A car that's beautiful on the inside...

August 30, 2013 9:51 PM

I live in a busy urban center and need to park on the street, and I've watched a number of beautiful new or used cars parked in my area rapidly degrade from the sunlight, from being hit or scratched as others park, or from being keyed. My old car - meh on the outside, pretty nice on the inside, a combination that worked well in the neighborhood - is in its death throes, and I'm looking to "upgrade". If I wanted to get a used car that was a good deal because it looked blah on the outside but had a really nice, modern, well designed, roomy interior - I'm thinking black leather and bluetooth - what's the most "luxurious on the inside" used car I can get in the $7000-$10000 range?

A few other criteria:
* I'd really like to get something with 20mpg combined city/highway or more.
* Headroom is a good thing.
* 0-60 in less than 9 seconds is desirable, too.

Thanks!

posted by I EAT TAPAS to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

Find a used Lexus ES 300 with low mileage.

1992 and newer matches your 0-60 criteria, and the interiors are great. They also look like Camrys on the outside.

I'd probably drop the Bluetooth requirement to get everything else you want.
posted by oceanjesse at 11:27 PM on August 30, 2013

Depending on where you live, a hail damaged write off could be what you're looking for. They have a bunch of dents that are too extensive to repair but are immaculate inside.
posted by arcticseal at 11:46 PM on August 30, 2013 [4 favorites]

VW, Infiniti, Acura, Mazda, Fiat. You can get a lot for $10,000. Use Craigslist.
posted by phaedon at 12:34 AM on August 31, 2013

Saabs are very lovely on the inside. Always check the mileage.
posted by h00py at 1:42 AM on August 31, 2013

Seconding Saabs. My dad and husband (6'3" and 6'4") have driven them for years with no complaints about headroom. But only buy one with records of timely oil changes. The interiors are beautiful.
posted by katie at 3:02 AM on August 31, 2013

Not joking: look for a loaded Saturn aura. We had one and the inside was incredibly luxurious. Leather seats, heated, excellent excellent radio, huge sunroof. Plus it's a Saturn, so sort of unexpected. And my tall husband found it comfortable to drive (especially because the seat and steering wheel were adjustible).
posted by dpx.mfx at 5:53 AM on August 31, 2013

I would consider that some of the vehicles suggested here are made by companies that no longer exist. Do you want to drop ten grand on the next Oldsmobile?

Seconding Craigslist.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:07 AM on August 31, 2013 [1 favorite]

first or second generation Honda CRV's are pretty decent. Honda Accords are good also. If you get a loaded one with a V6 or some other upscale markings, they can be removed and replaced with a base model badges. This will help with theft issues some.

Any used acura is going to be pretty good.

A gently used Ford Crown Victoria is usually quite nice on the inside. You can even make it look like an old police car on the outside (actual used police cars are not nice on the inside).

The ultimate in sleeper cars is a top of the line minivan with the top of the line badging removed. They are Very Nice on the inside and the used market for these is pretty flat so there are lots of good buys around. They are also very good road trip vehicles-room enough to sleep inside, good mileage, good seats, good visibility and usually plenty of power for cruising all day. I would go with a Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna or a top of the line Chrysler minivan made after 2005 (the honda and chrysler can have transmission issues so get them checked out).
posted by bartonlong at 11:08 AM on August 31, 2013

What about a Hyundai? They're inexpensive, even if you get the loaded ones. And they are pretty boring on the outside.
posted by echo0720 at 11:57 AM on August 31, 2013 [1 favorite]

Volvo sedans.
posted by schyler523 at 7:04 AM on September 1, 2013