I give you THE LIST of fun cars you can own for as much as $5000 which, as an aspiring petrolhead, you will love. It has something for just about everyone.
So what are the best used cars for new drivers under $5000?
- Honda Civic 8th gen.
- Mazda MX5 (Miata) NC
- BMW 3-series E46
- Lexus IS 1st gen XE10/Toyota Altezza
- Subaru Impreza WRX 2nd gen.
- Audi TT 1st gen (or 8N)
- Ford Fiesta ST Mk6
- Fiat 500
- Mini Cooper
- Seat Leon FR Mk2 (1P)
- Saab 9-3 2nd gen.
- Volvo S40 (2nd gen)/V50
- Alfa Romeo 159
- Smart ForFour Brabus 1st gen.
Before we explore why our list looks like this, I am sure that a lot of you have seen that there are no cars from the mid-90s (or older). The reason behind this is that the cars from this period are generally not safe according to today’s standards and do not have good crash test ratings (if any in some cases). This is not to say that you must get a safe car since you most definitely will have a crash if you are an eager driver but lack experience. Hopefully, none of us will ever be involved in a car accident but I believe that it makes more sense for our list to consist of generally safe cars. I think we will all agree that, if given a choice, the vast majority, if not all of us, will prefer their cars to be safer regardless if they are experienced drivers or not. Also, we have to mention that the crash tests had evolved for the past 20 years so a car with a 4-star rating today may not be the same as a car with a 4-star rating 15 years ago. Now let’s go over the vehicles in our list and see why they are in it.
Honda Civic
The 8th generation of the Civic continues the Honda tradition to make reliable and pleasant to drive city cars. It is one of the most obvious choices for new drivers due to its ability to withstand abuse and the cheapness of its parts in the relatively rare occasions when something goes wrong. Also, it got 4 stars in the EuroNCAP crash test which we may consider as a good score. In order to be fun, you have to get the 1.8-litre petrol or the 2.0 litre Type R. The latter varies in price depending on where you live and may not be attainable for as little as 5 grand but if you can find some deals which get close, haggle and you may succeed.
Mazda MX5 (Miata) NC
Why the third generation? Because it is more refined than the 2nd gen and although not officially rated by NCAP or NHTSA, it is believed to be safer by many. Although the NC is not that well appreciated within the Miata fans, if stock, the ride is somehow nicer than the older models, you can still really shift this thing dynamically but it is also better suited for longer drives. Its reliability, 50-50 weight distribution, good fuel economy, wonderful gearbox and engines make it a cult car for generations. Plainly put, it is one of the best drivers cars for little money you can get. My suggestion will be to try and get the bigger 2.0-litre engine as it has power which is more suited for this type of car but the smaller 1.8 is also sufficient to have some cornering fun. Beware of rust on these cars though as regardless of the year, all Mazdas like to corrode a lot. Buy it from somewhere with a warmer climate and if possible, keep it in a garage. For a list of things to do to slow down your car from rusting, check this article.
BMW 3 series e46
Probably one of the most recognizable and prominent cars BMW had ever made, the e46 is also a great car to drive. Get it with a 6-cylinder petrol engine and a stick shift and you will have a real BMW driving experience. The car is superbly balanced, corners like a chased rabbit and is also pretty fast on straights to have fun especially for a first car (if with a bigger 6 cylinder engine). I am a traditional petrol head, so I will not suggest getting it with a diesel, although the diesel engines of BMW from this era are not bad too. Get it either with the 2.8, the facelifted 2.5 or the 3-litre engine and you are guaranteed to be one satisfied driver. Unfortunately, a lot of these cars are moderately to highly abused and getting older, so it is to be expected for them to have some issues. Keep an eye for neglect in terms of servicing as most problems on these cars generally come from poor maintenance and if available check the full-service history. Also, it will be wise to check the vehicle for the notorious frame damage a lot of the e46s suffer from especially the models before the facelift. The NHTSA and NCAP give it 4s and 5s in terms of security.
