These Are The Best Used Car Values Right Now

HOT TAKE: Any large German luxury sedan. BMW 5/7 series, Audi A6/7/8, Mercedes E-Class (S-Class are amazing but are just too problematic and costly to repair.)

I’ve pretty much exclusively owned this category of car for the last 10 years. Yes, they can have problems, and yes, those problems can cost more than repairing a Civic or a Camry. However, these cars are phenomenal to drive, have tons of power and the latest technology, are safe, and if you buy them 3-5 years old, have already experienced the vast majority of their depreciation and can be purchased at some screaming deals. I’ve also either been extremely lucky, or these cars are nowhere near the ticking time bombs so many claim they are. Find yourself a reputable private mechanic in your area, do the easy stuff yourself, and these cars will reward you handsomely for years.

I’ve been casually perusing 2015/16 Lexus LS 460 AWD sedans. They’re pretty fantastic cars with an original sticker of somewhere around $80k. You can pick one up for $25-30k now pretty easy.

Late model Subaru Legacy’s, if can give up the height and hatch of the Outback you can save some coin. In Limited and Touring XT trims they are very well equipped and you have a big turbo 4 and AWD. Only downside is the CVT automatic required (better than a Nissan one and usually unobtrusive).

Basically just get an XT and you have a grown-up mature WRX with a lot of space and comfort

Early 2010's large American sedans, especially cars like the Buick Lacrosse, Mercury Sable/Montego, etc.

I’ve seen quite a few one-owner cars with under 125K miles going for about $5000.

I also saw a nice Hyundai Azera with 75K miles going for $4400.

I’m probably biased, because I have one, but the Buick Regal TourX is an amazing station wagon, that most people didn’t even know existed when new.

Now, you can snag low mileage ones for under $25K.

It is an amazingly capable vehicle. With the back seats down, it offers more cargo space then many mid-sized SUVs.

Plenty of power, AWD, whisper quiet on the freeway, and actually enjoyable to drive.

Cons: Engine Auto-Stop that can’t be turned off without a modded chip.

C4 Corvette - well maintained examples are easily had for less than $15,000. Sports car handling, good looks, readily available parts, reasonable reliability and very little depreciation at an outstanding price. I’ll challenge anyone to try and find a better performing convertible for less!

Personally im impressed by the used car deals you can get on a Kia EV6 GT.

Thats the 576hp high performance version

0-60 in 3.2 (5-60 in 3.4)

0-100 in 8.0

1/4 mile in 11.6@119

You cant get more performance for less, especially with daily practicality

I bought a 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia a while back for a great deal. I did this fully expecting I would also have some issues with the car, but it’s be surprisingly trouble free. Its a joy to drive, makes plenty of power, and can get decent mileage if I’m taking it easy. Its honestly one of my favorite cars I’ve ever driven.

I agree with the German luxury car comment, but I’d actually take it back a few years to the late 00's early 10's and specifically say the 328/528i/xi BMW. You need to tread carefully as half the cars have been bought and turned into wannabe M3 or drift toys, but if you can find one which was just driven as a car you can get a great deal on your hands.

The N52 is incredibly reliable (at least for a BMW) and parts are readily available. What’s more, this era BMW has a lot of the bells and whistles that you typically don’t see on cars until later into the mid 10's. Comfortable, fun, and generally well under $10k. Bonus if you can find a good e91 (I just did, and it’s amazing).

My old as the hill take is

Sedans.

A Rav4 and a Camry have similar MSRPs. Look at a 5 year old one and the prices are about 20% higher for a Rav4 than a similar Camry. (And that’s a Camry, a legend of holding value)

And Sedans are great cars, if you don’t need to carry bulky stuff. The trunk makes them quieter than a hatchback or SUV and they get excellent gas mileage in general. It’s where I shop for used vehicles.

2012 Silverado. My dad bought it in 2019 in the brown/gray color(I can never name it somehow) and it had about 100k on it. It now has almost 210k on it, with a little dirt. Parts for this thing are cheap, they look better than any Hyundai truck, and the LS v8 can kick in right when you need it.

Trust me on this.

This may be a little out of left field, but you can buy a good, driver quality Model T all day, every day for $8-12k.

Now, you’re not gonna take it on the highway, but you theoretically could use it as an in town commuter. You’d make friends at every gas station, and it would probably appear in the Instagram feed of every person in town. Parts are plentiful and cheap, and they’re dead simple to work on. You could leave it in the worst part of town with no top on it, and it will still be there when you get back.

Chevrolet Bolt EV.

I picked up a 2020 January with 20k miles and a brand new traction battery, and 2 new tires for $13k out the door taxes and all after all the rebates. (being a full time student, and the standard deductions brought us right under the threshold.

Hard to find any other car with that few miles for that little on the market today.

I’d wager that january 2025 theyll come down a little again, because the EV market is going to slow here in cali because winter gas is cheaper, and ev’s get a little less range in the cold. the EV also seems to be cheaper than the EUV, because it’s not a crossover - so win/win.

The fact that you can get a low mileage ludicrous mode lifetime supercharging performance model S for around 15k right now is absolutely INSANE. That’s like 90 percent off with 10 second quarters and sub 3s 60mph sprints! Love mine!!

Not a fun vehicle exactly but used Toyota Sequoias are so much less than a Tacoma and can pull pretty well.