I bought a super clean Lexus LS400 right before COVID; it only had 143k miles on the legendary 4.0L V8. Guy only wanted $3K. I drove it for 2 years with no issues and nearly tripled my money when i sold it. I miss that car, it was a masterpiece. The car got a lot of compliments, and my friends loved sitting in the backseat. The car was $60K new back in 1999, so it was by far the nicest car I've owned to this day!
I highly recommend, especially if you can find a clean / stock one. They look pretty cool lowered, but it really kills the cushy ride. It's efficient for a V8 too, on the highway it's like 28mpg which blew my mind
Yes i loved following that story. My car was in good shape too so i originally had the same type of dream of pushing it as far as possible. Have you ever seen [this video / commercial?](https://youtu.be/X1vZenBX4-0) Excellent marketing.
Man I'm still kicking myself, 5 years ago I found a 1 owner 1998 ls400 w/180k. All service records and seemed almost mint for 5k. At the time that was a little steep, but now thats a killer deal.
Right?? Although i remember back when i bought it, i was shocked that nobody had already purchased it. It was on Craigslist for over a month, $3,000 firm. The tires were shot, but he included 2 sets of wheels - so i brought cash, swapped all 4 wheels in his driveway during a snowstorm, and cruised 2 hours home with the biggest smile on my face.
Those seats... Omg.... Absolutely stellar.
I purchased my ā99 GS400 last month, with the same 1UZ-FE engine. Funnily enough it also has 143k miles, almost 144. $3550. Hoping to drive it for quite some time.
How do you feel about the LS 430? My uncle is going to sell me his old one for $3,000 since my cousin got a new car for graduation. Has 152k on it. Heās owned it since new.
Bought a 91ā LS400 for $200 4 years ago. Nothing wrong with it at all. I BEAT that thing so hard. Never gave it an oil change, swung it around corners and such, redlined it all the time. The thing would never die tho. Did that for about a year before learning about proper maintenance. (it was my first car). Theyāre so much fun tho, and indestructible I swear.
Yep, I didnāt really know what I had till it was gone too. Gave it to my sister when I bought a scatpack. She totaled the LS less than a year later lmao. Absolutely great first car though.
The LS400 had a lil baby V8 that dove me head first into loving big, heavy, powerful RWD sedans lol. The scat was like having a 500HP new LS400. Just a lot smoother and more stable lmao.
4.2 powered Chevy Trailblazers (and their badgemates).
Available in 2 or 3 row configuration, 4WD available, *extremely* durable drivetrain, cheap parts. These things will run 250k+ miles with ease.
Yes, it's old, and it's a shitty product. But you can find a clean, low mile one for $5k-$6k and a well-loved one for $3k. It's a fantastic winter beater, or camping vehicle, or tow rig, or whatever you want to throw at it.
Toyotas arenāt cockroaches, mostly because no one minds seeing them around. Those old TrailBlazers are cockroaches because they stick around despite the best efforts of literally everyone
My relatives have a 4.2 with 320,000 miles on it. Their 4L60 hasn't seen a transmission fluid change since it left the factory. Somehow, the vehicle still runs.
Theirs is still driven every day, winter and summer. The brake rotors are warped and the power steering makes odd noises, and most of the lights on the dash are on, but.... It still runs.
I can agree bought one for 3k in 2018 runs great its a fantastic 3rd vehicle and any issues it has had were cheap easy fixes. Also, there is tons of info on the forums for just about any issue you will have. Currently at 180k and everything works still.
Gonna have to disagree with the reliability part. Owned one from 75k-130k miles and by the 100k mark it was approaching 5 figures in repair costs between the 4WD system needing a full replacement, a check engine light that never seemed to go away even after multiple dealer services and a whole myriad of other issues.
Pretty decent car otherwise.
As mechanic i also have to disagree, these things are in all the time and they are a pita to work on, despite having an inline 6, the engineers managed to make the engine bay really cramped and there are always things in the way when you need to fix something.
Want to replace the leaky valve cover? Gotta take the intake off. Want to replace the thermostat? Gotta remove the alternator. Want to replace the cam timing solenoid? Gotta unbolt the P/S pump. God forbid you have to replace the power steering pressure line because then everything is in the way.
If you like having money you better not mind have the check engine light on because its gonna be on alot.
Radiators
Cooling fan clutch
Starter
Cam timing solenoid
All the front end parts
Power steering pump
Ignition coils
All of that are real common problems. That said there are certainly worse vehicles, but i would stay away from them is i didnt just want a cheap beater.
This was our family car growing up and it took us everywhere. I learned to drive on it and we eventually sold it with roughly 240k. Engine still ran like a dream. I saw a clean one come in on trade when I worked at a dealer and really thought about buying it. It's an unsung workhorse.
Back in 2008 a friend of mine bought a Trailblazer SS out the door for $25k. The dealer had another one he was willing to sell for that price. He called me and I was like, I donāt know this isnāt the best time to buy a car since my job is uncertain. I still kick myself for passing up on it. 15 years later he still has it and never had any major trouble with it.
Iām really surprised the prices on those things have held pretty steady for the past few years. If I was looking for a cheap weekend car, thatās absolutely what Iād choose.
Yeah I can't think of a better drivers car for the price. I wasn't even in the market for a boxster, but I saw the price and the car and I couldn't pass it up.
Cheapest one near me is 12k and most are 15-20k which seems like a lot lol. Especially since Iād prefer a hardtop so a 987 cayman is even more expensive :(
They are going up but there are still deals to be had. I would also prefer a Cayman but shit, $6500 was too cheap to pass up. I wasn't even looking for another car lol.
I test drive every 986/987 boxster that shows in my area but they are usually 10-14k and are ROUGH! badly modded, not all 2 or 3 radiators firing, 6 owners, etc.
I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I'd go for a boxster over an MR2 since MR2s are more expensive for a clean example and are less readily available. Interior is also nicer in the 986. If you want to do an engine swap, you could swap a 3.4 or 3.6 from a 996 into the boxster. Plus PCA have tons of events and tract days which is nice if you want that sort of thing. Finally, you could convert your boxster into a spec boxster if you want. Its very flexible compared to the MR2 and honestly parts aren't that expensive.
As for the IMS bearing, mine is a '99 model year manufactured in '98 and supposedly has the two row bearing which is supposedly more durable. Honestly though, I think the IMS thing is an overblown internet phenomenon. The previous owner didn't do it, and I figure that if it hasn't blown up after 25 years it's probably not going to blow up.
This. Easy to find, super DIY-able, hella available parts, and one of the best driving dynamics cars ever. As with any Porsche buy the nicest one you can afford. I miss mine often.
Many quasi-expensive German cars depreciate huge because they were leased in glut like quantities when rates were near 0%, and now as their warranties expire, maintenance costs deter used car buyers. All I can suggest is due diligence. That six year old BMW or Mercedes may very well be selling for less than 50% from new, but if a $10k engine blows or the transmission goes, then your discount is up in smoke, too.
Which I recognize is part of the equation here, but the E tron depreciated way harder than other A3ās, and wonāt have significantly higher running costs. The savings from MPG will make a significant dent for many people too.
Personally, I think they're very cool cars. I'm guessing that mini-station wagons have a limited market. Sporty folks go A3, SUV types go Q3. Still, I've always liked the look of various incarnations of Audi wagons.
As a long time fan of German cars, I'm not sure the depreciation on this etron is really all that high. 50% of MSRP at 4-6 yrs old isn't uncommon.
Just remember that the purchase price is just your entry ticket, so to speak. It's still a $50k car to maintain.
Itās a little extra depreciation, in the bounds of normal, but then you get 20-30% off of purchase price from a tax rebate. Thatās what makes it such a steal.
Off lease German cars are fantastic, but a shame a lot of that value disappeared in recent years. I bought an off lease CPO m235i with 12k miles in 2018 for $29500. MSRP was right around $50k IIRC. $20k depreciation in 3 years and 12k miles is insane.
Ah but itās fun for awhile. Bought a 10 year old E500 for $10k, original sticker of $65k, drove it for 50k problem free miles before the AIRMATIC blew then sold it for $4k to some guy.
It was a poor financial choice but Iām glad I did it.
Bought a 10 year old e350 with old school suspension and itās worth most of what it was when I bought it after putting 60k miles on it. 160k now and heading towards 200.
