Auto Trends

Continuing from our list of the best used cars from 1998 and up, we come to the letters T through V of the manufacturers alphabet:

Toyota 4Runner-

Toyota Avalon-

Toyota Camry (except ‘07 V6)-

Toyota Camry Solara-

Toyota Celica-

Toyota Corolla-

Toyota Echo-

Toyota Highlander-

Toyota Land Cruiser-

Toyota Matrix-

Toyota Prius-

Toyota RAV4-

Toyota Sequoia-

Toyota Sienna-

Toyota Tundra (except ‘07 V8 4WD)-

Here’s a good place to drop in a truck as a highlight. The Toyota Tundra is a refined workhorse from its aggressive design, size, and raw muscle (5.7 liter V-8, 381 horsepower). The Tundra is infamous for being the first import full-size truck to step up to the big three American truck giants (Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge), as they snickered amongst themselves that it was probably just a Camry hiding in a half-ton’s clothing, and offer itself as an actual work capacity truck.

While it was exactly ushered to the front of the line for real hard core truck users, recreational users soon became enamored by the trucks actually respectable capabilities. So maybe it wasn’t quite up to the par of some real heavy duty bruisers the big three offered… but how many consumers really need all that bulk and mass to tow a small boat to the lake for a weekend.

The Tundra couldn’t have debuted at a better time, right smack during the entrance of the new millennium, which left people open to something new. They weren’t exactly taking all that big of a chance, Toyota practically takes up one quarter of this list, because their cars are so darn well put together. The Tundra was refined, smooth, powerful, reliable, and by all sense of the word, practical.

While in its early 2000 stage, the Tundra’s 3.4 liter V-6 (190 horsepower, 220 lb-ft torque) and 4.7 liter V-8 (245 horsepower, 315 lb-ft torque) were certainly smooth running, they were just not exactly powerful. This is where its common misconception formed that the Tundra is nothing more than a moderate recreational vehicle. That all changed in 2004 with the arrival of the double-cab, and then again in 2005 with the unveiling of their all new and improved powertrains, a 245 horsepower 4.0 liter V-6 and 282 horsepower 4.7 liter V-8.

Since then, the 2007 model has optioned the Tundra with a 5.7 liter V-8, with not only 381 horsepower, but also 401 lb-ft of torque. This has placed the Tundra in line with some of the heavier pulling half-tons in its class and has opened the eyes of some of those hard-core users to take a second look at Toyota.

This is a truck that anyone can afford, starting with a 2000 V-6 at around $4,300, on up to a 2007 5.7 V-8 fully loaded at $40,000.

Volvo S60-

The old Volvo S60 standby has become a great used buy in the price range of $8,000 to $20,000. This is one car that is much more recommended as a used vehicle than a new one, just because it hasn’t been redesigned in so long, you really aren’t getting anything worthy of a new car price. Not when there are so many other highly refined decisions out there to choose from.

In 2001, the S60 replaced the Volvo S70, offering a humble 2.4 liter (168 horsepower), a 2.4 Turbo (197 horsepower), and a 2.3 liter 5-cylinder (a.k.a. the T5) with 247 horsepower. 2002 saw the introduction of all-wheel-drive into the 2.4 T S60 as well as traction control and computerized engine management system.

2003 opened quite an impressive bump in performance with the introduction of the Volvo S60 R (pictured above). It featured a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, performance rated tires, 18 inch alloys, xenon lighting, and about 300 horsepower.

The R has since been discontinued, but it would make quite an interesting find for the sports enthusiast looking for that special something a little bit different than your average run of the mill BMW M3…

No, Volvo’s aren’t always ‘Grams’ and ‘Gramps’ cars.. they just sometimes look that way!

Continuing from our list of the best used cars from 1998 and up, we come to the letter S of the manufacturers alphabet:

Scion tC-

Scion xB-

Evey now and then a manufacturer takes a chance and comes out ahead. Unlike the failed Toyota Echo in 2005, the 2004 introduction of the Scion xB was a hit. While this car tends to either be loved or hated, if you don’t mind all the controversy and mixed facial expressions you’ll receive while driving one of these, the xB is actually a well made Toyota with a healthy after market following for those who like to “dub” their vehicles out.

The xB is Toyota’s 5-door wagon offering that is obviously curbed for today’s youth who like to be just a little bit different from everyone else. Starting at $8,000 for a 2004, on up to $14,000 for a new model, you can put yourself behind the drivers seat of one of these, but don’t think that you’re going to get off that easy if you plan on doing some upgrades.

The performance and appearance modifications is probably what is supplying the butter on top of the bread when it comes to Scion sales. This is a given in the performance department when you realize that an exotic 1.5 liter, 103 horsepower subcompact is not going anywhere too fast without a few goodies bolted on to its boxy, yet eccentric frame.

