In addition to big hair, synthesizer music, and acid-washed jeans, the 1980s introduced a glorious return to performance for automakers. After the dark days of the “Malaise Era” (roughly 1975 -1982) wherein increasingly tougher emissions standards and the solutions to meet them sucked the life out of engines, the Yuppie Decade brought welcome advancements in engine technologies that allowed cars to once again provide thrilling performance. This rebirth of performance wasn’t just limited to straight-line gusto either, as advances in chassis development and tire technology also meant greater handling and braking abilities as well.
As a result, the “gr80ties” ushered in lots of new, fun-to-drive models, such as Toyota’s MR2, which debuted for 1985. It was, along with Honda’s CRX Si, a great example of a car not needing a lot of power to be a blast to drive. Indeed, the cover of Automobile Magazine’s debut issue (April 1986) featured the MR2 and a Ferrari 308, driving home the point of how the little MR2 provided plenty of exotic mid-engine sports car thrills for a price most anyone could afford. Low maintenance costs and Toyota’s reputation for quality and longevity didn’t hurt its appeal either.
Fittingly enough, the second generation of the MR2 brought exotic styling that was seemingly inspired by that Ferrari, while the third and last generation switched gears as the MR2 became a soft-top roadster that placed Mazda’s ridiculously popular Miata in the crosshairs of its Toyota logo.
Even though it came in these three distinct flavors, any version of the MR2 is a tasty treat that is virtually guaranteed to rev up those who get a kick out of driving a responsive and engaging sports car.
In this buyer’s guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to find the perfect “Mister Two” for you.
The FJ Cruiser began life purely as a design concept. It’s retro lines — penned by then 25-year-old Jin Won Kim of Toyota’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach — recall many elements of Toyota’s iconic FJ40, the original Land Cruiser.
Even though Kim was born a quarter century after the original FJ rolled off the assembly line, he nailed the look. In fact, it wowed people so much at its 2003 debut at North American International Auto Show in Detroit that Toyota greenlit the FJ Cruiser for production.
Three years later, a new icon was born.
The popularity of used crossovers and SUVs is gaining steam. They’re not just the choice of families anymore. Young Americans are buying them in record numbers, too. Small crossovers are now extremely popular, while sales of midsize SUVs and those with three-rows of seating continue to climb.
To help you find the best used SUV for less than $20,000, we’ve created this list of six models. According to the data, these SUVs offer above-average reliability, and they’ve received exceptional safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). They’re also fun to drive and fuel-efficient. Our list includes two compacts, a larger five-passenger model, and three with seating for seven, so there’s something here for everyone.
For August 13, 2020, our used car find is this 2000 Lexus LX 470 with just 56k miles, which is listed on craigslist in the Sacramento area for $15,000.
Here’s what makes this one 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.
Because the hybrid marketplace has changed so rapidly over the last ten years, with both hits and misses along the way, it’s important to do your homework before you start browsing the for-sale listings. That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive used hybrid buying guide. It’s everything you need to know to make a smart used hybrid purchase.