What Is Your Used Car Sweet Spot?

One of my good friends and long-time TTAC commenters asked me this question.

Hey Steve,

If you have a moment, what are the high and low values right now at auction for the following:

2000 Chevy Monte Carlo SS 40K miles gold/tan

2006 Mustang GT premium 27K maroon/tan

2006 G6 GTP folding hardtop 53k black/black

I could only give him one response and it wasn’t, “Go play darts and put some numbers together!”

The answer came in three simple words.

Condition, condition, condition.

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Piston Slap: The Fallacy of Engine Hour Meters?

Ryan writes:

Sajeev Mehta

It appears that you have picked up where Steve Lang left off. That is answering general automotive questions that puzzle automotive enthusiast.

My question, what average speed would be good or bad for a used vehicle? I am in the market for a used truck (3-6yrs old), and have noticed that these newer trucks have mileage and hours tracked in the dash display screen. It is easy math to calculate the average speed for the life of the vehicle. What should I look for?

Or run from?

Best and brightest?

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  • Dale Quelle surprise.
  • 3SpeedAutomatic Nice looking, but IIRC, there was an issue with these engines where a knock would develop. That may account for the very low milage. 🚗🚗🚗
  • Redapple2 Used to watch F 1 a great deal. Now? F1 Random thoughts:1 Silly rules bug me. Must use 2 types of tire. Cant refuel. Drag reduction can only be used in certain areas of the track and only if you are so close to the car in front.2 Passing is rare. Pole sitter wins a high % of the time.3 A new team can only start in F1 if they get the blessing of the overlords. Evil gm Vampire was barred. How about this. Anybody with a car that meets the construction rules can try. If your speed qualifies and you pay the entry fee. You re in. So is anybody else. 4 I tune in for Martin Brundle's grid walk. In my life, it s must see tv. But he is often bumped or cancelled. Grid walk takes place 1 out of 3 or 4 races.5 So, because of this utter bull sheet and other points, I ve migrated to IMSA and MotoGP. I might catch a summary on the youtube.
  • Redapple2 I retract my comments and apologize.
  • Flashindapan I always thought these look nice. I was working at a Land Rover dealership at the time the LR3 came out and we were all impressed how much better it was then the Discovery in just about every measurable way.