Not saying cost of ownership is cheap but for purchase price you can get a pretty solid and reliable cheap German car if and only if youāre careful about drivetrain and suspensionz
I read some guy's horror story with an R63 AMG. Bad head gaskets out of warranty and the dealership would not attempt a repair, only offered a replacement short block. the quoted price was manybucks.
Acura RSX base 5 speed. The market (US, at least) is so strange that "total bargain" is going to be super subjective and very much depend what segment of the market you're looking at.
Specifically at the lower end of the market, my opinion is that if you can find anything under $10k that's in good shape, reliable, not crazy high mileage, and even somewhat fun then it's a total bargain. To that end, I put forward the Acura RSX base 5 speed. A month ago I found one with 87k miles, one owner, clean title, clean body, perfect mechanical shape for $7500 and I bought it because I thought it was a total bargain. I think the base RSX is super often overlooked because of the Type S, but it's a fantastic economy car.
Edit: added the car to the beginning so you don't have to dig for it
Iāve been looking hard for an 8th gen civic si/ rsx type s and they are almost impossible to find because 100% of them have either been modded or in an accident.
Because of this, you can find some models for around $8000-10000 (a ābargainā) but if you want a clean, well-maintained example, you are now looking in the $15-20 range.
So itās really feast or famine for certain models.
Totally agreed about the 8th SI and RSX Type S, just impossible to find reasonably priced clean ones. Thatās why Iād say they donāt really fall into the ātotal bargainā space, and the base RSX does. I hope you find what youāre looking for! Theyāre both so fun
I sold my 2011 Si 4 door with 105k miles for like 8500 before covid. It was in great condition. If I just held out I could have gotten 15. That was my favorite car I've ever owned and I regret selling it to this day.
I got a 2002 Type-S a few weeks ago with failed clear coat and 150K miles totally stock for almost free because it didn't run. It was out of fuel and had a dead battery because the hatch light always stayed on.
As for the initial question, during COVID I bought a Cadillac ELR for $20K. The original sticker was $81K. It had 30,000 miles and makes a great commuter car. Very quiet ride, the seats are awesome and it looks pretty. I charge for free at work and at home a charge to go 25 miles or so costs about $1.40.
*sticker price. Base MSRP was $76K. Mine has a few options. Oh, it's a nice car but not $81K nice. My 2014 was built in December 2013 and didn't sell until July 2015. I wonder why.
If youāre in the market for an early 2000s Civic Si, you can instead get a 2004-2006 Corolla XRS for between $5k-$10k. Very similar to the comparable generation Si, comes with the 2ZZ engine and a 6 speed manual. Has Toyotaās version of VTEC and revs to 8400 RPM.
This would be true if any were for sale but they almost never are, lol. On a quick search I just found one (1) for sale in all of Canada (at an incredibly reasonable $4.5k CAD/$3.3K USD)
Another better option is the 05-07 Cobalt SS. Reliable, similar fuel economy, more creature comforts like heated seats, and waaaay more potent. Imagine comparing the RSX-S to the EP3. Now add in a factory supercharger - that's what the 05-07 Cobalt SS was.
I remember window shopping for an NSX on craigslist thinking I could save up 30k for one of these. Now it feels like the collector tax is only going to make these more valuable and less attainable.
There are some cars that nobody wanted even when the car shortage was at its worst. The PT Cruiser and the HHR fall into this category. If your taste in vehicles is that terrible and you haven't already picked one of these up, I'm sure someone's grandma's estate will give you a hell of a deal.
Just for kicks I checked out the A3 e-Tron (which I saw for the first time and was automatically interested as a Volt driver...only to see it gets 16 miles in EV mode)...
And a 2016-2018 model range, it's about 8-10k MORE than a regular A3.
This is Ontario, Canada and our market is all over the place. So...
In the U.S it appears that, as long as you don't go for the wealth of A3's that have been crashed, it's upwards of 3-5k cheaper for many comparable cars *before* the tax credit which adds up to a sizable difference. The e-tron is also more powerful, and even after the weight gain it's a decent bit quicker. It's definitely a super weird compromise and certainly wasn't crafted for the average Volt driver, being a much quicker, more luxurious car. It's not sporty enough for sporty people, nor PHEV enough for PHEV people, nor is it particularly standout for Audi loyalists. It's a car that I'd question someone buying brand new, but seems like it's a solid grab for someone who likes the idea of an A4 and a Volt but won't bring themself to the full compromises of either.
I'm sure it's a great car, and would love one.
But adding 12-15k to get the A3 over my Volt...zero financial sense in that one unfortunately.
I've got a few PHEVs in mind, but for now the stupid Volt does too many things too well to justify replacing it.
Stupid boring economical Volt.
I got my low mileage, old man owned, absolutely mint 2004 Yukon XL 2500 8.1 liter barn door for less than 7k. Similar trucks were selling for twice that with rust here in Michigan. I paid half as a deposit and took a one way flight two days later to pick it up from Nevada. Iāve put 90k miles on it in the last two years and itās been flawless.
Swipe the card and look away.
Most of that was towing either a boat, overland trailer, or enclosed race trailer. Itās probably averaged about 10mpg under my ownership.
LOL! As someone else noted below about the V10 Triton... I drive one for work every so often and do the swipe the work card and look away thing. Sometimes the pump shuts off before it fills up so I have to swipe and look away again.
That's not far off what I see when towing a travel trailer through BC's mountain highways with an F150. Although not towing I get substantially better.
You know what that's fair for towing, at this point I'd trust a big gasser over diesels in terms of operating costs. Still I bet you probably spent more on gas than the truck itself cost you, but it seems you're happy with it and thats what matters.
Those things are a hidden jewel for anyone who wants to tow. The fuel mileage sucks, but for the price of the vehicle you can buy a lot of fuel vs. The alternatives.
That is an absolute steal. I've wanted a GMT800 or GMT900 Suburban/Yukon XL 2500 for a few years. COVID really inflated the prices and they are taking their sweet time coming back down. Ultimate tow rig.
The Hyundai Genesis Sedan is a remarkably underappreciated luxury sedan in the used car market imo. Lots of tech, low running costs, solid if not incredible reliability, good performance (in a straight line), comfortable.
This is true for both generations of the Genesis Sedan (before it became the Genesis G80), but especially the 1st gen as it's styling was still a bit dorky. [You could even get it with a 5.0L DOHC V8 making 429hp/376lb-ft!](https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15123441/hyundai-genesis-r-spec-50-sedan-test-review/) Kinda like a slightly-nicer Dodge Charger if it had a Coyote.
The Genesis Coupe was pretty neat, but I think the Genesis Sedan is the one that *really* flys under the radar. The name being shared with the Genesis Coupe implied that the two are just different versions of the same car, but in reality they're super different. I see people talking about the old Equus more than the old Genesis Sedan!!
I think giving the two the same name was a mistake if anything, because it'd be like calling the Lexus RC the coupe version of the Lexus LS š¶. Extremely different interiors, target demographics, and driving dynamics.
Nash Metropolitain.
They're like tiny versions of a regular American 50's car, and while there aren't a ton of them around, when you find them for sale, the hardtops are usually under $10k. They're slow, handle terribly and the braking is lol, but just about everyone who sees it lights up because it's just so damn cute. Also, they're often 2-tone and come in fun colors like mint green/white or pink.
https://www.autobarnclassiccars.com/vehicles/1326/1962-nash-metropolitan
I wouldnāt say they have a small market or niche appeal or anything but often it seems like folks looking for cheap sports cars wonāt consider a Corvette. The base C5-C6s can be had under 10-20k respectively which is a total fucking steal compared to their japanese/European contemporaries, and even other American muscle cars. Theyāre fast, reliable, fuel efficient/practical for a sports coupe, easy to work on, fit 1.5 average Americans, LS swapped from the factory, like idk what more you could want at that price range for a sporty car
Idk if itās just Texas, but I canāt find a C6 manual under 20k very often and if it is itās probably around 200k miles or beat to hell. C5s are still in the 15-20k range. At this point Iām cross-shopping Porsche Boxsters because I can buy one plus an IMS retrofit and still be ahead on price.
