Want to buy first car and am looking for suggestions?

Question

I'm looking at a car at about $10k-15k or less. My one idea is a SUV like a tahoe or something and supe up the inside...if not that, then i am looking for something like a 2-dr coupe or really any kind of sports type car that is fast but more importantly good acceleration, and of course has good mileage. So any SUV that could have a cool interior or any fast car (used or new). Any suggestions are welcome... Thank You for the help.

Answer 1

The most important thing you need to remember is that insurance on the car is going to be relatively expensive because it's your first car, and also that the car will eventually get damaged somehow.

So don't buy any thing too expensive to get repaired!

Ideally you want something cheap to run, and reliable.

So that means a well-engineered car with good build quality and a smaller engine, preferably fuel injected, with performance and good gas mileage?

What about a Japnese late 90's or early 00's sportscar, like a Skyline, or a Supra? That way you get straight line speed with great handling and braking, ABS and an airbag or two. You can learn to heel-toe shift in a manual, and if you get a turbo model, there is massive scope for (cheap!) performance increases.

Because they are popular there are a few around, and parts are getting cheaper and easier to get. Also because of the low total vehicle cost your insurance premiums should be low.

Answer 2

Good gas mileage is not just a dream.  For most people today it is a necessity.  The SUV-Tahoe or otherwise, and the car with "good acceleration," will not get good gas mileage.  Period.

You need to make a decision about which is more important, looks and performance, or fuel economy, because as near as I can see the two qualities are mutually exclusive.

Now, if you can spend more than 10k-15k you might get something that gets a little better gas mileage while still offering some style, but even so you will need to make a compromise.

Answer 3

Buy a Jeep with a 4.0L I6 engine if you want good gas mileage in an SUV.  If you want a car, buy a Toyota Camry.  You contradict yourself you want speed, but you want fuel economy, pick one or the other you will never get both out of a fast car.