Jump LinksIt Was Aimed At Drivers Looking To ImpressThere Are Two Different Trims To Choose FromGearheads spend hours, days, or even months trawling through used car ads looking for their next financial mistake. Not every purchase has to financially ruin you though, even if most of the attractive options always tend to come with some strings attached, like high-performance cars that need constant maintenance to keep them going. It's for the same reason that we advise people against buying a used luxury car for Camry money: it won't cost Camry money to run.Luckily, there is a sensible option that not only offers versatility and dependability, but also an effortless coupe style. This Volkswagen coupe-styled sedan might be related to the humble Passat, but it is now available on the used market for an absolute steal, and it should feature close to the top of your consideration list if you're after a practical vehicle with a bit of special sauce about it.This article explores how the Volkswagen CC is a tantalizingly cheap coupe sedan that you should consider as a used purchase. The CC Arrived As A Sexier Passat VolkswagenVolkswagens aren't usually avantgarde or flashy, sticking to the higher end of the sensible mainstream brands, and generally specializing in practical machines that get the job done easily and efficiently. Volkswagen does mean 'people's car', after all. There are sporty exceptions, of course, such as the stylish Corrado coupe from the 1990s and the long-running Golf GTI, but without the sporty, premium flair of brands like Alfa Romeo and BMW.Wanting to offer a classier version of its Passat mid-size sedan, VW decided that rather than make a special trim, it would develop a standalone model. This new creation was called the CC, which stands for Comfort Coupe, and it was built on the same platform as the Passat. It stood out from its sibling thanks to its styling, which saw a lower and more swooping roofline that gave it a coupe-like silhouette, along the same lines as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Audi A7, but at a far lower price. It Was Aimed At Drivers Looking To Impress VolkswagenWhile the Passat was the practical option, the CC made you look far more stylish as you glided past, and could easily be mistaken for something more upmarket, so slick was its suit. As well as looking good, the CC featured a smooth driving experience and a fairly premium interior, which was designed to ensure its occupants remained comfortable over long distances.Well, as long as you were in the front. The lower roofline meant rear headroom was compromised compared to a standard Passat, with the CC's rear passengers having to make do with over an inch less space above their scalps. Aside from the lower roofline, the CC was also slightly longer, lower and wider than the standard Passat despite sharing the same wheelbase, all in the pursuit of enhancing its sporty, hunkered-down looks. Final Model Year CCs Have Seen A Significant Drop In Price VolkswagenThe CC was pretty affordable when it reached the states in 2008, with entry-level models coming in at around the $30,000 mark and upper-level cars setting their buyers back around $40,000. These earlier cars can be had for under $5,000 these days, thanks to depreciation, though they don't represent much more in the way of value compared to later versions, which are more refined than the earlier ones due to VW fixing little issues affecting the earlier models. That's why we always warn against buying a brand-new model in its first model year, especially if it's also fitted with a new engine design.VolkswagenFinal-year 2017 examples also look different compared to earlier 2008 CCs, as the model was subjected to a facelift in 2012. The changes weren't huge, with the front and rear revised slightly to better reflect VW's then-current design language. As far as used prices go, Kelley Blue Book reports that you'll need to spend less than $10,000 to secure a good-condition example, an interesting deal given how modern a vehicle you're getting. Not to mention how stylish it still is. There Are Two Different Trims To Choose From VolkswagenVW slimmed down the CC range for its swansong year, with just two variants being on offer. The lower-priced of the two was the 2.0T Sport, with the more expensive version being the 2.0T R-Line. When new, the difference in price between them was a little over $3,000, with the former coming in at $35,340 and the latter at $38,685. While both versions were identical mechanically, the R-Line came with some extra toys.Examples include a power panoramic sunroof, lane-departure warning, leather seats and a sportier R-Line body kit, which included larger 18-inch wheels. KBB reports that the difference between them in terms of price is negligible these days, with the Sport valued at $9,037 and the R-Line at $9,359, so interested buyers should focus their attention on finding a decent R-Line, unless they really want to save those cents. The CC Isn't An M3 Competitor, But It's More Engaging Than A Standard Passat VolkswagenWhile buyers shouldn't expect to find a track weapon beneath the CC's attractive body, it should provide enough zest to make your journey enjoyable. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four powerplant sends 200 hp to the front wheels via a quick-shifting six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, which work together to get the vehicle to 60 mph in around seven seconds. Don't expect it to be the most frugal car in the world though, as it manages a combined 25 mpg, with its 31-mpg highway figure also not being outstanding compared to today's cars.Still, at least the CC can hold a corner well. Both variants come with sport-tuned suspension, ensuring it can hold the road well on a backroad blast, once you finally manage to escape the shackles of the highway you've been stuck on for the past 300 miles. Opting For Older Examples Will Allow You The Option Of A VR6 Engine VolkswagenIf you can handle going for a slightly older model, and aren't too worried about spending more money to purchase and run it, you could net yourself the VR6 version of the CC. The now-deceased but still meaty 3.6-liter VR6 engine sees peak power rise to 280 hp, which is put to the road by a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. Not only is traction improved compared to the less powerful 2.0-liter cars, but its 0-60 mph effort is reduced to a little over six seconds.VolkswagenYou'll also be treated to the glorious sound of VW's unique VR6 powerplant, which stands out from the more common and forgettable soundtrack ;provided by the turbo-I4 engine. The main drawback of the VR6 is the drop in efficiency, with the model only managing a combined 20 mpg, not helped by the fact that it weighs around 500 pounds more due to the heavier engine and AWD system.It'll also cost you more to buy, with KBB valuing the model at around $15,000. For those looking to team the CC's sleek looks with a grunt-and-go engine and the surefootedness of AWD, but also want the life of luxury, the VR6 is an excellent alternative to the more efficient four-pot examples. And it will give you a taste of really stylish six-cylinder motoring in a high-value package.