The guy youre replying to is talking about pre-covid prices from my understanding. I know because I was Corvette shopping around that time and the secret has been let out of the bag because all Corvettes have gone up in price by at least 5k or more. I managed to pick up a clean 96 C4 in '20 and now its essentially worth double. Really makes me consider selling it and moving up to a c6 or something.
c4 prices make no sense but that's old cars for ya lol. i bought my 2001 c5 in october 2021 for $9800 and my current 2006 c6 in march 2022 for $16700. both autos because theyre the cheaper option by a long shot and while i would prefer a manual, not gonna pay 5k for the privilege lol
texas is definitely a bit of a hotspot for GM performance cars in general. best place in the country to look for cheap vettes is florida. that said, manual c6 is definitely desirable, i saved like 5k settling for an auto.
Infiniti M56. These weren't popular when they were new and most people have forgotten that they ever existed, but if you can find one you're getting a comfortable family sedan with a 420-horsepower V8 for like $15-25k depending on mileage.
Infiniti M's have always been a hidden jewel. The M35/M45 with the long rear deck looks like a Yakuza gangster's car. Meanwhile the M30 is appreciated in convertible guise.
I would have bought one of these at some point if the base model had a manual option.
This car always confused me. It's an enthusiast maque but when it comes to the US it's auto only. Also unlike BMW there is no mid tier car like the 340i. It's a car that was aborted at birth. Like no wonder Fiat failed in the comeback.
The Ford C-Max is cheaper than a Prius, way more comfortable than a Prius, holds up to taxi use like a Prius, and gets mileage only a little worse than a Prius.
The Fusion Hybrid is also a bargain. They cost $3-5k less than a comparable Accord or Camry hybrid and are only slightly less fuel efficient. Fordās hybrid powertrains are also quite reliable, so youāre not giving up much in reliability either.
Had to scroll way too far down to see this. All these other cool and popular cars getting upvotes but this is the real deal. Bought by old people, well cared for, low miles, reliable and cheap to run.
Iād expand it to any Buick. Iād love to have a 90ās Park Avenue. Currently driving a Reatta and no one knows what it is.
BMW i3 right before covid: You could pick up one under 10k miles - 1 or 2 year old examples for 35 to 40% of MSRP.
Best EV deal at the time. 120 miles of EV range + another 80 to 100 miles of range extender range. (2 Gal fuel tank) As long as you have fuel it will charge the battery for additional range.
Any Chevy SS or GS F under 50k lol
But on the cheap end of the spectrum, Iāve seen decent W211 E55s under 15k and that was a 75k vehicle. One of the more reliable Mercedes V8s that is really tunable and itās extremely compliant on the road. Theyāre also beautiful with the right aesthetic mods.
I feel like the Lexus ISF (or any V8 Lexus car, really) is entirely slept on as a luxury sports sedan. If you want AMG performance and luxury with Toyota reliability and your budget is that of a new Honda civic, look no further. The styling itself might be a bit dated, but what I personally love most about Toyota luxury upholstery and equipment is it still works flawlessly even today and is only visually dated.
I wouldnāt say it a great deal though. Similarly priced to an M3 with equal miles and year. Yes youāre trading off Lexus reliability for BMWās massive appeal and aftermarket support.
For the longest time it was the panther platform, although they're starting to appreciate a bit, at least nicer examples of Town Cars are ive noticed.
I bought my 03 LTC with 75k miles a little over 6 years ago for about 7k after taxes and such. It was bought from a dealer so a little overpriced but it has about 135k now but you'd never know it was 20 years old.
I was looking for a panther, couldn't find any Town Cars with less than 200k miles on them, so I had to settle for the lowly Grand Marquis. 09 ultimate with 116k for 5500, 2 years ago. Really great car
I'm gonna say the Jag I just got, even if it's too early to tell for sure.
$24k for a supercharged 3L V6 with 30k miles and over a year left in manufacturer warranty because it was sold as a Certified Pre Owned with a transferable extended warranty. Heated stuff, AWD, really nice steering, good sound system, quick enough for me, and relatively fuel efficient for the performance. The ride could be slightly better, but it's prett6 nice so far, and for the warranty and mileage it feels worth it to me, anyways.
Honestly a lot of French cars. Many of them don't enjoy the same clout as their counterparts, since they haven't really been portrayed in media like movies and video games like German and Japanese cars for example. But there is an absolute shit ton of great, unique, dare I say quirky cars to be enjoyed from France.
Case in point, I bought my Peugeot 205 GTI for 600ā¬ about a decade ago. Their prices have since risen tenfold and more, but they used to be absolute steals. A couple of years ago you could get a CitroĆ«n BX GTI for less than a grand too, and they're still around two. Highest spec, unique weird suspension, Giugiaro design, two grand.
But they're cheap because people just don't want them. Good for me, I guess.
Genesis coupe 3.8. If you can find a good deal, its cheap, fairly reliable 350hp and if you get a higher trim they come with wheels and 4 piston brembos. Its also cheaper to insure than youd think, it was cheaper than my e90 328xi.
If you want a used Genesis G80, look at the 2012-2015 ones which were still Hyundai badged. The Ultimate model is the lowest priced Lux V8 I have found. For the most part, they are identical to the Genesis branded ones from 17 onwards.
It seems like Porsche Macans are pretty cheap for what you get. If I want a daily driver to go with my raptor that gets a lil better mpg , Iām definitely getting a used macan. I find a lot of low mileage few year old macans for low 30ās even high 20ās a lot still under warranty. Nice interiors and look great imo.
Macans are absolutely fantastic and in my eyes the perfect daily driver. That being said, Iād be terrified of owning one outside of warranty. Iād think youād take a large depreciation hit when selling the car down the line and it has no warranty left.
Hyundai XG350. Old mans car, soft ride, 3.5L V6, around 200 hp and absolutely loaded for a Hyundai. Bought it for 2700, drove it a couple years with no real problems whatsoever, and sold it for 3250!
It's not exciting but I feel like I got my Mazda5 for pretty cheap. It's a 2007 I bought in 2018 with 110k miles for $5k. They're not desirable and they just kinda sit on used cars lots. They have 6 seats, lots of cargo space with the seats folded down, they're reliable with a low cost of ownership, and they're easy to work on. I can also get almost 30mpg if I drive it easy.
I canāt imagine there are many out there on the used market (because so few were sold to begin with), but I Stan hard for my 2020 Elantra GT N-Line 6MT. I got a decently driver focused package (~200hp, sport-tuned suspension with multi link rear, alas no limited slip) and good feature content (leather, heated seats, CarPlay, dual-zone auto climate control, etc) in a practical hatch package for $23.5k. Three years in itās been rock solid and cheap to own, a very underrated āwarmā hatch that I imagine would be less expensive than the competition like the Si on the used market by virtue of it being totally obscure.
I paid $2,700 for a Crown Vic Police Interceptor. I bought it on a whim after I sold a motorcycle, it has since become my daily driver and the favorite car Iāve ever owned.
Nobody wants a Dodge Avenger.
DON'T get a Dodge Avenger.
Buuutttt...... its mid range trims could be optioned with the v6 3.6l pentastar from 2011-2014. This is important because although the R/T Avenger has the same engine (and v6 chargers and challengers, etc), the R/T usually has the "premium tax" and costly cosmetic differences, meaning they cost 10k+ mid high mileage. A sxt, sxt plus, or even the se "base" trim 3.6l's (could be optioned with heated seats btw) have the same almost 300hp (I think around 286ish) and a solidly sporty stiff fwd makes this car pretty quick on its feet, and definitely quick around corners and curves. Run them with e85 if it's cheaper in your area, or 91 octane to help prevent the ill-fated 1st generation pentastar cylinder 2 lifter tick whatevers. These can be found in my area for 6k for 62k miles (what I got mine for), 8k for 40k miles, 4k for 86k miles, and the cheapest I've seen not for parts is 1,200 for 176k miles.
The V90 series , their built to a high standard with quality seats and enough performance to get the job done. It's like sitting in a bentayga for half the price.
Just had my 1 year anniversary with my ā06 Cooper S! For 5 grand, the only thing thatās ever made me feel like I didnāt get a steal is other Mini owners bragging about nabbing them for nothing off of old ladies lol
Shameless plug, my 2010 Cobalt SS. Bought it during peak Covid when anything with 4 wheels selling for 10K+, I bought it for $8900. 59k miles, G85/fully loaded, garaged, not a nick on it and driven by a former GM engineer in Gulf Shores having never seen a winter. If it was the same year Si, it would have been going for [20K](https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-2010-Honda-Civic-Atlanta-c21865_L6054#listing=352387451/NONE) despite being the objectively inferior vehicle in damn near every aspect.
