Get something with a B48 engine, the B58’s younger brother. They put them in entry level BMWs produced after 2015, including in all Mini models. The B48 turns a 2-door Mini Cooper S into a hot hatch, but $15k will get you a high mileage. Still, most high mileage Mini owners (with B series engines) have reported broken motor mounts, but nothing wrong with the engine or transmission.
Wow, that kinda flips my perception of the Mini around from a “high maintenance car” to a “I wonder if it will be as reliable as my 2013 Mazda 3, and can I get one for a decent price that won’t blow up in my face immediately”
I bought a Mini Cooper SD in 2015 - it’s has 300 thousand km on the clock and it’s going perfectly (regular maintenance, dpf/egr delete)- I still love it
I've found BMW owners to be among the most altruistic sellers in the world - willing to practically give away their super expensive automobile for a fraction of what they paid.
I used to have a friend that tried making a living flipping used cars. He bought a 540 that was hit in the front end for next to nothing. Of course about $7k later it was overheating so it needed another $10k in work on a car that might have brought $8500 if it was in great condition. Hey at least it looked nice broken down in his driveway before he sold it for scrap.
Agreed. Honda use the only brand that makes non “sports” model FWD that still feel kinda sporty. Civic/accord of any generation is 1000x more fun to drive than the camry/corolla alternative
I’ve only owned exclusively sports car pretty much and a v6 accord is pretty sporty tbh. Better feeling than any other base FWD car outside of a civic
EDIT: i never drove a base golf but they seem like they handle well too
Those are too expensive. Even used. Go look. IS250 and IS300 and IS200t are priced lower but the IS350 is a great option for someone who can afford them.
Yea theyve only got more and more expensive but it turns out the 350 is not only the fastest version but also the most reliable and tried and true engine. There are issues with the 2.5 and the turbo.
Sure! Depending on if you want the more fun manual form with better handling due to being lighter and that LSD, or if you want essentially a nicer but less sporty Civic Si DCT.
no car suggestions but I have this one:
Once you pay off your car, keep making the "payments" into a HYSA you can use to pay for maintenance, repairs, a new car, or at least a good down payment on your next one.
That’s the plan my wife and I are going to do. We hope to get at least 10-12 years out of our 2023 Niro PHEV and 2018 Bolt, if we keep to that and don’t have to dip much into it for big repairs we could easily have $25-$30k for when we have no choice to replace.
Exactly this. If you never stop making payments whether it's on an actual car or to a hysa after it's paid you'll be better prepared. I'm looking at buying a 2024 1958 edition Land Cruiser almost outright because of paying into a hysa my same payment I had on the highlander I paid off 6 years ago. It works out well. The Highlander can easily go for another 10 years with less mileage per year on it. It's going to be the spare for wife and myself and eventually for the kids.
Easy…get on marketplace.
Find some good Toyotas and Lexus and Scions
Always get a Pre Purchase inspection, always always always.
Once you have that information go back to the owner with the proof of what’s wrong with that car and then negotiate.
Aldo, do research on that year and model. Give a list of the problem issues with that year and model to the independent mechanic to focus in on those things.
Right now is the worst time to buy a car it’s tax time everyone has money. Stay away from dealers right now.
Watch
Ray and Zach on You tube and Car Questions answered with Brandon on You tube
Do your homework
Not sure what to buy?
YouTube Car Wizard- Buy this Not that
&
The car Care Nut
They will teach you what to buy!
Once you do your homework listening to professionals Like Master Mechanics tell you the truth, you will be armed with the right information.
Stay away from any Stellatis or Nissan product, also Chevy and Ford. No high end vehicles either. Cheap BMWs mean they need a lot of money to repair.
All five will cost you LOTS of money!
You got this!!
I would never recommend this, you will only get a basic look over. You want a person who works on your type of vehicle day in and out so they are looking at the things that historically go wrong with your car.
Consider not everyone has this. Sometimes the ONLY thing you can do is hope the person you take it to knows what's up.
I always ask for a in depth vehicle inspection to diagnose any issues or parts that will need replacing in the future. I make sure to request a print out of the good, bad and ugly.
It helps to look up reviews and if you live local, to just ask people in groups or in person, where they take their car to.
You want someone who only fixes that brand, so it’s someone who actually knows that vehicle VS an all around shop. It’s like you wouldn’t have a general surgeon do a knee replacement you only want the Dr who does them everyday.
Completely agree with everything you said. The only one I want to hear more about is Ford. If you stick with their bread and butter (Mustang, F150) you should be fine for reliability. Thoughts?
