So I've been looking for a used car this week in the $7,500 range -- you know, what the Smart should cost brand new. Appropriately enough, the Smart has been my steed, lurching me around the greater L.A. area in hot pursuit of low-mileage rides. Here's what I've looked at thus far, and how each one stacks up against our beloved creamsicle and its $15,305 MSRP.
1999 Lexus LS400, 74k miles, $10,500. A bit steep for a car I'll be driving about 500 miles a year, but what a beautiful V8 (290 hp), even 10 years later. One-owner car (old lady). Makes the Smart feel like something out of Oregon Trail, for 2/3 the price. A hilariously awesome value in relative terms.
1996 Lexus SC400, 82k miles, $7,800. Another one-owner old lady car. Fantastic interior design and craftsmanship. Super-smooth V8 (down 30 hp on the '99 LS400). Nakamichi stereo sounds so good it must have spent its whole life tuned in to talk radio. Usable backseat. Double-articulating industrial-grade door hinges. Yours for half a Smart.
2001 Honda Prelude (base), 68k miles, $7,900. Black, manual transmission, intake/exhaust only, clean title. If there's anyone out there who would take a new Smart over this car, I'd be genuinely interested to know why.
1953 M35 Deuce and a Half Military Monster Truck, $8,995. Hell, I could get the Deuce and a Half plus the 'Lude or Lexus SC for less than two grand over the Smart's MSRP. Now that's what I call value.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 15,781 miles
audisport says:
02:19 PM, 04/ 8/09
LS400 for sure. It will run for a quarter million miles and its smooooth.
nealibob says:
02:26 PM, 04/ 8/09
I bet the M35 could be driven more smoothly than the Smart.
editor_karl says:
02:30 PM, 04/ 8/09
Last gen Prelude was a seriously under-rated car, particularly if it has ATTS (a system too advanced for the average American driven to "get" -- let alone truly exploit).
altimadude00 says:
02:31 PM, 04/ 8/09
The M35 could be driven smoothly OVER the smart.
The SC400 sounds nice.
brn says:
03:00 PM, 04/ 8/09
Josh, what happened to the idea of a 2004 Lincoln LS (with a V8) for the $10K ballpark?
louiswei says:
03:01 PM, 04/ 8/09
This is a no-brainer...
If you don't mind a coupe and didn't get the SC400 then you are an idiot. Please excuse my language but that's just the truth.
anilpunjabi says:
04:56 PM, 04/ 8/09
wat abt an acura like a 3.2 tl or what about the departed cl?
g8gtnorth says:
05:25 PM, 04/ 8/09
2 appliances, and a 2.5 ton truck?
I like your open-mindedness. I would hope you keep shopping around. I'm sure you could snag something cool, like a 300zx t-top twin, or a late model T/A. Heck I saw a 440 not too long ago for not much more.
If you wanted some lux, THE 3.8 is about a bulletproof as they get and chip it for lots of fun. Like that other guy said, a Town Car/Crown Vic could be good too. Especially on road trips to the snow belt... in the winter. Oh the stories some cabies could tell you.
firstwagon says:
05:36 PM, 04/ 8/09
Used high end cars always look better then cheap new cars until something big fails and there's no one to pay for the repair but you.
Good for the do it self types but not for those who take it in to the dealer for repair all the time.
dougtheeng says:
06:18 AM, 04/ 9/09
That Prelude sounds pretty tempting.
AMTalker says:
06:47 AM, 04/ 9/09
@anilpunjabi
I have a 1998 Acura CL that I would be willing to unload. Great little coupe, smooth, decent power and I like the styling too.
I have to get out of this coupe soon, baby seat in the back, but I would be hard pressed not to go for that SC 400. I test drove one when I was last looking and it was a great car.
redliner says:
08:04 AM, 04/ 9/09
I see that Mr. Sadlier prefers his personal cars quite and smooth. I agree. A race car is fun until your stuck in 5pm traffic. Then the stiff suspension begins to feel like your rolling on concrete blocks, and the clutch becomes just another chore. LS during the week, S2000 on the week end.
m_thrizzle says:
08:43 AM, 04/ 9/09
To extend the theme of your post -- if cheap, crappy Chinese cars come to the US, I don't know why people would buy one for $10k when they could buy a 3-yr old Civic for the same price and save on maintenance costs and hassles. Plus, you will have a nicer car to begin with and not a junky featureless interior.
jaguar36 says:
09:08 AM, 04/ 9/09
I thought this was supposed to be an enthusiast site? Why would you want an incredibly dull Lexus? The prelude is nice, although that seems rather pricey for an 8 year old. Why not get a nice early E46 BMW instead? Almost as reliable, and so much more fun to drive.
louiswei says:
10:03 AM, 04/ 9/09
"Why not get a nice early E46 BMW instead? Almost as reliable"
You are funny, that's like saying Rosie O'Donnell is almost as sexy as Nicole Kidman... Also, why can't an enthusiat drive a Lexus, who the heck are you to say that? Check out some Lexus enthusiat websites, maybe you'll learn a few thing or two.
Some people here are just ignorant beyond belief...
joquito says:
02:30 PM, 04/ 9/09
Give me a break. Those Lexus models are just more reliable Cadillacs, quiet, but soft and bouncy. They only hold value to those with blue hair.
Tell me what other new car you can buy for $15K MSRP with ESP, 4 airbags, leather seats, heated seats, 6 CD changer, tire pressure sensors, and get also 41mpg.
SadButTrue says:
06:52 PM, 04/ 9/09
@joquito,
What car are you talking about? Not our Smart, eh?
-JS
joquito says:
10:36 PM, 04/ 9/09
@JS
Everything I mentioned except the leather and heated seats are standard. If one buys on new, they can configure it as I mentioned for $15K.
The car is what it is. Comparing it to big fluffy sofas on 4 wheels, that were manufactured when Y2K was considered a national threat is completely beyond silly.
SadButTrue says:
10:56 PM, 04/ 9/09
Joquito, I think your mistake is assuming that the Smart qualifies as a "car." I'd say it occupies an unfortunate niche between golf carts and automobiles.
louiswei says:
09:32 AM, 04/10/09
I'll take the sofas-on-wheels over a glorified golf cart anyday...
sherief says:
11:01 AM, 04/10/09
Only E36 M3's will sell at that price range.
e34bmwlover says:
08:35 AM, 04/12/09
Why do you want a lexus? Yeah it may last awhile but driving is gonna be dull and boring. Instead get a BMW E39 540i/6spd or E38 740i sport and call it a day. Just my 2 cents