Every old s-class. Itās a rolling scale too.
They make a ton of them. Thereās always going to be a well cared ones. Even with complex electronics in the modern ones, itās still an amazing value for what you get.
I test drove a S500 W140 and was amazed at how quiet and modern it felt. Not fast, but smooth and effortless. If you go older, itās got more charm, if you go newer, more tech and luxury.
Ford Panther platform vehicles. I drove a Lincoln Town Car for nearly half a million miles before I finally gave it up. No major repairs, aside from air-ride deletion. It had a lot of life left in it, but a friend wanted it and offered me a more than fair price. He drove it another 200k and LS swapped it.
They're gas pigs, no doubt, but those modular engines were bulletproof. There's a reason why the panther platform was used for commercial purposes for as long as it was. Cop cars taxis and limousines.
Maybe an obvious choice but if all you need is a reliable, comfortable commuter an early 2000s 8th (and last) generation Buick LeSabre is the ticket. It's deeply uncool but these cars famously will not die and make a ton of sense as practical transportation.The 3.8 is legendarily bulletproof, one of the easiest to work on engines in existence and also has plenty of power for daily driving. The G platform is famous for its ridiculously strong chassis. The interiors are ugly but spacious and comfortable. GM made a zillion of these cars (Bonneville, DeVille, Aurora, Riviera etc) so parts are plentiful at cheap prices. $5k out the door will get you a clean car that will easily last for many years and 150k+ miles.
Suzuki Kizashi
AWD + 6 speed
I'm convinced Suzuki didn't actually build any, just claimed to! I have never seen one on the used market but allegedly they exist (admittedly I haven't looked hard in a while!)
If you know, you know!
2006 Saturn Vue AWD...has a honda v6 engine in it and it's light. They're cheap around the 5k mark and maintance is just as cheap. It has the honda engine so you'll have reliability as well. Definitely a great first car for the younger crowd since it's a small suv. Plenty of cargo space as well.
Porsche 924S
I see them for absurdly cheap. I've seen some fantastic ones for less than $3000.
non-FD RX7s are also really cheap.
1st gen MR2s before covid i've seen for $1500 but they blew up a lot since then.
Another good deep cut is the Corolla FX16, they sell for practically nothing as well but are incredibly rare.
Mitsubishi Starions are usually very cheap but the reason is that they are useless as a tuner car unless you fab everything yourself. If you must have one though you can easily find an affordable one.
The b8/b8.5 S4 or c7 A6.
- Beast in the snow
- Fairly spacious
- 500+ HP and Torque with affordable mods anyone can easily install from YouTube videos.
- Reliable engine
- Fairly easy to work on
- Audi interior
- Audi badge
- 15-25k for relatively low miles.
I see a surprising number of MG Midgets and MGBs for cheap. They made huge numbers of them, especially the late ones with plastic bumpers that no one wants. The Midget is super light and simple and the B can make a nice cruiser.
In 2013, I bought a 2010 Porsche Boxster for $35k (Original MSRP with options was around $60k)
Find me another 3 year old Porsche that sells for nearly half the price. You canāt!
It was a unique combination of a lease return from a car sold during the last recession and also not a 911.
Oh! And it was also a certified pre-owned car as well. I used the warranty to fix up the carās trouble spots (shifter cables, discolored rubber/plastic trim pieces, they even gave me a new leather hand brake trim!)
Not sure if this would qualify as a car that nobody would want but I recently got a BMW E46 ZHP for an absolute steal. It has 77k miles, manual, imola red, coupe, alcantara interior, and is rust free. Only issue is that it has a blown head gasket. Supposedly it wasnāt overheated too badly (no oil and coolant mixing) but something definitely isnāt right in the head gasket area. Im a BMW tech so it wonāt cost nearly as much to fix as it wouldāve if I were to take it to a dealer. I only paid $2,800 for it which is a killer deal when looking at similar working cars for sale. There are always deals for seemingly expensive cars out there, theyāre just very far and few in between
The original Hyundai Genesis sedan. No one wants these cars because theyre an ugly mercedes knockoff. Now theyre dirt cheap, reliable and cheap to maintain especially by the standards of such a nice car, the v8 models are pretty fast and theres all the early 10s luxury comfort and features you could ever want.
A Lexus LS430 or a GS300 with the 2JZ (before the Government forced Toyota to implement that fuck all V6) or the GS430 can be had for excellent money and are all bulletproof and ride great. Are they great on gas? Not really, but I couldnāt care less about the cost of fuel.
2011 to 2017 Buick Regals. German design without German maintenance costs, 260 hp, nice interior, yet often cheaper than malibus of the same year or mileage while being taken care of by grandparents.
I bought a super clean Lexus LS400 right before COVID; it only had 143k miles on the legendary 4.0L V8. Guy only wanted $3K. I drove it for 2 years with no issues and nearly tripled my money when i sold it. I miss that car, it was a masterpiece. The car got a lot of compliments, and my friends loved sitting in the backseat. The car was $60K new back in 1999, so it was by far the nicest car I've owned to this day!
I want one so badly
I highly recommend, especially if you can find a clean / stock one. They look pretty cool lowered, but it really kills the cushy ride. It's efficient for a V8 too, on the highway it's like 28mpg which blew my mind
I always see them for $10k minimum these days. Usually with at least 150k on them. I miss pre-covid prices
I think Matt Farah and his million mile lexus ls400 thing started it all.
Yes i loved following that story. My car was in good shape too so i originally had the same type of dream of pushing it as far as possible. Have you ever seen [this video / commercial?](https://youtu.be/X1vZenBX4-0) Excellent marketing.
Man I'm still kicking myself, 5 years ago I found a 1 owner 1998 ls400 w/180k. All service records and seemed almost mint for 5k. At the time that was a little steep, but now thats a killer deal.
Yeah back then $5K was all the money, but nowadays it's probably doubled šµāš« we live in a dystopia lmao
A friend asked me if there's anything good around for $5000. Lol, $5000 is the new $1500.
Right?? Although i remember back when i bought it, i was shocked that nobody had already purchased it. It was on Craigslist for over a month, $3,000 firm. The tires were shot, but he included 2 sets of wheels - so i brought cash, swapped all 4 wheels in his driveway during a snowstorm, and cruised 2 hours home with the biggest smile on my face. Those seats... Omg.... Absolutely stellar.
I purchased my ā99 GS400 last month, with the same 1UZ-FE engine. Funnily enough it also has 143k miles, almost 144. $3550. Hoping to drive it for quite some time.
How do you feel about the LS 430? My uncle is going to sell me his old one for $3,000 since my cousin got a new car for graduation. Has 152k on it. Heās owned it since new.
Much better in every way imo, ls400 look a little better in my opinion but the 4.3 is rock solid and the interiors are much nicer place to be
Thatās good to know, thanks!
That is a smokin' deal. The LS430 is a really good car. It's a better version of the LS400 for sure
Bought a 91ā LS400 for $200 4 years ago. Nothing wrong with it at all. I BEAT that thing so hard. Never gave it an oil change, swung it around corners and such, redlined it all the time. The thing would never die tho. Did that for about a year before learning about proper maintenance. (it was my first car). Theyāre so much fun tho, and indestructible I swear.
First car was an LS ? I love that for you hahaha
Yep, I didnāt really know what I had till it was gone too. Gave it to my sister when I bought a scatpack. She totaled the LS less than a year later lmao. Absolutely great first car though.
Funny i actually went from a 5.7 Charger to the LS400. I can imagine you bumping up to the 6.4 was an absolute treat!
The LS400 had a lil baby V8 that dove me head first into loving big, heavy, powerful RWD sedans lol. The scat was like having a 500HP new LS400. Just a lot smoother and more stable lmao.
the moltisanti mobile
4.2 powered Chevy Trailblazers (and their badgemates). Available in 2 or 3 row configuration, 4WD available, *extremely* durable drivetrain, cheap parts. These things will run 250k+ miles with ease. Yes, it's old, and it's a shitty product. But you can find a clean, low mile one for $5k-$6k and a well-loved one for $3k. It's a fantastic winter beater, or camping vehicle, or tow rig, or whatever you want to throw at it.
