Page 2#14: Chevrolet Camaro
Expect to Pay: $5,000 - $10,000
While we wait for the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, online searchers are looking into the previous Chevy Camaro, which began its ponycar reign in 1966 and lasted until 2002. Buying a used Chevy Camaro is a bit of a crapshoot, but if this style (and big, rear-drive V-8 muscle) appeals to you, dig in.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
Page 3#13: Chevrolet Impala
Expect to Pay: $13,000 - $18,000
The Chevy Impala family sedan may not set hearts aflutter, but as a used car, there's a lot of value for the money. If you want a roomy car with a comfortable ride, shop for a used Chevy Impala.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
Page 4#12: Nissan Altima
Expect to Pay: $16,000 - $24,000
Variety is a key to the popularity of the Nissan Altima in our used-car search set. The Altima comes in sedan and coupe versions, and there's even a Nissan Altima Hybrid model -- 34 mpg -- for fuel-economy fans. For the rest, the Nissan Altima comes with one of the best V-6 engines in the world.
Photo Credit: Nissan
Page 5#11: Toyota Corolla
Expect to Pay: $8,000 - $13,000
When economy is the name of your game, the Toyota Corolla deserves a top spot on your starting lineup. As a used car, the affordable, well-built, Toyota-reliable compact sedan will not disappoint -- the Toyota Corolla has gotten more students through college than Cliff's Notes and crank.
Photo Credit: Toyota
Page 6#10: Toyota Tacoma
Expect to Pay: $10,000 - $18,000
Toyota started the compact truck 1.5 million years ago (back in the 1970s). The Toyota Tacoma is the direct descendant of that era, and the years have treated the Toyota pickup truck well. It now has midsize truck capability and almost as many variants in cab, bed, drivetrain and package capability as a full-size truck. It's even got a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder available.
Photo Credit: Toyota
Page 7#9: Chevrolet Silverado
Expect to Pay: $11,000 - $24,000
Speaking of full-size pickup trucks -- which few people do in these days when gas prices hit $4.00 a gallon -- the Chevrolet Silverado often dominates the conversation. A perennial strong seller when new, the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a popular used choice as well, with lots of variations to choose.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
Page 8#8: Toyota Camry
Expect to Pay: $12,000 - $24,000
The Toyota Camry is a classic used car in so many ways. First, there are a ton of used Camry sedans available. Second, hold their value and last like mad. The Toyota Camry is an easy used-car recommendation, and now you can find a few used Camry Hybrid models on the market as well.
Photo Credit: Toyota
Page 9#7: Chevrolet Corvette
Expect to Pay: $34,000 - $48,000
It's always nice to see a sports car in the used-car search arena. The Chevrolet Corvette has a long line of used-car years to choose from, every one of them with a V-8 engine. Fear not the automatic transmission, either, because the Chevy Corvette is a torque monster, and Chevy does a good job of incorporating the automatic into the package.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet
Page 10#6: BMW 3 Series
Expect to Pay: $24,000 - $42,000
Talk about a used car that knows how to hold its value. The BMW 3 Series cars -- sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons -- are all true sports cars and luxury cars in their own right. They hold their value, so you'll be paying a premium, but you are getting more used car for your money as well.
Photo Credit: BMW
Page 11#5: Jeep Wrangler
Expect to Pay: $10,000 - $24,000
There's a used-car bargain to be found in a Jeep Wrangler, because a Jeep Wrangler is a true off-roader. That means that some buyers will get a Wrangler, thinking they want to go off-roading. Then they learn they have to go off road to go off-roading. Then they buy a soft-road vehicle and sell the Jeep Wrangler, almost unused -- that's your cue to buy it at a used-car discount.
Photo Credit: Jeep
Page 12#4: Ford F-150
Expect to Pay: $10,000 - $26,000
Some folks really do need a full-size pickup truck, fuel economy be damned. If that's you, there are plenty of used Ford F-150 trucks to choose from. The Ford F-150 pickup has been America's bestselling truck for three decades, and people don't buy full-size trucks by accident, so you can be sure there's a good, hard-working reason for that.
Photo Credit: Ford
Page 13#3: Honda Accord
Expect to Pay: $14,000 - $20,000
Along with the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord is a prime candidate for used-car Nirvana. It ain't flashy, but the Honda Accord is as reliable, durable and drivable as the day is long and the night is dark. Any Honda Accord -- sedan, coupe, hybrid even -- will hold its value in the used-car market, but it will also be worth paying a little more money to get a lot more reassurance.
Photo Credit: Honda
Page 14#2: Honda Civic
Expect to Pay: $9,000 - $16,000
All the nice things we said about the Honda Accord on the previous page, also go for the Honda Civic, just scaled down a bit. The Honda Civic is available in many forms, including a fuel-smart, not-too-small compact sedan, the sporty Si coupe and a fuel-economy-crazed hybrid (40 mpg, city/46 mpg, highway), and there are plenty of Civics available on the used-car scene.
Photo Credit: Honda
Page 15#1: Ford Mustang
Expect to Pay: $12,000 - $24,000
Persistence pays off. The Ford Mustang has been around since the 1960s, and it's been a big seller for Ford. As a consequence, the used-car price of a Ford Mustang is surprisingly reasonable, as its top position as our most-searched used car testifies. But with a little work, you can find a used-car bargain and get a V-6 or V-8 sports car, all in one package.
Photo Credit: Ford
