48 Hours And A Used Car

03/18/2026

"I hate Hamlet."

"Why?"

"Because it reminds me of some of my customers."

"What do you mean? Do they throw 27 metaphors into a 3 minute monologue?"

"No. They waste my time and can't make a decision to save their asses from first base."

"A bit hard, aren't you?"

"No. Not at all. I value my time."

"Don't we all."

"Look, if you tell me exactly what you want, then perfect! I'll do whatever I can to help. But if you can't, please don't bother me. I'm not your therapist."

"Sounds like the market is tough."

"Not really. I looked at three Chevy Bolts that went for reasonable prices this morning with nearly brand new EV batteries on them. My real world customers are happy. The Hamlets? They can go play blindfolded in traffic."

"How much did they go for?"

2019 Chevrolet Bolt Premier 2LZ with 19,123 miles. Top of the line version. That sold on the block for $10,800. Including the wholesale auction fees their price was just under $12,400.

2020 Chevrolet Bolt Premier LT with 24,776 miles. That sold on the block for $8,800 since it had cloth seats along with a few minor dings and scratches. Total was just under $10,400 plus transport.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt Premier 2LZ with 34,907 miles. Identical to the 2019. That one went for $7,800 on the block. So just under $9,400 when you include the auction fees.

"That's cheap. What's the difference?"

"When GM replaced all the original batteries under recall and gave them a new 8 year / 100,000 mile warranty, they also gave their customers two options. They could either keep the models and have the battery replaced. Or they could have them bought back by them. GM cut them a check, got the title branded and replaced the battery themselves."

"Okay, so what's the real world difference."

"Absolutely nothing. Same recall. Same battery replaced with an even bigger one. But GM is legally required to brand those titles as a buyback. My customers usually save thousands and the car will have equal longevity."

03/16/2026

"Why are you showing two 'Made in Japan' Mazdas?"

"Because Japan made the American car market a world better."

"How did Mazda help?"

"Continuous improvement techniques at countless Ford assembly plants finally made Ford a contender in quality. Also Mazda provided total quality management tools. Lean production systems. And of course America's favorite roadsters, the first and second gen Mazda Miatas."

"Ok. But is the Miata an American creation?"

"More so than anything from Stellantis. The design was sculpted in California. The quality systems originated in Washington D.C., and the man who helped turn the Miata from a pipe dream into a real-life dream car was once an automotive journalist like me."

"Are you saying the Mazda CX-5 is a modern day Miata?"

"Even better. I'm saying that when designers and engineers look back on what was done right during the 2020's, the Mazda CX-5 will be one of the very few standouts. It's a great SUV in an endless sea of bland."

"So what about these two?"

"The first one is my personal top choice. A 2023 Mazda CX-5 Select S in Soul Red Crystal Metallic and only 11,781 miles. The Carfax is perfect. The maintenance was done at the Mazda dealership. And this all-wheel-drive version comes with a Dealshield Guarantee which allows you to return the vehicle within 21 days or 300 miles for any reason. No questions asked. It will likely hit around $25k on the block. Maybe slightly less."

"And the other one?"

"That one makes me feel older than dirt because it seems like over 80% of the cars out there today are black, white, silver or gray. This one is white. Or as they apparently say at the Mazda's design studio in Irvine, 'Rhodium White Metallic'. The miles are higher at 21,843. The Dealshield Guarantee comes standard, it's mechanically identical and I think it will sell for a thousand dollars less."

Auction ends this Tuesday at 4:00 P.M. EST, or 1:00 P.M. PST.

Carfax available upon request.

03/14/2026

"Name some cheap cars that are good on gas, that you would buy now!"

This was a completely random question I got this morning. Exclamation point and all.

I played this game a LOT over the years.

My top choice? It's headed on a hauler right now to the new owner who lives a state away.

2020 Honda Fit LX.

Everything is easily servicable. It consistently gets 35+ even in town. Even with a bit of traffic thrown into the mix.

The driver ergonomics and technology are on that beautiful precipice of 'just right'. The backup camera is excellent. Easy access for Bluetooth and plenty of plug-ins exactly where we need them for a long drive.