Lexus IS 1st gen XE10/Toyota Altezza
Depending on where you live, the Lexus IS or Toyota Altezza is yet another simply great car. They are 2 versions of the same vehicle produced by Toyota since 1998. It’s rear-wheel drive and a well-balanced car (although not 50:50 in terms of weight distribution like the previous 2 cars on the list). The differences come with the engines and the driver’s position. If it is Lexus – it will most probably be left-hand drive (non-UK style), although it was also available with right-hand drive, and you will have the choice of either a 6-cylinder 2-litre engine with 155 bhp or again a 6-cylinder 3-litre engine with about 215 bhp. The smaller engine would almost definitely have a manual transmission. The 2-litre is not a really sluggish car but it is somewhat underperforming when you consider that it is rear-wheel drive and has a sporting sedan styling. It is sufficient though if you do not require stellar performance as it is still nice to drive. The bigger engine is simply marvellous. If you can get your hands on an IS with the 3-litre engine and a manual – you’ve kind of hit the jackpot especially if you live in some of the countries of the world in which these cars were not common when new.
The situation with the Altezza is a bit different. It was built for countries with right-hand drive steering wheel (UK style). It has the same engines but including one more, intended only for the Japanese market – the 3S-GE which was 2-litre too. Despite the 155 bhp 1G-FE one, found in the weaker Lexuses and Altezzas, this one produces nearly 210 bhp and is only 4-cylinder which makes the car lighter. Generally speaking, the Lexus/Toyota cars are very reliable and are already very cheap so you can have fun for little money with this alternative. The NHTSA gives it 4-star crash test safety rating in a front collision and 5 stars in a side one. EuroNCAP hasn’t rated this car.
Subaru Impreza WRX 2nd gen.
For this money, it may be pre-facelift and heck – an estate (or how Subaru prefers it – a Station Wagon), but either way you get the full Impreza experience – very distinct boxer engine, one of the best 4×4 in the business, acceleration from a standstill to whiplash your girlfriend (or boyfriend) and a Rally heritage. Also, these cars are highly tuneable and with not a lot of money, you can make yours a real street rocket. This generation of the WRX is not rated by NCAP, but it is evaluated by the NHTSA with quite good scores (4s and 5s). In terms of what to look out for – as with most Japanese cars, it is the inevitable rust.
Audi TT (8N)
Yet another 4×4 monster. The legendary Quattro system by Audi is integrated into the more powerful versions of the TT which you would want to buy and, except for the 3.2-litre version, will be within our $5000 budget in most places of the world to which Audi ships its cars. The Audi TT is getting some sort of a cult car during the recent years, and the first generation may become a classic vehicle in the future. Regardless if you get it with the 1.8-litre engine tuned on 180 bhp or 225 bhp, if it is with Quattro (the 225 will be either way), you will have a real pocket rocket with colossal tuning potential to build on. These cars rust difficult so you should primarily check for signs of abuse (like any other car on this list really) as these automobiles are a rather common choice within… well, let’s say people who like to drive very vigorously on the public roads. Other than that, the car sits relatively low and you sit low in it, which enhances the sporty feel and if you like this, you will love the TT. It is based on the Golf IV so parts should be easy to find almost wherever you are and they should not be expensive too. If you can, go for a facelifted version since it has improved stability on the road. The safety rating from NHTSA is incomplete and the one from EuroNCAP is 4 stars. Yes, some say that it is a bit girly with its oval forms but if you are a boy who doesn’t really mind that stuff, an Audi TT may be a sublime choice for you.
Ford Fiesta ST Mk6
The Fiesta ST is one of the cheapest options on our list. It is a nippy little car and although front-wheel drive, it has the potential to give you huge smiles on twisty B-roads due to its well-sorted suspension with which Ford is renowned for. Due to its cheapness, for $5000 you can get an excellent ST, which is properly maintained, from a later year and with not so high mileage. There are some more expensive parts on this car compared to the non-ST versions, however, they are still not super pricey and overall the Fiesta is reliable. It is also relatively safe – EuroNCAP gives it a 4-star rating. If you are looking for a pocket rocket though, this is not the best option. Although its 2-litre engine packs 150 horses, they are only sufficient for acceleration around the 8-9 second mark from 0 to 62 miles/hour (or 0 to 100 kilometres/hour) depending on the driver’s ability to operate the pedals and the gear lever. Still, it provides sufficient dynamics for city driving and overtaking on country roads.
