From TTAC reader Thomas: I'm looking to buy a new car this summer but I'm stumped on which car I want. I need a car that not only has good gas mileage but has a great looks. I'm looking to spend $24k to $28k. Possibly splurge to $32k. Hopefully not. I'm 21 and this will be my first new vehicle so I need it to be hot. Ha. I love the new Malibu. First off, it's a Chevy which I love and the aggressive new look is amazing. But there's no manual and how does the four-cylinder automatic accelerate? The second car under consideration is the Audi A4. I love the car, the class, but the price is killing. I do prefer the look of the Malibu over the A4. Well, give me some ideas please. Thank you very much.
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MazdaSpeed3.
Wow.
If you like the Malibu, get the Malibu. The 4-cylinder/6-speed auto should be plenty quick.
Other cars: Astra XR, Cobalt SS turbo, HHR SS turbo, Mazda3, MazdaSpeed3, Dodge Charger R/T (with rebates, it’s suprisingly cheap), Caliber SRT4….
Well, let’s start by being sarcastic: watch your grammar.
Beside that, you seem to gyrate towards sedans, but I think that for this price range, hot hatches are a better option:
- mini Cooper S
- Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
- VW GTI/ Jetta GLI (if you insist on sedans)
The Mazda Miata can also be a great option, and it’ll fit your price. So will the Pontiac Solstice and probably the Saturn Sky.
Also, make sure you don’t end up paying too much. 21 is a great time to put money aside for retirement (as boring as that may sound, you’ll thank yourself for doing it in 10 years).
If the kid is smart, he will stick himself in a four door sedan of some kind. I think all two doors for people under 26 are considered ’sports cars’ by the insurance industry these days…
I think he’d pay just as much in insurance (monthly) as he will for the car payment (monthly).
He should get the ‘Bu if he truly likes them.
PS: By the way, I’ll take one of those hood ornaments, too (in the accompanying pic)
21 and wanting to spend 24k on a malibu???
try:
GTI, GLI, A3, Jetta Wolfsburg,
TSX, accord coupe, mazda speed 6, mazda speed 3
G8, Chrysler 300, used infinity g35, WRX, etc…
if you’re going up to 32k, there’s tonnes of options…
I’d suggest trying some fiscal restraint and keeping it under 24k… – lots of nice choices with a stick available at that price…
The more I drive the girlfriend’s ‘08 Impreza wagon, the more impressed (hah!) I become. It’s not as taut as a “true performance car” should be, but it’s grunty, refined, practical and fun. Gas mileage hovers at 25 no matter how/where you drive, there’s plenty of room, and bombing the back roads at 80mph is fun, while remaining smooth and quiet.
The interior may not be everyone’s pint of lager, but I’d say if you don’t want to plunk down the dough for an A4 (girlfriend couldn’t find a used A3 that wasn’t gone as soon as we found it) you could do a lot worse than a new ‘preza.
Oh yeah, improvement_needed reminded me of the TSX. Outgoing model could probably be had for $24k, and if you are a fan of manual transmissions, you have to at least try the thing.
Acura TSX. All the features of the Audi you love, but within the price range.
21 and wanting to saddle himself with a huge car payment?? What’s up with that? Why do people fresh out of school believe they need to have (or deserve to have) what previous generations worked years and years to save up for and then buy outright? Dude, if you’re hellbent on tossing that much money somewhere, take $10,000, go buy one hell of a good used car, and then take the other $250 or so each month you WOULD have spent on the rest of the car payment on dump it into a retirement account. It’ll add up quick! For $10k, you can find any number of fun cars. Miatas can be found by the boatload at that price. With enough searching, even older 3-series sedans can be had, or an Audi A4, if you’re bent on a performance sedan. I’d even go so far as to look at something like a used Mazda Protege5 (which I used to own and miss). Good fuel economy, four doors, practical hatch, excellent handling dynamics. If you run out and buy a new $25k car, the exact second the front tires come off the lot, you’ll have lost 15% of it’s initial value, and you’ll spend the next three years chasing your “over/under” situation.
First off, buy something used. If you get a 2-year-old off-lease car, you’ll expand your choices a lot. Let someone else eat all that depreciation instead.
With that in mind, an A4 isn’t an unreasonable choice. You should be able to score a G35, TSX, Saab 9-3, maybe a 3-series, C-class, Mazda6, Passat, and probably any domestic at all.