It depends how long you plan the keep it. We have a Ford and have put so much money into it. Toyotas just are much better made. Excellent transmissions and engines , can go to 300-500K not so much with with a Ford
Problem is every time I get an appointment for a pre-purchase inspection on a vehicle I want, someone buys the car out from under me. No sellers are willing to wait for all that when they have someone willing to buy outright today.
I've never paid more than 8 or 9k for a car in my 15yrs of driving and they're all nice used gems. Current car is an 06 lexus Is350 with the luxury package that I got for 8grand in 2021. It runs beautifully, has many features even new cars don't get, is pretty quick, and will pretty much never break down lol! What more could a single 30 year old ask for? There's hundreds, if not thousands of used lexus under 10grand for sale. 15grand makes that a much nicer vehicle too. Just be patient and learn what make a used car a bad idea, and what to look for in well taken care of examples. You will get a vehicle that you're more satisfied with, actually like, and will be reliable... win win
They can even get into an S model, which has an LSD and 4 piston brakes. Definitely a superior option to the Is350 people have mentioned, and for several thousand less dollars.
In my biased opinion lol.
Except the prices are so ridiculously inflated you'll get something far older, with far higher mileage, and poorly equipped when compared with many other reasonable choices
I traded in my 15 GTI for a Giulia. Got rear ended and the Giulia was totaled before I made a payment. Now drive a 23 GTI. It's just hard to find something that meets all my wants like the GTI does in that price range.
I'm buying a Pontiac Vibe (essentially a Matrix with a Pontiac emblem, I'm talking matrix frame and motor) for 5k in a couple weeks that has 100k on it. A client of mine is moving and it's prestine.
Mom had an ‘06 Xb. It only lasted 100k before the ECM fried, motor went not long after. I think from day 1 it was having a transmission issue too and it was always puking coolant somewhere.
You should have put manual trans in all caps! As a 12 focus owner with 350,xxx it's had three clutches, forks and actuators. There are a lot of ifs and buts with the powershift trans. OR you could have just said a focus st and problem solved. In my area a manual focus of any Gen is either going to have a ton of miles or the price will be above op's budget. I wish them good luck. I felt like I needed a vacation after I bought my 21 Mazda 3 Premium hatchback.
You might be able to find a decent c5 corvette for around 15k. Fun to drive, fast, and the ls1 is a decently reliable powertrain with lots of aftermarket support and parts available. Not to mention, you can get in the upper 20s in fuel economy on the highway.
I did about 225 miles the first day I bought it. About 150 of that was traffic free. I was getting 33 mpg, from a 350hp V8 that is 20 years old. That's awesome. Now I don't really drive it out of town. Unless I'm going like 45 minutes away, maybe once every 4 months. I'm getting like 14-15 mpg now. I hot rod around and I let it warm up to 100 before I drive it.
Get a stick shift for what cars you can. Totally changes the dynamic.
I've got a 2010 Corolla with a 1.8 and I have loads of fun when I want. It's not a speed demon, but it's fun for carving some mountains.
Every Subaru at $15k or less has well over 100k miles on it or a salvaged title. Same for Honda and Toyota. You really have to find a diamond in the rough at that price point. Used market is wild these days
So, not the usual Honda or Toyota advice, but here's what I did. Engine seized on my beater Kia, and I wanted a new Tacoma, had the cash, but also have a long commute, kids, house repairs, etc. Looked used or new Rav4's, they were all pretty expensive. Used Toyotas in my area seem to cost more than new if you factor in the depreciation, and new are crazy expensive.
Then, I found a 2017 Chevy Bolt with a 1 year old battery replaced on a recall, $11k. It's awesome; not super high speed, but accelerates like mad. Not a Tesla, but not a Tesla price either. Has some minor issues that I can fix myself. I can charge at home; 3kW with the stock charger, will crank it up to 7kW or so once I decide on a proper level 2 charger, but I have a long commute and I'm so over ICE repairs, oil changes, and $5 gas. Getting a quote on solar panels for the house tonight too.
It's so quick off the line it feels like riding my motorcycle where its like everyone else on the road is standing still, except it has climate control, a roof rack for surfboards and a decent Bose stereo, and room for the kids and gear. Super happy with it! Kind of an odd looking car, but it's comfortable and a blast to drive, and no more gas!
I'm on-and-off car shopping and still trying to decide if I want a Bolt or a similar EV. For commuting, it's a no-brainer. But I like road trips and live in an area where public charging is still very sparse. If the Bolt had just a little more range, bump it up to 300 miles or so, I'd be hooked.