But even if you’re not into all that glam, bling, and guts, the Scion had plenty to offer right of the showroom floor. It comes with anti-lock brakes, traction control, air conditioning, power everything, tilt steering, rear wiper and privacy glass, with factory upgrade options singing to the tune of fog lights, spoiler, alloy rims, and of course a “boom” system satellite stereo system.

If you don’t like following the crowd… this car is a ready made black sheep of the flock!

Subaru Baja-

Subaru Forester-

Subaru Impreza-

Subaru Legacy-

So far we have focused a lot on performance, interest, and fun… but we need something for the practical side in us all, and Subaru takes care of that with its Subaru Legacy. In 2006, the Legacy earned “Best Pick” in both front and side-impact tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The wagon version of the Legacy could practically be the poster child for practicality as it is the epitome of safety, cargo space, convenience, appearance, usefulness, and all wrapped up with the reassurance and all-weather capability of an SUV crossover.

This car does its best to take on all the roles a vehicle should ever be asked to do and offers them in a convenient price range of $1,000 for a second generation on up to $30,000-plus for a new fourth generation model.

Whether you like the sedan or the wagon, the late 1990’s models (second generation) came with a stout 2.2 liter engine with a modest but reliable 137 horsepower. The Legacy GT and LSi received a slightly more peppy 165 horsepower 2.5 liter engine stacked with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.

The third generation models from 2000 to 2004 proved to be the best all around all-weather performers, but if you crave performance, then the 2005 and up (fourth generation) Legacy GT will be more to your liking. With the Legacy GT, the practicality is slightly overshadowed by its turbocharged 250 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque.

We guess practicality is stomachable when you’ve got 250 ponies stampeding underneath your lead foot…

Subaru Outback-

(…to be continued)

Continuing from our list of the best used cars from 1998 and up, we come to the letters N through P of the manufacturers alphabet:

Nissan Altima-

Nissan Maxima-

Nissan Murano-

The Murano was released back in the not so distant 2003. While these are certainly not all that old, you can still get a great price for one at somewhere between $15,000 to $25,000. The Murano is basically a repackaged Nissan Altima which is another great Nissan that hit the Consumer Reports list for best used cars from 1998 and up.

There is nothing too fancy about this car-based Nissan crossover, but it is quite stylish for its class and a good solid reliable vehicle for the most part. It’s simplicity is probably what makes it have such great reliability to be quite honest.

It comes with 18 inch rims, a 3.5 liter V-6 worth 245 horsepower and 246 ft-lbs of torque, and a CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission), which not only makes the gear switching seamless, but saves you a few mpg’s with its stated 20 city/ 24 highway.

One of its only negatives for its crossover status would have to be its four passenger interior, which is a tad smaller than most of its competitors five to seven seating arrangement.

But if your family is fairly small, you can still enjoy a few of its useful standard amenities, like tilt steering and climate control, with room to upgrade to power adjustable pedals, leather interior, navigation system, xenon lighting, and traction control.

This is all the urban assault you should really ever need in your typical city battleground!

Pontiac Vibe-

Porsche 911 (except ‘03)-

High performance sports cars don’t often make it on these lists, so when one does you have to take notice. If you erase the 2003 model out of your mind, the rest of their offerings from 1999 on up were darn near bulletproof. At least as bullet proof as 300 some horsepower engine can be.

It isn’t hard to fathom why the Porsche 911 made it onto the list with 34 some years of refinements under their belts. 1999 marked a new generation that would offer an all new redesigned engine incorporating water cooling and dual-overhead cams and a wider stance by three inches, that would put the meaning of “wide body” back into the Porsche name.

Porsche tends to follow the old saying, “speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?” On the lower end of the price spectrum, $19,000 (in relatively poor shape mind you) could get you the 1999 standard 3.4 liter flat six with 300 horsepower and all the standard Porsche tuning that has made this car practically unbeatable on a curvy road.

If your willing to up the ante on the price by several thousand, you could opt for the turbocharged 3.6 liter, which saw no less than 415 horsepower. 2002 grew the liters of the standard Porsche to 3.6 liters, which boosted its 300 horsepower to an easy 320. 2002 was also the year that the infamous Porsche GT2 was released, which has a potent 456 horsepower at its disposal.

If you can find a 2004 model with the optional “horsepower kit” installed, the horsepower will run you 345 for the base 3.6 liter and 450 for the turbo. About the only way you are going to get much faster, is to take up a 2007 turbo 911 rated at an awesome 480 horsepower.

But as we said, you pay for what you get. If you want to really fly in style, $100,000-plus seems to be the going rate for a newer GT2, or you could go with the lesser GT3 (380 horsepower) in the upper 50’s.

So, how fast do you want to go?