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Best Used Cars to Save Money
February 4, 2016
US News & World Report's Best Cars Blog released a list of what they consider the best used vehicles to purchase if saving money is high on your list.
This list featured their top 10 picks based on the vehicle's Cost to Own score -- basically how much owning one of these vehicles will cost over five years of ownership - including things like repairs, insurance, depreciation, fuel, and other factors.
Vehicles on the list include the 2010 Honda Fit, 2012 GMC Terrain, 2012 Buick Enclave, and 2009 BMW X3. The full list is below.
Used Cars with Lowest Ownership Costs
| Category | Vehicle | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Used Small Car | 2010 Honda Fit | $10,000-$12,000 |
| Used Compact SUV | 2012 GMC Terrain | $15,000-$20,000 |
| Used Luxury Compact SUV | 2009 BMW X3 | Under $25,000 |
| Used Midsized Car | 2009 Honda Accord | Under $15,000 |
| Used Midsized SUV | 2012 Buick Enclave | $20,000-$25,000 |
| Used Large Car | 2014 Toyota Avalon | Over $20,000 |
| Used Large SUV | 2010 Toyota Sequoia | Under $30,000 |
| Used Sports Car | 2010 Ford Mustang | Under $20,000 |
| Used Hybrid Car | 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid | $20,000.00 |
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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