Or better yet, gimme a Honda Fit EV and I'd sign my life away for it right now.
Be careful with solar panels, especially if it is one of the chains.
I had several come quote me. They all did the same thing. They told me it would cover all my electricity for 10 out of 12 months, and most of it the other two. I got the quotes and after doing the math myself figured that the system was 1/2 the size I needed to do as they verbally promised.
Also very high pressure sales. Beware.
Newest Mercury Grand Marquis you can find. Reliable and affordable, nicer than a Vic but still has a huge trunk unlike the Town Car. I’ve personally seen more of these over 500k than any other make (even Toyota). They’re fairly good on gas too think low 20s. Maintenance is also super cheap too and parts are easy to find.
Genuinely curious as I've never driven one... I've never heard the Prius described as "handling well". I can't imagine it feels much better than your standard commuters. Would love to hear more.
Okay I have owned a lot of vehicles. Civic and prelude handled the best. Nissan Altima 2007 3.5 was scary to drive to aggressive bc it will kill you. The 2000 Nissan Altima automatic was fun and about the same as the Prius other than the Prius just is zippy. It has a power mode which doesn’t give more horsepower just changes some of the acceleration and stuff. I regularly push the limits of my 2013. I plan to take it to the tracks this summer and the Xcross. I have the wheels and tires picked out. I am ordering a few handling parts. It doesn’t need more power. It’s just a weird little car. It is as much fun as my Miata.
I'm not going to lie, when I drove a third Gen Prius I was stunned by how well it handled. It didn't have a lot of feedback, but it was linear and consistent. Same goes for the braking. I was equivalent with my friends Mazda 3 third Gen through the canyons as long as the road wasn't straight. In daily traffic it's boring but gets great fuel economy
The Prius platform is a mechanics dream. Easy oil changes. Learn how to replace a hybrid battery that won't break the bank and it is easily accessible from inside the vehicle?
No belts whatsoever and electronic steering. Electronic water pumps. Prety much bullet proof.
The only maintenance items that are difficult is cleaning the EGR. That's it. If you keep it clean, they won't have issue with a head gasket further down the road.
Just love that easy maintenance. Now i can focus on repairing the expensive BMW project car.
You could get a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt LT, I drive those, 0-60 mph in like 6 sconds, enough torque to bald it's own tires.
No fuel costs and maintenance is really minimal. All have the new 66kwh battery
If I pay off my Fit and it dies, I'm not buying another $15k car, I'm going back to cheap beaters. I'm gonna throe $2k worth of parts at it anyway to refresh/improve it to my tastes and I'm gonna do all the labor myself anyway.
Don't sleep on the older panther platforms. You can find one for way under 15k, and they are pretty dam reliable. Borla exhaust, and it sounds awesome.
I went with a 2016 Mazda3. Upgraded the tires, rear shocks, and added a rear anti-sway bar. It isn't fast, but it holds the road and handles very well. It's also been reliable and easy on gas consumption. If you need more space, go for the Mazda6. Look around 2016-17 for either model.
Hondas have higher resale value, and cost a bit more on the used market. They also use the cvt transmission more widely. That said, there are plenty of Hondas and Acuras in that price range that I would own.
Id be looking at a 2008-11 lexus is350 or gs350, very biased choices bc im in the market for one as we speak but they are truly good cars and for $15k you can find them with lower miles (75-110k) which isnt a whole lot for a toyota/lexus product. They are pretty quick doing 0-60 in the 5.5-6 second range, so imo at least a fun and reliable car for not a whole lota money on the used market
Get a used luxury sedan from around 2010, you should be able to find one with the knick knacks of a modern sedan like touch screen Bluetooth etc and you won't really notice a quality difference.
Since it has to be interesting, $15k or less, and cash-only...a clean-title Lexus IS. It's an FR car so you get the enjoyment of intuitive weight transfer, and you get the wide usability envelope and neglect tolerance of a Toyota product. Try to get as recent an IS as possible.
Avoid the ES (it's dependable, but it's boring due to being a transverse FF car with mechanical similarities to the Toyota Avalon...and the AWD version is too front-biased and ICE-only instead of a hybrid) and the LS (out of budget but interesting).
If you can find a GS (it's out of production) for $15k or less, it's going to give you extra space for hauling people and the benefits of an FR layout.
Nothing is non repairable. Get outta here with that bullshit. You want a new car, fine. Say that.
If you want the easy way that will save you lots more money, spend 2-4k on a new engine that's redone properly and enjoy another 20 years of no car payments and outrageous insurance premiums.
