Used Car Reviews - Values and Opinion

December 2007

By Brendan Moore

Just a random sampling of various used cars that we did, just for kicks. You get both our opinion and wholsesale/retail on the car. These are approximate values – pricing will always vary somewhat by region, season, specific vehicle condition, etc.

2003 Acura TL S - 3.2 liter V6, Automatic, leaher, premium stereo, power everyting, factory wheel package - 62,000 miles. Wholesale $12,700 Retail $16,900
There's not much to say about this on top of what everyone has said, namely, that it is a very nice ride, it's actually fairly attractive as opposed to a lot of Japanese iron, it is dead reliable and typically has a long service life. All of those things are true. This is Honda passenger car engineering at it's best, and you can expect to pay full retail anywhere in the country for this Acura. But, it will be worth it - an Acura like this has many more miles in it.

2005 Ford Taurus SEL - V6, Automatic, leather, premium stereo, power everything - 38,000 miles. Wholesale $7900 Retail $10,975
First of all, it should be noted that it's quite unusual to find a a 2005 Taurus with this equipment since they were basically fleet-order cars the last few years of their production, so if this the equipment you want, it may be worth it to you to pay a little more than average for the car since you probably won't find another one equipped like this anytime soon. Second, these cars go for close to wholesale as a rule, so even if you pay a little more, it's still not a lot of money. The car itself? Solid, dependable, under-powered, not poor, but somewhat sluggish handling and brakes, lots of interior space, huge trunk, okay exterior. The last years of the Taurus produced a car with no changes, and therefore good reliability, and most of the cars are quite durable - they go a long time in terms of racking up miles. Since almost all of the cars for sale are ex-fleet cars, they were maintained on a regular schedule, which is always a plus.

2006 Dodge Magnum Wagon RT AWD - V8, AWD, Automatic, sunroof, leather, power everything, premium stereo - 25,000 miles. Wholesale $19,700 Retail $24,550
This is the rare instance that it makes sense to put the words "sport" and "utility" together, but of course this is not a sport utility vehicle, its a station wagon that goes really, really fast. And it looks like it goes really, really fast, too. Tremendous cargo space, all the goodness of the Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300 sedans, and sharp, aggressive looks. Of course the interior lets the side down with downscale looks, but that is the Chrysler way and this car doesn't deviate from that template. Still, lots of fun, and incredibly useful, the Dodge Magnum is a very handy car to have around. And if little Courtney is late for the ballet recital, any suburban mom or dad posessed of even the smallest amount of pent-up aggression should be able to make up for lost time in the Magnum Wagon. This thing hauls, and it also hauls ass. It's a shame Chrysler has dropped this vehicle from their future lineup.

2005 Hyundai Accent GLS - 3dr, Automatic, AC, premium stereo - 54,000 miles. Wholesale $5000 Retail $7100
It's difficult to buy any car this stripped anymore - no power door locks, no power windows, no sunroof, etc. Premium stereo, so the dealer figured he'd be selling it to a young adult, probably. High miles ($300 deuction) on this one, so might have been bought by a not-so-young adult as a commuter car - something cheap to put lots of miles on while you leave the nice car at home. Not a bad car, not a good car, just a basic car at a very cheap price, much better than waiting for the bus and then taking two transfers to get to work. You should be able to buy this closer to wholesale than retail, but frankly, there is so little space between the two values that anywhere close to the middle between the two prices will be fine.

2004 Mini Cooper - 6-speed, sunroof, leather, Harmon Kardon stereo package, power everything - 51,000 miles. Wholesale $14,550 Retail $16,825
Attractive, good performer, good build quality, sips gas - that sounds like it would be a popular used car at this moment, doesn't it? And it is, so you can expect to pay awfully close to retail everywhere in the country, and full retail or over in major metro areas. The Mini is a blast to drive as you've probably heard, and guys can be safely seen in it without someone casting aspersions on their guy-ness, since the Mini never got the dreaded "chick car" label hung on it. And it will fit in any parking space. And the HK stereo kicks out the jams. What's not to like here? Nothing, unless you don't like or don't fit in a small car, because this ain't no big honking vehicle. Think small, man. Think MINI.

