The Mazda I currently own is only the second new car I’ve ever owned, and the first since 1985. Used cars are generally just much better values. And among used cars, there are some very good ones that most people just don’t consider, so their prices are almost shockingly low for what you get.

Each month, Brendan Moore posts a paragraph or two about each of a few dozen used cars of interest on his blog, Autosavant. He includes typical selling prices. Be sure to check these out. Speaking with Brendan recently, I suggested that a site focused around good buys in used cars could fill a large unmet need. If you agree with me, it might not hurt to leave him some encouraging comments.

I tend to focus on nearly new cars that are both exceptionally fun to drive and undervalued by the market. Such as:

Ford Focus ST — cheap interior and dated exterior, but great steering and handling

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart — ultra-cheap interior, and the exterior isn’t much to look at, but the steering, handling, and shift feel are exceptional for this class

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS — unique styling, very functional with a hatch and sliding, roomy rear seat, supportive seats, and fun to drive; unfortunately, no manual transmission is offered

Pontiac Grand Prix GXP — odd styling and poor rear seat comfort, but gutsy V8 and better handling than a V8-powered front-driver has any right to; feels better the harder you push it

Subaru Legacy GT — fun to drive turbocharged AWD sedan and wagon; if you want a wagon with a manual, it’s got to be the 2005

Ford Freestyle — more nimble than a minivan, but good legroom even in the third row and every seat but the driver’s folds flat; will be even cheaper once the Taurus X debuts

Mazda RX-8 — an exotic with a price under 20; the engine and platform are shared with no other car; quite possibly the best handling of any four-seater available at any price

Pontiac GTO — the ergonomics are odd and the trunk is tiny, but with a 400-horsepower V8 and top-notch color-keyed leather interior, a great buy

Saab 9-5 Aero — a true Saab; gutsy turbo four, great front seats, roomy rear seat, decent handling and ride, low price used

Cadillac CTS-V — odd mix of futuristic styling and traditional V8 burble, but undoubtedly a blast to drive; the regular CTS with the 3.6-liter V6 might also be a good bet with the rare six-speed manual; the main problem: they might not be undervalued enough to deserve a spot on this list

Jaguar S-Type R — distinctive styling inside and out, supercharged V8, behind the curve technically but chock full of character

For better writing about many of these cars, and quite a few others, be sure to check out Brendan’s posts.