The Best Used Cars Under $10,000
Buying a used car is the smartest way to save money. And now is a great time to buy a used car while prices are still low - they will steadily increase towards summer and peak in August.
Consumer Reports has compiled their list of the best used cars for under $10,000. These vehicles have scored well in road tests, most have the latest safety equipment, and all have proven reliability.
All of the models listed are for the 2006 model year - this is a sweet spot because most of the depreciation has been absorbed by the original owner. All vehicles are assumed to have 75,000 miles, and the price is what you can expect to pay at a dealer.
To save even more, look for these cars through private party listings on Craigslist or Carsabi.
| Make & model | MSRP (new) | Dealer Price (avg) |
Drop in Price vs. MSRP |
| 2006 Ford Fusion | $17,145 | $8,625 | 50% |
| 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander | 20,099 | 9,000 | 55% |
| 2006 Pontiac Vibe | 16,430 | 9,050 | 45% |
| 2006 Toyota Corolla | 14,905 | 9,100 | 39% |
| 2006 Hyundai Tucson | 18,745 | 9,325 | 50% |
| 2006 Honda Civic |
15,360 | 9,325 | 39% |
| 2006 Kia Sportage | 18,395 | 9,475 | 48% |
| 2006 Mazda3 | 13,710 | 9,550 | 30% |
| 2006 Mercury Milan |
18,345 | 9,600 | 48% |
| 2006 Scion xB | 14,830 | 9,800 | 34% |
| 2006 Nissan Altima | 17,750 | 9,900 | 44% |
| 2006 Toyota Matrix | 16,060 | 9,900 | 38% |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, 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
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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