2005 Toyota Matrix XR 4WD – Automatic, AWD, sunroof, power everything, premium stereo package – 29,000 miles. Wholesale $12,300 Retail $16,125
Lots of room, AWD for the bad weather, good fuel economy because it has a four-cylinder engine, great build quality because it’s a Toyota, and small enough to park almost anywhere. If you think you need an SUV, you probably don’t, just like the overwhelming majority of people that have SUVs now, whereas a vehicle like this would undoubtedly meet most families’ needs in fair or foul weather. And do it while costing much less in monthly payments, insurance and fuel costs. You’ll pat retail for this Matrix, but there is always the Pontiac Vibe if you don’t want to pay retail – same vehicle except with a Pontiac badge and different styling, and since it has a Pontiac nameplate on it, the residual is not as strong (much to GM's chagrin).

2003 Land Rover Freelander - SE3 V6, automatic, AWD, sunroof cloth seats Harmon Kardon stereo, power everything, aluminum wheels – 89,000 miles. Wholesale $6800 Retail $10,500
The high miles hurt this Freelander right off the bat with an approximately $1400 deduction, which means you’ll probably see it advertised at a retail price of $13,500. Dealers never forget to deduct for high miles when they’re buying at wholesale, but somehow always seem to forget to deduct for high miles when they’re selling at retail. The Freelander SE3 is a capable goat of an SUV; not as big as most, and nimble in tight spots, although like all SUVS in the U.S., rarely, rarely gets driven off-road. If ever, that is. This vehicle is not fast on the road like its big brother, the Range Rover, and neither is it as luxurious, but it has its own charms. It does, however, give you poor fuel mileage for it’s size, so if you’re looking to buy an SUV that’s frugal with gas, get a Ford Escape Hybrid or something else, because the Freelander is not the answer. But it is cheap admission to the local Land Rover club – they usually meet at the nearest prep school or realtor near your house. You will probably pay close to retail (real retail, after the mileage deduction).

2006 Dodge Stratus R/T – 200 HP 2.7L V6, automatic, leather, premium stereo, AC, sunroof, premium wheel package, power everything, balance of factory warranty – 22,100 miles. Wholesale $10,650 Retail $13,100
A huge fun/price ratio on this car and it still makes a fairly economical commuter car at the same time. Do you get great build quality and world-class fit and finish? Nope. Will you smoke every car you see at a stoplight? Nope. In the corners? Nope. You’re in the wrong part of town, my friend. The part of town you’re in is Budgetville. But it’s not bad looking, somebody else took the bit hit on first-year depreciation, the price is right, it’s a lot of fun to drive, it’s got a kickin’ stereo, you have a factory warranty – life is good, right? And you can buy it all day long for closer to wholesale than retail.

2002 Honda S2000 – 237 HP four-cylinder, 6-speed manual roadster, AC, leather, optional aluminum hardtop included with car – 36,392 miles. Wholesale $14,000 Retail $18,450
You’ve got to wind this thing up to extract the maximum joy from driving it, but it’s worth zinging it to the 9,000 RPM redline just to hear it sing. The 2002 production model saw some needed improvements to the S2000 – the plastic rear window was finally replaced with glass, the shifter got smoothed out, the abysmal radio was tossed out in favor of something you could actually listen to, and some minor cosmetic upgrades occurred inside the cabin. If you want to use this car as an everyday driver, think again, because it’s too high-strung and jumpy for that, but if you want to use it as the occasional canyon-carver, it’s perfect. This is a great little sports car, but one without any compromises, so therefore choose accordingly. BTW, you’ll be paying full retail.