Most of all whoever had this Fit got it professionaly tinted. The interior is so well entombed in eternal shade that it will still look good in the year 2040.

Here's the Fit in all its glory. Other than the color and the wheels, I couldn't pick a better daily on a cheap on gas, '$1k a year depreciation' budget.

This 2020 Honda Fit IN Crystal Black Pearl was maintained to Honda specs (Honda dealer maintained and no accidents). It regularly gets over 40 miles per gallon and all the features are in good...

03/12/2026

"Cars age differently these days."

"How so? Do they get arthritis? Cooties?"

"It's just that everything is so complicated. There's software and tons of modules. You need a computer these days just to read what's on the car's computer."

"Actually you're right, and you're wrong. When EVs are first launched they typically will have more issues due to the need for improved software and upgrsded components. However, unlike most gasoline powered vehicles, once a problem is solved it stays solved."

"Okay. Well how do I avoid being the guinea pig?"

"By avoiding new EVs. Get one instead that's at least two years old and has been continually improved."

"But don't new car dealers have the nicer cars?"

"Not at all. The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV you see here? I bought it by outbidding the Chevy dealer. Great maintenance history. No accidents. It's the top of the line 2LZ trim level and it's still showing 100% of its original battery capacity. The Bolt EUV had been a buyback and once GM fixed it under recall, it's all good."

"How much did you get it for?"

"A third of the MSRP and $1700 under the wholesale value. He got it this afternoon on the auction block for $12,800 plus auction fees. $14,368 in total. It'll be on his driveway this evening since he only lives a few hundred miles away from the auction."

03/09/2026

It used to be the big three.

The Toyota RAV4. The Honda CR-V. The Subaru Forester.

Then Mazda came around with the CX-5 in 2013. It was their biggest hit in over 20 years.

Sporty. Fun. Roomy. All the sweet spots that a compact SUV shopper wants these days.

Then Mazda decided to throw a turbo in it. Bad move. Blown engines. Lawsuits.

But it turns out to be a good move for the non-turbo CX-5 in the used car market.

You can usually get a Mazda CX-5 for an ever so slightly cheaper price than the other three.

So get the non-turbo. Enjoy the conventional automatic, and you really do have a pretty nice keeper.

This 2019 CX-5 Grand Touring with 73,000 miles was bought on the block today for $16,800. All in, the customer paid $18,368 and the history is absolutely stellar.

03/09/2026

"Have you ever owned a celebrity's car?"

"Actually I have."

"Who was it?"

"I bought a Mercedes S-Class that was repossessed from Hall-of Fame basketball player Dominique Wilkins."

"Did you keep it?"

"No, I'm allergic to how any Mercedes S-Class depreciates in value. I sold it just as quickly as I got it."

"Anyone else?"

"Possibly. Today I may be buying a Toyota Prius that has been owned since day one by Bob Herrin."

"Bob Herrin? Who the heck is that?"

"Are you kidding me? He is probably the most famous ham radio operator in the Southeast. In a world where everyone automatically thinks that ham radio service is outdated and just for hobbyists, he has made the technology professional and useful. His work with emergency services rivals mine with long-term reliability data. It's really, really good."

"How about the car?"

"The car is a 2015 Toyota Prius Two with 235k. Higher miles but the service history is great. It just received new spark plugs, timing chain tensioner and seal, a 12 volt battery, and a coolant flushed."

"If you retail it, how much will it be?"

"Don't know. But as a guy who still enjoys Antenna Man on Youtube and listens to shortwave stations, this is a really cool find. It was the bumper sticker KE4JLL that gave it away."

03/08/2026

99-plus percent of the vehicles out there I wouldn't choose to buy or keep for myself.

I'm not a snob. Just very particular. Probably addicted to stickshifts and older cars that can't pass most modern saftey tests.

For me, cars are a passion. For my customers? It's a little bit of fun and a lot of economics.

When it comes to buying what's worth keeping for my customers, I always try to pick two out of my own three goals.

