First car under $10K

mondragueitor

I'm about to turn 16 and I'm looking to get my first car, I have a budget of $10,000 and I live in the Austin, TX area. I want my first car to be reliable, easy to maintain, and customizable to a certain extent. I was thinking of a Jeep wrangler TJ, I will not do much off-roading but I love jeeps and I like the customizability of the vehicle. I would also like to look into a sports car, I know my budget is not very high but I am into cars and I would love to have a decently fast car with rear wheel drive and a manual transmission, I think that would be fun to drive and a little bit more practical than a jeep.
Thank you!

roadburner

The first car that comes to mind is a Miata. There are a lot of cars available in your price range and they are simple and relatively inexpensive to repair. I went on AutoTrader and performed a search for Miatas with less than 75,000 miles costing $10,000 or less within 500 miles of Louisville, KY and it returned 81 cars. I'd probably look for one 10 years old or more in the $7000-$8000 price range and then set aside $2000 for maintenance and repairs. The car is very DIY-friendly and there are several online Mazda dealers that offer parts at a substantial discount off MSRP, so that is another way that you can save money. And f you keep it in good shape you may even be able to sell it in a few years for close to what you paid for it. These two links should get you started:

Hagerty Miata Buyers guide

Miata.net Buyers Guide

I'd also STRONGLY suggest that you attend a Street Survival course near you as soon as you are eligible. You will learn some important skills- and have a real blast if you bring your Miata.

I have a TJ and will probably keep it forever. That said, I'd suggest you have a year or more of experience behind the wheel before owning one. They can be a bit of a handful for an inexperienced driver- especially in emergency situations. Ditto for V8 ponycars such as the Mustang.

Most importantly, DO NOT let someone talk you into an anodyne soul-killing FWD appliance; my son started off in a 1975 BMW 2002 and survived quite nicely.

suydam

Sadly anything but a"FWD appliance" and you will not be able to afford insurance. Get an older Toyota or Ford pickup or else an older Camry or Buick. This is not what you want to hear.

stever

The first new car I bought with my own money was a CJ-5. But I had been driving for a few years.

I never was the best driver but while the Jeep was fun, it was always a bit squirrely. On the test drive I managed to hop a curb and land on the sidewalk thanks to the "different" driving characteristics. Two friends managed to roll theirs in what should have been minor fender benders at worse.

Go with the Miata - should be a lot of trouble-free fun.

roadburner

@suydam said:
Sadly anything but a"FWD appliance" and you will not be able to afford insurance. Get an older Toyota or Ford pickup or else an older Camry or Buick. This is not what you want to hear.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute the Miata is consistently rated "Substantially better then average" or "Better than average" with respect to loss payouts. Insurance premiums should reflect that. Completing the Street Survival course also usually results in a reduction in premiums.

suydam

How recently have you looked at insurance rates for teenaged boys? Until you turn 25 they are insanely high. Insurance cost is also based on the driving habits of people who own different types of vehicles. For better or worse, people who drive Buicks tend to be more conservative drivers and are involved in fewer accidents.

roadburner

@suydam said:
How recently have you looked at insurance rates for teenaged boys? Until you turn 25 they are insanely high.

I have a 19 year old son with access to four BMWs, a Mazdaspeed 3 and a Wrangler TJ.

Insurance cost is also based on the driving habits of people who own different types of vehicles.

Are you saying that Miata premiums are set higher than normal- even though loss data doesn't reflect that Miatas are driven recklessly?

For better or worse, people who drive Buicks tend to be more conservative drivers and are involved in fewer accidents.

They still die horribly; of boredom.

corvette

Third opinion: Austin, Texas? When I was there, there wasn't a single place where it was quicker to drive than it was to walk or ride a bicycle. Traffic is just that bad.

mondragueitor

I'm planning on using the car to go to school and soccer games, which occasionally are pretty far. I'm looking for a safe, economic, and reliable car that will be fun to drive. I've seen a couple BMW 2003 z4 in good condition for under 10K, and I've also been looking into the 350z. Let me know what you guys think

henryn

Maintenance on a BMW will be much higher than on a Buick. And if it breaks, you will be bankrupt. A used 350z will have probably bean driven hard and put up wet.

Also agree with @corvette - traffic in Austin is bad, unbelievably bad.

roadburner

I have owned ten BMWs and I currently have four in the garage; contrary to the opinions of some internet "experts" -who in most cases haven't even sat in a BMW- many models can be owned and operated for little more than a "practical" dullsmobile. That said, in your case any Z4 in your price range would have relatively high miles and I would not recommend attempting to run one on your budget. One BMW I would recommend would be a Z3 with the M44 1.9 four cylinder. That motor will run almost forever with proper care and the rest of the drivetrain is also quite rugged. The key is to find a good one- a pre-purchase inspection is crucial. And you cannot cut corners on maintenance. And even though the Zed is a reasonably simple DIY proposition, I'd still recommend that you find a good BMW tech. I know an excellent one in the Austin are. Send me a PM and I'll provide that information to you.

I'm not all that familiar with the 350Z, so, unlike so many others, I won't express an opinion about it.

As I said before, don't get beaten down and talked into driving a boring vehicle- life is too short for that; my first car was a pristine 1970 351 Mustang and as I noted above, my son's first car was a 1970 2002. Maybe if I had been sentenced to a dismal life of driving mundane transportation modules I'd also be suggesting that you buy a vapid example of automotive blandness as well.

However, I've heard it said that no one lies on their deathbed wishing they had spent more time at the office- and I believe the corollary to that is that no one lies on their deathbed wishing they had bought a Buick or Camry instead of a Miata or some similarly entertaining vehicle.

Mr_Shiftright

Every 16 year old's first car should be made out of solid rubber and be as utterly boring and un-cool as possible. If you carry that far enough, uncool becomes cool. ANYWAY...... If I were you, I'd just get "anything decent" for the first year, and postpone the "car of my dreams" reverie for a year or two down the road, after you've gotten your sea legs behind the wheel (rudder? sorry for the mixed metaphor) It will also be easier for you to sneak a Mustang or hot hatch into your insurance policy once you've proven that you can steer around large objects.

stever

If you are under 35 and don't have your drivers' license because driving-related costs are too high for your budget at present, please email PR@edmunds.com before Monday, March 30. 2015 to be interviewed.

Hikeandbikeare4me_

mondragueitor said:

I'm about to turn 16 and I'm looking to get my first car, I have a budget of $10,000 and I live in the Austin, TX area. I want my first car to be reliable, easy to maintain, and customizable to a certain extent. I was thinking of a Jeep wrangler TJ, I will not do much off-roading but I love jeeps and I like the customizability of the vehicle. I would also like to look into a sports car, I know my budget is not very high but I am into cars and I would love to have a decently fast car with rear wheel drive and a manual transmission, I think that would be fun to drive and a little bit more practical than a jeep.
Thank you!

Did you find a car yet? What was it? I'm 17 and am looking too.