2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi – 300 HP 2.5L flat-four, 6-speed manual, AC, leather, sunroof, premium stereo, power everything, balance of factory warranty, etc. – 25,200 miles. Wholesale $22,200. Retail $26,600
Yes, it’s a lot of money for a used Subaru, isn’t it? But this is not your granola-eating, ex-hippie Aunt Sally’s meek and socially-responsible Subaru; this is a wild, snorting little beast with 300 HP and a bad attitude. That’s right – a bad little mamma-jamma, a domesticated rally car, a howler that goes very, very fast, and never puts a foot down wrong because it has four wheels going all the time, friend. And in that light, this is so much fun for so little money that you’ll easily be able to put up with the condescending sneers from the owners of American muscle cars and oh-so-sophisticated European cars, particularly as you blow them off into the weeds. If it happens to be raining, then it’s an even more lopsided contest. Not so well-known by most Americans; in fact, it’s safe to say that most Americans don’t even know of its existence, but a car that has (deservedly) achieved cult status in the rest of the world. Oh, yeah. You’ll be paying full retail unless your brother is the used car manager, but, hey, it’s worth it.

2005 Porsche 996 (911) Carrera 4S – 6-speed Tiptronic, AC, leather, navigation system, Bose stereo, traction control, power everything, balance of factory warranty, etc. – 18,900 miles. Wholesale $58,600. Retail $69,900.
It’s not adding any value for me to repeat all of the wonderful things said about this car by every auto magazine in the world, so I will merely concur with the praise lavished upon this car. And, although it must seem like hyperbole if you have never driven one through an undulating canyon at top speed on a beautiful day, even the vast amounts of complimentary reviews do not do the car justice. The visceral pleasure you get from this car seems as if it should be illegal – it’s that good. You will pay full retail for this car, and if you want one in one of the most popular colors, you will pay more than retail. You gotta pay if you wanna play, right?

2004 Nissan Quest SL – 3.5 liter V6, auto, AC, leather, navigation system, rear entertainment system, alloy wheels, running boards, premium audio package, Skyview roof package, rear bucket seats, third row seat – 62,400 miles. Wholesale $12,600. Retail $16,900
The product design people at Nissan thought they were on to something when the word back from the consumer clinics they were running on minivans was that people would be happy to buy a minivan if it was a little funky or stylish or exciting to drive. Apparently, this news was a thunderbolt from the blue there at Nissan, so they decided to make the Quest all of those things. Unfortunately, the best-laid plans go oft astray, and what Nissan ended up with was a minivan that the core minivan customer base walked away from, as well as a minivan that the new target market (youngish, hip couples who want a minivan, if such people exist) turned up their collective nose at in droves. Trying to please two groups so far apart at the same time usually works out like that. That aside, the Nissan Quest is a well-built van, it’s filled with luxury touches if you get it loaded like this one, and it is different-looking inside from the typical minivan – maybe it would suit you if you are young(ish), think of yourself as somewhat bohemian, avant-garde, hip, whatever, and you want a minivan. They’re not doing so well on the used car side of the house, so you can probably buy one for a considerable discount from retail.

2005 Mazda RX-8 GT – Rotary, 6-speed, AC, power everything, premium stereo, Sport package, etc. – 22,900 miles. Wholesale $15,800. Retail $18,450
Mazda says this is a coupe, even though it has four doors (two small rear-access doors with hidden handles), so I suppose that’s their right, since other manufacturers have put out 4-door coupes lately, and there are more on the way from several automakers. It certainly makes ingress and egress a lot easier regarding the rear seats, but those rear seats are only suitable for children (or adults you don’t like) if the trip is going to last more than 15 minutes. In that same vein, the cockpit is a fairly cozy place. I am of fairly average height (6 ft even) and size and it was a tight fit, with my head millimeters away from the headliner material. From a sheetmetal perspective, I like the looks – it doesn’t look like everything else out on the road. Many people, however, are not enamored of the appearance of the RX-8. But, any drawbacks the car has, in my opinion, go away after you turn the key and get on the road. What a driving experience! And what a willing performer the engine is, all the way up to the redline. The suspension is a wonderful thing and so are the brakes. Ditto for the lovely 6-speed box. This car loves to be put through its paces. This is a sports car – one you could drive everyday, but a sports car with all the pros and cons implicit in that statement.

