This week is the third and final installment of our QOTD series about cornering the used car market and finding the most bang for the buck.
We’re going all out for this finale, and giving you plenty of money to shop.
And when we say plenty of money, we’re talking more than triple the lowest budget of two weeks ago, and ten grand more than last week. Those of you who are astute at math will know this means a grandiose budget of $49,765.23 $25,000.
This sort of cash should open up the used car field considerably. Still, we won’t be getting as much for our money as we would have in a market where both new and used cars are experiencing upward pressure with regard to price.
Here are some characteristics of our top budget $25,000 buyer:
- General availability
- Low miles
- Good maintenance history
- Luxury equipment
- Prestige
- Style
- Fun factor
We’re going to assume for our big budget customer that practicality, reliability, and probable longevity take a back seat to things like equipment, a prestigious badge on the front, and having a car that’s fun to drive. To the previously forbidden Camry, Accord, Corolla, and Civic are added the Fusion and Impala. Those last two are too easy as used picks (perhaps secondhand from a rental company), and too easy to find at this price point.
We’re working with a different set of more upscale vehicle types this time around.
- Large sedan
- Luxury sedan
- Full-size truck
- Full-size V8 SUV
- Large CUV
- Sports car
- Imported coupe
This week’s customer is the least desperate for a vehicle, compared to the other two. They can take their time shopping, and probably have another car already. At $25,000, suggestions really should be pretty good looking, or maybe even CPO at the lower end. Remember, reliability matters a bit less this time. Let’s hear those big money selections.
[Image: Mazda]
With this budget, I could get a nice Jag xf or maybe a xj for my big roomy sedan, if i wanted to be save a loaded Bick Lacrosse would also work. A 2015 cop volvo xc 70 cross country wagon would replace the SUV I do not need. Would love a e class wagon but not enough cash for that.
I could go with a Cpo e class convertible , it would take some searching, or screw it it is not my money the best Porsche boxster I can find
Large sedan – CPO Lexus ES350 or Hybrid Avalon. Great comfortable large sedans. Not sure why, but I always liked the hybrid version to sit it city traffic or cruise on the highway. Although new 2018 Lacrosse would be a close second.
Luxury sedan – Audi A3 or Lexus IS350. On the smaller side, but both are great to drive.
Full-size truck – Ram 1500 Big Horn. Can usually find some around the 35-40k mark to fit the budget. My favorite truck to drive.
Full-size V8 SUV – Can newer Armada’s go under 25 now? Once again this budget is tough for a full-size V8.
Large CUV – Jeep Grand Cherokee. Great SUV.
Sports car – VW GTI (I spent my own money on this one last year) or if something that’s actually a sports car, the best C6 I could find.
Imported coupe – Does S2000 with a hardtop count lol
“Large CUV – Jeep Grand Cherokee. Great SUV.”
It’s a great SUV no doubt, but interior and cargo space is no better than (sometimes worse) than most compact CUVs on the market.
This has always been my issue with the JGC. Every single one of them has been cramped.
On paper I like the GC.
Then I look at the back seat and the cargo area and remember that I have a family.
I’ve had 2 JGCs and carrying people and their stuff isn’t their prime focus, but as a capable off-roader that’s also a comfortable hwy cruiser, they’re hard to beat
I also think the JGC is a bit too expensive for what you get with regard to quality and equipment. Its still trading on the prestige it built in 1994.
@Corey – that’s why Jack Baruth called the GC an “American Range Rover”.
Running on reputation and a badge.
Yeah, I’d go with that descriptor. I don’t even think I’d recommend one as a used buy.
My brother has access to a pair of newer WK2s (Laredo, 8spd plus pentastar) through work that they pile miles on. He’d agree that they make fantastic highway mile eaters, with very decent MPG to boot (as high as 26). I question just how much offroad capability is left, however. These days you have to configure a pretty specific trim of Grand Cherokee just to keep up with a plain jane SR5 4Runner in the rough stuff. But for moderate offroad use even a Base Laredo is usefully more capable than a basic FWD based crossover, that much is very true.
In KC at least, one can buy a 2018 Miata MX-5 Grand Touring for $24,999 + $200 “Dealer Fee”. I know that puts me $199 over the budget, but that’s exactly what I bought two weeks ago and absolutely love it. First fun car ever and first new car purchase since 2004. Meets all your criteria:
Here are some characteristics of our top budget $25,000 buyer:
General availability – Check
Low miles – Check
Good maintenance history – Check
Luxury equipment – Check (leather, nav, lane assist, blindspot monitoring, heated seats, etc.)