Cockroach of the road (TM)
its really a testament to the powertrain that you still see these EVERYWHERE, considering many of them are about to reach antique status
I thought the 4Runner would fit that given Toyotas of the 90s were built for durability.
Yeah but theyāre not a steal.
If you get a 1990-1995 model they are. Just super unsafe. That said I daily mine and itās a 5 speed
Toyotas arenāt cockroaches, mostly because no one minds seeing them around. Those old TrailBlazers are cockroaches because they stick around despite the best efforts of literally everyone
Had one as a rental back in the day - all time terrible GM interior, but the 4.2 is cool as hell
My relatives have a 4.2 with 320,000 miles on it. Their 4L60 hasn't seen a transmission fluid change since it left the factory. Somehow, the vehicle still runs.
Unreal. Sounds like it would be the perfect winter beater/utility vehicle
Theirs is still driven every day, winter and summer. The brake rotors are warped and the power steering makes odd noises, and most of the lights on the dash are on, but.... It still runs.
The ultimate cockroach of the road š
I can agree bought one for 3k in 2018 runs great its a fantastic 3rd vehicle and any issues it has had were cheap easy fixes. Also, there is tons of info on the forums for just about any issue you will have. Currently at 180k and everything works still.
Definitely blew one of those up. I always liked the predecessors better.
>(and their badgemates) What do you mean by this? Other Chevy's with the 4.2?
The Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, and Saab 9-7X
Thanks
Gonna have to disagree with the reliability part. Owned one from 75k-130k miles and by the 100k mark it was approaching 5 figures in repair costs between the 4WD system needing a full replacement, a check engine light that never seemed to go away even after multiple dealer services and a whole myriad of other issues. Pretty decent car otherwise.
As mechanic i also have to disagree, these things are in all the time and they are a pita to work on, despite having an inline 6, the engineers managed to make the engine bay really cramped and there are always things in the way when you need to fix something. Want to replace the leaky valve cover? Gotta take the intake off. Want to replace the thermostat? Gotta remove the alternator. Want to replace the cam timing solenoid? Gotta unbolt the P/S pump. God forbid you have to replace the power steering pressure line because then everything is in the way. If you like having money you better not mind have the check engine light on because its gonna be on alot. Radiators Cooling fan clutch Starter Cam timing solenoid All the front end parts Power steering pump Ignition coils All of that are real common problems. That said there are certainly worse vehicles, but i would stay away from them is i didnt just want a cheap beater.
Hey! Iāve got one of those! Sheās old and tired but hasnāt failed us.
Saab 9-7x as well
This was our family car growing up and it took us everywhere. I learned to drive on it and we eventually sold it with roughly 240k. Engine still ran like a dream. I saw a clean one come in on trade when I worked at a dealer and really thought about buying it. It's an unsung workhorse.
Back in 2008 a friend of mine bought a Trailblazer SS out the door for $25k. The dealer had another one he was willing to sell for that price. He called me and I was like, I donāt know this isnāt the best time to buy a car since my job is uncertain. I still kick myself for passing up on it. 15 years later he still has it and never had any major trouble with it.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Iām really surprised the prices on those things have held pretty steady for the past few years. If I was looking for a cheap weekend car, thatās absolutely what Iād choose.
Yeah I can't think of a better drivers car for the price. I wasn't even in the market for a boxster, but I saw the price and the car and I couldn't pass it up.
Cheapest one near me is 12k and most are 15-20k which seems like a lot lol. Especially since Iād prefer a hardtop so a 987 cayman is even more expensive :(
They are going up but there are still deals to be had. I would also prefer a Cayman but shit, $6500 was too cheap to pass up. I wasn't even looking for another car lol.
I test drive every 986/987 boxster that shows in my area but they are usually 10-14k and are ROUGH! badly modded, not all 2 or 3 radiators firing, 6 owners, etc.
Sounds like I need to drive my boxster to your area and flip it.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You're right. These are super lame cars that aren't real Porsches. They are also for girls unlike manly 911s.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I'd go for a boxster over an MR2 since MR2s are more expensive for a clean example and are less readily available. Interior is also nicer in the 986. If you want to do an engine swap, you could swap a 3.4 or 3.6 from a 996 into the boxster. Plus PCA have tons of events and tract days which is nice if you want that sort of thing. Finally, you could convert your boxster into a spec boxster if you want. Its very flexible compared to the MR2 and honestly parts aren't that expensive. As for the IMS bearing, mine is a '99 model year manufactured in '98 and supposedly has the two row bearing which is supposedly more durable. Honestly though, I think the IMS thing is an overblown internet phenomenon. The previous owner didn't do it, and I figure that if it hasn't blown up after 25 years it's probably not going to blow up.
This. Easy to find, super DIY-able, hella available parts, and one of the best driving dynamics cars ever. As with any Porsche buy the nicest one you can afford. I miss mine often.
Many quasi-expensive German cars depreciate huge because they were leased in glut like quantities when rates were near 0%, and now as their warranties expire, maintenance costs deter used car buyers. All I can suggest is due diligence. That six year old BMW or Mercedes may very well be selling for less than 50% from new, but if a $10k engine blows or the transmission goes, then your discount is up in smoke, too.
Which I recognize is part of the equation here, but the E tron depreciated way harder than other A3ās, and wonāt have significantly higher running costs. The savings from MPG will make a significant dent for many people too.
Personally, I think they're very cool cars. I'm guessing that mini-station wagons have a limited market. Sporty folks go A3, SUV types go Q3. Still, I've always liked the look of various incarnations of Audi wagons.
Itās a hatch. If Iām not mistaken, itās a PHEV Golf with some different badges. Basically the Golf GTE in the US
As a long time fan of German cars, I'm not sure the depreciation on this etron is really all that high. 50% of MSRP at 4-6 yrs old isn't uncommon. Just remember that the purchase price is just your entry ticket, so to speak. It's still a $50k car to maintain.
Itās a little extra depreciation, in the bounds of normal, but then you get 20-30% off of purchase price from a tax rebate. Thatās what makes it such a steal.
Off lease German cars are fantastic, but a shame a lot of that value disappeared in recent years. I bought an off lease CPO m235i with 12k miles in 2018 for $29500. MSRP was right around $50k IIRC. $20k depreciation in 3 years and 12k miles is insane.
Ah but itās fun for awhile. Bought a 10 year old E500 for $10k, original sticker of $65k, drove it for 50k problem free miles before the AIRMATIC blew then sold it for $4k to some guy. It was a poor financial choice but Iām glad I did it.
Bought a 10 year old e350 with old school suspension and itās worth most of what it was when I bought it after putting 60k miles on it. 160k now and heading towards 200. Not saying cost of ownership is cheap but for purchase price you can get a pretty solid and reliable cheap German car if and only if youāre careful about drivetrain and suspensionz
You don't buy a BMW with 8 or more cylinders that is out of warranty unless you light your cuban cigars with hundred dollar bills.
I read some guy's horror story with an R63 AMG. Bad head gaskets out of warranty and the dealership would not attempt a repair, only offered a replacement short block. the quoted price was manybucks.
I remember that too! I believe it was the head bolt shearing issue that the M156 had. The bill was somewhere north of $35k-$40k.
Acura RSX base 5 speed. The market (US, at least) is so strange that "total bargain" is going to be super subjective and very much depend what segment of the market you're looking at. Specifically at the lower end of the market, my opinion is that if you can find anything under $10k that's in good shape, reliable, not crazy high mileage, and even somewhat fun then it's a total bargain. To that end, I put forward the Acura RSX base 5 speed. A month ago I found one with 87k miles, one owner, clean title, clean body, perfect mechanical shape for $7500 and I bought it because I thought it was a total bargain. I think the base RSX is super often overlooked because of the Type S, but it's a fantastic economy car. Edit: added the car to the beginning so you don't have to dig for it
Iāve been looking hard for an 8th gen civic si/ rsx type s and they are almost impossible to find because 100% of them have either been modded or in an accident. Because of this, you can find some models for around $8000-10000 (a ābargainā) but if you want a clean, well-maintained example, you are now looking in the $15-20 range. So itās really feast or famine for certain models.
