Top 4 Used Cars to Consider
When buying a used car, the smartest bet is to buy one that is between 3 and 5 years old. That's when a majority of the depreciation has already occurred, and the vehicle can still be expected to last a long time.
This week, Consumer Reports revealed the top 4 used cars they recommend based on reliability, depreciation, and road test results. Their top rated used vehicle is the 2013 Toyota Prius, which retailed brand new at $30,000, but can now be purchased for between $15,825 and $18,650.
See below for the rest of their recommendations.
Top Rated Used Car Recommendations
| Vehicle | Price When New | Current Price Range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Toyota Prius | $30,005 | $15,825 | $18,650 |
| 2012 Toyota Camry | $30,015 | $20,675 | $22,450 |
| 2012 Honda Accord | $32,030 | $19,300 | $21,300 |
| 2011 Toyota RAV4 | $28,875 | $19,750 | $22,150 |
Other Used Car to Consider
Small Cars
2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited ($16,725-$17,925)
2012 Subaru Impreza ($16,125-$16,750)
Midsized Cars
2013 Kia Optima EX ($16,825-$18,375)
2012 Mazda6 s Grand Touring ($17,250-$19,150)
Luxury Cars
2012 Buick Regal GS ($20,925-$23,050)
2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ($18,325-$20,825)
Sports Cars
2011 Chevrolet Camaro LT ($18,325-$20,100)
2011 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring ($18,350-$19,825)
Wagons & Minivans
2014 Mazda5 Grand Touring ($19,000-$21,500)
2013 Toyota Prius V ($18,275-$21,175)
Small SUVs
2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring AWD ($17,775-$21,150)
2011 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD ($20,650-$22,275)
Midsized SUV
2011 Nissan Murano SV AWD ($20,400-$23,500)
Pickup
2011 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab 4WD ($21,300-$23,725)
If you're shopping for a new or used car, I recommend you use TrueCar and CarsDirect to quickly see what kind of deals are being offered in your area.
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).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
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
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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