Best Used Cars You Should Buy
Edmunds.com has released their annual Used Car Best Bet Awards for 2012. These are vehicles with a combination of best-in-class reliability, safety, and availability.
The editors looked at cars that were between two and seven years old (this is when most of the depreciation has taken place, yet the car should still be reliable). They made sure the vehicles had good crash test-ratings and had a large supply to choose from, which means more competitive prices and better value. Here are the winners:
| Segment | Recommended Vehicle | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Compact Sedan | Hyundai Elantra | 2005 - 2010 |
| Midsize Sedan | Nissan Altima | 2005 - 2010 |
| Large Sedan | Hyundai Azera | 2006 - 2010 |
| Coupe | BMW 3-Series | 2005 - 2010 |
| Convertible | Mazda Miata | 2005 - 2010 |
| Wagon | Pontiac Vibe | 2005 - 2010 |
| Compact SUV | Honda CR-V | 2005 - 2010 |
| Midsize SUV | Ford Explorer | 2005 - 2010 |
| Large SUV | Chevrolet Tahoe | 2005 - 2010 |
| Minivan | Honda Odyssey | 2005 - 2010 |
| Compact Truck | Toyota Tacoma | 2005 - 2010 |
| Large Truck | Ford F-150 | 2005 - 2010 |
| Luxury | Infiniti G35/G37 | 2005 - 2010 |
| Hybrid | Toyota Prius | 2005 - 2010 |
| Sport Compact | Subaru WRX | 2005 - 2010 |
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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