Cheapest Used Ford Cars - Focus, Fusion, Mustang

The entry level vehicles offered by a car company are intended to appeal to those who are buying their first new car. The vehicles are priced as low as possible, and while these cars typically turn a profit, there are instances where car companies actually take a small loss on their inexpensive cars in order to get people involved with the brand. The least expensive cars in an automaker’s showroom are typically base models with few options, appealing to most buyers through their warranty and financing incentives.

What each person should consider doing when they are at the dealership checking out a new vehicle is asking the salesman if there are any used examples of the same model that have come in recently. Buying used can mean picking up a fully loaded version of a car at much less than the cost of a stripped down new model. Most car companies offer an extensive inspection checklist with each of their used cars, and some even provide a factory warranty for a certain period of ownership. The value that can be found in a car that is two or three years old can greatly extend the budget of even the most frugal buyer.

This article takes a look at the least expensive cars currently offered by Ford, and compares them to their predecessors of just a few years before to contrast the prices, equipment levels and how they have fared on the used market. Of course, used car prices vary according to which region the vehicle is located in, the overall condition of the car and the mileage, but the list below should give a good idea of what to expect when exploring these entry level options.

2009 versus 2006 Ford Focus

The Focus, priced at just under $15,000 in entry-level form is the least expensive Ford vehicle currently on sale. The 2009 Focus is positioned as a fun to drive, fuel-efficient sedan, and with a small 2.0 4-cylinder engine producing 140 horsepower, it is capable of achieving 35 miles per gallon in highway driving.

Turning back the clock to 2006 finds the previous generation of Focus with a different look and a different set of engine choices to go with it. Much more angular than the current model, the older version of the Focus has almost identical interior dimensions, giving up an inch of rear leg room but gaining an inch for the front seats. The biggest change can be found in the trunk, which is a full cubic foot bigger than the new 2009 edition. Horsepower is also very similar between the two models, with both the 2.4-liter and 2.0-liter engines available in 2006 producing 136 ponies and equal fuel mileage to the more recent car. The biggest difference between the two vehicles are the optional upgrades to the 2009’s sound and entertainment system, but since these aren’t included with the base model, they don’t come into play in this evaluation.

The striking similarities between the new and old Focus are brought into even sharper relief when the price difference between the two is revealed. A 2006 Ford Focus sedan with less than 70,000 miles can be had for around $8,000 – almost half the price of the 2009 without even breaking 6 digits on the odometer.

Other than the styling, it is clear that the only real differences between a new Focus and a recent used version are little more than the mileage and the price. This should leave most buyers asking themselves how much extra they are willing to pay for the right to call themselves the vehicle’s first owner.

2009 versus 2006 Ford Fusion

The Fusion is Ford’s least expensive mid-size sedan, stepping into the role abdicated by the now larger Taurus. The Fusion starts at $18,000 dollars, making it a frugal choice for new car owners who desire something bigger than a Focus but who aren’t interested in a full-size sedan. The base Fusion is powered by a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder which uses 16-valves and dual overhead camshafts to make a healthy 160 horsepower. This motor is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission, helping the Fusion to see fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon on the highway.

2006 was the debut year for the Fusion, and in many ways the car has changed little since then. The two cars share the same base engine, transmission, and many of the same interior specifications. Once again, the biggest differences between the younger and senior Fusions are the options available on the higher trim levels in 2009. The vehicle’s pricing has fallen dramatically in the three years since its debut – so much so that it is possible to pick up a 4-cylinder Fusion with an optional automatic transmission and less than 20,000 miles for only $11,000 dollars. That’s right – still on the factory warranty for around $7000 dollars less than new. Buyers can even find a 2006 Fusion with the same low mileage but with a higher trim level and a 221 horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 for only a few thousand more.

The 2006 Fusion’s low re-sale value may have hurt those who bought the car new when it first came out, but it has become a definite boon to savvy shoppers who can now avoid the same level of depreciation and drive off in a much nicer edition of the Fusion than they thought they could afford.

2009 versus 2006 Ford Mustang

The re-styled Ford Mustang made a huge splash when it first hit the scene in 2005, and while the V-8-powered GT is the version of the car that typically gets all the press, the standard Ford Mustang is a wallet-friendly, peppy vehicle that shares an almost identical design. When ordered with a 5-speed manual transmission and a 210 horsepower V-6 the Mustang is still just under $20,000 dollars – and that includes side impact airbags, a CD player and fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2006 Mustang wears the same threads as its newer brother, and rides on exactly the same platform and drivetrain. Fuel economy ratings are a bit different thanks to a change in how the EPA measures it that occurred in 2008, but for all intents and purposes the cars are twins, minus side impact airbags. This means that buyers of both the new and the older Mustang get to enjoy the same level of performance from the 4.0-liter V-6, chirp the tires with the same 240 lb-ft of torque and get the same looks of jealousy from those driving lesser cars.

However, chances are that those who opted to purchase their Mustang used are wearing a bigger smile on their face when cruising down the block, thanks to the fact that a 2006 V-6-powered Mustang with around 20,000 miles sells for between 13 and 15 thousand dollars. This is three-quarters the price of the car when new, complete with the remainder of the vehicle warranty. Not only that, but these cheaper versions of the car come with nicer equipment, such as the Pony package which upgrades the exterior of the car to resemble the beefier GT or the Premium package which adds leather seats and a nicer stereo.

The biggest shocker comes when expanding the used car search to include the performance-oriented, 300 horsepower Mustang GT. A 2006 model, with fewer than 20,000 miles sells for the same price as a new V-6. While not everyone is interested in the lower fuel mileage and greater attention that come with a full-on muscle car, it still drives home the point that the least expensive cars in the new Ford lineup all represent a much better value when purchased on the used market.