> The correct answer is actually 4-6 year old cars. They are still new enough where you shouldn’t have major problems for several years, while having depreciate

> The correct answer is actually 4-6 year old cars. They are still new enough where you shouldn’t have major problems for several years, while having depreciated more than 50% of their original value. After 4 years, cars depreciate a lot slower. That is spot on. I bought mine 5 years old after it already took its huge, gigantic, depreciation curve. Moreover depending on the car segment you pick, the depreciation curve can be even more dramatic. I bought my car used but with an extended manufacturer warranty, which I extend yearly (or for two or three years at once) and which I can renew up until 15 years and/or 200 000 km (whichever comes first). So there's no issue of "unforeseen costs": car has got a problem, it's the car manufacturer's problem, not mine. Sure, I pay for that extended warranty, but I prefer it that way. Wife recently bought a five years old car too. Four or five years old is also long enough to know if the model is a lemon or not and what to look out for on that model when you buy it: some manufacturers do really come up with a model full of problems once in a while and when you buy new, you're the guinea pig.