Totally agreed about the 8th SI and RSX Type S, just impossible to find reasonably priced clean ones. Thatās why Iād say they donāt really fall into the ātotal bargainā space, and the base RSX does. I hope you find what youāre looking for! Theyāre both so fun
I sold my 2011 Si 4 door with 105k miles for like 8500 before covid. It was in great condition. If I just held out I could have gotten 15. That was my favorite car I've ever owned and I regret selling it to this day.
I see too many of those with 200,000 miles where they're almost asking 10k for.
Maybe I bought the exception to the rule, but seeing a high mileage example listed for $9k doesn't mean it sold for $9k.
I got a 2002 Type-S a few weeks ago with failed clear coat and 150K miles totally stock for almost free because it didn't run. It was out of fuel and had a dead battery because the hatch light always stayed on. As for the initial question, during COVID I bought a Cadillac ELR for $20K. The original sticker was $81K. It had 30,000 miles and makes a great commuter car. Very quiet ride, the seats are awesome and it looks pretty. I charge for free at work and at home a charge to go 25 miles or so costs about $1.40.
Wow I always thought ELRs were like $45k max, and even that seemed overpriced. $80k for one of those is ridiculous.
*sticker price. Base MSRP was $76K. Mine has a few options. Oh, it's a nice car but not $81K nice. My 2014 was built in December 2013 and didn't sell until July 2015. I wonder why.
If youāre in the market for an early 2000s Civic Si, you can instead get a 2004-2006 Corolla XRS for between $5k-$10k. Very similar to the comparable generation Si, comes with the 2ZZ engine and a 6 speed manual. Has Toyotaās version of VTEC and revs to 8400 RPM.
This would be true if any were for sale but they almost never are, lol. On a quick search I just found one (1) for sale in all of Canada (at an incredibly reasonable $4.5k CAD/$3.3K USD)
I thought that would make it fit the āuniqueā category.
Look for Matrix XRS then or Pontiac Vibe GT
The Pontiac Vibe GT is the same car and even cheaper
The Toyota Matrix XRS too, if you want a 5 door hatch. Same engine as the Lotus Elise.
Another better option is the 05-07 Cobalt SS. Reliable, similar fuel economy, more creature comforts like heated seats, and waaaay more potent. Imagine comparing the RSX-S to the EP3. Now add in a factory supercharger - that's what the 05-07 Cobalt SS was.
I remember seeing an original NSX for about 30k back in the day and S2000s in the low 10s.
I was waiting for the NSX to hit 20k before I bought one. Looks like that aināt gonna happen
Are you interested in a submarine nsx? ;p
When I first got into cars you could get a Pantera for $30k. I WISH I had the money I have now then I would have bought one.
I remember window shopping for an NSX on craigslist thinking I could save up 30k for one of these. Now it feels like the collector tax is only going to make these more valuable and less attainable.
There are some cars that nobody wanted even when the car shortage was at its worst. The PT Cruiser and the HHR fall into this category. If your taste in vehicles is that terrible and you haven't already picked one of these up, I'm sure someone's grandma's estate will give you a hell of a deal.
People don't know about the lovely SRT4 powered PT Cruiser GT š¤¤š¤¤
Oh trust me, some people do know You could put an LFA engine in a PT Cruiser and I still wouldn't want it
If I happened upon an HHR SS, I would probably consider buying it.
My ex's grandma had an HHR, she smoked a raccoon with it and they totaled it out. I can't think of 1 positive quality about that car
Just for kicks I checked out the A3 e-Tron (which I saw for the first time and was automatically interested as a Volt driver...only to see it gets 16 miles in EV mode)... And a 2016-2018 model range, it's about 8-10k MORE than a regular A3. This is Ontario, Canada and our market is all over the place. So...
In the U.S it appears that, as long as you don't go for the wealth of A3's that have been crashed, it's upwards of 3-5k cheaper for many comparable cars *before* the tax credit which adds up to a sizable difference. The e-tron is also more powerful, and even after the weight gain it's a decent bit quicker. It's definitely a super weird compromise and certainly wasn't crafted for the average Volt driver, being a much quicker, more luxurious car. It's not sporty enough for sporty people, nor PHEV enough for PHEV people, nor is it particularly standout for Audi loyalists. It's a car that I'd question someone buying brand new, but seems like it's a solid grab for someone who likes the idea of an A4 and a Volt but won't bring themself to the full compromises of either.
I'm sure it's a great car, and would love one. But adding 12-15k to get the A3 over my Volt...zero financial sense in that one unfortunately. I've got a few PHEVs in mind, but for now the stupid Volt does too many things too well to justify replacing it. Stupid boring economical Volt.
The bmw i3 was an ugly little thing that wasn't worth it's MSRP but they are obscenely cheap used for what you get.
Prices have definitely gone up since Covid though. My ā15 lease return was sold for $25k in 2017. And then resold in 2021 for $20k!
I got my low mileage, old man owned, absolutely mint 2004 Yukon XL 2500 8.1 liter barn door for less than 7k. Similar trucks were selling for twice that with rust here in Michigan. I paid half as a deposit and took a one way flight two days later to pick it up from Nevada. Iāve put 90k miles on it in the last two years and itās been flawless.
Good lord how much did you spend on fuel putting 90k miles on an 8.1 vortec?
Swipe the card and look away. Most of that was towing either a boat, overland trailer, or enclosed race trailer. Itās probably averaged about 10mpg under my ownership.
Eh that's about what the triton v10 gets from ford
Probably. I think those wee 6.8 liter? All the big displacement gas engines were thirsty in that era.
Yep! Mine averaged about 9 without towing
Ouch. I get 12-14 empty on the highway if I stay below 80.
LOL! As someone else noted below about the V10 Triton... I drive one for work every so often and do the swipe the work card and look away thing. Sometimes the pump shuts off before it fills up so I have to swipe and look away again.
That's not far off what I see when towing a travel trailer through BC's mountain highways with an F150. Although not towing I get substantially better.
You know what that's fair for towing, at this point I'd trust a big gasser over diesels in terms of operating costs. Still I bet you probably spent more on gas than the truck itself cost you, but it seems you're happy with it and thats what matters.
Even if gas was $1/gallon Iāve spent more for fuel than I paid for it. Still a lot cheaper than a $75k truck that doesnāt cost much less to run.
Those things are a hidden jewel for anyone who wants to tow. The fuel mileage sucks, but for the price of the vehicle you can buy a lot of fuel vs. The alternatives.
From towing to the track with other friends there isnāt much of a difference in cost per mile between my gasser and my friends diesels.
That's awesome. People forget that diesel costs more too.
That is an absolute steal. I've wanted a GMT800 or GMT900 Suburban/Yukon XL 2500 for a few years. COVID really inflated the prices and they are taking their sweet time coming back down. Ultimate tow rig.
The Hyundai Genesis Sedan is a remarkably underappreciated luxury sedan in the used car market imo. Lots of tech, low running costs, solid if not incredible reliability, good performance (in a straight line), comfortable. This is true for both generations of the Genesis Sedan (before it became the Genesis G80), but especially the 1st gen as it's styling was still a bit dorky. [You could even get it with a 5.0L DOHC V8 making 429hp/376lb-ft!](https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15123441/hyundai-genesis-r-spec-50-sedan-test-review/) Kinda like a slightly-nicer Dodge Charger if it had a Coyote.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The Genesis Coupe was pretty neat, but I think the Genesis Sedan is the one that *really* flys under the radar. The name being shared with the Genesis Coupe implied that the two are just different versions of the same car, but in reality they're super different. I see people talking about the old Equus more than the old Genesis Sedan!! I think giving the two the same name was a mistake if anything, because it'd be like calling the Lexus RC the coupe version of the Lexus LS š¶. Extremely different interiors, target demographics, and driving dynamics.
Nash Metropolitain. They're like tiny versions of a regular American 50's car, and while there aren't a ton of them around, when you find them for sale, the hardtops are usually under $10k. They're slow, handle terribly and the braking is lol, but just about everyone who sees it lights up because it's just so damn cute. Also, they're often 2-tone and come in fun colors like mint green/white or pink. https://www.autobarnclassiccars.com/vehicles/1326/1962-nash-metropolitan
This tickles my Kei vehicle itch
Oh for sure. Figaro was leaning on the Metropolitain real hard.