Of course, if you’ve got to have the new Malibu, go for it. It sucks to realize 2 months later that you didn’t buy the right car. Just speaking as a 40-year-old guy who’s owned 20 cars so far, you’re going to get a lot more car if you don’t buy it brand-new.
The redesigned 2009 Audi A4 price list is now out. Dealers are taking orders. That being the case, dealers are desperate to dump the 2008 A4 cars. You might be able to make a great deal on whatever the local dealer has on the lot. I recently priced a 2.0T stick with premium and sport suspension for $28k.
Threer: look at something like a used Mazda Protege5 (which I used to own and miss)
This, too. I had a P5 (the yellow one) and I really miss it too. It could have used a touch more power, but it handles like a go-kart. Easily the fun-est car I’ve had in a long time.
Lease a Mini Cooper S.
Becasue they hold their value so well, (62.5% after 3yr, 36000 miles) you can get really good lease deals on it
I got a new Rubicon right out of college 2 years ago. It’s now over half paid for. I love that Jeep, but it is not easy or terribly wise to have such a payment hanging over your head when you’re just starting out. It hasn’t broken me and I’m in no other debt besides the car note, but there isn’t always a lot left over.
Consider a new/lightly used Mustang GT. You say you want looks, and it’s easily the most eye-catching of any in that price bracket. With incentives, you could easily stay on the low end of your price range. Plus, the V8 sounds brilliant.
As for insurance, prepare to empty your wallet.
How about thinking completely outside the box, and at least considering the 2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited, with leather, FOUR CYLINDER, in the color of your choice?
You might just get one heck of a surprise at what $23,000 can buy. Plus you’ll end up with a superb warrantee, an American built car (Montgomery, Alabama) as well as 175 hp (more than the ‘bu four banger) and five cog automatic.
The interior on the Sonata makes the Malibu look like a – um – Chrysler product in comparison. The exterior look is pretty nice, too, especially the new grill and jewelled headlamps.
With that price range on a used vehicle you could get really creative:
Phaeton, XJ8, S-series Audi, etc. (And still have room for a good warranty.)
He definitely needs to provide more information. You can somehow argue that an Odyssey (the corner carver of minivans) is what he needs sans manual tranny.
Try getting this info to better break down what you need / want:
- Fuel Economy
- Performance (power / handling / brakes / shenanigans)
- Manual Tranny
- Looks / Bragging rights
- Quality / Reliability
- Safety
- Hauling Stuff (like college dorm room)
- Driving history (do you have a lot of tickets or accidents?)
- Mechanical Inclanation of Mr. Thomas and want to be able to do some of your own wrenching
With all things said so far – I’d consider these:
TSX, A4, GTI, Civic Si sedan, WRX, Matrix/Vibe, etc. (get a hatchback or sedan for lower insurance)
With all due respect to the Malibu it’s resale will be pretty bad regardless – as GM will eventually sell it to fleets and prop rebates on the hood.
Threer / ScottMCG: I had a Protege5 and that was a very fun car to drive. The FSDE 2.0 power plant (it was the Mazda 626 2.0 from the early 90’s just with a lot of emissions equipment on it) definitely was lacking so after installation of a t3 turbo that cajoled it to 190whp (better brakes with 4 piston wilwood and koni yellows and hypercoil springs) the car had the brakes/power/handling to be considered an overweight go kart.
Mazda3 would be the prudent choice IMO, most bang for the buck.
At age 21 you really should aim toward the lower end of your price range. No need to burden yourself with a huge payment so early on.
If the you can get around $28k without killing your budget or resorting to idiot financing (96 months or whatever they have these days), then I’d go with the TSX. Same features as cars that cost $10k more + killer resale value and reliability. Buy an Audi five or six years down the road when you can afford to do it right.
Used is the prudent way to go, but find me a prudent 21 yr old. Everyone should buy a new car at least once, if for no other reason than to learn about depreciation.
Disclosure: Current TSX owner ($26.8k with Navi OTD)
You can get a slightly used (less than 15,000 miles) MazdaSpeed 6 for around $20,000. Probably a little less with some good haggling.
AWD, Turbo, 6 Speed Short Throw, 4 doors and a full size trunk, Xenon headlamps, rain sensing wipers. If you didn’t know it was a Mazda how can you say no to that.
Well, here is my take on the situation.
I bought an Impreza 2.5RS coupe ‘99 for $13,000+ after sales taxes were considered and gap insurance.
I pay $268/mo for 5 years at around 6% interest. MY insurance rate, however jumped to $330/mo when I was 18 years old. I lived at home but paid more rent than I care to acknowledge. The reason for the insurance hike? I was 18.
