If We Gave You Only $10,000 To Spend On A Car, What Would You Buy?

$10K is pretty limited. A used civic is the only car that's worthwhile. Trying to buy a pre-owned luxury marque on that budget would leave you limited to a very old model which probably has multiple problems, component failures, and major issues requiring extensive repair costs.

Ah the fear of a used car?

Many older Lexus models fall into that category, but the are higher in miles. But if you get it cheap enough you can afford to do things like a timing belt and still get out for under $10K

But here are some just at one lot in the DFW area

2000 Audi A4 91,923 Miles $8,995

2000 Honda Accord Cpe LX 122,737 Miles $5,995

1997 BMW 740 109,592 Miles $6,650

1996 BMW 3-Series 328i 123,460 Miles $6,995

1998 BMW 5-Series 528i 126,716 Miles $6,995

1998 BMW 528i 149,603 Miles $6,995

2000 BMW 3-Series 323i 119,850 Miles $8,995

2000 Jaguar S-TYPE 122,499 Miles $6,995

1998 Jaguar XJ8 XJ8 111,094 Miles $7,995

2002 Jaguar S-TYPE 89,857 Miles $8,995

2002 Jaguar XJ XJ8 119,752 Miles $8,995

1999 Jaguar XJ8L 107,203 Miles $9,995

1998 Land Rover Discovery 100,057 Miles $6,995

2002 Land Rover Freelander SE 54,715 Miles $8,995

2004 Land Rover Freelander HSE 68,672 Miles $9,995

1995 Lexus LS 400 137,928 Miles $6,995

1999 Lexus RX 300 115,832 Miles $9,995

1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class 137,945 Miles $6,995

1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class C230 103,018 Miles $7,995

1999 Mercedes-Benz M Class ML320 90,983 Miles $8,995

1999 Mercedes-Benz M Class ML320 109,018 Miles $9,995

2005 Nissan Altima 18,192 Miles $9,995

2000 Saab 9-3 96,962 Miles $6,995

2002 Saab 9-3 SE 75,420 Miles $8,995

2006 Saturn Ion 23,101 Miles $8,995

1999 Volvo C70 85,328 Miles $8,995

2004 Volvo S60 81,426 Miles $9,995

I tend to focus on other factors besides the price of the used car such as mileage, maintenance costs, major and minor mechanical problems, etc.

IMO almost any car regardless of the make will last 80K miles w/o any major issues assuming all the maintenance was done. Once you get past that point its dependent on the make or the owner. For instance, I would trust a Toyota with over 80K more than a Chevy with over 80K.

But even then there's still a risk on high mileage cars. I'm a pragmatist and I've seen a friend go through buying a certified luxury car and ending up getting the tranny rebuilt after driving it 10K miles. The only way I'd buy a very high mileage car is if its a relative or the owner was a friend and I knew how they treated the car. Otherwise I'd default to the cheap and reliable civic.

I have to say I aleway ask for records. Typically they are there for a luxury car and not for a regular car.

I bought my beater with just over 100k on it and it had full records. So far over 4 years, total repairs have been under $2K. in 75K miles. (timing belt, and front end).

The car has been cheaper to run and maintain than the new cars we have had in the past.

I think each car needs to be looked at on an individual basis. Don't rule out a car just on its pedigree. A poorly maintained Toyota can be far more costly than a mint condition BMW with twice the miles.

I'd definitely roll with a used Civic. Something with a stick and 2 doors.

Easy. I'd buy a E36 M3. Autotrader has a bunch of used M3's < $10,000.

Here's the best one: 1998 M3 Coupe. 5-spd, 106K miles.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=232209322

I love my 1995. I have had it for almost 10 years. I would love another low mileage 1995. I am at 122k with no problems.

Of course loving my 14 year old (1994 production) is somehow offensive to the 12 year old clowns that frequent this site.

I am with you right there.

2000 BMW 540i
In its time the benchmark of mid-size sport sedans.

Fast, sporty, practical, uncomplicated and good looking. Oh yeah, a 4.4L 282 hp V8 helped too.

The last 5-series before Chris Bangle, iDrive and active steering. Bangle-haters rejoice!

You wont find a Lexus year 2000 for less than $10k. Bimmers have no reslae value.

"The last 5-series before Chris Bangle, iDrive and active steering. Bangle-haters rejoice!"

word!

LOL! Ricer you are a fool, check out ebay! I found 2000 model year Lexi for all under $10K. A few as low as $6500 Buy It Now. So that was an asinine comment.

I take the metro.

I'd pick up a used late 90's 3-series coupe (with a stick) and strip it down with a roll cage and tuned suspension to deal with the track days OR a miata with a stick and do the following with the 3-series.

2000 Honda Prelude.

There are many cooler cars out there, but on a $10k budget, this car will be reliable enough that a person in this situation can afford to operate it.