Prestige – Meh
Style – Love it
Fun factor – Off The Charts!
Congrats Davidb that’s a great deal. Had a Miata and loved every minute of top down driving for 11 years. There will be another one in the not too distant future for me.
The GTI is more than likely the best bet here for your 25k spent new.
What ajla would do in order of likelihood:
0. C6 Corvette
1. Nicest V8-powered Pontiac G8 the budget allows.
2. Nicest pre-09 Jaguar XJ the budget allows
2. Go full Tavarish and buy a 80s/90s Bentley.
Tavarish does (did) not buy a 80s/90s Bentley. Tavarish buys ZIL or Chaika GAZ 14.
I was originally going to type “Hoovies Garage”, but I was eating a breakfast burrito at the time and picked the YouTuber with the shorter name for reasons of laziness.
“Tavarish” is like in Tavarish Gorbachev.
Cherry/mint ’04 SVT Cobra Mustang someone already upgraded to a 2.8 KB superchanger to the tune of 700 HP at the wheels, rollbar and street slicks.
Unlike the hazardous act of pressurizing a new Mustang GT to 700 HP, with its (high compression) V8 not designed for boost, the SVT DOHC 4.6 all forged internals V8 was factory designed and (hand) built to take boost, and way more than the stock SVT blower.
And of course the Tremec, not the China trans in the Mustang GT.
Large sedan – Impala LT V6 or Taurus SEL or 300 V6 (yes I’m factoring in incentives etc.)
Luxury sedan – CPO XTS
Full-size truck – Talk to the fleet manager.
Full-size V8 SUV – Nicest lowest mile Armada or QX80
Large CUV – nicest current gen Explorer or Flex that I could get for the price.
Sports car – the nicest used Corvette I can get.
Imported coupe – lol wut? Any super clean 1st/2nd gen SC400s out there?
Do you even read the rules Daniel. Do you even.
Lol, Corey “schools” the princiPAL
Are you allowing new or used?
I think $25K could get those – the only one I’m looking at New would be Large Sedan and Full-size truck.
I’ll be I know at least one fleet manager at a Ford dealer in NM who would get me a fleet white F150 longbed V6 for that cut off.
The Impala is forbidden!
(best Clark Griswold face)
But….
(Open’s Impala’s 19 cubic ft trunk)
I got a wife, and two kids, and all their crap!
Large Sedan/Lux Sedan= W221S-Class
Large SUV- GL450
Large CUV- R350
Large and/or lux sedan:
Pre-predator face Lexus GS350
’15 Hyundai Genesis sedan 3.8L
’14ish Merc E350
Most loaded newest Chrysler 300 I could fine
CUV:
CPO Infiniti QX60 and hope the CVT warranty applies
’14 XC90 (final years of 1st gen)
Truck:
’15 F150 to get the rust-proof aluminum body, ext-cab XLT 4wd with the 5.0L without many options for $25k with lower miles should be doable.
Starting next year, the GS350 predator face likely falls into this pricing category and it’s updated steering wheel, instrument panel and seats/colors. You don’t look at the face when you’re driving, so I’m thinking it might be worth waiting for.
Never thought I’d say it, but at least on the ’16-’17ish ES350s, the predator grille looks less odd and repulsive by the day. I think that moreso points to Toyota totally jumping off the cliff with some of their newest designs rather than it somehow aging gracefully or me finally coming around to “appreciate” it.
Large sedan: Ford Taurus SHO
Luxury sedan Toyota Century
Full-size truck Toyota Land Cruiser truck
Full-size V8 SUV Ford Bronco
Large CUV Ford Flex EcoBoost AWD
Sports car Honda Integra GS-R
Imported coupe Nissan Leopard
Just think of that – a pristine Century V8 with 50,000 miles or so, for $20k. Quite a bargain.
You mean V-12, dontcha? I looked around and saw a couple under the price limit, so I picked it.
My other choice was a low mileage Lincoln MKZ with the 3.7L V-6.
Nope, V8. I believe it had a V8 engine until the 1997 redesign (the only redesign since introduction in the ’60s). At that point it swapped to the 5L V12, used only in that car.
But of course those are too new to import still.
Ahh, I see.
I wonder what else that V-12 would fit in. I know it wasn’t especially powerful, but the bragging rights on your Lexus GS V-12 would be off the scale. If not, maybe the LS?
