Hammer Time: The Best Used Cars! Or Not…

by Steven Lang

May 16th, 2014 1:31 PM

The automotive world is infested with lists and rankings.

The 10 Best Here. The 10 Most There. Sometimes you may even find a 10 Least or a 10 Greatest. The range of expertise for such rancor can vary from truly knowledgable souls to borderline literary dope pushers with monetary agendas.

Personally, I enjoy the mental exercise. When you look at 20,000+ vehicles going through the lanes at the auto auctions every year for well over a decade, ranking becomes part of your work. The same is true for folks in traffic. Or those who take strolls through our streets. Or our junkyards.

Since every publication in the car business offers some type of “Best Car!” article, we here at TTAC have decided to do our own…

with your help.

When it comes to used cars, who is to say that the 2008 Lincoln Town Car offers, “The Best Luxury Ride For Those Who Miss The Ocean.” Or that the 2002 Kia Sportage is, “The Best Kia Ever Made… Before Hyundai Took Over.”

You for starters. So here’s the game. Help us develop a true “Best Used Cars” list for the car buying public.

Categories? Why only the best will do of course!. Although you can always do subcompact, compact, midsized, yadda yadda… try to be a bit creative.

“The Best Pre-Bankruptcy Subcompact Sold By GM, Beginning With The Letter A!”

may be a bit funny… perhaps too specific… while…

“The Best European Luxury Car, For Bankrupting Their Next Owner.”

Is far more broad and debatable. By the way, my choice for that honor would be a 2005 Jaguar S-Type R. (Editor’s Note: I’m tired of picking Maseratis for this honor.)

The contributor who makes the most compelling and hilarious submission will receive a free issue of “Hot Rod” magazine dated February 1957. Try to explain why you made the choice you did, and may the “ Best Car For Using The Force” be with you.

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2 of 100 comments

Gideon125 on Apr 13, 2012

Great writing as always Steve. I guess your following will learn "the truth about steve in Atlanta very soon!!

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Michael Peerson on Apr 13, 2012

#1 car in Mendocino county before the folks from the cities moved up there. Mostly found on back roads and muddy tracks. 77 to 91 Subaru DL/GL preferably with rust, mushrooms growing out of the floor, smelling of musky wet dog and skunky pot. #2 Car in Mendocino county driven by the locals before the yuppies moved in. Any Volvo that was made before 1989. Must have rust, and preferably is a pre 1973 model. #3 Car ... see above SAAB 900 #4 Car .... See Above BMW 2002 #5 ... #1 car that everyone has owned, or known someone that has owned one.. 3rd generation Honda Accord.

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