2001 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro – V6, 6-speed, leather, Bose stereo, sunroof power everything, etc. – 101,000 miles. Wholesale $7600. Retail $10,400
Still a great-looking car and looks absolutely right whether at rest or at speed. The interior is also very well put together, and quality touches are evident throughout. The Quattro makes this car very sure-footed in snow, rain, and yes, even in the dry. Audi owners tend to take care of their cars, so if you’re looking at a car that has anything more than normal wear and tear inside/outside or mechanically, keep looking. There are a lot of nice used high-mileage Audi A4 models around – you’ll see a well-kept one without too much scouting around. In any large metro area (particularly on the coasts) this will go for very close to retail, and in other areas should sell for somewhere in the middle between wholesale (known as loan value at your lender) and retail.

2006 Kia Sportage LX 4WD – Auto, AC, leather seats, running boards, premium stereo – 25,200 miles. Wholesale $12,175. Retail $15,350
The Sportage is a very credible contender in this market segment and is a surprisingly nice package. I’ve dogged the Korean manufacturers pretty badly for years about weak drivetrains, boring or just plain perplexing design, etc. and they deserved the criticism. However, the last couple of years have seen marked improvement among all the Korean makers, and their offerings for the most part are now equal, and in some cases, better than the benchmarks in their respective segments, which are mostly the Japanese stalwarts. I like the Sportage. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not, and it’s a good value.

2005 Saturn Ion 1 Sedan – Auto, AC, sunroof, power windows – 40,900 miles. Wholesale $5100. Retail $7250
First of all, it’s ugly. And it’s not ugly in a “so ugly it’s cute” way, like a bulldog or the original VW Beetle. It’s just ugly. Second, it’s not a bad car, that is, a car that’s going to break down a lot; it’s actually okay in reliability. It’s just a nothing car. There is nothing to recommend it over any other car in its class. I defy you to put this car up against the other cars in its segment and tell me one thing it does better than one of those other cars. It’s amazing that any group of people that know anything about the car business could have sat around a conference room and determined that this would be a great car to represent their brand. But somehow they did. Saturn dealers have paid the price for that decision, and they had to buy new Saturn Ions from the factory because they had no choice. Luckily, you have a choice in your used car purchase.

2004 Toyota Avalon XLS – V6, leather, sunroof, CD, AC, power everything – 52,370 miles. Wholesale $14,300. Retail $17,425.
The Avalon can best be described as a Japanese Buick. It’s big, comfortable, and has a lot of convenience options. Its brakes and handling are hardly world class, but the typical buyer of the Avalon is concerned with getting acceptable performance in these areas, as opposed to the superior performance demanded by the average BMW or Audi buyer. What the Avalon buyer is interested in is comfort, convenience, interior space, price, and the rock-solid dependability that Toyota builds into all its cars. And that’s exactly what they’ll get with the popular Avalon. You will pay full retail sticker for this car.

2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited – inline-6 engine, 4D, AT, AC, 4WD, anti-theft, leather, CD, power everything – 75,000 miles. Wholesale $5700. Retail $8075.
This is the square, old-style Jeep Cherokee that Chrysler continued to produce for several years after it was supplanted in the Jeep lineup by the Grand Cherokee. This a rugged off-road SUV that’s extremely capable in bad terrain and merely OK to drive on the highway as opposed to the current cushy poseur SUV vehicles and their equally ridiculous “lifestyle aspirational” owners you see in every shopping mall and office park. Chrysler made minor improvements to the Jeep Cherokee every year, which made this vehicle quite dependable, since nothing big changed, as well as somewhat of a bargain in the sport utility market segment. Chrysler had planned to keep doing the above (as the “Classic” Cherokee) until at least the 2005 model year, but those plans were cut short by DaimlerChrysler’s cash crunch in 2001, and the Jeep Cherokee ceased production in this, its last year. As a used vehicle, the Cherokee is even more of a bargain and prospective buyers should be able to pick one up for close to wholesale on any dealer lot.

