Sell Me A Car-What Should I Buy

[Schneed10]

Certified pre-owned makes the most financial sense. Getting a car coming off a two-year lease is ideal (20-30 thousand miles). You probably know this, but cars depreciate like sons of bitches the second you drive a new one off the lot. Catching a pre-owned allows you to take advantage of that initial depreciation, buying at a lower price but still getting the car at a relatively young age.

I'm assuming that since you liked the Accord before, you're comfortable in that class of car again. So I'd say the best bet is Toyota Camry, second best bet is the Honda Accord, third best bet is the Hyundai Sonata.

Hondas hold their value the longest of the 3, meaning if you got in a wreck and totaled it a few years after buying it, your insurance company would cut you the biggest check for the Honda.

Toyotas are a bit cheaper to maintain. Parts are a bit less expensive. I think Hyundais are pretty good on maintenance cost. Plus Hyundai offers that peace of mind with the 10-year power train warrantee.

If you're buying a car with 15-30 thousand miles on it, you're probably talking about 2004 models. That year, the Honda Accord won the car of the year from JD Power. The Camry owned that title for a long time before that.

But the Camry is cheaper, and hence a better value, in my opinion. All three are solid in crash ratings. If safety is really important to you, get the side curtain air bags, adding them takes the vehicles up to 5-star crash ratings.

I have a 1999 Camry, and my mom has a 2002 Camry which I've driven. I can attest to their handling, it's very smooth and the braking is excellent. I've test driven the Honda Accords too, and they have a stiffer feel to the handling and don't brake quite as easily, but I think the engine has more pep (comparing 4 cylinder to 4 cylinder). It comes down to what you like, but in the end, I think the Camry is the #1 car in the country (in terms of units sold) for a reason. I've never had a problem with mine, not one, I've had it for four years.

If you want something sportier but still reliable and sensible, the Toyota Solara looks like a sweet choice to me.