NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - These days, used car prices can look amazingly like new car prices. Five figures has become the norm. That's the downside of the overall rise in car prices and improvements in quality that make used cars, simply, worth more.
If you're still hoping to find reliable basic transportation at old-fashioned used-car prices, don't lose hope. We've scouted out three models that you can get for under $6,500 and that have still good reputations for reliability. To find cars this cheap, you need to look at seven-year-old, or 1995, models. But improved manufacturing in the last decade means a car of that age isn't the iffy proposition it once might have been.
Of course, after seven years and, presumably, 70,000 to 80,000 miles, a lot depends on how well a car was cared for. Be careful. Inspect the car thoroughly, have a qualified mechanic inspect the car as well, and get a vehicle history report. For more car-shopping tips, see Money 101: Buying a car.
Nissan Altima
With the Altima you can step up to a somewhat bigger sedan than most of our new car choices.,The 1995 Altima SE model is selling at dealers' lots for about $6,200. The Altima comes with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine and some nice standard comfort features like air conditioning and cruise control.
Toyota Corolla
Toyotas are notably durable used cars, and the Corolla is one of the company's longest-running, best-selling models. The 1995 DX model comes with a four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine that gets 27 miles per gallon in city traffic and 33 mpg on the highway, even with an automatic transmission. The '95 Corolla DX is selling at dealer lots for about $5,400.
Ford Escort Wagon
It's not glamorous, but it's reliable and it hauls a lot (67 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seat down). And the price is certainly right. The four-cylinder 1.9-liter engine is rated for 26 mpg in city driving, 29 mpg on the highway. This 1995 Escort Wagon is selling for about $3,150 at dealers' lots.
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