Now, my insurance in lingering at $175 a month, which I feel is okay.
Also, I’ve NEVER had a speeding ticket or moving violation in my life. FYI.
Consider a used sedan unless you want to pay more for insurance than a car payment.
Sure used semi-exotics like a Phaeton, XJ8 and all manner of Audis look great UNTIL something goes snafu and the “great warrantee” ends up being as worthless as used toilet paper.
If you don’t want new, I have to tell you that there are some real bargains in near-new out there, and I mean real bargains.
My local Hyundai dealer has a 2008 Sonata GLS four cylinder (the interior is not as nice as the 2009, the engine has 15 less HP but is about on par with the Malibu and the automatic is 4 speed) which has 4000 miles on it – it’s an ex-loaner car for the dealer – marked at under $15k.
Times are tough for dealers. Be prepared to have them falling over you once they realize you really truly CAN buy a car…
If you’re 21, you should spend your money on something more productive….education, 401(k)….unless you’re independently wealthy.
Get a used circa 2000-01 used lux. car if you want some bling….like 2002 A4 for $12-14k
Ya, it’s that lame cuz no 20-something girl says, “wow your 401(k) allocation makes me wet.” but you’d rather be a successful 30-something w/$$$$$$ (who will have no problems finding women, even if you’re fat and puggish looking) than someone who rolls from debt payment to debt payment every month starting at age 21.
At your age do not buy new. Let someone else eat the depreciation. Buy used. You can find loads of fine cars in the $5-12K range. Some models have
hot versions that are off the insurance radar being lumped into the overall make. That takes some research but well worth it.
Look, too, at a used Jeep Wrangler TJ. The hard-top is far more secure than the soft-top. It is sporty, 5 spd, reliable, gets decent economy, a very safe convertible, holds resale well, has a huge after-market and ever-popular–meaning you will have no trouble selling it. It’s also fun to drive.
I have to agree with the folks that warn against strapping yourself to a big, new car payment.
And also agree that you should forget $24K-$32K and look at $10K. You’ll be surprised. Your payments would be small and/or short-term and you really can get a lot of car with a lot of life left for that money.
Go to any one of a number of search-for-a-car sites and put your max price at, say, $11,500 or $12K with the understanding that you’ll have a bit of a down payment or be able to bargain your way down to $10K…and then also enter that you want a stick shift…check it out.
Bimmers, Accord coupes, maybe an ‘02 or ‘03 WRX if your lucky…the possibilities are endless.
-Matt
If you think you need a status vehicle, the Audi I guess. Good luck with the maintenance prices. I like the Acura TSX as a better status car suggestion. But for less $ you should be able to get the Civic SI Sedan/or coupe, at $24000 OTD. If you can live without the torque hit, it will teach you be a better, smoother dirver, IMO (my opinion only—no one jump on my back today, OK?). Of course, this recommendation assumes you can drive a manual.
There is a premium gas penalty, but for around town driving the penalty is not severe if you’re a smooth driver. Out in the country, where I live, it freakin rocks. All I have to worry about are the Springtime manure trucks. Lov-e-ly.
Drive the Malibu (if your dealer ever gets one) and see how you like it. For some reason, though, it seems like a big car for a 4-banger but I have not driven it, so I don’t know for sure.
And you might score some points with a future wife if you’re driving something practical rather than a two-seat convertible. Not that she won’t think it’s awesome tooling around with the top down but it shows you might be looking ahead to when you may need more than two seats. If you don’t want practicality, though, go with a sports car. Maybe an S2000 or 350Z. Or a Miata, those are a bit cheaper, I think.
Scion tc. Upgrade to the best audio and still save yourself some bucks. I agree with other commenters. 21 and looking at a Malibu? Are you looking to be celibate? MazdaSpeed 3 is a nice car. Golf GTI is great but assume you will become friendly with the dealer. Reliability still plagues VW.
nissan altima 08 or 09 sedan or coupe.
The four cilinder coupe with lethear and everything is around $24k. It’s a smashing looking car, drives better than anything outthere in that price range, good gas mileage, relieble. Case closed.
Volkswagen GTI (four door)
Mini Cooper S
MazdaSpeed 3
The cars I would get if I were 21, could afford it, and didn’t have kids.
A little off topic here, but something I’ve been wondering about for a long time.