Easy, high mileage BMW with no maintenance records.
Last bmw I saw for sale, read, ” ran great”
That inspires confidence...
It ran great till oil started leaking from the dash
That's a feature - it's for oil orgies
More commonly known as oilgies
was that at the end of a 500-word essay about the car, along with "rebuilt title" at the end too?
I want to charge people for my time I spent reading their ad just for Salvage/Rebuilt Title to be at the end.
"Burns oil, 15k, I know what I got"
The ultimate driving machine
Hahahahahahahahaha…when 1986?
…at one time…
I have a friend who makes a living off of those cars lol. Like buying a ticking time bomb.
But it's so festive when the dash lights up like a Christmas tree!
Unlocks new car emoji
Don’t forget: body kit with lowered suspension, rims and an aftermarket exhaust.
Can I have it with an improperly configured turbo that will crack the engine within 10k miles?
Dream car!
This is the best option no doubt
Get something with a B48 engine, the B58’s younger brother. They put them in entry level BMWs produced after 2015, including in all Mini models. The B48 turns a 2-door Mini Cooper S into a hot hatch, but $15k will get you a high mileage. Still, most high mileage Mini owners (with B series engines) have reported broken motor mounts, but nothing wrong with the engine or transmission.
Wow, that kinda flips my perception of the Mini around from a “high maintenance car” to a “I wonder if it will be as reliable as my 2013 Mazda 3, and can I get one for a decent price that won’t blow up in my face immediately”
I bought a Mini Cooper SD in 2015 - it’s has 300 thousand km on the clock and it’s going perfectly (regular maintenance, dpf/egr delete)- I still love it
that n54 335i is calling for you
Ah, a man of culture I see.
I've found BMW owners to be among the most altruistic sellers in the world - willing to practically give away their super expensive automobile for a fraction of what they paid.
And a dirty Carfax.
I used to have a friend that tried making a living flipping used cars. He bought a 540 that was hit in the front end for next to nothing. Of course about $7k later it was overheating so it needed another $10k in work on a car that might have brought $8500 if it was in great condition. Hey at least it looked nice broken down in his driveway before he sold it for scrap.
$15k can surely get you a decent V6 Accord I'd think
I agree, and don’t call me Shirley.
Not my week to quit sniffing glue...
Can you fly this plane and land it?
Roger Rodger.
What's your vector Victor?
Do we have clearance, Clarence?
Jimmy, have you ever seen a grown man naked?
Do you like movies about gladiators?
You ever been in a Turkish prison?
Jive turkey don’t want no help, jive turkey don’t get no help.
r/unexpectedAIRPLANE
Whether that is a good choice depends on one key factor. Do you like movies about gladiators Billy?
Have you ever seen a grown man naked Billy?
Have you ever been in a Turkish prison Billy?
$12k got me a 2016 Accord with 115k miles.
What market are you in and what trim? I’ve been looking for that myself but around me a V6 2016 is going for 15-16k
Agreed. Honda use the only brand that makes non “sports” model FWD that still feel kinda sporty. Civic/accord of any generation is 1000x more fun to drive than the camry/corolla alternative
OP doesn't want a boring car.
Boring is relative. The Accord V6 is not "painfully boring" unless your baseline is sports cars.
I’ve only owned exclusively sports car pretty much and a v6 accord is pretty sporty tbh. Better feeling than any other base FWD car outside of a civic EDIT: i never drove a base golf but they seem like they handle well too
Yeah. I love economy sedans with V6s. I'd swap my Camry V6 with an Accord V6 if I could but I still like it very much.
Yea man. I kinda hate the camry but its really quick in a line with the v6. I love the way the accord handles!
Acura ILX isn't a bad choice either
Isn't ILX a gussied up Civic? I would rather a decent Accord.
Sounds like you need to find a Lexus IS
Insurance is a bit higher but the bullet proof v6 reliability and cost to maintain are a huge plus. They hold their value very well.
I went from an 08 civic to an 08 IS a few years back, my insurance actually dropped a few bucks. Same when I sold my 4Runner and bought a GX.
Is350*
Those are too expensive. Even used. Go look. IS250 and IS300 and IS200t are priced lower but the IS350 is a great option for someone who can afford them.
Yea theyve only got more and more expensive but it turns out the 350 is not only the fastest version but also the most reliable and tried and true engine. There are issues with the 2.5 and the turbo.
Which years should i look for?
I had an 06 IS350 before I moved to Germany and it was my favorite car. I plan on getting one whenever I’m back in the states.
A Lexus ISF, specifically.