Nice low-end torque, pop it in the Land Cruiser.
LX500.
Unless you move to Canada…
Top Secret put a V12 in a MkIV Supra and tuned it to 900hp or so.
https://www.motor1.com/news/243895/toyota-supra-v12-video/
I do not know if you can even find a decent, not even good Land Cruiser for 25K
I wish I had been able to afford a brand new 1990-1998 LC or a 1998-2007 model.
Then I could still be driving it.
I can find lots of them, just not the pickup version. However, I did find this after a quick search:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Toyota-Land-Cruiser/263959927293?hash=item3d753cd9fd:g:UOsAAOSwoudbO-jA
Under $25k, and negotiable
Lexus GS350 – lux brand, reliable, excellent drive, excellent seats, excellent stereo. You don’t even need a cpo version to know you’re getting something of quality.
I think I just talked myself into one of these. Or a ’16 Jag XF. Which is a good choice but must be a cpo or fuggetaboutit.
Large sedan-Ford Taurus SHO or a loaded SEL
Luxury sedan-Chrysler 300C or S
Full-size truck-Ford F-150 XLT
Full-size V8 SUV-Dodge Durango RT-It straddles full and mid sized SUV
Large CUV-Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
Sports car- Fiat 124-I’ve seen some non Abarth trim models for under $25k
Imported coupe- CPO Jaguar XK I think many have depreciated to the $25k range.
Ohh, the 124. Didn’t think about that one.
I’ve seen some barely used ones for just over $22k.
I really do want want one of these, so for me, this would be real-world. It is the next vehicle I am saving up cash for. It is based on a full-size truck chassis (albeit a cutaway) and can be had on Ebay right now for $20,000. I’d buy a camper with the other $5,000. Again, we want to buy both, so this is real world for me.
To me, the epitome of luxury is convenience. Imagine, walking ONTO your vehicle instead of having to crawl into it. Imagine changing a baby’s diaper while you are standing up and you are both shielded from the heat/cold. Imagine, no more yelling at your kids/friends – you have an intercom system that you can crank up and it lets speak at a natural volume. You have a 12 speaker sound system? I can fit 120. Imagine reclining seats with headrests and armrests, just like your rich neighbor’s Maybach.
What am I? I am a shuttle bus. More specifically, a 2009 Chevy C4500 shuttle bus with a Duramax diesel. How does it meet the criteria?
General availability – These are all over Craigslist, Ebay, and auctions. I have even seen a few on local car lots (but way overpriced).
Low miles – This example has 74,000 miles. This is fairly low for a diesel.
Good maintenance history – Impeccable service history. Maintained by the government with full documentation.
Luxury equipment – LED lighting abounds. No more bending to get into a vehicle (we simply walk on). I can only have 15 total seats to stay under CDL, so 5 will be coming out. Over time, I can replace them with cushy leather seats that clean easier. Talk about luxury!!!! I will be installing a diaper changing station, as well as a luggage rack for storage. I can have a large-screen TV, killer sound system, fridge, and composting toilet. I have 2 A/C units to keep us cool. Now THAT is luxury.
Prestige – You’ll see over other vehicles. Everyone will get out of your way. Who else can take ALL their friends with them?
Style – You can paint it whatever way you want. The white is simply a canvas inviting creativity.
Fun factor – What’s not fun about a medium-duty truck that can tow 10,000-15,000 lbs? You can tow fun right behind you.
Took away some of the easy options. I’ll remind you of a couple that we don’t even need to buy used.
Brand new Taurus SEL.
Brand new Mustang EB.
Sedan–300S Hemi
Pickup–single cab Hemi Ram 1500. Preferably 4×4 but an R/T will do great.
SUV–Durango or GC with Hemi
4×4–2 door Wrangler.
Sporty Car–Challenger R/T. Actually this exact scenario is how I scored my ’09. I could have afforded new, but there just wasn’t anything in stock that was set up how I wanted it. Mine was $10K cheaper, immaculate and with 16K miles. Electric blue, no sunroof, leather and manual. Exactly what I wanted.
Used W205 C-class. The W205 is a great entry-level luxury car (disclaimer: I work for Mercedes but I felt that way before I ever started working there). Stay far, far away from the CLA, and the F30 3-series is outclassed in basically every regard by its competitors. If you want to buy new, VW GTI or Accord/Camry/Mazda6.