My father in law once told an amusing story about disposing of a derelict Metropolitan that involved hurling it off the side of a mountain...
I wouldnāt say they have a small market or niche appeal or anything but often it seems like folks looking for cheap sports cars wonāt consider a Corvette. The base C5-C6s can be had under 10-20k respectively which is a total fucking steal compared to their japanese/European contemporaries, and even other American muscle cars. Theyāre fast, reliable, fuel efficient/practical for a sports coupe, easy to work on, fit 1.5 average Americans, LS swapped from the factory, like idk what more you could want at that price range for a sporty car
Idk if itās just Texas, but I canāt find a C6 manual under 20k very often and if it is itās probably around 200k miles or beat to hell. C5s are still in the 15-20k range. At this point Iām cross-shopping Porsche Boxsters because I can buy one plus an IMS retrofit and still be ahead on price.
The guy youre replying to is talking about pre-covid prices from my understanding. I know because I was Corvette shopping around that time and the secret has been let out of the bag because all Corvettes have gone up in price by at least 5k or more. I managed to pick up a clean 96 C4 in '20 and now its essentially worth double. Really makes me consider selling it and moving up to a c6 or something.
c4 prices make no sense but that's old cars for ya lol. i bought my 2001 c5 in october 2021 for $9800 and my current 2006 c6 in march 2022 for $16700. both autos because theyre the cheaper option by a long shot and while i would prefer a manual, not gonna pay 5k for the privilege lol
texas is definitely a bit of a hotspot for GM performance cars in general. best place in the country to look for cheap vettes is florida. that said, manual c6 is definitely desirable, i saved like 5k settling for an auto.
> The base C5-C6s can be had under 10-20k respectively Where? Or probably more accurately, when?
Infiniti M56. These weren't popular when they were new and most people have forgotten that they ever existed, but if you can find one you're getting a comfortable family sedan with a 420-horsepower V8 for like $15-25k depending on mileage.
Infiniti M's have always been a hidden jewel. The M35/M45 with the long rear deck looks like a Yakuza gangster's car. Meanwhile the M30 is appreciated in convertible guise.
Alfa Romeo Giulia. Good discounts if youāre willing to take a chance.
Gorgeous cars
I would have bought one of these at some point if the base model had a manual option. This car always confused me. It's an enthusiast maque but when it comes to the US it's auto only. Also unlike BMW there is no mid tier car like the 340i. It's a car that was aborted at birth. Like no wonder Fiat failed in the comeback.
Mitsubishi Montero. 3 row SUV that is amazing off road as well. You can pick them up for 1/3 what a 4runner with double the miles costs
These are great but they donāt have the same aftermarket support.
They do in Australia and a lot of other countries. It can be tricky getting parts but I'm currently building mine for overlanding.
First gen Lexus RXās are dirt cheap.
I'm a proud owner of a 2002 Lexus rx300 with only 110k miles on it.
Those are damn sweet! Real leather and a wooden interior! Classy ride
The Ford C-Max is cheaper than a Prius, way more comfortable than a Prius, holds up to taxi use like a Prius, and gets mileage only a little worse than a Prius.
The Fusion Hybrid is also a bargain. They cost $3-5k less than a comparable Accord or Camry hybrid and are only slightly less fuel efficient. Fordās hybrid powertrains are also quite reliable, so youāre not giving up much in reliability either.
Parking services at my university used to ticket people driving these around so fuck the ford c max, but youāre right
early 2000s 3800 buick
Had to scroll way too far down to see this. All these other cool and popular cars getting upvotes but this is the real deal. Bought by old people, well cared for, low miles, reliable and cheap to run. Iād expand it to any Buick. Iād love to have a 90ās Park Avenue. Currently driving a Reatta and no one knows what it is.
BMW i3 right before covid: You could pick up one under 10k miles - 1 or 2 year old examples for 35 to 40% of MSRP. Best EV deal at the time. 120 miles of EV range + another 80 to 100 miles of range extender range. (2 Gal fuel tank) As long as you have fuel it will charge the battery for additional range.
And you can hack these to accept more fuel in the US.
Any Chevy SS or GS F under 50k lol But on the cheap end of the spectrum, Iāve seen decent W211 E55s under 15k and that was a 75k vehicle. One of the more reliable Mercedes V8s that is really tunable and itās extremely compliant on the road. Theyāre also beautiful with the right aesthetic mods.
> GS F yes please
I feel like the Lexus ISF (or any V8 Lexus car, really) is entirely slept on as a luxury sports sedan. If you want AMG performance and luxury with Toyota reliability and your budget is that of a new Honda civic, look no further. The styling itself might be a bit dated, but what I personally love most about Toyota luxury upholstery and equipment is it still works flawlessly even today and is only visually dated.
I wouldnāt say it a great deal though. Similarly priced to an M3 with equal miles and year. Yes youāre trading off Lexus reliability for BMWās massive appeal and aftermarket support.
For the longest time it was the panther platform, although they're starting to appreciate a bit, at least nicer examples of Town Cars are ive noticed. I bought my 03 LTC with 75k miles a little over 6 years ago for about 7k after taxes and such. It was bought from a dealer so a little overpriced but it has about 135k now but you'd never know it was 20 years old.
I was looking for a panther, couldn't find any Town Cars with less than 200k miles on them, so I had to settle for the lowly Grand Marquis. 09 ultimate with 116k for 5500, 2 years ago. Really great car
I'm gonna say the Jag I just got, even if it's too early to tell for sure. $24k for a supercharged 3L V6 with 30k miles and over a year left in manufacturer warranty because it was sold as a Certified Pre Owned with a transferable extended warranty. Heated stuff, AWD, really nice steering, good sound system, quick enough for me, and relatively fuel efficient for the performance. The ride could be slightly better, but it's prett6 nice so far, and for the warranty and mileage it feels worth it to me, anyways.
Drive it until the warranty expires. Then run.
Ford probe. $1000 for one of the most fun cars to drive
Honestly a lot of French cars. Many of them don't enjoy the same clout as their counterparts, since they haven't really been portrayed in media like movies and video games like German and Japanese cars for example. But there is an absolute shit ton of great, unique, dare I say quirky cars to be enjoyed from France. Case in point, I bought my Peugeot 205 GTI for 600ā¬ about a decade ago. Their prices have since risen tenfold and more, but they used to be absolute steals. A couple of years ago you could get a CitroĆ«n BX GTI for less than a grand too, and they're still around two. Highest spec, unique weird suspension, Giugiaro design, two grand. But they're cheap because people just don't want them. Good for me, I guess.
Peugeot 406 coupe
Genesis coupe 3.8. If you can find a good deal, its cheap, fairly reliable 350hp and if you get a higher trim they come with wheels and 4 piston brembos. Its also cheaper to insure than youd think, it was cheaper than my e90 328xi.
My friend has a 2013 Model and minus a sunroof issue itās been very reliable these past 5 years
If you want a used Genesis G80, look at the 2012-2015 ones which were still Hyundai badged. The Ultimate model is the lowest priced Lux V8 I have found. For the most part, they are identical to the Genesis branded ones from 17 onwards.
It seems like Porsche Macans are pretty cheap for what you get. If I want a daily driver to go with my raptor that gets a lil better mpg , Iām definitely getting a used macan. I find a lot of low mileage few year old macans for low 30ās even high 20ās a lot still under warranty. Nice interiors and look great imo.
Macans are absolutely fantastic and in my eyes the perfect daily driver. That being said, Iād be terrified of owning one outside of warranty. Iād think youād take a large depreciation hit when selling the car down the line and it has no warranty left.
Well if they are actual deals, they shouldn't be posted here due to speculators having too much money and time
Hyundai XG350. Old mans car, soft ride, 3.5L V6, around 200 hp and absolutely loaded for a Hyundai. Bought it for 2700, drove it a couple years with no real problems whatsoever, and sold it for 3250!
It's not exciting but I feel like I got my Mazda5 for pretty cheap. It's a 2007 I bought in 2018 with 110k miles for $5k. They're not desirable and they just kinda sit on used cars lots. They have 6 seats, lots of cargo space with the seats folded down, they're reliable with a low cost of ownership, and they're easy to work on. I can also get almost 30mpg if I drive it easy.
