EBay cars under $10,000 that beat the pants off a Nissan Versa

Nissan’s announcement last week that it would offer a stripped-down version of its Versa model for under $10,000 -– a Sub-Versa, if you will -– occasioned a lot of media attention and interest, as if there was something to celebrate. To me it sounds like 1.6 liters of boredom, a mouthful of sand to thirsty car-buyers. Please. Ten grand? I can put you in automotive paradise for $10,000. Walk this way.

Go to www.motors.ebay.com and follow the link to “Cars & Trucks.” Don’t specify a make or model but simply order the 50,000 or so listings by price, and use the advanced search function to specify items with a “Buy It Now” price. What you’ll discover is an Elysian field of depreciation as the awesome rides of yesteryear -– in some cases cars that dominated automotive buff book covers just a couple of years ago –- are dispensed with for a fraction of their original sticker. With the recent spike in gas prices and the downturn in the economy, people are eating their cars -– “literally!” as Joe Biden would say.

Yes, these cars are a little older, but if you were to compare, wheel-to-wheel, the new Versa with, say, a 1991 BMW 850i –- a 12-cylinder supercoupe on 18-inch Hamann wheels and with only 47,120 miles on the clock –- well, your head would explode. The Bimmer has more technology in its ashtray.

So before you submit to lowered automotive expectations, consider these choices, all on EBay for $10,000 or less (after the jump):

2003 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas (EBay listing number 180304087377)
A stunning and regal British limousine with a lusty 4.0-liter V8 and five-speed automatic, inlaid wood and creamy leather, all liveried in British Racing Green. Luxurious? It has picnic tables in the back, for heaven’s sake. And by 2003, Jaguar quality was exceptional, way better than a lot of German cars. Loaded with every option then known to man, this XJ VP is a gorgeous slab of a car -– fast, refined, audacious.

2003 Mercury Marauder (EBay listing number 150307313854)
If Ingmar Bergman’s chess-playing figure of death drove a car, this would be his. Behold the fearsomely black, unmarked glory of the Marauder, a low-volume, high-performance version of the Ford’s rear-drive Crown Vic/Mercury Marquis cop car with a Cobra-like 4.6-liter, 335-horsepower V8 under the hood. You can’t buy more menace per dollar than the Marauder. Sneak up behind somebody in the left lane and watch him swallow his cellphone.

2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon (EBay listing number 320315342496)
Now this, this is a proper Mercedes –- built like the rudder of the USS Missouri, big, heavy and indestructible. With 112,900 miles on this green-and-cream beauty, it’s just getting broken in. An all-wheel-drive station wagon, the E320 4Matic wagon is what SUV-driving soccer moms would have bought in 2001 if they had an inkling of automotive worth. Note also the rear-facing third-row seating and the cargo cage for the kiddies. A little slice of the Hamptons wherever you are.

1965 Chevrolet El Camino hot rod (EBay listing number 360103981845)
Words cannot express the total, unmitigated cherry-ness of this gorgeous ’65 El Camino gasser. The El Camino is a legend in its own right, a pickup/sports coupe widely favored by country boys, cholos and a certain Democratic president who put Astroturf in the back. This example has been re-skinned inside but retains original rally gauges. De rigueur rodding includes a 350 small-block V8, Crane fireball cam, 750 cfm Double Pumper Holly carburetor on an Edelbrock manifold, and white Heddman headers. What’s that smell? My soul is on fire.

2003 Mini Cooper S (EBay listing number 250317559056)
This well-used example of the history-making Mini reminds us that, in the used car market, 10 grand is still a bunch of money. Let’s say this thing lasts five years. That’s $2,000 per year plus whatever fix-its you throw in –- a timing belt, maybe rings and head gasket, certainly brakes and other wear items. So what? Meanwhile, you’re driving a car that makes you feel like the bubbles in champagne. A Versa? More like the trapped gas in non-alcoholic beer.

2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 (EBay listing number 230305397190)
A sport-compact grenade that’s lost its pin, this rat racer was designed to go upside the head of the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX STi. Let’s unpack “SRT-4.” It stands for Dodge’s “Street and Racing Technology” division and the “4” refers to the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, good for about 223 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. This car delivers very adequate fuel economy and, as a four-door with a trunk, reasonable day-to-day utility. So it’s like a Versa, only, um, fast, with Stage 1 mods like a cold-air induction, up-rated suspension and big brakes. Your chihuahua on meth.

1963 Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon (EBay listing number 180303123548)
Feel like owning a cult object? Consider this turquoise-and-white, split-window Vanagon, an E-Z “Camper of America” edition (apparently, E-Z was once a customizer in Littlerock, Calif.) The listing says it has 80,622 miles on it –- right, shaa, bro! –- but no matter. This is the real surfing safari van. A tiny bit rusty and maybe not totally watertight, and slow as Christmas, this is still a lot of nostalgia for the money. With a little time and TLC this could be a show-winner and a great family escape pod. Try sleeping in your Versa.

