I am A School Child Trying For A Dependable Trip! What Automotive Ought to I Purchase?

Matt helps his eighteen-year-old niece seek for the best set of wheels earlier than she goes off to school. She is presently driving an previous Prius that’s now not dependable and is in search of one thing dependable, and fuel-efficient for beneath fifteen grand. What automobile ought to she purchase?

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My niece is presently trying to find her first automobile to purchase. At present she drives a Prius that’s on its final legs and isn’t protected to be on the street. I’m serving to her hunt for a automobile and in search of strategies. The general gist right here is she wants one thing dependable with good gasoline mileage. She may be capable to stretch as much as $15,000. It must also be properly suited to a novice driver

Price range: $15,000

Location: Arlington, TX

Day by day Driver: Sure

Desires: Dependable, straightforward to handle, good MPG

Doesn’t need: Excessive upkeep prices

Skilled 1: Tom McParland – Right here We Go

Even with a altering automobile market, that $15,000 section continues to be a troublesome one since many of the “reasonably priced” automobiles have passed by the wayside. Nonetheless, iff the goal is a pleasant, stable trip for a more moderen driver with out breaking the financial institution, for me the reply is apparent, get a Mazda3. I’ve acknowledged that the Mazda3 may be the right automobile for brand new drivers because it presents a superb stability of affordability, options, fashion, and high quality.

Sourcing a Mazda3 with cheap miles isn’t straightforward, however attainable. Right here is an instance with beneath 50,000 miles for a really cheap value, although it does have an accident historical past so some form of pre-purchase inspection can be advisable. This can be a mid-level Touring trim, however the smaller 2.0-liter motor which doesn’t have the identical passing energy because the bigger mill, however can return as much as 40 MPG. Regardless of the fender-bender, it might be a stable purchase.

Skilled 2: Collin Woodard – Let’s Stay A Little

You’ve acquired a number of choices right here, Matt, however they aren’t going to be thrilling. The truth is, they’re all fairly apparent. You can go along with a Mazda 3 like Tom prompt, or a Toyota Corolla. Or a Honda Civic. Heck, simply level her within the route of the nicest Toyota Prius that she will be able to afford. Right here’s a 2017 Prius in Denton for lower than $15,000. If she desires a crossover, Toyota, Honda and Mazda have you ever coated. Right here’s a 2017 Mazda CX-5 that’s in price range.

Then again, let’s dwell a bit. You might be in Texas, in any case. I say stick her in this 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T that’s technically inside price range. It’s acquired the 5.7-liter V8, so it’ll be simpler for her to drive than a Hellcat, and it will get greater than 20 mpg freeway, so it’s additionally extra fuel-efficient than a Hellcat. Most significantly, although, it has a handbook transmission that may drive her to concentrate whereas she’s driving and reduces the chances of it ever being stolen.

Will her dad and mom be thrilled when she rolls up in a 372-hp muscle automobile? Most likely not. Will she look infinitely cooler when she exhibits as much as faculty in it as an alternative of a 2017 Prius? Hell yeah, she is going to. And isn’t that what’s most necessary if you’re 18 and placing out by yourself for the primary time? Simply make her promise you she gained’t crash it, and try to be good to go.

Skilled 3: Rory Carroll – Let’s Stay A Little Longer

Sadly, $15k doesn’t get you fairly so far as it used to so far as a dependable used automobile, however there are nonetheless loads of choices. I used to be tempted to recommend this Accord Sport which is likely one of the prettiest sedans of the final 20 years, however the mileage is on the excessive facet. I don’t normally care an excessive amount of about mileage, offered that we all know quite a bit about upkeep, however as a result of we’re in search of a automobile for a younger driver, I gave it a bit greater precedence than I usually would and ended up with this 2019 Corolla LE. Is it probably the most thrilling automobile on the earth? No. However the coloration is sweet and it needs to be on the street for one more decade or so. Sometime if you’re having fun with the unimaginable success afforded to you by a UT training, you’ll be pressured into buying and selling this Corolla in on one thing extra suited to your elevated station, and also you’ll assume: “I beloved that automobile, there was nothing incorrect with that automobile.”

Skilled 4: Steve DaSilva – Why Not Have It All?

Matt, you’ve been given two fundamental faculties of thought right here right this moment. On one hand, you’ve acquired the form of enjoyable a school scholar deserves (the Challenger) and on the opposite, you’ve acquired the form of staid practicality that’ll see your niece by way of to commencement (the Mazda3 and Corolla). I’m right here to inform you that you just don’t want to select between the 2 — you possibly can have all of it, in the event you simply know how one can discover it.

I’m speaking, after all, concerning the Honda CR-Z. All of the gas economic system that your niece has come to understand concerning the Prius, however with the enjoyable of a modern little three-door hatchback. These automobiles are protected, good on gasoline, and dependable, however nonetheless have the nimble dealing with traits you’d count on from automobile of this dimension. The 2-seat format means your niece won’t ever be The Particular person With The Automotive Who Has To Drive Everybody In all places, and a design this compact — with this a lot glass — makes faculty city parallel parking straightforward.

Right here’s a stick shift CR-Z in your space for simply over half your niece’s price range. School prices sufficient already, so why spend greater than it’s a must to on transport? Get one thing comparatively cheap, and spend the remainder of your price range on live performance tickets and Everclear — I imply, uh, textbooks.