Making your dollar stretch as far as possible is important, especially for those shoppers hunting for a deal in the current used car market. Now, a new study has identified the Chevy Impala as the best used car for the money.
In a new report from iSeeCars.com, the top 20 best 10-year-old used cars for the money were identified, with the Chevy Impala taking the top spot on the list. The iSeeCars analysis looked at more than 2 million used vehicles on the road between January and October of the 2022 calendar year, with the top models identified as offering the longest projected lifespan (in terms of miles) for the least amount of money (in terms of used car value).
According to the report, a 10-year-old Chevy Impala can offer 111,996 miles in its usable vehicle lifespan, which is nearly 49 percent of the vehicle’s projected potential lifespan of 230,343 miles. With an average used vehicle price of $9,706, that’s just $87 per 1,000 miles, making the Chevy Impala the best 10-year-old used car for the money.
According to the iSeeCars list, the top 20 best used cars for the money had an average price of $12,814, as well as an average remaining usable lifespan projection of 101,923 miles, or more than 46 percent of the total usable lifespan. Slotting in at second place on the list was the Toyota Prius at $107 per 1,000 miles, followed by the Honda Civic coupe at $108 per 1,000 miles.
“Although used car pricing is slowly dropping, it remains near record levels, putting a serious financial pinch on first-time buyers or used car shoppers needing to replace their current vehicle. And new vehicle pricing is simply unrealistic for many consumers,” said Executive Analyst for iSeeCars.com, Karl Brauer. “But we now know shoppers can buy a 10-year-old car that costs substantially less than 1-5 year-old used models, yet these vehicles still have 80,000 or more miles of life left in them.”
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Comments
I’m not sure I’d pay nearly $10k for a 10 year-old W- Body Impala, especially with the 3.6L. I’d actually pay 1/4 of that price and find a clean, slightly older one with a 3800.
2012 Impala had the LFX 3.6, not one of the older less reliable ones like the LLT or LY7. These engines were powerful, fuel efficient and reliable. People’s memory of the 3800 doesn’t line up with the reality. They were decent, but they had their fair share of problems.
Currently driving a 2013 Chevy Impala LTZ model and loving it. I would admit it is one of the best cars out there and pretty reliable too. It is like driving a sports car and passenger car all in one. Recently added the Trifecta performance tune and it has changed it into a whole different animal.
I know that everyone is going the EV route but this 10 year old still gives me 30mpg+ on the highway day in and day out after 10yrs and over 500 miles on a tank. No EV can do that. You will have to replace the battery at that time for between 10-30,000 dollars, depending on the EV you are driving. Plus EV batteries degrade over time therefore reducing range. Not an ICE. Hence the reason why I will continue to drive this ICE. It is already paid off. No need to break the bank getting a new one or an EV and this is reliable as reliable can get. I can attest to that. It has over 130,000 miles on it and still counting.
In really wish this “you need to replace the battery after 10 years and it will cost 10-30k” nonsense would just stop. It’s not based on fact at all.
Some EVs need new batteries but it’s not the norm. Some ICE vehicles need new engines.
The norm is you live in California, where the weather is extremely mild, and drive a Tesla with the mid range battery (which is the large size battery that is software limited) so you have 8 years and 100000 miles on it and no battery fade, cause in reality you’ve lost 40% your battery memory, but it hasn’t eaten into your software limited range yet.
Now let’s transfer that to the Midwest, because I’ve seen cars in California that are ICE and are 40 years old and running like a clock with 300+ miles out there. Their “primitive” lead acid batteries going on 15 years.
