Best Used Cars Under $20,000
August 2, 2012
If you're thinking about buying a car and have less than $20,000 to spend, you'll get way more for your money if you buy a reliable used vehicle rather than a small, less-equipped new vehicle.
Consumer Reports recently put together a list of the best used cars to buy for under $20,000. They all scored well in tests, have proven reliability, and perform well in crash tests.
Here's the list. It shows the average price dealers are charging along with the original MSRP and the average discount from original MSRP. Keep in mind you should be able to negotiate better deals than the "average".
| Vehicle | Average Price | MSRP (new) | Discount from MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Suzuki SX4 | $10,025 | $16,099 | 38% |
| 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander RWD | $10,875 | $21,370 | 49% |
| 2007 Kia Sportage | $11,150 | $18,895 | 41% |
| 2007 Ford Fusion FWD | $12,300 | $21,085 | 42% |
| 2007 Mazda6 i sedan | $12,375 | $22,520 | 45% |
| 2007 Mazda6 s wagon | $12,575 | $26,180 | 52% |
| 2007 Ford Fusion AWD | $12,725 | $22,935 | 45% |
| 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD | $13,150 | $23,770 | 45% |
| 2007 Mercury Milan | $13,200 | $25,225 | 48% |
| 2007 Honda Accord | $13,475 | $25,300 | 47% |
| 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata | $13,900 | $23,390 | 41% |
| 2007 Toyota Avalon | $14,275 | $26,875 | 47% |
| 2007 Kia Sportage | $14,475 | $22,895 | 37% |
| 2007 Honda Pilot | $14,500 | $27,095 | 46% |
| 2007 Toyota Camry Solara | $14,625 | $26,905 | 46% |
| 2007 Toyota Tundra | $15,725 | $27,440 | 43% |
| 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid | $16,225 | $31,090 | 48% |
| 2007 Lincoln MKZ | $16,275 | $31,175 | 48% |
| 2007 Toyota Camry | $16,625 | $28,020 | 41% |
| 2007 Toyota Highlander | $17,075 | $28,965 | 41% |
| 2007 Acura TSX | $17,075 | $30,090 | 43% |
| 2007 Acura TL | $19,525 | $36,125 | 46% |
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
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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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