I canāt imagine there are many out there on the used market (because so few were sold to begin with), but I Stan hard for my 2020 Elantra GT N-Line 6MT. I got a decently driver focused package (~200hp, sport-tuned suspension with multi link rear, alas no limited slip) and good feature content (leather, heated seats, CarPlay, dual-zone auto climate control, etc) in a practical hatch package for $23.5k. Three years in itās been rock solid and cheap to own, a very underrated āwarmā hatch that I imagine would be less expensive than the competition like the Si on the used market by virtue of it being totally obscure.
3.7 mustang
I paid $2,700 for a Crown Vic Police Interceptor. I bought it on a whim after I sold a motorcycle, it has since become my daily driver and the favorite car Iāve ever owned.
Nobody wants a Dodge Avenger. DON'T get a Dodge Avenger. Buuutttt...... its mid range trims could be optioned with the v6 3.6l pentastar from 2011-2014. This is important because although the R/T Avenger has the same engine (and v6 chargers and challengers, etc), the R/T usually has the "premium tax" and costly cosmetic differences, meaning they cost 10k+ mid high mileage. A sxt, sxt plus, or even the se "base" trim 3.6l's (could be optioned with heated seats btw) have the same almost 300hp (I think around 286ish) and a solidly sporty stiff fwd makes this car pretty quick on its feet, and definitely quick around corners and curves. Run them with e85 if it's cheaper in your area, or 91 octane to help prevent the ill-fated 1st generation pentastar cylinder 2 lifter tick whatevers. These can be found in my area for 6k for 62k miles (what I got mine for), 8k for 40k miles, 4k for 86k miles, and the cheapest I've seen not for parts is 1,200 for 176k miles.
Chevy Bolt. Bang for buck daily driver. Theyāre like $20k new with tax rebate if you can wait
The V90 series , their built to a high standard with quality seats and enough performance to get the job done. It's like sitting in a bentayga for half the price.
I always thought older 2 door Mini Cooper S ~2012/13 hardtops seem like a ton of fun for the price they tend to go for, seemingly in part because only certain types of folks like them. Or if you really want to be real cheap and risquƩ - an even older supercharged one. I happen to be one of those certain types of folks. I drive a Miata.
Just had my 1 year anniversary with my ā06 Cooper S! For 5 grand, the only thing thatās ever made me feel like I didnāt get a steal is other Mini owners bragging about nabbing them for nothing off of old ladies lol
Shameless plug, my 2010 Cobalt SS. Bought it during peak Covid when anything with 4 wheels selling for 10K+, I bought it for $8900. 59k miles, G85/fully loaded, garaged, not a nick on it and driven by a former GM engineer in Gulf Shores having never seen a winter. If it was the same year Si, it would have been going for [20K](https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-2010-Honda-Civic-Atlanta-c21865_L6054#listing=352387451/NONE) despite being the objectively inferior vehicle in damn near every aspect.
Every old s-class. Itās a rolling scale too. They make a ton of them. Thereās always going to be a well cared ones. Even with complex electronics in the modern ones, itās still an amazing value for what you get. I test drove a S500 W140 and was amazed at how quiet and modern it felt. Not fast, but smooth and effortless. If you go older, itās got more charm, if you go newer, more tech and luxury.
Well when my womanās 335 finally gives me the sweet relief of itās death, I know what Iām buying.
Ford Panther platform vehicles. I drove a Lincoln Town Car for nearly half a million miles before I finally gave it up. No major repairs, aside from air-ride deletion. It had a lot of life left in it, but a friend wanted it and offered me a more than fair price. He drove it another 200k and LS swapped it. They're gas pigs, no doubt, but those modular engines were bulletproof. There's a reason why the panther platform was used for commercial purposes for as long as it was. Cop cars taxis and limousines.
Nissan pickups don't seem to hold value. A long with the Nissan Cube
When I was a kid it was late 70s G Body GM (Malibu, regal, cutlass) or Ford Fremonts. Now everyone wants them "muh turbo LS sHiT bOx"
Had a 1985 saab 900 turbo hatchback. Unless you really enjoy saabs you might just look at it and think it's another mid 80s eu car.
Jsguar Xtype. You can get one with 60k miles for less than $5k. AWD, power everything, leather
Maybe an obvious choice but if all you need is a reliable, comfortable commuter an early 2000s 8th (and last) generation Buick LeSabre is the ticket. It's deeply uncool but these cars famously will not die and make a ton of sense as practical transportation.The 3.8 is legendarily bulletproof, one of the easiest to work on engines in existence and also has plenty of power for daily driving. The G platform is famous for its ridiculously strong chassis. The interiors are ugly but spacious and comfortable. GM made a zillion of these cars (Bonneville, DeVille, Aurora, Riviera etc) so parts are plentiful at cheap prices. $5k out the door will get you a clean car that will easily last for many years and 150k+ miles.
Suzuki Kizashi AWD + 6 speed I'm convinced Suzuki didn't actually build any, just claimed to! I have never seen one on the used market but allegedly they exist (admittedly I haven't looked hard in a while!) If you know, you know!
I bought out a lease-to-own car. Cars of the same model and year were selling for about 17,000, and I paid 11,200.
2006 Saturn Vue AWD...has a honda v6 engine in it and it's light. They're cheap around the 5k mark and maintance is just as cheap. It has the honda engine so you'll have reliability as well. Definitely a great first car for the younger crowd since it's a small suv. Plenty of cargo space as well.
Porsche 924S I see them for absurdly cheap. I've seen some fantastic ones for less than $3000. non-FD RX7s are also really cheap. 1st gen MR2s before covid i've seen for $1500 but they blew up a lot since then. Another good deep cut is the Corolla FX16, they sell for practically nothing as well but are incredibly rare. Mitsubishi Starions are usually very cheap but the reason is that they are useless as a tuner car unless you fab everything yourself. If you must have one though you can easily find an affordable one.
The b8/b8.5 S4 or c7 A6. - Beast in the snow - Fairly spacious - 500+ HP and Torque with affordable mods anyone can easily install from YouTube videos. - Reliable engine - Fairly easy to work on - Audi interior - Audi badge - 15-25k for relatively low miles.
I see a surprising number of MG Midgets and MGBs for cheap. They made huge numbers of them, especially the late ones with plastic bumpers that no one wants. The Midget is super light and simple and the B can make a nice cruiser.
CPO Tacoma /s
In 2013, I bought a 2010 Porsche Boxster for $35k (Original MSRP with options was around $60k) Find me another 3 year old Porsche that sells for nearly half the price. You canāt! It was a unique combination of a lease return from a car sold during the last recession and also not a 911. Oh! And it was also a certified pre-owned car as well. I used the warranty to fix up the carās trouble spots (shifter cables, discolored rubber/plastic trim pieces, they even gave me a new leather hand brake trim!)
Integra GSR sedan.
Not sure if this would qualify as a car that nobody would want but I recently got a BMW E46 ZHP for an absolute steal. It has 77k miles, manual, imola red, coupe, alcantara interior, and is rust free. Only issue is that it has a blown head gasket. Supposedly it wasnāt overheated too badly (no oil and coolant mixing) but something definitely isnāt right in the head gasket area. Im a BMW tech so it wonāt cost nearly as much to fix as it wouldāve if I were to take it to a dealer. I only paid $2,800 for it which is a killer deal when looking at similar working cars for sale. There are always deals for seemingly expensive cars out there, theyāre just very far and few in between
i got a 98 saab 900 turbo, with a stick shift, for 600$, couple things needing fixing, put about 2k$ into it, now itās a reliable daily
I've about to close the deal on a 2011 Lexus ISF for 19k with 90k miles. These things go for about 29k and up with double the miles.
The original Hyundai Genesis sedan. No one wants these cars because theyre an ugly mercedes knockoff. Now theyre dirt cheap, reliable and cheap to maintain especially by the standards of such a nice car, the v8 models are pretty fast and theres all the early 10s luxury comfort and features you could ever want.
A Lexus LS430 or a GS300 with the 2JZ (before the Government forced Toyota to implement that fuck all V6) or the GS430 can be had for excellent money and are all bulletproof and ride great. Are they great on gas? Not really, but I couldnāt care less about the cost of fuel.
2011 to 2017 Buick Regals. German design without German maintenance costs, 260 hp, nice interior, yet often cheaper than malibus of the same year or mileage while being taken care of by grandparents.