Well you assumed this person had limited income. The fact may remain that they can afford it, but this car may not warrant a $20K budget just for a basic grocery getter.

If those are your rules I'd buy a junked Lotus Esprit Turbo and spend $40k fixing it up. ;)

I guess a better example, might be to buy a $7k BMW and put $2k in preventive maintenance.

I'd rather have a $9,000 Prelude than a $7,000 BMW.

Nothing wrong with owning a late 90s BMW, if you have owned it for several years, but buying one second hand is tacky, IMO, unless it is a strict track car.

Cars say alot about the person who drives them. My peers see me driving a POS, but I have owned it since new. If I were to arrive in the Prelude, it is a sensable used car purchase. The used BMW appears extravagent, yet cheap. My friends would think I was going through some sort of financial/identity crisis.

Without hesitation, a 1986 Mercedes 190e 2.3 16V Cosworth.

Had one of those too. Great car.

1998 240SX

now we're taking. even a '90 240sx will do for me.

1997 740iL all the way! But I'll just pray to god it's reliable.

2nd Gen Lexus GS, still looks blingin', would be reliable, and I wouldnt buy one otherwise...

'97 Subaru SVX LSi with low miles! (last year they were made and only 740 of them)

let me see.

Audi A8 like in Ronin
Jaguar XK8 coupe
Jaguar XJ8
Audi A6
Saab Viggen
Lexus SC300/400
Lexus GS 300 2nd Gen
BMW 540

Probably a used Camry, Accord, Civic or Corolla. Anything else and you're playing russian roullette with eventually being stranded in a parking lot somewhere or your driveway.

On Autotrader I just saw a 2001 BMW 330Ci for $9995 with 110,000 miles. I would buy that.

However, if I had $10,000 and a limited budget afterwards, I would probably buy a Honda Prelude (cheaper parts and servicing, gas) and probably better reliability.

yep, this definitely brings back good ol memories. remember the christmas topic? lol the agents revised it twice. first it was 50gs than 100! lol damn

Interesting-There are only 3 people who responded that said they would go for a sports car.They are(maverick2020,Htay7500,and shredmo. Everyone else is going for a 4dr sedan.Interesting.For me I need somthing that drips oil,has electrical malfuntions from time to time but has beautiful styling.As in an Alfa or Fiat Spider,a Porsche 912,or 914,perhaps a nice 944S2.Maybe an MGB,perhaps a Mazda RX7,or early Miata,series 1 Toyota MR2.If I needed a a little rust challenge perhaps a Lancia Beta,or Lancia Scorpian.

"Everyone else is going for a 4dr sedan.Interesting."

$10K is too low to get anything. Bump it up to 15K and I can list several Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2s, 964 models, and 928s I would take,

Prob a 05 model Nissan Altima or 03 Honda Accord if I can find one for that. If luxury, a used Lexus 98 model ES or 99 model GS if I can find one for that.

or a 2000 model Maxima.

I thought about a 944 turbo, or similar. The Miata was too obvious. An Alfa would be great, as well as a non-conv. MR2.

I looked at this from the perspective, an enthusiast on a budget. To me the car should be practical, yet a blast to drive. On the other hand, if it is a second car and you spend $8,000 you can prep most cars with $2k to make them fairly reliable.

From your perspective you picked some great cars, IMO.

^replying to mini22

There are certainly more than a few BMW's on Ebay priced at or under $10k, so I would have to probably go that route.

Of course I don't want to be accused of being a BMW fanboy, so to keep things tame here, I would choose a first generation Toyota Prius!!!

Right...

I'd buy two cars.
-1994 MR2 Turbo $3,200 for the weekend
-2004 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo $5900 as a daily

with $900 left over for an fluids/brake change and some gas.

Good luck finding a 2004 A4 Turbo for 5900 dollars

Sign me up for that 2004 A4 for 5900.

good luck using that 900 for all that stuff. At these prices that will just be gas

ill take 1 too

@sltdrummer....I didn't make up the prices, I got them off auto trader.

2003 Cadillac Seville SLS/STS:

large, full of features, smooth, fast, powerful, classy.

Can I make that pounds please?
Probably a 2000 325/330 convertible or coupe or a 99 CLK, depends what the market was like.
An Audi TT 225 would be quite fun though, and for sheer presence a post 1990 SL500. I think £10k would stretch to a 1996 model.
If I use 10000 dollars though and convert...leaves about 5000 pounds - something like a 2000-ish Golf 1.6 with A/C, sunroof, alloys etc. I wouldn't want to touch most premium cars for so little money, they would have been abused. Or of course I could just buy my car twice :D

In the US, you could easily get a 2000+ GTI VR6 for under $10,000. That would be a great car IMO!

