Although the auto industry in general has taken a great leap forward in recent years, it’s clear that some individual vehicles have simply been leapfrogged and left behind. They continue to ride on older platforms and offer a distinctly old-school approach to amenities and fuel economy, but perhaps more importantly, they also offer some interesting opportunities for savvy auto shoppers. The five choices here either already have or shortly will go out of production—but are still available as new vehicles—so dealers are likely to be eager to move them off their lots. And while no longer on the cutting edge in terms of content, they are positioned for high value and can make particularly strong alternatives to used vehicles—which have seen prices soar to new heights this year.
Chevrolet HHRIt’s the car so nice they had to build it twice—once as the groundbreaking Plymouth PT Cruiser (already out of production) and once done Chevy-style. The Chevrolet HHR certainly stands out from the crowd now, thanks to its retro sheet metal, and being built off the same platform as Chevy’s previous compact, the Cobalt, it’s riding on a proven foundation that has been road-tested by hundreds of thousands of drivers across the country.
Another bonus: The ranks of the compact five-door hatchback have grown quite thin with companies like Honda and Nissan no longer offering this body style. Thus, the HHR provides a rare chance to enjoy some extra interior flexibility in the compact segment with a cabin that also offers both more cargo room and more passenger room than the Ford Focus five-door hatch. It’s worth pointing out as well that, even for an older product, the HHR delivers fairly decent EPA ratings. Relying on its base 2.2-liter Ecotec I4 mated to a five-speed manual transmission, the HHR can deliver 155 hp, 150 lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA line of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 combined; even with the bigger, 2.4-liter Ecotec under the hood, capable of 172 hp/167 lb.-ft. of torque, hooked up to a four-speed autobox, the HHR shows an EPA line of 22/30/25. The MSRP of the 2011 Chevrolet HHR is $18,720, but, again, dealers should be eager to bargain.
Lincoln Town CarTruly marking the end of an era, the final Lincoln Town Car already has come down the assembly line, but a number still remain available for retail sale with a base price that starts at $47,225. Now, this may seem like a pretty steep MSRP for a car that doesn’t even offer things like a navigation system, blind-spot alert, Bluetooth compatibility, remote start, a rearview camera or any number of goodies available on vehicles that cost half as much. What you do get with the Town Car, though, that you can’t get anywhere else is a full-size sedan that stretches more than 215 inches in length—it’s over four inches longer than a Ford F-150—and delivers a traditional American approach to driving comfort, including rear-wheel drive and body-on-frame construction
The large Lincoln also has a long list of less-advanced, but still luxury-oriented content, like power-adjustable pedals, a dual-zone climate system, plenty of leather and wood interior trim, eight-way power-adjustable and heated seats, rear park assist, an eight-speaker sound system with subwoofer, traction control and an extended-wheelbase configuration. Interestingly, one area in which the Town Car does match up with the new-generation of luxury sedans is in fuel efficiency consider the fact that both it and the Hyundai Equus manage the exact same EPA ratings of 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway/19 mpg combined.
Honda ElementAlthough demand for the Honda Element has slipped significantly, the passion it inspires in its owners hasn’t, and it’s easy to see why. The Element boasts a rough-and-ready interior that is both highly versatile—with more than 64 different cargo/seating configurations—and easy to clean—thanks to its urethane-coated, water-resistant utility floor and moisture-resistant seat coverings. The cabin also showcases a plethora of storage solutions, including a large three-bin tray located above the glovebox and numerous rear tie-downs, as well as a removable cooler/storage box in the Element EX.
The Element adds further capabilities, too, with Honda’s optional “Real-Time 4WD” system, which can route power to the vehicle’s rear wheels to help provide enhanced all-weather and light-duty off-road performance. Yet this is no stripped-down toolbox. The high-function Honda can be upgraded with options like a 270-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 sound system with seven speakers and a 6.5-inch subwoofer, and standard on all models is a full-suite of safety measures, including a front end specifically designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries, multiple airbags (including side-curtain airbags), vehicle stability assist, anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution, and an integrated tire-pressure monitoring system. Packing an all-aluminum four-cylinder engine with the automaker’s hallmark i-VTEC variable valve timing and output numbers of 166 hp and 161 lb.-ft. of torque, to go with an EPA line of up to 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, the 2011 Honda Element starts at $20,825.
Mitsubishi EclipseThe Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder are now available as 2012 models, but the sun is quickly setting on Mitsubishi’s iconic sports car. The automaker previously announced it would cease production of the Eclipse, along with the Mitsubishi Galant and Mitsubishi Endeavor, as it reinvents itself with a new, globally integrated lineup, but for now, drivers would be hard-pressed to find a more dramatically designed car with such a long performance pedigree at such a low price. The MSRP of the Eclipse coupe starts at $19,499, while the drop-top Spyder opens at $27,999.
In addition to offering both hard- and soft-top models, Mitsubishi also sells the Eclipse in both high-performance and high-efficiency configurations. The car can reach up to 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined when holstering its peppy 162-hp four-cylinder or leverage a full 265 horses when rocking a powerful V-6 engine—while still reaching 20 mpg highway. Mitsubishi is sending the car off in style as well, courtesy of Special Edition packages for both the coupe and convertible. Included are unique exterior appearance upgrades, including 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels, along with standard features like a four-speed automatic transmission, heated leather front seats, a rearview camera, Bluetooth compatibility, HID headlights with fog lamps and a nine-speaker, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system.
Anything from SaabTechnically, it’s still possible that the Swedish automaker, Saab, will be selling cars next year in one form or another, but if you want to be sure of getting your inner quirk on in a new one, now is the time to buy. The current Saab lineup does bear investigating especially if you’re ready to bargain. After all, the Saab 9-5 sedan and station wagon, as well as the 9-4X crossover, are essentially all-new designs that ride on relatively successful platforms engineered by General Motors; the underpinnings of the former come from the very well-received second-gen Buick LaCrosse and the latter was built on the same architecture that rides beneath the successful second-generation Cadillac SRX.
What’s holding down sales of these products is more related to Saab’s financial difficulties than anything else. The Saab 9-3, which is also available in a wagon body style, is a bit longer in the tooth, but the convertible and the 9-3X—a rugged wagon with some amount of added off-road capability—are notable entries in otherwise small market niches. A devotion to turbocharged power and an impressive all-wheel-drive setup help differentiate Saab products even further. Pricing starts at $35,340 for the 9-3 family, $49,565 for the 9-5 and $48,010 for the 9-4X.