1994 Volkswagen Corrado SLC – 2Dr Coupe, VR6, AM/FM Cassette - 102,000 miles. Wholesale $2,000. Retail $5775.
Excellent condition inside and out, appears well-cared for and runs strong. This is a car that VW should have kept producing for sale in the U.S., but Volkswagen had other fish to fry (namely, a complete rebirth in the market) in the mid-nineties, and the Corrado simply didn’t sell enough copies to retain its place in the VW lineup. And that’s a shame, because if the Corrado was around still, it would probably be a very nice sports car indeed. Not that this car with its 172hp VR6 is anything to be embarrassed about – for the money, this is really quite a motoring bargain. Lots of torque without the torque steer, great handling, good looks, nice creature comforts, reliable, good on gas, and the list goes on. Even if you have to pay full retail for the car (and you will), it’s still a bargain. Just make sure the Corrado you buy has been well taken care of, because their affordability has allowed many cars to be bought and then subsequently flogged by young owners.

2003 Oldsmobile Aurora – 4.0 V8, AT, AC, power everything, CD, power sunroof, leather, Bose stereo, alloy wheels, anti-theft – 69,200 miles. Wholesale $9475. Retail $12,425.
The flagship of the defunct Oldsmobile line, the Aurora was intended upon introduction in 1996 to lead Oldsmobile out of its sales slump. Unfortunately, as we all know, that didn’t happen. However, that doesn’t erase the fact that the Aurora is still a fine car. Built to a high quality standard on a stand-alone production line, and using some of the best parts of the massive GM inventory (i.e., a 250 HP version of the Northstar V8 from the Cadillac division), the Aurora is screwed together pretty darn well. Add in what many consider to be attractive looks and above average performance and you have a winning combination. Yes, any GM dealer or repair facility can fix it if something goes wrong. Yes, plenty of parts. And even if you pay full retail, you can buy this car for far less than the price of a new Toyota Corolla.

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX - V-6, 4D, AT, power sunroof, power windows, AC, leather, CD, anti-theft, 96,200 miles. Wholesale $7900. Retail $11,200
Much loved by their owners, Passats project the image of a more expensive car than they really are, both inside and out. This perception is further reinforced when you drive the Passat. There’s a lot of German engineering present and even someone that doesn’t know much about cars can usually tell the difference in engineering content, interior quality and driving dynamics between this and one of its Japanese or American competitors. Passats new and used are still a hot item on dealers’ lots, so you’ll probably pay full retail for this car in most parts of the United States, but it’s still worth it.

2004 Chrysler Crossfire – V6, 2-dr coupe, auto, power everything, leather, sunroof, AC, etc. – 39,650 miles. Wholesale $13,000. Retail $16,750
Let’s start with the basics: wonderful Art Deco - inspired design, major mechanical bits and platform from the last generation Mercedes-Benz SLK, 3.2 liter 215 hp Mercedes V6, body built by Karmann, original MSRP approximately $32,400. Chrysler should be selling these as fast as they can them, right? And as a used car, the Crossfire must be sought-after, right? Wrong on both counts. This small fastback coupe has never found the audience that Chrysler thought it would, and that ripples out into the used car market as well. This is a nice little car, not a sports car, but certainly a sporty car, and lots of fun to drive around. It’s almost all Mercedes-Benz, so it should be much more durable than the typical Chrysler product. It is worth mentioning, however, that this coupe is very cozy inside and really is made for drivers that are under 6 foot tall and do not possess an overabundance of avoirdupois. The space limitations extend to the trunk – the space back there is laughably small. Beauty has its price, I suppose. The word at the wholesale auctions is that these cars usually go over the block at behind left-hand book (that’s wholesale to you civilians) and almost always have low miles, so there should be a pretty good deal waiting for you somewhere in the United States on a Crossfire.