Fun. Longevity. Frugality.

With that in mind, these are my top choices for Monday and Tuesday at this week's wholesale dealer auctions.

2001 BMW Z3 2.5i - Silver with 59,283 miles. Automatic since most of you can't drive a stick anyway. Just kidding! It's a stick. One owner. - Opening bid is $5,900

2025 Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport in Intense Blue - Only 1,134 miles - Estimated price on the block is $20,000. A new and identical one is $5,000 more plus the dealer doc fee.

2013 Toyota Prius Four in Clearwater Blue - Only 76,000 miles - Estimated price on the block is $10,000

2019 Chevrolet Bolt LT in Nightfall Gray Metallic - 136,571 miles - Very nice condition with the battery replaced 60,000 miles ago. - Opening bid $5,600

2005 Toyota Corolla - 96,000 miles - Automatic - Very good overall condition - Estimated price on the block when the hammer falls $4500

03/05/2026

It is criminally stupid to ever recommend an SUV or heavy car that has a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine in it.

These engines were only built and sold in North America due to CAFE requirements.

Not performance. Not longevity. Not even common sense.

Bureaucrats in the federal government decided to create arbitrarily high levels of fuel economy. They did this without worrying about the cost of long-term ownership for the customers who bought them.

Who sold them? Mostly GM, Ford, and Nissan.

Guess who has the highest number of lemon law vehicles at the wholesale dealer auctions? GM, Ford, and Nissan.

These engines weren't engineered to handle high miles or heavy loads. But that didn't stop these manufacturers from putting these engines into a very long line of heavy vehicles.

Many of which are over 3,000 pounds, and some weigh in at nearly 4,000 pounds. The Chevy Trax, Buick Envista, Buick Encore, Ford Bronco, Ford Escape, Ford Eurosport, Nissan Rogue, have all been hit with severe recalls.

Even worse... there are no real permanent fixes.

Instead you buy misery. 'Wet' timing belts that self-destruct. Turbochargers and turbo lines that quickly wear out over time. Head gasket issues. Engine failures.

The list is long and complicated.

Over a million vehicles are now in limbo.

And the biggest dope slap of them all is that these vehicles were already more expensive for the owners in the long run.

Every one has a timing belt that needs to be changed instead of a timing chain. This adds an extra $1000+ per service. Along with recommended premium fuel instead of regular 87 octane, which can easily add an additional $3,000 to $4,750 over 150,000 miles.

Many of the people who bought them and drove these rolling money pits past their warranties not only paid more year over year.

They were left with an immovable lawn ornament before enough lawyers and hard data changed it all.

How many of these vehicles have I sold with those engines? Zero.

Not a single one out of over 10,000 cars thar I have bought since 1999.

You can thank the research I co-developed at the Long-Term Quality Index for that. Hard data can be a beautiful thing. Six million vehicles and counting.

Nissan has issued a recall for over 300,000 of its Nissan Rogue vehicles, citing a risk of engine failure. The affected models are from the years 2023 to 2025 and are equipped with three-cylinder, 1.5-liter variable-compression turbo engines.

03/04/2026

I don't know if this is the best car you can get for under $10,000. But I would say it's definitely in the top 1%.

This 2016 Toyota Corolla L comes with the rare six-speed manual. Toyota dealer maintained. It's a one owner with no accidents and 90,830 miles overall.

Best of all? The 2ZR-FE engine and EC60 Aisin manual transmission were produced in the millions by Toyota. Over a decade's worth of continuous improvement in the reliability and durability of that powertrain.

It already sold for $9,995 to a great customer. No regrets. I do have other stickshifts, hybrids, and gas sippers that you can also find in the link below.

And by the way... the VW Jettas and Chevy Bolts are still going for ridiculously good prices.

03/03/2026

So now that the Straits of Hormuz is a no-go zone and the Middle East is creeping into a regional war, let me ask you a very important question.

Do you prefer a Tesla Model 3? Or a Toyota Prius Prime?

This 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range is one I've had my eye on for a while.