On many auto weblogs (certainly including this one), the Mazda 3’s & 6’s garner almost constant positive reviews…sometimes bordering on fanatical. If these vehicles are so superior to other offerings in their classes and value ranges, why don’t they dominate the market? While I see a fair number of Mazda3’s on the road…and note, a decling number of Mazda6’s (time for redesign?)…they still pale in comparison to low-rent Focii, Civics, Elantras, etc. Why is that? I don’t think the public, as a whole, is “misinformed” or unaware of Mazda’s offerings…it’s not some obscure foreign brand. And it certainly isn’t for lack of press, whether it be print, web or Mazda advertising.
Really, I think the Mazda 3 is a failure, in one certain regard: If it’s so great (owner-hype aside), why isn’t the nation awash in a sea of 3’s…rather than crap? Is it Mazda’s fault? The dealerships? A completely oblivious buying public [in this day and age?]?
Any thoughts? Not trying to start a flame war…just wondering why the sales #’s are relatively modest.
and it got good grades from TTAC… You can get the 6 cyl. for less than 26K. Now that’s a nice car.
Not to lead the “conversation” further off-topic, Sammy, but I see absolute hordes of Mazda3 sedans and hatches up here in the New England.
I really like the 3 and would definitely consider one except for one fact that may keep other folks out of them as well: The interior is really, really small.
-Matt
Altima coupe review link.
sorry for this. my first time inserting a link.
call Steve Lang, he always seems to find really good inexpensive cars that are reliable. He is the New Car Consultant link on this web page.
At 21 You are limited to relatively boring cars anyway, so I see no reason to buy a new car.
There a way cooler cars to be had that are just a couple years old or very very cool cars that are classics for 25-30K.
I’m 22 myself and apart from the fact that I am unfortunate enough to live in a country whose government thinks that cars are the tools of evil and therefore finds it necessary to make them incredibly expensive (The Netherlands) in this case the situation is pretty much the same when it comes to buying cars.
Right here, under 24 you won’t get away with names like GTI, GTA, RS, Type-R, Cupra, ST or anything else that remotely sounds like it might be a cool car, unless you pay insanely high insurance rates.
Still those issues aside, I would say, in the US, used Z4 3.0, classic 80s 911, used WRX (not a tuner version, obviously), used BMW E46 3-series, used Acura TSX, used E39 5 series sedan (yes, I’m a fan of BMWs), used Honda S2000 or Acura RSX (yes, of Honda too). Or a Vette (although in Europe that is frowned upon).
If you really want the Malibu, I guess you could still buy a very mildly used one of the lot somewhere and save a few grant…
Only way I would consider a new car right now is if I finished my master’s and got a job at a company that provides me with my own company car (which, given the taxes and all, is really quite common). But that will have to wait for a couple of months minimum…and I might still opt to decline and buy the classic 911 or a used Alfa 147 GTA for about 15-20K Euros.
Sammy Hagar:
I believe the top reason is the buying public. Many people in the price segment could care less about how the car handles or looks. Mazda’s brand image focuses on Fun and Stylish, whereas Toyota comes across as Reliable and Honda as Efficient. They make some brilliant cars that are designed for people who want practical and fun transportation. Their reliability and resale value are middle of the road but many people couldn’t care less about how it drives and look elsewhere.
Edit: keep the Megan Fox pictures coming, too.
At your age, BUY USED!!!:
TSX, A4, G35, Accord/Accord Coupe, Civic/Civic Si, Prelude, Mazda 6/Mazdaspeed 6, Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3, WRX/2.5 RS, etc, etc, etc…
Please don’t buy a new 4-cylinder Malibu. You’re 21, not 51. That car has all the appeal of a tan base-model Camry. You’ll regret it for years to come. Shop around, there are WAY more cars to choose from that don’t scream 21 going on 50.
Sammy, IIRC, the Mazda3 is the #2 best-selling car in Canada. Americans are just sheep. “Buy American/Toyota/Honda.”
Sammy Hagar,
You are basing your percieved “failure” of the Mazda 3 on the fact that not everyone in the US is driving one?
Congradulations on typing the most ridiculous post on the internet.
I guess Apple’s iPod is a complete failure (to you) because some people prefer Microsoft’s Zune then?
Sammy Hagar –
Many Mazda dealerships cannot keep 3s in stock. When I bought my 3 hatch, it took alot of searching all over the region to find a manual transmission example. Mazda sends 3s in batches from Japan, and has to supply the rest of the world as well. Have you ever priced out a used one? Some 2005’s will go for 30% under original retail. Amazing.
