Episode 86

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Published on:

11th Jan 2024

Preview of Cars, Trucks and SUVs We Will Cover in 2024 on Better Than New

00:00 - OPEN: Preview of Cars, Trucks and SUVs We Will Cover in 2024

In today’s episode, we’re looking toward the future and revealing some of the cars, trucks, SUVS, cross-over’s, sports cars, sedans, hatchbacks and more that you can expect to hear about on the Better Than New podcast in 2024. 

01:00 - INTRO

Last year, I did a similar show talking about what you could expect in 2023 and while I got to many of those vehicles, I was a little surprised by how many I didn’t cover.  So for 2024, we’ll include those vehicles, plus a few more interesting, fun-to-drive cars, trucks and SUV’s here on the Better Than New podcast.

04:15 - Category #1 - Trucks

Today's new trucks are over-sized for many buyers, so we will take a look back at some of the smaller pickups that used to be widely available, but are now virtually non-existent on showroom floors.

  • Toyota Pickups from the 80s, 90s and 2000s
  • Nissan Hardbody Pickups (1986-1997)
  • Mazda 4th Gen B-series Pickups (1985-1998)

07:40 - Category #2 - SUVs and Crossovers

America loves SUVs, so we’re going to cover some great used SUVs in 2024 with an emphasis on value

  • 100-series Toyota Landcruiser (plus equivalent Lexus LX470)
  • Lexus GX470
  • Toyota Sequoia
  • Infiniti FX35 and FX50
  • Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport

In a twist on our "Little Weirdos" 4x4 series from 2023, we will cover some funky used SUVs that are not on everyone's radar, including:

  • Isuzu Vehicross
  • Honda Crosstour
  • Acura ZDX
  • Subaru BRAT

12:50 - Category #3 - Hatchbacks

Hot hatchbacks used to be common, but no longer. However, there are still some interesting examples available on the used car market, including these three which we will cover in 2024:

  • Ford's Fiesta ST
  • Ford's Focus ST
  • Mazda's Mazdaspeed 3

15:20 - Category #4 - Coupes & Sport Compact Cars

Coupes and Sport Compact Cars are also less common, but again there are fun-to-drive examples on the used market that you might want to look for, including:

  • The Acura RSX Type-S
  • Diamond Star Coupes (Mitsu Eclipse/Eagle Talon/Plymouth Laser)
  • Celica All-trac Turbo (ST165 from 1988-1989 and ST185 - 1990-1993)
  • Chevrolet Cobalt SS (supercharged)
  • Dodge Neon SRT-4

19:05 - Category #5 - Sports Cars

  • Mazda Miata - We will explore the Mazda Miata, not to ID the best year or generation, but to find the used car version that offers the best value
  • First Gen Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS (now the Toyota GR86)
  • The Three First-Gen German Sports Cars, including the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z3 and the Mercedes Benz SLK Roadster

21:20 - Category #6 - Sedans

  • Lexus GS-Series V8, Rear Drive Sedans (GS400, GS430 and GS460)
  • Lexus GS350 (4th Gen 2011-2015 and 2015.5-2020 model update)
  • Mazda's Mazdaspeed 6
  • Subaru 2.5 GT Spec B

23:30 - Category #7 - Wagons

  • WRX Wagons (includes 2002-2007 + Saab 9-2X Wagon)
  • Audi S4 Avant (B6 and B7 wagons with 4.2-liter V8)

26:55 - Close

This is just a partial list of the vehicles we will cover in 2024 on the Better Than New Podcast, so be sure to join us this year for all this and more.

Thanks for listening!

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!