Kelley, Keep Your Cool. TTAC Elects Its Own Super-Cool Car
Kelley Blue Book, normally not the epitome of cool, nonetheless compiled its list of the ten coolest cars under $18,000. Here is the list:
Kelley’s Cool Cars Under $18,000
12013 Dodge Dart22012 Hyundai Veloster32012 FIAT 50042012 Mazda MAZDA352012 Chevrolet Sonic62012 Ford Fiesta72012 Honda Fit82012 Kia Soul92012 Scion iQ102012 Volkswagen JettaExcept for the $18,000 price ceiling, the list is not hindered by any other disquieting criteria. Kelley could follow its gut and assign coolness as Kelley pleases. The result is well balanced. Each of the Detroit 3 has its cool car, so do the main foreign brands.
Also, you can be cool and green: More than half of this year’s 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 can give you 40 mpg or greater.
But come on, a Dodge Dart super cool? Gives you shivers …
But why take Kelley’s word for it? What is your coolest car for little cash?
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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$18k? You can buy a pretty nice C5 Corvette for that, and if you get it with a stick it'll do high 20s on the highway. I've never understood the appeal of buying a brand-new really cheap car. If money's tight, why not buy something at least 2-3 years old? For the same money you can get something a lot nicer that'll last just as long, or if you really want a hair shirt, well, why not get it cheaper? I'm sorry, all the cars listed are just nasty. Nasty is not cool.
I voted for the Mazda 3, however the list limits the universe to new cars. 18K used...bet in 3 years that will get me a BRZ and today? Well how about a a used Mustang, a vette, a Z car, or a mini if you like cute...