The Original Question –
Unless Daddy is paying for the car (or you are cashing in some trust fund money), I would not buy a new car in that price range at age 21 (I did not own a new car until I leased one at age 27 — and I am a professional).
I concur with the majority of opinions on finding a nice used car (or better yet, if you are looking to impress — find a cheap lease). Just consider the following:
(1) Your new 22-24mpg Audi A4 / VW GTI / Subaru / Acura will be useless and depreciate faster when gas is $4-5/gallon
(2) Most every manufacturer’s lineups and powetrains will be significantly revised in 2009-11, now that there has been enough time to react to fuel prices. Most of the aforementioned cars have circa 2002-04 powertrains, designed for $1.50 gas.
For the budget…
Volvo C30 if you want rear passenger seats.
Miata MX-5 if not.
Anything above that is going to be unused for 99.99% of the time – keep your first car small. When time comes, you’ll need a minivan, not a sedan ;)
A good point towards C30 (other than immensly practical yet high-quality interior materials and stunning design) is that you can pick it up in Sweden for 7% (?) under MSRP. Great excuse for a Nordic vacation ;)
E39 BMW M5!!!!!!! Sorry, not new, but c’mon an M5 for about 30K. How can you go wrong?
Last year I was in a very similar situation. I was 22, just graduating school and just started to receive the big pay checks. I tried to stay frugal while having fun by picking up an 02 Audi A4 3.0Q which was by far the biggest mistake I have made since graduation.
The car was fun to drive for the first two months and then the repairs started to add up. Check engine lights became the norm and I quick dropped $2,500 to repair a camshaft… not fun. Although the car is now completely paid off (I paid $15k last year for this car) I am still worried about what repair is going to come next.
Spend the extra money and get the piece of mind of a certified preowned car. At least when something breaks you have someone to point at! Also pick up the Consumer Report’s Guide to Used Cars… if I read this earlier I would have known to stay away from 02 Audis.
A lot of good suggestions here. I don’t know what the insurance situation is for you, but that may play a huge factor. I like the TSX idea, the Jetta is not bad either. I will say that the Legacy GT might be a better bet than the WRX for insurance reasons. Also, 2006 RSX might be a good option. Though, like many have already mentioned, I would caution against spending that much at 21. If you buy a 2-3 year old car, as I did at that age, you can knock off some serious depreciation. I bought 3 year old car that was in your price range new and saved $11,000. If you are worried about the ‘image’ of a used car, go for a mazda3, tsx, or anything else that hasn’t really changed in a couple of years. No one will be able to tell except for the odometer reading. Also, the TSX and Mazda 3 are good bets becasue they are due for a redesign and thus will want to get rid of old models.
Also, a not on certified pre-owned cars. Just because you can point doesn’t mean that they will not try and get out of it. A dealership near me got out of a $500 repair of a power steering pulley (after a long argument) because they said that the bolt holding it in failed and the the pulley (which was covered) did not. Nissan corporate said they had to take the dealership’s word and I needed my car back to get to work. So, if you can’t afford repairs, don’t buy the car.
Bargain with the Audi dealer. You may be able to manage it.They have a huge inventory.
Thomas
In that price range, if you’re looking for style, sport and practicality, I’d suggest either a Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3. It’s a very stylish 5 door with, in the Speed3’s case, power to challenge any other car in that price range. Plus it has enough space to haul whatever interests you’re in. On the used side of things, I suggest you give the TL/TSX a very close look. They’re very stylish and luxurious for the price and they have the sport-car reflexes to match the looks; and i’d be going out on a limb to say that you CAN find one of those with a manual tranny. You’ll just have to dig a little deeper.
Oh yeh…the A4 isn’t a bad buy either (nothing against Audi mind you).
And why is Farago killing me with that pic? I’m at work damnit!!
Another vote for a used TSX. It’s going to be a lot cheaper than you’re willing to spend. Pretty good gas mileage, 6-speed MT, and a really clean interior (well the ones with black leather + brushed aluminum).
Thomas,
Buy an inexpensive, reliable used car. Check CR for recommendations and history.
When you have enough money saved up, buy a house.
In twenty years, that Malibu you passed up this year will seem about as exciting as a 1988 Ford Taurus does today. However, the house will still have a crapload of value and, if you’re reasonably lucky, instead of asking yourself, “Chevy or Chrysler?” you’ll be asking yourself, “Bentley or Bimmer?”
Two years ago, my second child was in your situation and chose the used car option. And is buying a house this month.