileage but a clean maintenance history, because that tells you if the previous owner took care of it or beat the hell out of it! What people say about Toyota and Honda is true, but also check out Mazda or even some older Hyundai models that people overlook and you can grab super cheap - those engines really hold up if they haven't been abused. The key thing is to get whatever you find inspected by a mechanic you trust before you sign anything, because that initial savings goes down the drain if you end up buying a problem you didn't see coming.
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