OPINION

Jethro’s Car Picks: Fun Used Cars For Sale

Five of the best used cars within 100 miles of Iowa City

Byline photo of Jethro Michaelson

Jethro Michaelson, Reporter • April 3, 2025

Jethro’s Cars

Jethro Michaelson, Reporter

(Courtesy of Seller)

VW Golf Sportwagen: Sensible but Fun

2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

Price: $6,500

Mileage: 125,000 miles

Engine: 1.8 Liter Inline-4 Turbo

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

Drive: Front Wheel

Location: West Liberty, IA

This is genuinely my dream first car. Station wagons have been quite unpopular in the US market since the fuel crisis in the ‘70s. However, some companies, such as VW with this Sportwagen, still made wagons well into the 2010s.

It is very practical, and it has a much better fuel economy and drives much better than a comparable SUV. The EPA says this little wagon gets 25 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway. It will also get you 475 miles down the highway before you need to refuel.

Get this car if you want the practicality of an SUV but in a more fun and fuel-efficient package.
Photo courtesy of car seller

2014 Ford Taurus: Most Car for Your Money:

2014 Ford Taurus

Price: $5,795

Mileage: 147,959 miles

Engine: 3.5 Liter Naturally Aspirated V6

Transmission: 6-Speed Auto

Drive: Front Wheel

Location: Waterloo, IA

If you want a semi-luxurious car with tons of space, this is the car for you. It’s a fairly boring car, but frankly, it has more power and space than you’ll likely ever need. The 3.5-liter Cyclone V6 in this car is known for a water pump issue, which, if not taken care of, can damage or even destroy the engine. However, variants of this engine are used in over 40 different vehicles, so parts are plentiful. If you get the car checked before you buy it, you should be fine.

This big sedan is perfect for you if you need lots of space for passengers and cargo.
Photo courtesy of car seller.

Cheap and Practical: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo

2009 Chevrolet Aveo

Engine: $3,500

Mileage: 130,311 miles

Engine: 1.6 Liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

Drive: Front Wheel

Location: East Moline, IL

This is not an exciting car. This little recession-era hatchback has the power of a mid-range vacuum cleaner and is about as fun as a standardized test. However, you can’t be expecting a whole lot when buying a car less than 20 years old for $3.5k. You should be grateful that you get luxuries such as air conditioning and a radio in this little hatchback.

There is nothing particularly notable about this little car. The only really important thing to know is that it has a salvage title, but it’s in pretty good condition now. There are a few problem areas with the Aveo of this era. The main relatively common issue is a turn signal failure, but it can be fixed by replacing a fuse.

This car’s only real benefit is the rock-bottom price. Get this car if you can drive a stick shift and don’t want to break the bank.
Photo courtesy of car seller.

2008 Volvo C70 T5: Safe, Fun, and Good Looking:

2008 Volvo C70 T5

Specs:

Price: $6,777

Mileage: 190,000 miles

Engine: 2.5 Liter Inline-5 Turbo

Transmission: 5-Speed Auto

Drive: Front Wheel

Location: Moline, IL

This is almost a complete 180 from the Aveo. The C70 is a great looking car, has Volvo’s renowned safety features, and is quite reliable. The most noticeable aspect, however, is, of course, the convertible hard top. Insurance is likely to be high, considering this is a convertible and European cars from this era are known to have a few quirks.

This is the car for you if you want a convertible you can drive in the winter and are willing to sacrifice some practicality.
Photo courtesy of car seller.

1977 MG Midget: Fun Pick

1977 MG Midget

Price: $4,600

Mileage: 41,929 miles

Engine: 1.5 Liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

Drive: Rear Wheel

Location: Morrison, IL

This little British roadster has surprisingly low miles and is considered to be one of the most fun cars to drive. The car has had plenty of work done on it, with a new radio and speakers, valve cover gasket, slave cylinder, and fuel pump. The seller recommends replacing the soft top and a little work on the carburetor (which is pretty standard for the Midget).

This car will either be a blessing or a curse depending on who you are. If you need reliable transportation, don’t get this car. If you need to haul anything larger than a small cardboard box, this isn’t for you. You can, in theory, take this car on the interstate, but don’t expect it to be a calm and peaceful ride. So, it’s slow, unreliable, and terribly impractical. Why am I recommending this? Because this car is practically alive.

Most newer cars require relatively little maintenance, but this one requires your constant attention. It’s similar to a pet. It requires lots of love and care, and if you give it that, it will gladly play with you.

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About the Contributor

Jethro Michaelson

Jethro Michaelson, Reporter

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