Here's what Edmunds.com has to say about the Hyundai Accent: "Of the handful of entry-level economy cars still on the market today, the Accent is probably the most likable -- it's more refined than the Kia Rio and it's a better value than the Toyota Echo."

Since its inception in 1995, and with little fanfare, the Accent has quietly established itself as one of the better-built, better-performing vehicles in the "lower price" car segment.

The Accent has won praise for its roominess as a compact car, it's long list of standard equipment, its surprising acceleration and handling, and good gas mileage. Another big advantage for the Accent is its transferable 5-Year/60,000 mile Factory Warranty.

JD Power gives the 2004 model, for example, 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for Overall Mechanical Quality and 5 stars for Body & Interior Quality-Design. Consumer ratings (by actual car owners) at edmunds.com have also always been consistently high.

And in terms of purchase cost, well, they are quite economical considering the value received. And all told, we believe a Hyundai Accent makes a solid choice as a used car purchase.

We also have two suggestions to help you save if you're interested in buying one:

ONE: We're always on the lookout for nice used Accents for sale at the wholesale Dealer-Only auctions we attend, whether it be the GS, SE, GLS, GL or GT model, hatchback or sedan ... and we can buy one specifically for you.

The fact is, we can purchase any vehicle at a big discount to retail ... and pass many savings directly to you. Here's where to discover more about our very simple Car Buying Service.

TWO: To save the most, you can go to wholesale Public Car Auctions in your own geographic area. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed outstanding opportunities (often even below wholesale) for those who shop these events.

Here's some additional information on locating these auctions and the key issues in using them to your advantage: Find Hyundai Accents At Public Car Auctions In Your Own Area.

Also ...

If you're interested in a "Brand New" Hyundai Accent: People swear by the excellent method detailed in this article for the best way to get the lowest price on any 'NEW' car.