Best Car Under 16K?

[xboxps3wow]

I'm about to buy a car and won't spend more than 16-17k. What would be the best car for the money?
Btw, I'm 21.. single, so no minivans.

 

[playerapX]

id say a "2011 Hyundai Elantra" I think thsoe are going for like 15k, base.

 

[xboxps3wow]

id say a "2011 Hyundai Elantra" I think thsoe are going for like 15k, base.

$18,200 for automatic...

 

[orzyman]

well i don't know maybe BMW series 1

 

[xboxps3wow]

well i don't know maybe BMW series 1

Haha, it doesn't have to be brand new.. it could be 1-2 years old.

 

[flymethod]

If I had that amount to spend I would get a used Acura TL.

 

[moostangdude]

At 16k a "nice" model car is going to be more than a couple of years old. Cars have gone up a lot in the past 10 years.

Does insurance / fuel economy matter? You want a car/ truck/ people hauler?

 

[xboxps3wow]

If I had that amount to spend I would get a used Acura TL.

Amazing car... but for 16-17k all I can get is a 2005 car :*(

 

[xboxps3wow]

At 16k a "nice" model car is going to be more than a couple of years old. Cars have gone up a lot in the past 10 years.

Does insurance / fuel economy matter? You want a car/ truck/ people hauler?

Yeah, insurance does matter.. but I don't really care about fuel economy. Don't like trucks, but everything else is OK.

I saw a 2009 Camry for 15.4K with 20k miles on it... I might get it, but its a bit too of a "family car" or is it? (No accidents, clean title)

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

Spend half the amount and put the balance in a savings account.

You can get a decent used car for 8K.

At 21 you want to build your bank balance so it works for you for years.

 

[xboxps3wow]

Spend half the amount and put the balance in a savings account.

You can get a decent used car for 8K.

At 21 you want to build your bank balance so it works for you for years.

I'm not spending all my money.. I'm not stupid
I have a little bit saved up and have no student loans, so its all good. I barely spend any money (no friends), so I managed to save for the last few years. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

And what car can I get for under 8k? Something that wouldn't break on me all the time. I own an older Galant and the AC died on it.. before that, I had to change the alternator, ignition coils, etc...

 

[imlol]

s2000


edit: Dont get a camry, get the lexus es300. Theyre the same cars. Lexus is the luxury line of toyota. Infiniti is the luxury line of Nissan. Acura is the luxury line of Honda. My lexus actually has toyota on the glass lol.

 

[WROMERO]

for $8k you can get yourself a nice used civic or accord with up to date maintenance.

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

You could probably get an older Infinity for that kind of cash.

I have a G35 and that thing will last forever.

I didn't mean to imply that you were stupid so please forgive me if I came across like that and spending the majority of your money on a car is just not a good idea if all you will have left over is just a few thousand dollars.

Mazda is making some real good cars as well; we bought a CX-9 last week... actually got rid of a ML420 to do it.

I don't think that is in your wheelhouse but you may want to look at that brand as well.

 

[xboxps3wow]

I already own a car "under 8k".. that's why I want to upgrade.

S2000 is a nice car.. but insurance will kill me! (Under 25 and had a small accident)

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

I already own a car "under 8k".. that's why I want to upgrade.

S2000 is a nice car.. but insurance will kill me! (Under 25 and had a small accident)

In Cook County I imagine a bicycle would be expensive to insure.

 

[Kronic]

i'd suggest something like a new nissan sentra. i know one guy who got a 2010 model at the end of the year, he only paid 10k cause he paid cash. it was all base model, but was pretty nice. and got 40mpg.

 

[xboxps3wow]

You could probably get an older Infinity for that kind of cash.

I have a G35 and that thing will last forever.

I didn't mean to imply that you were stupid so please forgive me if I came across like that and spending the majority of your money on a car is just not a good idea if all you will have left over is just a few thousand dollars.

Mazda is making some real good cars as well; we bought a CX-9 last week... actually got rid of a ML420 to do it.

I don't think that is in your wheelhouse but you may want to look at that brand as well.

G35 is a very nice car.. might take a look at those.
I don't really like the CX-9, but Mazda 3speed looks pretty nice and fairly cheap! Don't know much about mazdas, though. Are they reliable?

 

[xboxps3wow]

i'd suggest something like a new nissan sentra. i know one guy who got a 2010 model at the end of the year, he only paid 10k cause he paid cash. it was all base model, but was pretty nice. and got 40mpg.

10k?? How? I would love a 2010 sentra for 10k... but I don't think that's possible for a car that wasn't flooded or has a rebuilt title.

EDIT:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/ctd/2531799041.html
Awesome car.. wish it was newer than 2005, though

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

Don't know much about mazdas, though. Are they reliable?

Uber reliable; that is a very solid brand.