What we are seeing is significant data from hybrids that show after 10-15 years almost all of them have batteries that are shot. EV’s are barely starting to reach that point in their lifespan
Kelvin: I would argue with my personal experience with a Chevy e-Bolt 2019 that I observed 1,000 miles cost me $30-$33 USD residential electricity cost be it solar or grid source. AND since the 2019 e-Bolt dropped in price from $39,000 MSRP to $25,400 MSRP for 2023, I have one on factory bench order. Such a deal! My understanding with a nine (9) or maybe more battery warranty (9 year warranty on the 2019. BTW: IF I went ICE vehicle I would have went with Impala LTZ for sure. Sadly Chevy does not produce Impala any longer. I think it would be a win-win for Chevy to produce a e-Impala!
The “dreaded” 3800 was a good motor if you knew how to work on them. Their kryptonite was the coolant bleeder valves. They wouldn’t naturally evacuate the air in the lines, which would create hot spots, compromising the head gaskets and manifold. They would then leak coolant into the oil or worse, hrydrlock.
If you find a 3800, that has clean oil and isn’t ticking, bleed the valves (careful, their fragile) and hold onto it. These are 500K engines for those who know how to maintain them.
My wife’s 99 GP with the 3.8 suffered the dreaded “hydrolock’ fate at about 50k miles. Car also suffered from a seemingly unsolvable highway-speeds shake no matter what we tried with tires and various balancing options.
Beautiful car, questionable quality that has plagued GM cars for quite some time. Had enough by 2013 with our miserable 2009 Suburban.
I own a 2015 Malibu LTZ 2.5L. With 223429 miles , No problems at all! My previous car was a CLK320. 2005. 87000 miles too many problems. My chevy has never let me stranded, like Mercedes did. I keep all maintenance up to date on My Malibu2015.
LFX is definitely better than the LY7 and LLT versions, Those gave the engine family a bad name.
2013 LS with 120k, bought new . Tranny shifts funky sometimes. New struts last year and third battery this winter, looking for another 4 years.
Mr. Mike, I daily a Buick Lucerne with a Series III 3800 as my go to work vehicle. I get 30+ MPG on the highway, with zero reliability issues. I’ve owned an example of a Series I, Series II, Series III and even the grand daddy of them all, a first gen 198 cu in Buick “Fireball V6” in a 1963 Buick Special. It is without a doubt the greatest all-around engine GM ever produced. The only major issues were intake gasket issues on Series II engines, and that is easily and cheaply repairable. The 3.6 is a thirsty engine.
I’d drive a 2014 v6 but I wouldn’t touch a 2012 with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole
Should get the one with the 5.3V8 😍
You know Impala went from a airport rental vehicle all the way up to scoring 99 overall in Consumer Reports (CR) a few years back. Only outpoint CR observed was small rear window. That rear window was re-designed following year from what I read. I was serious about purchasing a Impala during the last production year Chevy made them. However, I opt for a Chevy e-Bolt 2019 and now have a Chevy e-Bolt 2023 on factory bench order. I wish Chevy will make a e-Impala!
BTW: It was the only American manufactured vehicle to make the top 10 rating in consumer reports that year. The others were all Japanese.
I have an ’07 LT w/the 3.5L V6, 121k miles and it’s been a very good car. No major problems. It is starting to rust on both rear quarters at the top of the wheel wells, but otherwise it still looks good too! The cloth interior is still in great shape as well! It’s kind of fun to have a comfortable, paid off and reliable daily driver in this Pick-up and SUV driven world!
Yeah I get it, I have a long paid off 09 Pontiac G6 that’s in great shape that is a very comfortable alternative to my Silverado and the wife’s Equinox. I bought it new and I may never sell it, lol.
Mmmm and GM killed it?
Yeah, GM figured it was too good and would not benefit their service and parts departments.
AVi gm doesn’t kill off a car line because it was too good of a car. In every case gm will kill off a car line because Nobody is Buying them. There is insufficient car sales to continue to produce that car line or model.
No car company can just produce vehicles that sit on the dealers lot and never sell.
