First car under $10K
mondragueitor
Member Posts: 3
Thank you!
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roadburner
Member Posts: 17,365
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:
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.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
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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.
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
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.
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.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
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.
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
I have a 19 year old son with access to four BMWs, a Mazdaspeed 3 and a Wrangler TJ.
Are you saying that Miata premiums are set higher than normal- even though loss data doesn't reflect that Miatas are driven recklessly?
They still die horribly; of boredom.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
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.
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.
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.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
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.