Fiat 500
I suppose most of you girls reading this post find it cute. The regular 500 is not fast, nor is particularly dynamic but this is not the point of the car. The reason for the existence of the little Fiat is to be different on the road and at the same time have a practical easy-to-park and easy-to-drive car for the crowded streets of the city. If this is what you are after and you fancy its looks, this may be the car for you. Moreover, despite Fiat’s old reputation, the 500 is reasonably reliable. In terms of safety – in its class the model from the year of 2007 scores 5 stars with EuroNCAP.
Mini Cooper
Owned by BMW, the new Mini Cooper continues the tradition of the original manufacturer to build small and practical cars, although not that small like the original Mini manufactured last century. Nevertheless, the drivability and fun factor behind the wheel remained with the brand. Like the Fiat 500, this little car is considered by many as a feminine vehicle and so it may not appeal to some of the chaps but its dynamic characteristics are indisputable. Get the supercharged Cooper S and you are guaranteed to have fun on almost any road. If you shop around you can even get an early “John Cooper Works” version and still be within our budget. The latter is one of the fastest factory cars on our list and it is capable of keeping up with some pretty serious vehicles out there. Depending on the year, NCAP gives it 4 for the earlier models and 5 stars for the later ones and the NHTSA gives it a good 4 stars overall. The Mini is an amazing little car if you are alright with the looks and reputation with which it comes.
Enough of the obvious ones. Now let’s get a bit more alternative.
Seat Leon FR Mk2 (1P)
This car, like some others on the list, will not be available in all countries but I will still include it as it is a fabulous hot-hatch. The Leon is based on the Mk5 VW Golf (or Rabbit if you are in the USA or Canada) platform and the FR model corresponds to the GTI version of the Golf. If it is the same, why not get the Golf then, some of you may ask? Because the Leon is more left field. The performance Seat is a less common sight on the road than VW’s small car. Despite this, it has all the benefits of the Golf platform and uniformity of a lot of its parts. The Leon FR has the same engine, chassis and transmission and boasts the same performance as the Golf GTI (0-100 km/h in around 7.3 seconds). It is a great drive too. Shifting this car is a real joy. The gear lever has a unique design and along with the steering wheel are both super convenient and ergonomic to use. Apart from this, the Leon FR was sold with a factory sport suspension and features a clever front differential which makes cornering an enjoyable activity. I know that its rather quirky for some design may not be to everyone’s taste but hey, wouldn’t it be boring if all car manufacturers style their cars the same way? In terms of safety, the Leon scores a 4-star rating by EuroNCAP. The NHTSA does not have a score for it but if we look at the Golf’s score from these years, it is again a good one – 4 stars for front and 5 stars for side collision. These cars are not famous for rusting but you should check just to be on the safer side. Also, test the car to feel how it drives and look for any signs of abuse as since this is a hot-hatch, you can consider the latter expected. Lastly be advised that the 2-litre turbocharged engine is known to burn oil in more significant quantities than other similarly sized motors, although not all engines suffer from this.
Saab 9-3 2nd gen.
The reason why this car in on this list is simple – it is probably one of the least known factory sleepers ever produced, and it has even more tuning potential. Buy it with the 2-litre turbocharged engine and from there the sky is the limit. Saab was owned by General Motors since 1998 until 2010 and the 9-3 shares parts with the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra. You can have the car as a sedan, estate or as a 4-seater convertible with a soft top. After 2002, the 9-3 is also one of the safest cars on our list regardless if you opt for the cabrio, combi or the small executive saloon, scoring a cool 5-star crash test safety rating with EuroNCAP. The NHTSA gave the 2009 year model a predominantly 4-star rating and hasn’t done any testing on earlier models. The people who are familiar with the brand a little more know that it has a controversial reputation of a “dentists’” personal transportation vehicle. The latter (if the 9-3 is just a little tuned) may be considered a plus in some cases as it will actually make the driver of the overtaken mid-range BMW even more stunned.
