Your little bundle of joy has grown up and on the cusp of entering adulthood. Graduating is a milestone, and you want to reward their hard work and show how proud you are. Buying a used car is a great idea but you’ll need to know the best used cars to buy for a graduation gift. Here’s a quick look at some of the top options available to you.
2005 Ford Focus: The Focus is fun (at least the coupe version is) and surprisingly quick on the road for a four-cylinder. It’s also economical and not sporty enough that your grad might decide to drag race on the weekends. It’s basic, with few frills, but it definitely gets an important job –getting from point A to point B safely – done.
2011 Honda Civic: Looking for reliability and fuel economy in a fun package? The 2011 Honda Civic might be the right fit. It’s available in both two and four-door formats, and the four-cylinder engine delivers more than enough performance for daily driving needs. The optional stability control system is a “must have” as well for additional safety on the road.
2011 Honda Element: The second Honda to make this list, the Element isn’t in production anymore, but the final year of production (2011) makes a great graduation gift for anyone with a need for hauling space and good interior room. The 2.4-liter engine is the same one found in the Civic and the CR-V, as well.
2005 Dodge Neon: Looking for something a little older but with good style? The 2005 Dodge Neon is a great choice. It offers fuel economy of 25/32 mpg and while it’s not a sports car, it has that certain stance that makes it stand out.
2005 GMC Sierra: Does your grad need the ability to haul and tow? If so, the 2005 GMC Sierra is a good choice. The step sides are attractive, and the bed is long enough to accommodate a decent amount of cargo. Opt for the standard cab and you’ll save a little cash at the dealership as well.
There are plenty of other options out there that might be a good fit for your grad depending on whether he or she is going immediately to college and needs to get back and forth to home, or is starting a job right way. Regardless, a certified mobile mechanic from YourMechanic can provide a pre-purchase inspection on any used car you might be interested in.