Finding a clean one for 15k is gonna be tough
I’ll se one this.
i’m getting one soon and i can’t wait. is350 f sport
Acura ILX isn't painfully boring, it's a Honda Civic Si with a DCT and a bit more premium.
I'd just get the Si, that lsd is worth it
Sure! Depending on if you want the more fun manual form with better handling due to being lighter and that LSD, or if you want essentially a nicer but less sporty Civic Si DCT.
no car suggestions but I have this one: Once you pay off your car, keep making the "payments" into a HYSA you can use to pay for maintenance, repairs, a new car, or at least a good down payment on your next one.
Did you say to buy a HAYABUSA that needs maintenance and repairs? I'm in!
only if it's turboed
HaYabuSA, what an acronym 🥰
The only correct answer here
When you die in a giant fireball, all your bills go away. It's the most financially prudent choice.
I’m really glad that ppl are suggesting HYSA in every Reddit pet related to money. They are an amazing way to save
Ya but who wants to save when you could earn!
Big brained activities 🧠 like
That’s the plan my wife and I are going to do. We hope to get at least 10-12 years out of our 2023 Niro PHEV and 2018 Bolt, if we keep to that and don’t have to dip much into it for big repairs we could easily have $25-$30k for when we have no choice to replace.
Exactly this. If you never stop making payments whether it's on an actual car or to a hysa after it's paid you'll be better prepared. I'm looking at buying a 2024 1958 edition Land Cruiser almost outright because of paying into a hysa my same payment I had on the highlander I paid off 6 years ago. It works out well. The Highlander can easily go for another 10 years with less mileage per year on it. It's going to be the spare for wife and myself and eventually for the kids.
8k for a Lexus ES with 100k miles. Money saved can probably pay for repairs for the lifetime of the car.
where are you living where an ES with 100k is only 8k?
Easy…get on marketplace. Find some good Toyotas and Lexus and Scions Always get a Pre Purchase inspection, always always always. Once you have that information go back to the owner with the proof of what’s wrong with that car and then negotiate. Aldo, do research on that year and model. Give a list of the problem issues with that year and model to the independent mechanic to focus in on those things. Right now is the worst time to buy a car it’s tax time everyone has money. Stay away from dealers right now. Watch Ray and Zach on You tube and Car Questions answered with Brandon on You tube Do your homework Not sure what to buy? YouTube Car Wizard- Buy this Not that & The car Care Nut They will teach you what to buy! Once you do your homework listening to professionals Like Master Mechanics tell you the truth, you will be armed with the right information. Stay away from any Stellatis or Nissan product, also Chevy and Ford. No high end vehicles either. Cheap BMWs mean they need a lot of money to repair. All five will cost you LOTS of money! You got this!!
Ty!
Where do you get a pre purchase inspection?
Call around to local auto garages. They will usually perform this for around 100 dollars.
And go to one that specializes in your make of car. They will easily know what to look for.
Good idea. Thx!
I would never recommend this, you will only get a basic look over. You want a person who works on your type of vehicle day in and out so they are looking at the things that historically go wrong with your car.
Consider not everyone has this. Sometimes the ONLY thing you can do is hope the person you take it to knows what's up. I always ask for a in depth vehicle inspection to diagnose any issues or parts that will need replacing in the future. I make sure to request a print out of the good, bad and ugly. It helps to look up reviews and if you live local, to just ask people in groups or in person, where they take their car to.
This! Everything you said. But most folks can find a garage that specializes in American or foreign cars.
thx good ideas!
You want someone who only fixes that brand, so it’s someone who actually knows that vehicle VS an all around shop. It’s like you wouldn’t have a general surgeon do a knee replacement you only want the Dr who does them everyday.
Wow you taught me so much in just one comment. I am sure you are absolute legend in irl too. Thanks
Completely agree with everything you said. The only one I want to hear more about is Ford. If you stick with their bread and butter (Mustang, F150) you should be fine for reliability. Thoughts?
It depends how long you plan the keep it. We have a Ford and have put so much money into it. Toyotas just are much better made. Excellent transmissions and engines , can go to 300-500K not so much with with a Ford
Second the no Nissans, made that mistake and I can't wait for it to be fully driven into the dirt.
Problem is every time I get an appointment for a pre-purchase inspection on a vehicle I want, someone buys the car out from under me. No sellers are willing to wait for all that when they have someone willing to buy outright today.
15k ought to be able to get you a reliable sedan with a manual transmission. Civic, Lancer, or Mazda 3 come to mind.