Volvo S40 (2nd gen)/V50
The Volvo S40 (sedan) or V50 (estate) is based on the Ford Focus 2nd generation. The version I am talking about has a 2.5 litre 5-cylinder turbocharged Volvo made engine and moreover, it is 4×4. Yep, another sleeper straight from the factory. You cannot really differentiate it with the rest of the line if you don’t get the R-Design pack which is rather rare. The engine produces about 220 hp which are good for a 0-62 m/h (0-100 km/h) time of 7.2 seconds according to the manufacturer and having that turbo makes it super easy to upgrade this power to about 250-260 bhp for a relatively low price. The Volvo S40/V50 will not be suitable for those of you who are keen on cornering though, as it has a bit vague steering and a tendency to understeer a lot. If you are getting it for the straights and fast starts, it is one of the best on the list. The Volvo is also a leader in terms of safety getting the full 5 stars from NCAP and predominantly 5 stars from the NHTSA too.
Alfa Romeo 159
I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but just look at this car! It is sublime from every angle and you can have it for less than 5 grand… Beware though as although Alfa made some changes at the time of producing the 159, it is still a contradictory car in terms of reliability. We will not delve deeper in this article but my suggestion is to be sure that you want this car when buying and of course to do your research as with any other used automobile. This is the only car I am going to suggest to you to get with a diesel engine as the JTD is a proven motor. It is used in an array of other cars too (Fiat, GM, Chrysler, etc.) and as a consequence, in terms of availability, there is no shortage of parts on reasonable prices. EuroNCAP gives it a 5-star rating making it one of the safest cars on this list according to their statistics but there is no test on the safety from NHTSA.
Smart ForFour Brabus 1st gen.
With this one, we get really alternative. Some of you may not have heard about this car but trust me – it is awesome. The concept of it is to have a really tiny city car which is suitable for four, not too tall people. It was built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Colt 6th generation and shares a lot of its parts. The Brabus version has a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine which produces the pretty impressive for this size of car 177 bhp, propelling the ForFour from 0 to 62 m/h in less than 7 seconds (if you are fast with the 5-speed manual gears and you will be). The cockpit is not what you would call spacious but you have everything you need really. And with this small, ergonomically and uniquely designed steering wheel, you just want to get in the little thing and have a go in it. As another plus, since the Smart is lightweight, weighing less than 1100 kg, it is economical too and fun to toss around town. Finding parts which do not derive from the Mitsubishi though may be a problem in some places of the world at first glance but you have big online stores for that which eases up the process. In terms of safety – NCAP gives it 4 stars rating. The NHTSA hasn’t rated it.
Honourable mentions
Cars which deserve to be on this list but didn’t make it due to questionable safety:
– Renault Clio Sport 172 and 182
With phenomenal cornering agility from its front-wheel-drive layout developed in conjunction with the Renault Formula 1 team, both of these versions are superb drivers’ cars. Since they are also small, they are easy to park and to learn to drive on.
– Earlier models of the Civic, MX5 and the 3-series
A classic choice for all aspiring petrol heads. All of them are great when it comes to driving and having fun with, boasting superb driveability, lightness, and cheapness of parts.
– Second and third-generation Toyota MR2
The second-gen MR2 may be a bit tricky to handle in some situations which makes it not an optimal car for young drivers with little experience behind the wheel but if you know what you are doing, it can be one of the most rewarding drives. The 3rd gen is a bit softened according to some, which may make it a more suitable choice for most.
What about cars for up to 10 grand?
If you double the budget and push aside a little the inexperience factor, you really are getting into a world of opportunities. The machines are getting more formidable and you should ask yourself will it be a good decision to get one of these if you haven’t driven much. Nonetheless, I will share my recommendations. A full list needs a separate article but just to scratch the surface:
- For the rear-wheel-drive minded: Ford Mustang, Nissan 350Z, Lexus IS 2nd gen with a bigger engine, Mercedes CLK C209 with the 5-litre V8, BMW 3-series E90/E91/E92;
- For the city-dwellers: Renault Clio Sport 197/200, Ford Focus RS, VW Golf R or Audi S3;
- For the four-wheel-drive enthusiasts: Audi S4 (2nd gen), newer Audi TT, a very good facelifted WRX from the 2nd generation, Mitsubishi Lancer Rallye Art (with a bit of luck and bargaining skills);
- For the convertible lovers: a very decent first-generation BMW Z4, BMW 3-series E93 or a well-equipped 6-cylinder Mercedes SLK (2nd gen)
- For the sheer beauty connoisseurs: a very well equipped Alfa Romeo Brera
As always, I hope you have found the information useful and enjoy the rest of your day!