Shredmo, a friend of mine just bought a 2002 GTI VR6 with 110k miles for 10,700.

Seems pricey for that high mileage but whatcha gonna do...

Probably an 02-03 Nissan Maxima SE with low miles. Great car with a great engine (and better looking than the 04-08 model)

Lexus SC300 manual

A rare bird there, a Lexus with a stick?

03 maxima SE, navi, Xenon, low miles.
02 infiniti i35 sport, navi
00-02 e320 sport (not sure if will fit in budget)
00 540i
02 acura cl type-s, navi
1990's mazda rx7

I pick Acura legend< $12,000

Not enough money for my taste.

bougie @$$ cant just play along

maxima, tl

Late 90's BMW with over 100K miles? are ready for a trainwreck? you better apply for that second $10K emergency repair bill fund :)

twin turbo rx7 (as close to stock as possible)

Stock 1967 Mercury Cougar. Preferably owned since new by a 65 year old widow and driven only to the grocery store and an occasional trip to the hearing aid store for a new battery every every September.

Audi A8-L, Audi R8 Supercar Diesel

30's Duisenberg. but I'd still be a half a $Mil short.

i am sure a nissan gtr with 15 million miles could go for 10k or less... the hard part would be finding one :(

Actually, I would love to have a BMW 850Ci. But the reliability was terrible. I love the styling though!

I would get a 98 Z3 with manual. I saw one recently with 80k miles on it for 10200. This way I get ok mileage and top down fun. It wont be fast but it doesnt have to be.

I just did this a few months ago: got a '99 Miata in great condition and 58k miles for $7300. Then put $2k into it for new wheels/tires, a 60k mile service, timing belt, water pump etc - basically did a full inspection and upgraded/fixed everything.

Under $10k all in and now I have a fun 3rd car that is cheap to run/fix/insure...

A Volkwagen Passat W8 or last-gen GTI.

Late '90s Porsche Boxster.

2003 Subaru Forester.

As others have said, an E36 BMW M3.

Just some ideas.

A wave runner

I'd buy an intake, exhaust, and full turbo system for my Solstice, and use the leftover cash for premium fuel cost difference.

Or maybe a "driver" classic muscle car...

that is about the limit I gave myself for the last two cars I purchased. I ended up with a 1996 Landcruiser (lexus lx450 actually) and a 1999 Audi A6 Quattro 2.8. I love the Land Cruiser; thats the wife's car. I really with I had gotten a 1999-2001 bmw 5 series instead of the Audi. the audi seems heavier and slower than the 5 series I have driven. But people still stop me and telll me they like the audi's styling. I only got the audi becuase it needed a water pump and the last owner ended up selling to me for $6500- too good of a deal to pass up imho.

The A6 2.8 was always a dog; Audi has never excelled at making naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines. The 3.2 is much better but it's still pretty boring. Try trading up to a B5 S4 (2.7T) or something similar.

Five TATA's

I had 2 1987 MB 190e -2.3-16's, one an auto, the other 6 speed, both $8k. I just picked up a 1 owner black 2tone 2000 MB E55 AMG with 79k on the clock for just under $11. Tons of power, runs like a dream. Original sticker was $84k

USA... Both cars were purchased in So Cal. The 6 speed was a metalic black and has the cool euro shift pattern w/ 1st gear bottom left. The auto was champaign color. The auto really didn't match the Cosworth engine, because it needed to rev to make power, and I was constantly holding the shift lever in lower gears to build revs. The Cosworth motor was a work of art with the HUGE header sitting in the engine bay. MBZ built these to take on the M3 in euro racing.

I could be wrong but, I thought the only tranny available was a manual 5 speed for the 2.3 16v....it's the 1980s; who would have thought an auto would be revolutionary at that time? Let alone, a 6 speed, of any sort?

Badkarma....that has to have been a conversion car.

......both of them.

Yup, my bad. It did have a 5 speed hence the strange shift pattern. The auto was a 4 speed, a beefed up version of the e class tranny. I sold the cars back in 97 but they were excellent cars. They sure don't build em like these anymore.

Nope, they weren't grey market. I purchased both from Fletcher Jones MBZ and both were sold by them new.

I wouldn't mind finding a mint 16v, but parts are probably a bitch right now, considering the low import number. I am looking for a 1992-1994 MBZ / Porsche collaboration 500e / e500. Those were hand built and rocked. I still have the original brochure from 1992 and all it said on the front was " The Velvet Hammer "

Here is a cool link all about the 2.3-16 :

http://www.mb190e16v.com/Templates/Mercedes_the%20car%20body.htm

1997 MBZ S500 coupe

Hmmmm.....$10K, I think I would put $2000 of it down on a lease for a new Z4 or 3 series, and use the rest to make the payments.