geepondy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Ok, used car threads have been posted here before and have been flooded with Honda and Toyota recommendations and I can't disagree but.....what is the best used car value "deal" for the money. For an example I'll give you my story.
Exactly a year ago, I was in the market for a used car. I couldn't afford a new car payment but wanted a used car that was reasonably new and reasonably cheap. I was looking for a low monthly payment but wanted something that I could hopefully drive relatively trouble free for a few years. I ended up buying a 2002 Saturn SL1 with 38k miles, the reasons being the following. Being September, the introduction of a new models, the two year old car suddenly became three years old. Consumer Reports gave the car above average reliability. It was the last year of the model before a new one was introduced (the ION which has mixed reliability ratings), so chances are a lot of bugs will have been worked out. I paid $7k for the car. I looked at equivalent year Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas and the prices were three and four grand higher. The argument might be made that being Japanese quality, the price difference might be worth it but my argument is that if I was going to pay 10, 11, 12k for a used Civic or Corolla, I might as well spend two or three grand more and get a new one. Yes, there are compromises with the vehicle (it's not the quietest) but in the first year of ownership, the Saturn has been trouble free. Plus I get in the low 30s for mixed city and highway driving.
So what do you consider not necessary the best used car but the best value for dollar used car?
Exactly a year ago, I was in the market for a used car. I couldn't afford a new car payment but wanted a used car that was reasonably new and reasonably cheap. I was looking for a low monthly payment but wanted something that I could hopefully drive relatively trouble free for a few years. I ended up buying a 2002 Saturn SL1 with 38k miles, the reasons being the following. Being September, the introduction of a new models, the two year old car suddenly became three years old. Consumer Reports gave the car above average reliability. It was the last year of the model before a new one was introduced (the ION which has mixed reliability ratings), so chances are a lot of bugs will have been worked out. I paid $7k for the car. I looked at equivalent year Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas and the prices were three and four grand higher. The argument might be made that being Japanese quality, the price difference might be worth it but my argument is that if I was going to pay 10, 11, 12k for a used Civic or Corolla, I might as well spend two or three grand more and get a new one. Yes, there are compromises with the vehicle (it's not the quietest) but in the first year of ownership, the Saturn has been trouble free. Plus I get in the low 30s for mixed city and highway driving.
So what do you consider not necessary the best used car but the best value for dollar used car?