A great used luxury car for less than $25,000 may sound like a fantasy, but they’re as real as rain. You just need to know what cars to shop.

Luxury cars are notorious for shedding value, which makes them great used car buys, and there are millions of nearly new, fun-to-drive, leather-lined sedans and coupes out there from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and other luxury brands just waiting for their next owners.

For September 17, 2020, our used car find is this well-kept 2001 BMW 540i sedan with 93k miles and a rare 6-speed manual gearbox. It’s listed for sale on craigslist by a private seller in the Orange County area for $9998.

Here’s what makes this one special.

For July 25, 2020, our used car find is this 53k mile 1999 BMW 528i sedan, which is listed on craigslist by a small specialty dealer in the Tampa area for $12,500.

Here’s what makes this car special.

For June 26, 2020, our used car find is this 72k mile 2002 BMW 525i, which is listed on craigslist by a private seller in the LA area for $3300.

Here’s what makes this car special.

Imagine a spirited drive along your favorite road in a top-down roadster. The scenery rushes past, and there’s nothing but sky above you. With nicely weighted steering and near 50:50 weight balance, the chassis becomes an extension of your fingertips, while your feet coax beautiful arias from the smooth-spinning inline six under the hood.

It’s no pipe dream. Thanks to the magic of depreciation, this fantasy, in the shape of the E85 generation BMW Z4, can be yours for less than $10,000.

For October 7, 2020, our used car find is this handsome, low-mile E92 generation BMW 328i coupe with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It’s listed for sale on craigslist by a private seller in the San Diego area for $10,500.

Here’s what makes this one special.

If you’re like most of us, you can count your car “collection” on one finger, so whatever you drive needs to do a lot of things well. It needs to get you back and forth to work without fail. It needs to keep your maintenance and upkeep costs to a minimum. And of course it needs to be fun.

Fortunately, you don’t have to take out a big loan or be Jay Leno to buy a fun set of wheels that can double as a practical daily driver. Indeed, there are some very entertaining choices out there to be found in nice shape with low mileage for less than $10,000 — whether you need something that seats the whole family, or you can make do with just room for two.

For July 4, 2020, our used car find is this 42k mile 2014 BMW 228i, which is listed on craigslist by a private seller in Beaverton, Oregon, for $16,500.

Here’s what makes this car special.

For the week of June 20, 2020, our used car find is this 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si, which is listed on craigslist by a private seller in the Portland, Oregon, area for $14,700.

Here’s what makes this car special.

It would have been rare a few years ago for hybrids to show up on most used-car shopping lists. There weren’t that many in the market, and there wasn’t much choice. Toyota’s hybrids dominated, with gas-electric models from Honda and Ford in distant second and third place. But stuff happens. Things change.

Today there’s a wide selection of used hybrids available, from almost every manufacturer. Because of their often-stellar fuel efficiency, plus the high-end trim and standard equipment levels among many of the more recent models, they are cars – and crossovers, SUVs, and trucks – that most every used-car shopper should consider.

For September 25, 2020, our used car find is this final-year E90 generation BMW 335i sedan with 69k miles and a 6-speed manual gearbox. It’s listed for sale on craigslist by a private seller in the Portland area for $14,000.

Here’s what makes this one special.

For August 8, 2020, our used car find is this 57k mile 1988 BMW 320i Touring, which is listed on craigslist by a private seller in the Charlotte area for $11,900.

Here’s what makes this car special.

For June 28, 2020, our used car find is this 64k mile 1999 BMW Z3 Coupe 2.8, which is listed on craigslist by a private seller in the Denver area for $15,900.

Here’s what makes this car special.

Shoppers often miss great bargains when they overlook the occasional used electric vehicle that pops up during their searches.

Electric cars — whether battery-electric EVs with no gas engine at all, or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that combine electric drive and internal combustion engines — are still a mystery to most Americans.

Many enthusiasts hold that the E46 3 Series is the pinnacle of the BMW formula: a marvelous combination of sporting character and everyday usability in a timeless design. In fact, we heartily sing its praises in our E46 buying guide, calling it “one of the most enjoyable drives available in an affordable used car.”

But there are downsides. For example, the E46 interior can age poorly. Rubberized plastics on the center console and the door cards tend to scratch and flake; headliners are prone to sagging. And there are a few dogs in the range with sub-200 hp ratings that can feel pretty anemic compared to more modern machines.