Asking for a friend who is envious of my impending new ES:

He wants reliable transportation for a second car. Needs to seat 4 - age, features, style mean little. Are there any particularly good values that I could point him toward?

Thanks!

 

A one-year-old CPO (Certified Previously Owned) Camry L. Or a one-year old RAV-4 LE if he needs AWD and ground-clearance for winter. That should be pretty close to 20K.

 

 

For an ES, you would obviously have to go a little older than that...you wouldn't get a year-old one for 20K.

You and your friend might also check out a Toyota Avalon if you like the ES....the two share much in common, platform-wise. But, with the Avalon, I'd avoid the 2013-2015 versions...the ride might be too stiff for your tastes. A suspension re-working came in 2016, with the mid-generation update.

Frankly, for the money, in that class, the Kia Cadenza probably offers the best value....but they may be hard to find as used cars, as not very many of them are sold new. The 10/100 drivetrain warranty, on a re-sale, is not transferable outside of the immediate family, but the whole vehicle is still covered for 5/60 (plus whatever a CPO would add)....which is more than most of its competition. Kias also traditionally have sharper depreciation than Toyota or Lexus products, so a used one could be a great value. IMO most are well-built.

 

He knows he isn't getting an 1 year old ES! I hope.

This isn't my project beyond pointing him. I suspect he will starting looking at ESs and go back as many years as he has to until he reaches 20k. A quick look shows that there are a fair number of CTs and ISs.

 

I would suspect your friend could find 6th gen ES (2013), which would be the same gen as what you're looking at, for around $20k. Would be higher mileage, but these things run forever. Check around.

 

If he likes the ES, he probably would not like the CT. IMO, it is not worthy of the Lexus nameplate, and, by Lexus standards, lacks refinement, ride comfort, and quietness not the road, though it is admittedly quiet underhood when it is running on the electrics.

 

You can buy a new 2018 Honda Accord LX for $19,900. At least that was the deal going on at my local Honda dealer a couple months ago, and that wasn't for just one car, that was for any 2018 Accord LX, they had white, silver, black, gold, and a grey one at that price. I know its a great car, but I just could not warm up to the styling.

I was seriously considering a new Mazda, probably a 3 hatch or a 6 sedan, once again a new car for similar $$$$. Just couldn't pull the trigger.

Of course I was a bit pickup truck obsessed and ended up in a 7 year old Toyota Tundra for the same price. I wanted a 2nd gen Tacoma crew cab, V6, but those were equally expensive and I liked the Tundra a bit more(seating position,ergonomics, seat comfort, size, power, all were way better in the bigger truck).

 

This was 2016/17. $14-$16k bought 2.5 y.o. Camrys all day long. Of course they all had 34-35.9k miles and were service loaners. That's pretty reliable transportation imho. But I wouldn't buy them, too vain. lol

 

Tell him to go on AutoTrader, and search up to $20,000 (or $22,000 if he wants to leave negotiation room), and whatever his search radius is.

 

 

The Mazda 3 is a nice car you can get for that.

 

Nissan Altima or Volkswagen Jetta 2018 models are heavily discounted and should be below $20k max if new or preowned Toyota Camry or Honda Accord