‘They’re Also The Best Car You Can Buy’: Car Salesman Says Old Hondas And Toyotas Are The Hardest To Sell. Then He Reveals Why
'I had a 2009 Accord LX ... It sat for 4 months. Best car I had on my lot tbh.'
A car salesman says some of the vehicles he has the hardest time selling are also the same ones he believes are among the smartest buys.
Ben (@benshives), who shares car sales advice online, explained why he thinks used Hondas and Toyotas can be a tougher sell than some drivers may expect. He went over “the hardest cars to sell" but also claims they’re the best cars to buy.
“Most people think Honda and Toyota products are the easiest thing to sell, and they’re not,” Ben says.
Despite that, Ben says Hondas and Toyotas in the low- to mid-teen age range can be the “best bang for your buck.”
He used two used Honda Civics as examples, starting with a 2012 model with 115,000 miles that he says has Honda Factory Performance wheels and is “extremely clean on the inside.”
He then shows a 2013 Honda Civic with 150,000 miles. “This one shows a little bit more wear,” Ben says, but adds that it’s still a “really nice” car.
Ben says he believes both Civics are reliable vehicles. However, he says some shoppers are not willing to pay more for an older Honda or Toyota.
“It’s not a Hyundai. It’s not a Ford. It’s not a 10-speed transmission. It’s not a CVT,” Ben says, explaining that some customers don’t want to pay “a little bit of a premium” for a better-quality Honda or Toyota.
He says customers who purchase a car from him also get 10% off lifetime service, including things like oil changes, batteries, and brakes. He adds that his shop also offers paint and collision work.
“We know everybody that knows everything,” Ben says. As of this writing, his video has more than 1,200 views.
Why Are Used Hondas And Toyotas Still Expensive?
Hondas and Toyotas have a reputation for lasting a long time, and that demand keeps prices higher even when the cars are older or have more miles.
According to Kelley Blue Book, resale value depends on many factors, including a vehicle’s model type, age, and rarity. But that can create a disconnect with Hondas and Toyotas, in particular. A seller may see a well-maintained Honda or Toyota with more than 100,000 miles as a car with plenty of life left, while a buyer may focus on the age and mileage and expect a discount.
At least when it comes to used cars, though, mileage alone does not tell the full story.
A high-mileage vehicle with regular maintenance records may sometimes be a better buy than a lower-mileage car that a past owner neglected upkeep on. For that reason, Consumer Reports recommends reviewing a vehicle’s history and getting a pre-purchase inspection to better understand its condition before buying.
Factors such as prior repairs and accident history can all affect the price of a used car. But often Hondas and Toyotas can fall into a strange middle ground: Their reputation keeps prices higher, but shoppers still have to decide whether they’re comfortable paying more for an older vehicle.
So, while a Honda or Toyota nameplate may be a good starting point, how the car was maintained will ultimately determine if it is worth your money.
‘A 2015 Chrysler 200 Will NEVER Be As Good Or Reliable As A 2005 Camry’
Commenters who watched Ben’s video were divided on whether older Hondas and Toyotas are actually difficult to sell.
Some agreed with Ben that the challenge comes down to what sellers need to charge versus what buyers expect to pay.
“They are hard to sell, because they are hard to buy,” one person wrote. “You have to pay all the money to get them and ask all the money to even make a profit on a short deal. Everyone offers less than what you paid for it and gets insulted when you say no. If you can rob one, they are easy, but they are impossible to rob.”
Another person who said they sell cars agreed.
“I selllll hondasss and toyotasssssss, are they hard to sell? Yes, unless you buy them right,” they wrote.
Others argued that some shoppers focus too much on the model year and mileage rather than a vehicle’s overall reputation.
“Consumers think newer year and lower miles means everything. But a 2015 Chrysler 200 will NEVER be as good or reliable as a 2005 Camry,” one commenter wrote. “Young and/or uneducated buyer takes the newer car with lower miles every time.”
One person shared their own experience trying to sell a Honda.
“I had a 2009 Accord LX, 201k mi, $4k out-the-door. It sat for 4 months. Best car I had on my lot tbh,” they wrote.
Meanwhile, some shoppers said finding the right used Toyota is already difficult.
“I just want a 2019 or 2018 [Camry] with less than 150k miles,” one commenter said. “But man o man. They are unicorns near me."
Motor1 has reached out to Ben via direct message on TikTok, as well as Honda and Toyota via email. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Woman Drives Honda Civic. Then She Realizes It Runs On A Little-Known Type Of Gas: ‘Never Seen Anything Like This Before’
‘The Light Turns Green And The Waymos Won’t Move’: Woman Gets Behind 2 Waymos At Stoplight. 50 Minutes Later, They Haven’t Budged
'Don’t Race It': Man Buys Honda EG. Then He Challenges A Hellcat To A Drag Race. It Accepts
‘Thought That Walmart Would Have Everything They Needed’: Woman Gets Oil Changed At Walmart. Then She Goes To Advance Auto Parts
Woman Trades In Her Jeep Grand Cherokee For A Toyota RAV4 At Dealership. Then Carvana Steps In: 'I Can't Be Doing That'
Woman Buys STP Oil At Autozone. Then She Tries To Use Her Dad‘s Points
Here's How Honda's IndyCar Tech Gets Into Your Civic