1964 Chevy Impala (EBay listing number 110306293315)
The key tenet of vintage-car shopping is opportunism. Never buy a car that needs restoration -– ignore the VW/Vanagon recommendation above -– but look for cars that have already been restored, at great cost to the owner, who is likely miserable about it. Everyone eventually gets upside-down on a restoration project. So check out da bomb, a low-rider’s dream car, in primo condition. Embroidered floor mats, fresh Jacquard upholstery, eat-off-it V8? Come on! This is grand theft auto.

1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet (EBay listing number 130265825245)
I remember driving this car when it had just come out. With the top down and the sun beating down on me, I felt like I was starring in my own Renaissance annunciation painting. Basically, this car takes all the inherent awesomeness of a mid-1990s Mercedes sedan –- materially overbuilt and over-engineered at a time when Mercedes had no peer –- and then puts it alfresco. There are several examples of this car on EBay, and if you don’t like the wedding-cake white paint, you can find others in the low five digits. Still, a bargain.

2001 Audi TT convertible (EBay listing 250319741948)
It may be hard to appreciate how big a deal the first-generation Audi TT was. Revolutionary is not too strong a word. More good words: Bauhaus, haute minimal, downtown digital. And today, it’s still one of the most interesting and compelling cars on the road –- perhaps even more interesting, having shed value like a molting parrot sheds feathers. Consider this redder-than-Alabama example, with the 225-hp turbocharged engine, six-speed manual, power top, leather and all-wheel drive. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of car for $10,000.

-- Dan Neil

Photo Credits: Nissan Versa /Nissan; Jaguar XJ/ crashautos via EBay; 2003 Mercury Marauder/ gocomstar via EBay; 1965 Chevrolet El Camino/ gtof100 via EBay; 2003 Mini Cooper S/ 954swright1966 via EBay; 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4/ floridasfinestcars via EBay; 1964 Chevrolet Impala/holstein8780 via EBay; 2001 Audi TT/ hqconcepts via EBay

Comments

[Daniel]

Gee, now you went and did it, used Jags are supposed to be a secret known to only a few. Now everyone's gonna know what a great deal they are!

Ok don't fall for it folks, Jags are unreliable, they break down ALL the time, you don't want one. You don't want to be driving around in the lap of luxury getting 25 MPG in car that is just about bulletproof. You don't want connolly leather seats, a six disc changer, wood and leather galore, a rolls royce feel and look for what the annual registration would be on a new Phantom. No, you dont' want that...

D

[christopher Lawrence]

I had an El Camino JUST like that one untill some bozo in a giant SUV plowed into it.
F'n idiot!
I collected insurance and then sold it to a friend who restored it with a big block engine.
Eight miles per gallon but it'll dust a Ferrari!
Viva old American iron!!!

[lil]

Beware of the Audi-- there are vehicles which were designed with faulty timing belts requiring changing waaayyy before the usual 105K. Something about a class action settlement involving these vehicles. Be cautious!

[Neysa]

Holy mother of Cousin Minnie Pearl, lad, maybe I'm missing the point, but I love the way you write.

[Miami Meltdown]

Be very careful when buying cars on Ebay or Craigslist. Both of these sites have had major trouble with fraud.

[Phil Bickel]

I sell Nissans for a living and iIcan tell you people won't be lining up in droves for the Sub-Versa! ( what is a drove )----------

That said, it does have a full warranty, and sips gas. some folks don't don't give a rats patootie about A/C, ABS, or even acceleration.
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In case you haven't noticed alot of folks have slowed down to save gas, which is odd because it's 1.79 a gallon here in Columbus, ( The real Columbus, the one in Ohio ).

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I really don't think a lot of people would consider a 1991 anything, especially one that requires a bank loan for regular maintenance. It's about driving as cheap as possible, with the highest possible resale value, which eliminates Hyundai and Kia.

[xico]

for all those complaining the used cars are gas guzzlers: reusing an old car that burns more gas is WAY lighter on the environment than buying a newly built/manufactured car that saves you 10 mpg. car construction is environmentally very expensive.

[Jina]

21 years on a Datsun 510.

20 years on a Toyota Tercel.

Gas and oil. Two sets of tires each. That was pretty much it.

Oh and here, the source of your crude, gas is $1.34 a litre. Who's the fool who only judges whether something is affordable on whether he can pay for it, never mind the rest of the world.

America. Shame.

[Mike Bush]

GREAT ARTICLE!!! I think WAAAY too many people put WAAY too much value on 'new' and 'with warranty'. Buy wisely, save $,$$$ and find a car with some style or class or fun.

Keep looking at USED CARS to solve today's car-buying needs. These cars have 'already paid' their carbon-footprint in their manufacture, and as the second or third owner, that means you are starting clean!

BEST!

Mike in SB

[MGBYG]

To all the Greens complaining about the used cars stats forget the second major tenet of Green...Reuse.