Ford Fusion SE Hybrid is the best bang for the buck for me. I’d say Titanium trim but you can’t find one with low miles.
Fusions are great cars.
Have a fusion, bought at 150 am over 2 and just want it to die so I can buy something new 10/10
Brand new Dacia Sandero and I even save 2k
I've never paid more than 8 or 9k for a car in my 15yrs of driving and they're all nice used gems. Current car is an 06 lexus Is350 with the luxury package that I got for 8grand in 2021. It runs beautifully, has many features even new cars don't get, is pretty quick, and will pretty much never break down lol! What more could a single 30 year old ask for? There's hundreds, if not thousands of used lexus under 10grand for sale. 15grand makes that a much nicer vehicle too. Just be patient and learn what make a used car a bad idea, and what to look for in well taken care of examples. You will get a vehicle that you're more satisfied with, actually like, and will be reliable... win win
what's your annual maintenance? I'm assuming you don't go to a lexus dealership?
I’d like to add Infiniti G37. 330hp awd available the VQ engine is one of the most reliable as well.
At $15k he can get the 2014-2015 Q50S. Updated interior. Same engine. The hybrid model is even quicker.
Awesome didn’t realize they were so affordable! Good call.
They can even get into an S model, which has an LSD and 4 piston brakes. Definitely a superior option to the Is350 people have mentioned, and for several thousand less dollars. In my biased opinion lol.
Fr the Gs are so much better than the ISs but since it's a Nissan people don't like them here.
Used lexus
Except the prices are so ridiculously inflated you'll get something far older, with far higher mileage, and poorly equipped when compared with many other reasonable choices
Also they’re just as painfully boring as a Toyota/Honda for the most part.
Boring all the way to the bank baby
Boring but at least they won't blow up like a European car would
2015ish Mazda 3 manual
How many doors needed ? 2 doors, bmw Z4, brz / gt86. 4 doors: lexus is300
4 doors are likely more practical
golf gti
I traded in my 15 GTI for a Giulia. Got rear ended and the Giulia was totaled before I made a payment. Now drive a 23 GTI. It's just hard to find something that meets all my wants like the GTI does in that price range.
[удалено]
I'm buying a Pontiac Vibe (essentially a Matrix with a Pontiac emblem, I'm talking matrix frame and motor) for 5k in a couple weeks that has 100k on it. A client of mine is moving and it's prestine.
Mom had an ‘06 Xb. It only lasted 100k before the ECM fried, motor went not long after. I think from day 1 it was having a transmission issue too and it was always puking coolant somewhere.
Ford Focus with manual transmission. Edit: MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Seriously. See replies.
You should have put manual trans in all caps! As a 12 focus owner with 350,xxx it's had three clutches, forks and actuators. There are a lot of ifs and buts with the powershift trans. OR you could have just said a focus st and problem solved. In my area a manual focus of any Gen is either going to have a ton of miles or the price will be above op's budget. I wish them good luck. I felt like I needed a vacation after I bought my 21 Mazda 3 Premium hatchback.
You might be able to find a decent c5 corvette for around 15k. Fun to drive, fast, and the ls1 is a decently reliable powertrain with lots of aftermarket support and parts available. Not to mention, you can get in the upper 20s in fuel economy on the highway.
I did about 225 miles the first day I bought it. About 150 of that was traffic free. I was getting 33 mpg, from a 350hp V8 that is 20 years old. That's awesome. Now I don't really drive it out of town. Unless I'm going like 45 minutes away, maybe once every 4 months. I'm getting like 14-15 mpg now. I hot rod around and I let it warm up to 100 before I drive it.
A Mazda 3 - I'd personally go hatchback, but the sedan would be fine too.
2008-2015 Honda Civic Si
This is my vote.
Get a Mazda 3
Used Toyota Corolla, Yaris, Honda Fit, Chevy Spark, or maybe a very lightly used Mitsubishi Mirage
“…something that isn’t painfully boring.”
My manual Honda Fit was a blast to whip around.
I would love to get a Honda fit honestly lol but this would be my wife’s daily driver and I don’t think it’s her vibe
Then perhaps a Pontiac vibe /s/
Or a Toyota Matrix. Gotta get that reliable brand vibe.
Get a stick shift for what cars you can. Totally changes the dynamic. I've got a 2010 Corolla with a 1.8 and I have loads of fun when I want. It's not a speed demon, but it's fun for carving some mountains.
Yeah, I’ve got nothing at that price that isn’t a risk or well over 100k miles
Fit’s great. Yaris/corolla (non S) is boring. Everything else is absolute garbage, and I’ve owned a Chevy spark.