The interior is nice enough for long-term ownership, while the longevity of the EV system is downright phenomal. I have a friend of mine who has a Tesla body shop and the 75 kW batteries in the Model 3 and Y can outdiesel a diesel when it comes to high miles.

This one has 124,000 miles, and the opening bid is $10,500.

The 2022 Toyota Prius Prime XLE I recently found has a claim to fame.

It's officially the only one I've seen that hasn't been Ubered or rideshared since day one.

It also has been maintained at the Toyota dealership and has the highest condiotion rating I have seen for a late-model Prius in a long time.

The current bid on that one is $21,400 and two franchise car dealers are duking it out. My hunch is that a retail customer who plans on keeping their daily for another decade will see this as a long-term keeper.

So there you have it. Model 3 versus Prius Prime. Which one is the better car to keep?

03/02/2026

"What are the two most overlooked EVs that are worth buying?"

"It depends on what you need."

"Let's say I need all-wheel-drive."

"In that case I would encourage you to look at a Subaru Solterra."

"What's that?"

"It's a Toyota bZ4x in drag. If you take that Toyota EV, give it Subaru's All-Wheel-Drive system and opt for dirt-and-water resistant seating, you have Subaru's version of a Toyota crossover."

"Any advantage to that?"

"Yep. They're cheaper. More durable on the inside, and that EV powertrain is so well engineered that Toyota offered a 10 year / 1,000,000 km. warranty on them in the EU. That's equivalent to over 600,000 miles."

"And what's the other?"

"Any 2016 or 2017 Nissan LEAF that has a replaced 40 kW battery."

"Why those two years?"

"Because most folks just cross off the older generation when they're shopping for one. With the new 40kW Nissan factory battery you're getting a 2025 powertrain with a real world range of 150 miles."

"Do you have access to either one?"

"Yep. There's a 2023 Subaru Solterra Limited in California with only 15,277 miles that will be auctioned off this Tuesday. I predict that will sell for around $18k and it can be transported for cheap anyhere in the United States."

"And the other?"

"It's on my driveway. A 2017 Nissan LEAF that had the battery replacement battery installed by a Nissan dealer in late-2024. Features with that include heated seats, a rear view camera, and Level 2 charging. It was garage kept with a really nice red color that has no paint fade due to its prior care. That one is $6990."

02/27/2026

If you're looking to buy a nearly new vehicle. The sweet spot is not a one year old car. It's usually a two to five year old car with higher miles.

Why?

Highway driving tends to be very easy on the powertrain of a vehicle. Gas, hybrid or EV. Doesn't matter.

The transmission has fewer shifts, and EVs and hybrids are often blessed with planetary gear transmissions. The engine doesn't have to deal with frequent high-stress stop and go acceleration if it's gas. And the battery will have far fewer cycles if it is a hybrid or EV.

Most of all, if the vehicle is driven where the roads are smooth, the suspension system is already in excellent shape.

When I traveled 40,000+ miles a year as an auto auctioneer, I would usually buy a vehicle with 100,000 to 120,000 miles and drive it until it had 250,000 miles.

It usually cost me about $7,000 wholesale during the late-'90s and early-2000s. I would then sell it for around $3,000 during tax season when folks got their tax refunds.

If I were doing that same work right now I would buy this. A 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2LT with a ton of safety features (because people are distracted and nuts these days), along with an insanely low cost of ownership.

My fueling costs were only 1.5 cents a mile with the compact Bolt. About 80% lower than a gasoline powered vehicle.

And this 2LT version in Bright Blue Metallic has a luxury level upscale leather interior along with enough fast charging capability to make long-distance travel a comfortable reality.

There's a Chevy dealer already bidding $11,100. It's one of the few out there that isn't the usual black, white, silver, or gray.

Miles are 69k and if you go to Mileage Impossible or the Bolt enthusiast forums, you'll find plenty of folks with over 200k and high customer satisfaction ratings (KBB reviewers have recommended Bolt EUVs 98+% of the time which is among the best for all vehicles.)

The sale on this one ends at 3:00 P.M. EST. Images and Moroney sticker with features and options are below.