Identifying the top five most popular cars sold at auction this year is a difficult proposition. So it is important to set some ground rules before getting into this list. First, not every auction lists the results which make it difficult to create a comparison based upon sheer numbers or final prices. Second, the most popular cars could be the most expensive, most sought after, or most readily available. To accommodate all of these variables, this list will try to mesh both bidder popularity as well as overall availability. One thing to keep in mind is with less used cars being made available on the secondary market over the past year, older models of every car on this list will be easier to find at public auctions than late-model used cars.
Ford Crown Victoria
In terms of sheer volume as well as popularity, there is no doubt the Ford Crown Victoria will always find its way onto this list. The Ford Crown Victoria is commonly found at all types of public auctions, although are particularly more prevalent at government auctions. This is because the Ford Crown Victoria is well known for being a popular choice for police cruisers.
Since many Ford Crown Victoria is available at public auctions are from government sources, it is extremely easy for bidders to get an accurate maintenance history. Additionally, this car has become especially popular in the eyes of taxi companies who are looking for an updated, more durable fleet.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla has long been a hot commodity on the secondary market. It is well-known for being built with an emphasis on reliability and overall value. As such, you can find a growing number of older Toyota Corollas on auction listings across the country. It is the ideal car for people on a budget because it carries a significantly lower secondary market value than its competition. As a result, it is consistently inexpensive at public car auctions.
If the Toyota Corolla is a little too plain for your tastes, consider the Toyota Camry as an excellent alternative. It is consistently one of the best-selling cars in America and recently received a total redesign which makes the previous generation even more affordable as more of them find their way onto the secondary market.
Honda Civic
Similar to the Toyota Corolla, the Honda Civic has established a reputation of reliability and trouble-free transportation. Along with being extremely durable, it has also proven to be more fun and more comfortable than most of the other options within the compact sedan segment. Since the Honda Civic is often initially purchased by people who plan on keeping it for an extended period of time, older models are much more commonly found at public auctions than newer ones. As a result, the civic maintains its value incredibly well. For the best overall value at public auctions, focusing on a Honda Civic manufactured between 2000 and 2006 often provide the greatest return.
Nissan Altima
With all of the excellent incentives Nissan offered new car buyers, it is not surprising to find a larger number of newer Nissan Altima is at public auctions. Over the past year, Nissan Altima is manufactured between 2007 and 2009 were especially prevalent. Some of the standard features included are a 2.5L I-4 170HP engine, 6-speed manual transmission, side seat mounted airbags, air conditioning, power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, and 16 inch steel wheels.
The Nissan Altima has been Nissan’s best-selling car over the past several years. It underwent a major redesign for the 2007 model year, which makes older Nissan Altima is particularly economical.
Kia Rio
Looking at public auctions across the country, the prevalence of the Kia Rio was a surprise. It has proven to offer reliable performance in the competitive subcompact market, while also offering an extensive variety of trim levels. It is likely the ease large number of trim levels which make it popular among public auction bidders. Any time you can find an upgraded trim level for an economical car, such as the Kia Rio, the overall value of the purchase can be significantly increased.
The Biggest Surprise
The biggest surprise was the lack of desire for domestic compact cars and sedans. While there is no doubt you could show up to any public auction and find a large number of Chevy Malibu’s and Ford Focus’s, there is much less competition for them. This could be because so many of these cars are available. With the high supply, no one is willing to get into an extensive bidding war because they know they will have another chance to purchase the same make and model. It could also be because there has been a continual shift across the United States to preferring foreign manufactured subcompacts and sedans because of their better track record of reliability.