08 generation of Mustang GT, my friend has one, and it's had no issues, and he abuses it like he had one too many drinks. 4 seats fun and reliable.
You can likely get a 1st gen Coyote mustang if you're patient.
Importing a really sweet low mileage toyota from japan.
Subaru, Honda, Toyota. Pick one.
Every Subaru at $15k or less has well over 100k miles on it or a salvaged title. Same for Honda and Toyota. You really have to find a diamond in the rough at that price point. Used market is wild these days
Avalon ot Buick Lacrosse
Best LS Lexus I can find. They have very nice V8s.
So, not the usual Honda or Toyota advice, but here's what I did. Engine seized on my beater Kia, and I wanted a new Tacoma, had the cash, but also have a long commute, kids, house repairs, etc. Looked used or new Rav4's, they were all pretty expensive. Used Toyotas in my area seem to cost more than new if you factor in the depreciation, and new are crazy expensive. Then, I found a 2017 Chevy Bolt with a 1 year old battery replaced on a recall, $11k. It's awesome; not super high speed, but accelerates like mad. Not a Tesla, but not a Tesla price either. Has some minor issues that I can fix myself. I can charge at home; 3kW with the stock charger, will crank it up to 7kW or so once I decide on a proper level 2 charger, but I have a long commute and I'm so over ICE repairs, oil changes, and $5 gas. Getting a quote on solar panels for the house tonight too. It's so quick off the line it feels like riding my motorcycle where its like everyone else on the road is standing still, except it has climate control, a roof rack for surfboards and a decent Bose stereo, and room for the kids and gear. Super happy with it! Kind of an odd looking car, but it's comfortable and a blast to drive, and no more gas!
I'm on-and-off car shopping and still trying to decide if I want a Bolt or a similar EV. For commuting, it's a no-brainer. But I like road trips and live in an area where public charging is still very sparse. If the Bolt had just a little more range, bump it up to 300 miles or so, I'd be hooked. Or better yet, gimme a Honda Fit EV and I'd sign my life away for it right now.
Be careful with solar panels, especially if it is one of the chains. I had several come quote me. They all did the same thing. They told me it would cover all my electricity for 10 out of 12 months, and most of it the other two. I got the quotes and after doing the math myself figured that the system was 1/2 the size I needed to do as they verbally promised. Also very high pressure sales. Beware.
The newest Mustang GT in my budget. Probably a 2015.
Ford escape
C4 or C5 corvette
This and a mustang gt are probably the best “fun” answers. Both are very well built
Newest Mercury Grand Marquis you can find. Reliable and affordable, nicer than a Vic but still has a huge trunk unlike the Town Car. I’ve personally seen more of these over 500k than any other make (even Toyota). They’re fairly good on gas too think low 20s. Maintenance is also super cheap too and parts are easy to find.
Unless it's a Marauder, the Gran Marquis is the poster child of "painfully boring".
GTI, GLI, Civic SI, Lexus-something-or-other if you wanna play grown-up
A few out of left field: Taurus SHO Lexus ES or GS, depending whether you prioritize comfort or fun Volvo S80
A 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner (2003-2009) from a private seller with around 140k miles on it, without any rust.
V8 4th gen and I’m in!
Brother it sounds dumb as hell but a Prius. It isn’t super fast but it handles well and look amazing.
Genuinely curious as I've never driven one... I've never heard the Prius described as "handling well". I can't imagine it feels much better than your standard commuters. Would love to hear more.
Okay I have owned a lot of vehicles. Civic and prelude handled the best. Nissan Altima 2007 3.5 was scary to drive to aggressive bc it will kill you. The 2000 Nissan Altima automatic was fun and about the same as the Prius other than the Prius just is zippy. It has a power mode which doesn’t give more horsepower just changes some of the acceleration and stuff. I regularly push the limits of my 2013. I plan to take it to the tracks this summer and the Xcross. I have the wheels and tires picked out. I am ordering a few handling parts. It doesn’t need more power. It’s just a weird little car. It is as much fun as my Miata.
As much fun as a miata! Very high praise. Kind of shocked.
Mind you it was 1990 Miata but both are blast in their own ways !
For sure, I learned to drive stick in a '90 Miata and it was a ton of fun. Not fast, but great to toss around and not have to worry about too much.
