Casey is about to get her driver’s license and is considering a few options for her first trip. With one limited budget to $15,000, he wanted something comfortable, luxurious and sufficient. cargo space for sports equipment. What car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario:
I just turned 16 and I’m looking for my first car. I wanted something big but not too big. A little luxury would be nice, but I don’t need anything too fancy. I’m a sportsman, playing hockey and baseball so I’ll need a reasonably sized trunk or cargo area to hold large bags. I’m thinking of a sedan or wagon with an automatic and I don’t want to spend more than $15,000
Quick facts:
Budget: Up to 15,000 USD
Location: Vancouver, WA
Daily driving: Correct
Want: A bit of luxury, a bit of space, a large trunk
Do not want: Something too small
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Kia What?
Casey, you have some exciting times ahead, and I applaud you for targeting the “just right” car size for new drivers. I often recommend a mid-size sedan to younger drivers, as they are large enough to provide protection in the event of a crash but not so large as to be daunting for new drivers. Another thing I tell parents and new drivers to aim for is that sedans tend to appeal to older people because they tend to be comfortable, don’t require hard driving, and are usually well-maintained. through. You can find some solid options if you look outside the standard Accord/Camry offerings.
For example, here is a very nice Kia Cadenza. Cadenza is Kia’s product that competes with the Toyota Avalon/Lexus ES line: A large, comfortable, front-wheel drive sedan, very suitable for commuting. You’ll find plenty of space inside with some cool upgrades, and the trunk is large enough to hold your stuff. This particular example only has 63,000 miles but it has been in an accident on CarFax, so you’ll want to investigate further with some form of pre-purchase inspection. But if all goes well, this is a very large car for $12,500.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – Is small too small?
If you choose the Kia Cadenza, Casey, I’m sure it will do the job you need, but I think you’re on to something when you say you’re considering a wagon. You can certainly stuff your sports bags in the trunk or back seat of a sedan, but there’s something special about being able to open the trunk and toss a bunch of bags in the back. Additionally, with the seats down, you can still access your bag from the rear door, so getting to your things will be easier.
I’m assuming you’re probably pretty tall since you said you play basketball and combined with big things like hockey bags, I understand your desire to get a bigger car. My recommendation is probably smaller than you think, but hear me out: Kia Soul. It sits somewhere between a hatchback and a crossover, and its boxy shape makes it possible to fill the back with all your stuff. Plus, it has plenty of room for tall drivers.
Since it’s been around for a few generations, you’ll have plenty of options for $15,000 to spend. Just buy the nicest Soul you can find in your price range. However, to keep things interesting, I found some intriguing options. This is a 2017 Soul with 40,000 miles for $10,995 that used to be someone’s business vehicle and this is 59,000 miles in 2021 for $14,895 That used to be a rental car.
The general recommendation is to avoid used rental cars, but if they pass a pre-purchase inspection, maybe one of these will turn out to be a good enough deal to make it worth rolling the dice.
Expert 3: Amber DaSilva – How big is a hockey bag?
First of all, Casey, I want to congratulate you on nominal determinism. “Casey” is a hockey player name if I ever saw one. Anyway, I Googled some hockey bag sizes and discovered that even super big bag maybe quite a lot Fits comfortably in the trunk of a Miata. The important thing when buying a car is that you always need less space than you think.
However, you also need to carry sticks and sticks, so the Miata probably isn’t ideal for your use case. The same goes for the Subaru BRZ, if you request an automatic transmission. So, Casey, I bring you the best thing possible: the Volkswagen GTI.
It’s certainly an obvious choice, but it’s obvious because it ticks so many boxes. You have room inside for your gear, a nice enough interior for the cost, and even a bit of performance to try and motivate your passion for fast cars. Additionally, it will be much easier to park than the Cadenza.
This is a choice made by you That’s within your budget, but you can find GTIs under $15,000 all day long. Find your favorite color, the color closest to you, whatever you want. Just make sure you get that plaid interior.
Expert 4: Lawrence Hodge – This makes sense
Casey sees this will be your first trip – and congratulations on getting your license! – you need something that is both great to drive and can last a while. You also need something that can carry your sports gear easily. What you really need is an ideal body style, a wagon. And there’s no better first car for you than the Acura TSX Sport Wagon.
This is one of the few wagons on the market in the early 2010s, not sold for long so it is relatively rare. It’s also just the right size and doesn’t feel bad to drive since it almost resembles a European Honda Accord Wagon. You get a 201-horsepower 2.4-liter I4 engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel independent suspension, and most importantly, 60.5 square feet of space with the rear seats folded.
They are old enough now that if you can find one they are cheap and affordable. This example in Portland, Oregon with only 107,000 miles and only $14,900.
