In these tough economic times it’s hard to justify going out and spending hard earned money on a new car. But that doesn’t mean a newer car isn’t out of the question, and with the increased reliability of cars over the years, Motor Trend says there are five cars that make for a great used car value.

Motor Trend says the 2007-2008 Acura TL Type-S is not as advanced as its ’09 counterpart, but it has more power and more space in the back. And with great electronics like Bluetooth, it makes for a great New York used car.

Also recommended in the luxury class are the Volkswagen Phaeton and the 1990-2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

For the sportier car fan, Motor Trend suggests the C5 Corvette Z06 which has the same horsepower as the next generation C6, but is about half the price. But, the magazine warns that with all that horsepower, the cars may have been run hard so it’s important to find one that was taken care of.

As for a truck, the website recommends the 2004-2008 Ford F-150. With a new model coming out for ’09, it means a ton of older generations will be ready for a new owner. Meaning an F-150 with just a few years of work could be had relatively cheaply.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.