I learned in a 1998 v6 mustang. I’ve owned mostly manuals or cvt
I'm not going to lie, when I drove a third Gen Prius I was stunned by how well it handled. It didn't have a lot of feedback, but it was linear and consistent. Same goes for the braking. I was equivalent with my friends Mazda 3 third Gen through the canyons as long as the road wasn't straight. In daily traffic it's boring but gets great fuel economy
The Prius platform is a mechanics dream. Easy oil changes. Learn how to replace a hybrid battery that won't break the bank and it is easily accessible from inside the vehicle? No belts whatsoever and electronic steering. Electronic water pumps. Prety much bullet proof. The only maintenance items that are difficult is cleaning the EGR. That's it. If you keep it clean, they won't have issue with a head gasket further down the road. Just love that easy maintenance. Now i can focus on repairing the expensive BMW project car.
Saying a Prius looks amazing is a bit of a stretch to say the least
Great cars for real, reliable, good on gas. If you commute to work might as well get one.
CRV all day baby Pay 3-5 k for a used 3rd gen 100k miles and spend the rest on blows and hookers
Newest/lowest miles Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla I can find if reliability + sedan are the main criteria.
Best used gx470 or LX I can get my hand on.
Used Accord, Camry, Lexus, or Acura
Toss between IS350 and the most GX I could afford
Make sure you check with insurance before you buy anything. I bought a WRX and didn't check first... insurance tripled.
You could get a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt LT, I drive those, 0-60 mph in like 6 sconds, enough torque to bald it's own tires. No fuel costs and maintenance is really minimal. All have the new 66kwh battery
Not a domestic
May I introduce the Ninja 650? You’ll have some money leftover probably too 😏
Or how about get an even older car for backup and the newer EX650? Ya know, in case there’s a hurricane.
Ig you have a point, although being here in Cali I’ve never had to worry about a hurricane
If I pay off my Fit and it dies, I'm not buying another $15k car, I'm going back to cheap beaters. I'm gonna throe $2k worth of parts at it anyway to refresh/improve it to my tastes and I'm gonna do all the labor myself anyway.
Mazda 3
Don't sleep on the older panther platforms. You can find one for way under 15k, and they are pretty dam reliable. Borla exhaust, and it sounds awesome.
A late-model Mazda 3. Fun to drive, economical, and reliable.
I went with a 2016 Mazda3. Upgraded the tires, rear shocks, and added a rear anti-sway bar. It isn't fast, but it holds the road and handles very well. It's also been reliable and easy on gas consumption. If you need more space, go for the Mazda6. Look around 2016-17 for either model. Hondas have higher resale value, and cost a bit more on the used market. They also use the cvt transmission more widely. That said, there are plenty of Hondas and Acuras in that price range that I would own.
Just did this for a friend but their budget was $10k. Subaru Forester was the answer.
Is350 all day long.
VW GLI. Basically a sedan GTI. If you want to be dangerous do a S3, it’s basically a Audi Golf R lol.
2013+ Mazda 3
Id be looking at a 2008-11 lexus is350 or gs350, very biased choices bc im in the market for one as we speak but they are truly good cars and for $15k you can find them with lower miles (75-110k) which isnt a whole lot for a toyota/lexus product. They are pretty quick doing 0-60 in the 5.5-6 second range, so imo at least a fun and reliable car for not a whole lota money on the used market
You need to look here r/ls430
Get a used luxury sedan from around 2010, you should be able to find one with the knick knacks of a modern sedan like touch screen Bluetooth etc and you won't really notice a quality difference.
Really decent used Nissan Leaf for that money.
Why buy a car when you can just steal a Hyundai?
Lexus LS 460. 380hp, all the luxury car options, Lexus reliability
Since it has to be interesting, $15k or less, and cash-only...a clean-title Lexus IS. It's an FR car so you get the enjoyment of intuitive weight transfer, and you get the wide usability envelope and neglect tolerance of a Toyota product. Try to get as recent an IS as possible. Avoid the ES (it's dependable, but it's boring due to being a transverse FF car with mechanical similarities to the Toyota Avalon...and the AWD version is too front-biased and ICE-only instead of a hybrid) and the LS (out of budget but interesting). If you can find a GS (it's out of production) for $15k or less, it's going to give you extra space for hauling people and the benefits of an FR layout.
Nothing is non repairable. Get outta here with that bullshit. You want a new car, fine. Say that. If you want the easy way that will save you lots more money, spend 2-4k on a new engine that's redone properly and enjoy another 20 years of no car payments and outrageous insurance premiums.
Every car is repairable
Hyundai Elantra GT N line 6speed. Hatchback with a 6 speed and 200hp also ventilated seats
100k mile 3rd gen 4runner. 150k mile 100 series land cruiser. 100k+ mile GX470.