Duh...

A (fairly new) used car adds zero compared to you buying a brand new, shipped from Asia Versa, or whatever.

Punked, right back at cha!

[Shemp]

Yes, restoring, recycling and driving old cars for personal enjoyment and satisfaction must be the environmental crime of the century. Calm down, pop a pill, no one is forcing you to abandon your underpowered Soap Bubble cars. Miles per gallon are not the only consideration. Have you thought about the energy and resources required to produce your new 2009 XXXX Soap Bubble? or about the fuel expended to ship a boat load of them over here? How many miles per gallon do you the freighter gets? Driving and older car everyday is not for everyone, but it's another way to conserve resources, not to mention that a well maintained classic car can hold, or increase in value. I can't imagine a car like the "Versa" bringing 3 or 4 times it's original sale price in 40 years (assuming it will last that long to begin with)

[Glenn]

Is the Versa in the background of the Audi TT picture just a coincidence ?

[Eric Stefik]

A couple of months ago I drove home to Las Vegas from Studio City CA in my new Chevy HHR won on Ebay for approximately ten grand. A cute car for thousands less, new or used, off a car lot, I was pleased. I have purchased and sold cars on Ebay a number of times.

[Wade Collins]

Great artticle. I recently bought a 3 series BMW in primo condition and a truck on E-Bay for under 14K.

Some of these comments some to be from either women or just real sniveling men who know nada about cars. As long as I have the cash the days of high-performance cars continues. Don't even think of dictating what is what to any of us. I 'm looking for a 61 Galaxie next.

[TRW]

Check the major manufacturer's international web sites. There's a whole 'nother world of vehicles out there that never see our (U.S.) shores, from "ticos" to performance cars that are built as they were meant to be.

[tarheel chief]

I find cars.com gives you the best information for cheaper cars.When you use this you also get Carfax and what is even better,the JD Power ratings for cars newer than 2001.These are helpful for normal repair estimates.Kelley Blue Book values include the key number,the trade in value for a car.It might astound readers to see the profit margins for dealers.Only Horse Traders and politicians take more money.

[Tim]

HOOD RICH. Anyone who buys a used luxury car is a wannabe. I'd take a new Versa any day. Unless you want to be the clown driving a 10 year of mercedes trying to pass it off as the original owner. LOL

[Mau]

I love my Versa. That said, I am a boring and humble person.

I'm pretty sure this article is great for all the clowns who are broke because of their own stupidity and still love to come off as rich.

[Kevin in San Diego]

Used rules! Six years ago, I bought a 1995 BMW 318iC convertible for $7,000. It was "high mileage" at about 140,000. Put another $400 into expected repairs right after purchase. Well, it is now at 246,000 miles and still running great! I just put in a clutch, but that puts me at $2000 in major repairs over six years. It is a blast to drive and gets an average of 28 mpg.

[jdubbs]

I bought a 1997 BMW 540 6 years ago for $22K, put another $3K into it for various repairs. Bought some new rims, tinted windows, IPOD direct hookup, DVD. The car looks brand new and drives unbelievable. Fast as any sedan on the road. Only has 91K miles on it and I'll hopefully drive it for 10 more years. All for the price of a new Honda. Used luxury cars are the best kept secret in the industry.

[JLS]

I bought a perfect certified TT Quattro Roadster in 2004. It was a 2001. I bought it for 20K, perfect car. I would have driven it till the wheels fell off, but some idiot hit me on the 5 south going about 60MPH. I was like...well its been a good life, then that lil TT because it has a SPARE TIRE wrapped around me, but didnt kill me, and I was barely sore. Well, a week maybe. NO ONE could believe I was alive. Amazing lil car. I hate that they showed it. Now everyone is going out to buy one. Poop.

[Paul]

Pretty soon, there'll be plenty of options at GM that can be had for well under 10 grand. Figure once the company goes bankrupt and their current offerings take the massive depreciation hit.

You'll probably be able to buy a new Chevy Rentalbu or Impala for that price. No warranty though :(

[jj]

myles, good luck on your merc. my honda is still running 29 years later with 285k mi. the biggest risk is with ebay where you might not get to check the car out first. even craigslist subjects one to a cross state ruse from some flood damaged or salvaged history. why take the gamble? buy new. even 100k miles later your merc will have sucked your pocket book dry, require heavy mechanical repairs and be useless soon. People who contemplate a new versa don't want the headache!

[dc-mark]

What a fun article. If car buying were a rational activity, then I would be looking for a MPG comparison with the Versa or a repair/reliability history for the alternative vehicles that Dan suggests. Take that 8 series: beautiful car, but that technology laden ashtray he refers to will cost $500 to replace, and it hasn't been replaced since it broke back in 1993, and 5 failed trips to the BMW dealer failed to fix it.
Live within your means and stop worshiping new cars.

[V8 driving experience]

Nice article.I think ebay has putted this article to come know the costs of different types of cars.