2003 Infiniti G35 - 2-dr coupe, AT, sunroof, leather, AC, 76,700 miles. Wholesale $16,475. Retail $20,400
A fine car that may not have all of the aplomb of a 3-Series BMW, but it's pretty close. A lot closer than the difference in price between the two cars, that’s for certain. And to these eyes, it's the better-looking offering. Very clean lines and looks quite purposeful, as opposed to the 4-door G35, which just looks a bit stitched together from some angles. The V-6 powerplant in this coupe is smooth and powerful all the way up through the torque curve. And it's got Nissan quality in its genes, so no worries there. The only drawback is the car's dismal crash ratings from the crash testing exercise - something you might want to consider before buying. Popular car and therefore you will probably pay full retail anywhere in the country.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LTZ - 5D hatchback, AT, premium stereo, foglights, power sunroof, AC, power windows, etc., balance of GM new car warranty. 22,000 miles. Wholesale $11,400. Retail $15,500.
There are people that think this car is ugly. I'm not one of them. It's not exciting to look at, that's for sure, but I wouldn't call it ugly. Maybe plain is a better adjective. However, the V-6 is a willing performer, the auto transmission is the usual high-quality affair from GM, the platform is the same one the Saab 9-3 uses and the interior quality is a big step up from what you've seen in the past from GM at this price point (but admittedly still not near up to par with it’s competitors in this segment, or, for that matter, the forthcoming 2008 Malibu). The rear seat has great leg room since it slides back, and you really can't beat the utility of a hatchback. The summing up is that as a new car you can do better for the same MSRP, but as a used car at this price, this is a lot of car for the money. Then you add in the fact that this not a popular body style among typical Chevrolet buyers - 2007 is the last of production for the Malibu Maxx model since it just hasn’t sold enough to justify it’s existence in the Malibu lineup any longer, and therefore you will pay quite a bit under retail value to drive one over the curb, and what you have here is quite a bargain as a slightly used car, ladies and gentlemen.

1998 Lincoln Mark VIII – RWD, V8, leather, power seats, windows, door locks, power sunroof, JBL stereo system, CD, alloy wheels, anti-theft – 71,900 miles. Wholesale $3200. Retail $8050.
A great example of a good car that Ford (read Lincoln) never could figure out what to do with, and as a result, the car languished slowly until its death in 1998. This large, powerful coupe was too austere and Germanic on the inside for the core Lincoln buyers, and never could get enough attention from other potential buyers to make it a sales success. Which is a shame, but not for the people that want to buy one now as a used car, because as a used car, the Mark VIII is a fantastic bargain. And since most of their previous owners were getting on in years, the typical Mark VIII you’ll find on a dealer’s lot has been very well taken care of. It is, however, large, so keep that in mind if you live somewhere with tight parking.

2006 Honda Civic Sedan LX – AT, AC, premium audio package, sunroof, navigation system, anti-theft – 28,900 miles. Wholesale $13,200 Retail $16,375
Well, you probably know the drill here. Great Honda quality, much improved looks over the last body style, better-looking than its rival the Toyota Corolla, sips gas, cult-like adoration from owners, balance of factory warranty, etc., etc. It’s a great little car, although it’s worth pointing out that a Mazda 3 is more fun to drive, also has excellent build quality and the actual transaction price of buying one is less. Yeah, you don’t want to hear it, do you? I thought so.
2000 Saab 9-5 SE – 200hp 3.0L V6, power sunroof, leather, CD, power windows, seats, and door locks, alloy wheels, heated seats, ABS, anti-theft – 94,800 miles. Wholesale $4200. Retail $7000.
The Saab 9-5 is a big car inside, certainly bigger than it looks from the outside. And it can cruise for hours at 80 mph without even working up a sweat. You might say to yourself, “So what? Lots of cars can do that.” True, but do those other cars feel as solid and safe as this big Saab? Do they handle and brake as well? And just as important to the used car buyer, does their residual value drop off a cliff in the first two years, and then continue a dizzy spiral downward like the Saab 9-5? The answer is probably no, and that’s what makes this used Saab a remarkable used car value. A great car for this kind of money.

