The Best Deals on Used Small Cars
With economic uncertainty and gas prices through the roof, it's wise to consider a small used car.
The cars featured here are recommended by Consumer Reports and are priced in the low teens - and even some below $10,000.
They made sure these cars have safety features like side air bags and stability control.
One bonus of buying used is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit.
It's smart to choose cars that scored well in Consumer Reports' tests, show good reliability, and do well in industry crash tests.
As always, before buying any used car, make sure you have a trusted mechanic give the vehicle a thorough inspection.
Here are the recommended small cars from the 2006-2008 model years.
Make & model |
Mileage |
Original Price |
Current Price |
Depreciation |
2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5 |
75,000 |
$19,095 |
$11,300 |
41% |
2006 Scion xB Release Series 3.0 FWD |
75,000 |
17,140 |
10,675 |
38% |
2006 Honda Civic DX |
75,000 |
15,560 |
9,750 |
37% |
2006 Toyota Corolla CE |
75,000 |
14,905 |
9,425 |
37% |
2007 Suzuki SX4 |
47,000 |
16,099 |
10,275 |
36% |
2006 Mazda3 s |
75,000 |
17,370 |
11,300 |
35% |
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid |
47,000 |
22,600 |
15,050 |
33% |
2006 Toyota Prius |
75,000 |
21,725 |
14,750 |
32% |
2008 Suzuki SX4 |
36,000 |
16,370 |
11,450 |
30% |
2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5 |
47,000 |
18,795 |
13,600 |
28% |
2007 Toyota Corolla LE |
47,000 |
16,315 |
11,800 |
28% |
2007 Mazda3 s hatchback |
47,000 |
18,630 |
13,825 |
26% |
2008 Honda Civic EX coupe |
36,000 |
20,710 |
16,325 |
21% |
2007 Toyota Corolla LE |
36,000 |
16,415 |
13,175 |
20% |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar, Edmunds, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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