CARS.

USED WHEELS

2002 Lexus GS 430
$26,500 to $33,700[1]

Trunk volume: 14.8 cu. ft.
4.2-liter, 300-hp V-8
0 to 60 mph: 5.9 seconds
mpg: 18 city 23 hwy.
Interior space: 100 cu. ft.

The average new car sheds more than half its original sticker price in just three years. If you're the type who can sacrifice odometer miles for a higher-class model, buying used can give you an edge. The 2002 Lexus (originally $50,000) may entice you with its 300-horsepower V-8--plus more luxury and prestige than Toyota for almost the same price: from $26,500 for a car with 80,000 miles, to $33,700 for a pristine car with less than 15,000 miles.

NOTE: [1] Edmunds.com.

NEW WHEELS

2005 Toyota Avalon
$26,350 to $33,450

0 to 60 mph: 6.6 seconds
3.5-liter, 80-hp V-6
Interior space: 106.9 cu. ft.
mpg: 22 city 31 hwy.
Trunk volume: 14.4 cu. ft.

A new car makes sense to more than 16 million car buyers each year, and it's more than just that smell. You get the longest warranties, for one thing, plus the peace of mind of knowing you won't inherit the last owner's problems or worry if the oil was changed on time. If this sounds good, the new Toyota Avalon is a great choice. It's the best sedan ever to wear a Toyota badge. Yet the base price remains on target for families: $26,350, or $30,800 for the well-stuffed XLS version.

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By Lawrence Ulrich

In September's "Spend Smart," the 2005 Toyota Avalon should have been labeled as having 280 horsepower, not 80.