What car can i buy with about 12 grand?

Question

i am looking for a car with decent gas mileage yet more of a sporty car.. please help me out by telling me the name how many doors ect. thankyou

Answer 1

my god you can almost buy a new honda civic coupe. but for that all you need to do is find the most economical car. this is because you can find almost any car used for under 12K unless you want some new bmw. but since you want the sporty car, buy a used honda civic si. its has 197hp and it is a all around good car.

Answer 2

I suggest looking at the following

1999-2002 Volvo S60 or S80 (both 4 door)

2000-2003 Toyota Camry (4 door Car)

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4 door SUV)

if u need anymore, feel free to email me. =)

Answer 3

you can get a brand new hyndai elantra for about 13G's.. or a new hyndai accent for under 12. they are nice car's.. or a lot of used cars.  i got a fully loaded VW GTI that was used for just about 12 grand.  you have to look around

Answer 4

Toyota Celica (2000-2005 model years) can be found for less than 12 grand in good condition.  Both models of celica had a 4-cylinder engine making good gas mileage, yet decent horse power as well (140 and 191 hp).  It looks like a sports car too.  :)

And it's a toyota, so you know it'll last a while.

Answer 5

If you want a new car, you're pretty limited with 12 grand.  For $12K, out the door including tax, delivery, that kind of stuff, you may be able to pick up a stripped version of a Hyundai Accent for example.

If you want a sports car, you will have to go used but at that point, there may be some decent options available like a Mazda Miata,  or a Ford Mustang that would only be a few years old and still with some good, ( hopefully ) trouble-free years ahead of them.

Answer 6

Hyundai Tiburon- comes in 4 cylinder and V6

Nissan Altima/Maxima..

Chevy Monte Carlo/Impala- 200-240 HP 29 MPG

its all on what you want! :) the list can go on and on

Answer 7

You could buy a used honda civic. They get great gas milage, have decent resale value, they run forever, and there are many different variations on body style depending on the year. I own one and I love it!

Answer 8

Cars that I would recommend, new or used, are the Ford Focus, Dodge Neon, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, and Chevy Cobalt. Every one of these has a 4-door model, is good on fuel economy, and they only need regular gas.

A sports car would not be a wise choice as they might need silver or premium. Most sports cars, even those with small engines, still use a bit more fuel as a lot of them have turbochargers and/or high performance calibration on their computers, which sacrifices efficiency for power.

I know people will rip on me for saying it, but if you want a good used car that gets good gas mileage and is extremely reliable, get a Neon, but given that it is not any model before 2000, as the old models are notorious for blowing head gaskets. My 2001 Neon has never had a single major problem and still runs great at 91000 miles. Sure, it's not as fast as a Civic Si, but it's one of the few American cars that is actually built to last, given that you maintain it.

My advice is do your research on cars and see what's right for you, and be sure that who you buy from is reputable. Take your choice vehicle on a test drive first. Also, whatever car you choose, be sure to DEMAND a Carfax report, so that you are certain that you are not getting something that has been in a major accident.

Even though your funds are limited, I would naturally advise you to consider buying a new car before buying a used one.

Answer 9

honda S2000. 2 door. 250 horsepower with the gas mileage of a honda. very nice. u would have to get it used so look around craigslist. ive seen a few for 12 here in arizona but mostly they are 15-19

Answer 10

Try to buy the car from a private seller rather than a dealership, you will get a lot further with your money.  Start looking on autotrader.com and narrow down what you are looking for, what are the deal-breakers.  Check your local classifieds.

Answer 11

Good question:

Most importantly, you've started with a budget.

Next:  Determine what you'll use the vehicle for.

Third:  How much do you know about cars?  Do you know the true value of a vehicle or do you just want something that's dependable.....Will you be able to work on the vehicle or be at the mercy of a mechanic that telling you that you'll need a $600 Fleegle Valve and you won't know if it even exists.

It doesn't.

If you can work on the vehicle yourself.......Spend the entire 12K and go foreign......You can actually pick up some well kept gems (BMW/AUDI/MERCEDES) with a lot of life left in them.

Why these brands?  Because the people that can afford to buy them brand new ususally have the $$$ to keep them up.  They are usually garage kept, babied and treated like a member of the family........And when they go to sell them, they usually will hand you a stack of records that describe in meticulous detail everything that was ever serviced on the vehicle.

I feel much more comfortable buying a vehicle this way.

If you can't work on it........Spend 6 to 8K on an American vehicle and bank the rest for when it may break down.

No, I'm not snooty.......But when you buy a used american car it was usually a workhorse that went through the motions w/o any real records kept.......That means you really don't know how it was taken care of.

American vs. Foreign:  All cars are only as good as their maintenance has been kept up.

I've had Fords last 170,000 miles from new.........I've bought Bimmers with 160,000 on them and racked up another 50,000 before having to sink any $$$ into them.

Better yet......Do you know any friends or relatives that are parting with a vehicle soon?  This is a great way to go.

This way you know a little more about who drove it and whether it was taken care of or abused.

Best of luck......

Answer 12

I have the perfect car for you! Either the mitsubishi eclipse, or even better the Toyota Celica. The celica is like the longest produced car, you can google it! I would reccomend getting one on craigslist but be wary of drivers.

If you are a little fearful of getting a car off craigslist, I would reccomend trying a used car dealership. You will be able to buy a toyota celica used there for under 9 grand.