1999 BMW 740i – 4D Sedan, 4.4L V8, power sunroof, leather, CD, heated seats, power everything, alloy wheels, ABS, Sport/Active package – 72,800 miles. Wholesale $9250. Retail $12,250.
The BMW 7-series is the flagship of the BMW product line, and therefore, gets everything first, whether that’s luxury, technology, or big horsepower engines. They are very expensive when new ($70,000 and up), and it’s because all those goodies don’t come cheap. Accordingly, BMW does not sell a lot of 7-series cars in the United States compared to the numbers of 5-series and 3-series flying out of their dealerships. You would think that this would make used 7-series much sought after due to their scarcity, but this is not the case, and this example here (even after adding for the low miles) can be had for less than the price of a new Nissan Versa. Pointing out the obvious, this is quite a deal.

2000 Jaguar S-Type - 3.0 240hp V6, 4D Sedan, power everything, leather, cruise, tilt wheel, CD, power sunroof, alloy wheels, ABS, traction control, anti-theft – 83,300 miles. Wholesale 6900. Retail $10,650.
It looks like a Jaguar, it drives like a Jaguar, it feels like a Jaguar, and owning one no longer requires a personal relationship with a Jaguar mechanic. Does life get any better than this? Although the S-Types are still a bit pricey used, there’s a reason that you will probably pay full retail book for this example, and simply put, the reason is that it’s a great car. Tremendous style for the price, with both pace and grace. Yes, there will always be an England . . .

2000 Mercedes C280 – 2.8L 194hp V6, 4D Sedan, power windows, leather, cruise, CD, power sunroof, alloy wheels, ABS, leather, anti-theft – 98,300 miles. Wholesale $6805. Retail $10,200.
The C-Class does what every other Mercedes does, but in a smaller package. That means you get a terrifically built car that will last and last and last, a car that will cruise all day at 120 mph with no complaints whatsoever, and a car that provides the highest level of safety to you and your passengers. What you won’t get is a car with the fastest 0-60 time in its segment, the best handling in its class, or the largest amount of high-tech gadgets in the cockpit. Buyers looking for these attributes will do better at the local Audi, BMW, Lexus, or Acura dealership. But having said that, it’s not as if the Mercedes C-Class is a slow barge with a Spartan interior. It isn’t. And that’s why a lot of people think this is the best used car bargain in this segment.

2006 Ford Five Hundred SEL – V6, auto, AC, leather, power everything, sunroof, rear entertainment system, balance of factory warranty – 19,500 miles. Wholesale $13,000. Retail $16,325
The Ford Five Hundred is actually a pretty good car, even though it has never been the market leader Ford wanted since it was introduced in 2005, and to this day, sales are languishing. The Five Hundred has two problems, one large and one small. The small one is its looks – they’re not bad, they’re just kind of Euro-bland, although personally, I like the Five Hundred’s looks much, much better than some of its segment competition. And this certainly looks better than the recent re-style shown at the Detroit Auto Show in February. Of course, if bland mattered, then Toyota and Honda wouldn’t sell very many cars at all, would they? The large problem is horsepower, specifically, not enough of it. The Five Hundred has only 203 horsepower, which would have been okay 10 years ago, but is now decidedly sub-par when the Honda Accord V6 has 244 hp, the Toyota Camry V6 has 268 hp, the Saturn Aura XR has 252 hp, etc. Why did Ford handicap the Five Hundred with such an under-achieving engine, you might ask? No one seems to know how a car so important to Ford got out the door 50 hp down from its competition, not even the people at Ford. The engine is further held back by the transmission, which does not exploit the engine’s power bands efficiently enough. The car is not dog-slow, I mean, it’s not embarrassing, but it’s slow. Now, if you drive it and it’s fast enough for you (as it would be for most drivers), then this is a pretty good buy, because you can buy one on almost any lot for close to wholesale. And, really, it’s got a lot of great features, its attractive inside; it does superbly (5 star rating!) in the crash tests, handles well, gets great fuel mileage, etc.

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