Inflation is killing me, so I’m guessing it’s becoming a problem for many other folks out there, too. Fortunately, I’ll pay off my car loan soon and I’m already counting on the extra money that will go into my pocket each month instead of siphoning it off to some bank somewhere. If you’re feeling the pinch of inflation but aren’t ready to give up the finer things in life, this article is for you.
I hate that I’m writing about “affordable” used cars that still cost between $20,000 and $30,000, but that’s the world we live in now. Unfortunately, the average price of a new car in January of 2024 was over $47,000, so while the cars on this list aren’t technically cheap, they’re affordable compared to the average new car.
Buying a used car can be scary, and some of the cars on this list should absolutely be purchased along with an extended warranty due to reliability concerns, but places like CarMax make that easy. I’ve had a CarMax warranty on my 2017 Mini Cooper S and it’s been very easy to use and it has already paid for itself in just a few uses. If you’re like me and think that new cars are too damn expensive, consider some of the cars on this list as options that still have relatively modern amenities and provide luxury car levels of refinement, rather than buying a buzzy little subcompact car new.