A 2008 Impala LS was my first car and it was a very good car it had a lot of miles when I got it but it was my first car so didn’t need anything brand new. I now have a 2023 Chevy Traverse and I see no reason that I will leave the GM family I also have a 2008 Buick Lucerne that I use as my work car and it’s a great car as well only has a little over 60k miles the previous owner had been very good with it and had to be put in a nursing home and picked it from her niece at a good price I do have to say the 2008 Buick Lucerne is so much nicer then the Impala I had but that’s just my opinion
I have a 2008 Impala 3.5 with 150,000 miles. It has been a wonderful car, always reliable. It has plenty of power and rides very well. 30 mpg on the highway is normal.
From personal experience and from what other owners have said the 2006 is best avoided being the first year of the heavy revamp and new engines. The 2007 to 2016 W-body cars seem to be reliable thereafter with the main issues wheels bearings, undersized wiring for the wheel sensors causing phantom ABS/traction lights to illuminate and some 2006 to 2011 4 speed 4T65E transmission issues noted.
My 2017 and 2019 Epsilon Imala’s have been the best cars I have ever owned for the most part. Shame GM killed this nameplate off and lost me as a customer moving forward.
I had a 08 that I wish I never traded in, it was a solid car. It did practically everything you asked of it (except it wasn’t a racecar 😞), It had just the lower tier V6 and I just ran and ran, the only problems were body damage that was definitely driver induced.
Yes
Would love to see the Impala return as a stylish EV.
Wish I still had my 1970 with a 454. Two door and gold. What a car
My sister-in-law just sold her 2008 Impala with 308K+ miles on it. Leather interior was like new, no rust, al power windows worked and a sunroof that still worked. She just kept the oil changed, did maintenance as suggested and tires. Ran like a champ and got $4500 for it. She now wishes that she kept it and not got the POS Lexus that has been in and out of the dealership more times than one can count, and they won’t even talk about lemon-lawing it.
2014 Impala Limited in the garage with 74k and no problems yet. Replaced the original battery, 5 tires, and front brake pads. Before that 2007 GP no problems. Replaced the same stuff as the Impala plus a can of power steering fluid. Before that ’97 Saab 900; which is my father’s daily driver. And before that a 87′ Silverado that put in 20.5 years of service and 219,986 miles, mostly city miles. I have saved so much money as a middle-class American, I look to retire 10 years early because I bought quality GM products. I also kept away money hungry women by not competing with the Jones’ imports; so no divorce here.
I always like the impala , have an 08 it was giving me a lot of trouble, would not start below 28 degrees car would shut off going across an intersection or at 70mph, many hours of diagnosing, no check engine light no codes , finally traced it back the fuse box under the hood, I replaced and it runs good once agin.
I finally found the problem with my car. The computer was bad , at temperatures below 30 degrees car would not start got messages on the dash , service throttle, reduced power, service anti theft, engine over heating, no codes in the ecm. Took the ecm out of the car bring the house let it get warm , and will start did this for 3 days car started every time . Bought a new ecm from the gmc dealer they programmed it and not a bit of trouble car starts and runs as it should $470.00 later
I keep thinking about trading in my 08; as I want a slightly used premier. I just cant do it. I’ve had 4 people asking to buy it. I know the feeling. My 08 has 204,000. We do regular maintenance each year or I should say replace something due to break. I need to get a paint job and the screw ( or hole) for the water pump needs to be addressed but it runs like a champ. I guess I’ll have my 08 and the premier.
I have a 2014 limited (9th gen, old body) with 130k miles runs great. I have had problems with hvac actuators they’re not too difficult to change or expensive. Pretty good car plenty of power for a front wheel drive decent mileage sunroof remote starter
I don’t think I would want the earlier 3.6 or the newer ones the 2nd generation of the 3.6 is the good one no cylinder deactivation on the 3rd bad pcv system on the 1st
But properly maintained and they all are good
My 2007 Impala LS turned 339K earlier this week. A decent value. Mid 20’s in MN winter, mid 30’s the other three seasons. Best was 39.9 mpg on a dry, humid, 40 degree F day.