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The Best Used Cars Under $10,000
February 2, 2012
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% |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
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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