Yahoo Autos I'm A Sporty Guy Looking For A Big (But Not Too Big) First Car! What Should I Buy?
Casey is getting his driver’s license soon and is eying up some options for his first ride. With a budget limited to $15,000, he wants something comfortable with a bit of luxury and enough cargo space for sports gear. 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 want something big but not too big. A bit of luxury would be nice, but I don’t need anything too fancy. I’m an athletic guy who plays hockey and baseball so I’ll need a decent-sized trunk or cargo area for big bags. I’m thinking something like a sedan or wagon with an automatic, and I don’t want to spend any more than $15,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: Up to $15,000
Location: Vancouver, WA
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: A bit of luxury, a bit of space, big trunk
Doesn’t want: Something too small
Expert 1: Tom McParland - A Kia What?
Casey, you have some exciting times ahead, and I applaud you for targeting the “just right” size of car for a new driver. I often recommend a midsize-ish sedan for younger drivers, as they are big enough to offer some protection in case of a collision but not too large to be unwieldy for novice drivers. The other thing I tell parents and new drivers to target is sedans that have generally appealed to older folks, as these are usually comfortable, not driven hard, and often regularly maintained. You can find some solid picks if you look outside the standard Accord/Camry offerings.
For example, here is a really nice Kia Cadenza. The Cadenza was Kia’s take on the Toyota Avalon/Lexus ES series: A big, comfortable, front-drive sedan that is good for cruising. You will find plenty of room on the inside with some nice upgrades and a trunk large enough to fit your gear. This particular example only has 63,000 miles but it does have an accident on the CarFax, so you will want to investigate further with some kind of pre-purchase inspection. But if all goes well, this is a lot of car for $12,500.