Good luck!

Answer 13

-Chevy Cobalt SS: amazing gas mileage, and looks good (your best bet I think)

-Mazda RX7: a pretty s**y sports car (own one myself), takes a lot of maintenance/work

-Subaru WRX: good all around sports car

Answer 14

For 12 grand you can buy a nice new Hyundai, Honda, Kia, or GEO.  I'd go new.  All new cars come with some kind of warranty.  Spend a day and go to 3 or 4 different lots.  Make sure you get the out the door price so you don't break your budget.

I recently bought a new 08 Silverado.  One dealer wouldn't throw in a tow package so I went to a different dealer.  Not only did they throw in the tow package, I had upgraded rims, electric seats, the interior color I wanted, tow hooks...and saved $2000!

Shop around and do your home work.  You'll be glad you did.  Go new though.

Answer 15

If i have 12000, id buy a toyota yaris hatch back or sedan,

its great on gas, reliable and easy to drive, and its brand new

small easy to park, new

Answer 16

There are a lot of vehicles you can buy for about 12 grand. Autotrader.com is a good one to check out. I would start there. A lot of people will have their own opinions on what cars are good on gas, etc. So you may have to do a little deeper research to get the best deals. Good luck car hunting!

Answer 17

if u are paying cash its easy to find the exact car u want.in the auto section of ur local paper.also check ebay autos,yahoo autos. most cash cars will have over a 100,000 miles on them. be sure to do a carfacts on it if it a private seller.  look up the nada value of ur dream car. and see where the prices falls and have a good mech u know check it out if the seller doesnt want u to take it to a mech before u buy it dont get it.

Answer 18

now thats a big oxymoron a sports car with good mpg, the nissan maxima 2004 and older are great, you might be able to get a subaru impreza for $12K, you might be able to even get an STI

Answer 19

You want new or used. There's virtually no new car that you can get now under $12k unless you want a cheap Korean import. The Chevy Cobalt LS 2 door with the 5 speed manual is just a fraction over $15K & it's said to get 36mpg. Plenty of used cars for under the price you ask for. Just go to carmax.com & have at it.

Answer 20

Yes, used Chevy Cobalt or Pontiac G5, 2 door coupe, 5 speed or automatic, with the 2.2 L Ecotec.  Guaranteed under $12,000 if you can find one used - they are at a premium due to gas prices;  but still cheaper than a Civic, Yaris or Corolla, and easier to maintain.

Answer 21

I would suggest the Scion TC. It is a very sporty 2 door and averages 25-30 mpg. It is a very good deal for the price. Another suggestion would be the Toyota Corolla or any Honda. You will not find to many fuel efficient sports cars. Happy Hunting

Answer 22

I would recommend a post-2000 model Monte Carlo.  They are a big car that gets excellent gas mileage.  You could probably get one that is less than two years old with $12K.  I had an 03, an I got over 32 mpg in the summer and around 28 mpg in the winter.

Answer 23

With 12 grand you have a pretty good starting point,

not sure what types of cars you are into,  You can get a brand new car with 12 grand but it won't be to sporty,

You my want to look at a Honda civic's

don't forget the cost of insurance,

another car you may like is a Honda Prelude.

Answer 24

Well this is a very small car, but the Smart Fortwo Pure starts about $11,590... (:  I don't know if you would like it, but you can check it out.

http://www.usa.smart.com/smart-fortwo-pu...

Answer 25

www.autotrader.com Try putting part of that down on a car so you can save.  The economy is in the mud right now...make a conscious decision

Answer 26

I bought a 2005 Grand Prix GT and love it. Came in near excellent condition and just 36,200 miles on it with leather, remote start, power everything, heated seats, sunroof, 6 disc CD changer, the passenger seat folds in front and serves as a desk in the passenger seat. Very roomy and comfortable, good sound system. The sticker price was $11,900 before tax. Keep in mind that the after tax price jumped to $12,800!

Answer 27

Toyota ! Most reliable car I ever owned. I have had 3 so far. With 12g look at the corolla. Great on gas and reliable. Now is a good time to buy. Just wheel and deal with the dealer. Avoid  used fords, well all American cars ford is the worse. Avoid Mercedes Benz most unreliable car out there as well as jag, porshe big names poor cars.

Answer 28

a ford focus zx3 hatchback  with standard transmission (the only way to drive) - I got it new in 2003 for $14,000 - you could certainly get it for $12,000 used.

it's a great car - about 27 m/gallon

Answer 29

look for a smaller vehicle i.e chevy cobalt, ford focus, toyota camry. also look for special offers such as 3,000 dollar cash back rewards and things like that. dont get the extra care packages cuz if you buy new the car will already be under warrenty so you should be fine.

Answer 30

With today's gas prices definitely do not get a sportscar.  For 12K you'd get a decent Honda Civic or Toyota Tercel second hand.  I'd get a Japanese car with a small engine and no history of problems.

Answer 31

depends on your idea of decent gas mileage.  i have driven 2 cobras and 1 05 mustang GT for the past 5 years for appraisal work, its cheap, sporty, and fun.  i get 22-25 mpg on the highway if I am not rippin into it, and thats pretty good for me.  I sacrifice some of the gas mileage to have the burbling V8 convertible with straight pipes :)  depends on what your thing is.  you can get 99-01 mustang GT vert 5spds all day for 12K range.