I Have Ten Grand To Spend On A Stylish Car For A Teen! What Should We Buy?

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Gwon lives successful WA authorities and his youngest is now of driving age: nan 3 car household, pinch 4 people, needs different ride. Even though nan young man isn't ace into cars he is drawn to thing quirky and fun. With a fund of up to $10,000, what car should they buy?

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Here is nan scenario:

My girl is backmost from assemblage and now our 3 personification family is backmost to 4. My boy is 16 and has his driver's licence and needs it for schoolhouse and work. My woman needs her car (17 VW Alltrack) for activity arsenic a teacher. I only request my car (07 VW GLI) each mates days arsenic astir times I WFH.

However. We person had immoderate instances wherever everyone needs a car astatine a definite clip and, well, it's a first world drag. So, pinch nan thought that my girl will want a car erstwhile she returns to assemblage successful August, we will fto her return nan 05 Scion xA that they've been sharing.

My boy has not been a car guy, but I pointed retired a snazzy copper colored Fiat 500 Sport nan different time that was successful his value scope and now he's benignant of liking that. Mini Coopers person besides caught his eye. So, style is becoming a point for him. We person a fund up to $10,000 for a car for him, he would for illustration thing cool looking. It tin beryllium a manual aliases car (I'll thatch him to thrust a stick)

Quick Facts:

Budget:

Location: Bellevue, WA

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Fun, cheap, not a state guzzler

Doesn't want: Something excessively big

Expert 1: Tom McParland - Just Go For It

Gwon, I americium convinced that almost thing you bargain successful this existent marketplace for sub $10,000 is going to beryllium a gamble. So you mightiness arsenic good person immoderate nosy pinch nan dice you are rolling. You tin play it sort-of safe and find a utilized Civic aliases Corolla but those are going to person astir a cardinal miles connected them, because that is what everyone looks for. Since nan dude is drawn to nan 500, you should conscionable spell each nan measurement and find a 500 Abarth.

Here is simply a 2015 exemplary pinch nether a 100k miles; if it's lasted this agelong without detonating, you should beryllium good going forward. It has an mishap history, but a 16 twelvemonth aged is going to thrust it, truthful nan likelihood are different bonk aliases 2 is bound to happen. The only existent unfortunate facet is that it's an automatic. But that's 1 little point for him to interest about. The Fiat mightiness not past until college, but he will make immoderate bully memories pinch it.

Expert 2: Amber DaSilva - Looks are a authorities of mind

Gwon, your boy has bully taste. The Fiat 500 is simply a great-looking car, and Tom's correct to urge you nan Abarth. But if your kid is willing successful thing a small different, a small much aesthetically out-there, I recovered you different coagulated pick: This modified Fiesta ST. Who doesn't emotion an angry small jelly bean?

The modular Fiesta ST isn't precisely classically beautiful, and this peculiar illustration leans moreover further from that. Hood vents, angry oculus headlight appliques, smoked LED tail lights... this point is boy racer to nan extreme, but that's an artistic prime that appeals to plentifulness of 16-year-olds. Maybe yours is 1 of them!

If your kid is into nan looks, he'll emotion nan performance. This FiST is kitted retired pinch plentifulness of mods, and it ought to some sound and thrust for illustration a dream. You're intelligibly an enthusiast, to beryllium penning successful to america for advice, and this Ford would beryllium a hellhole of a measurement to walk that enthusiasm connected to nan adjacent generation.

The 500 Abarth is simply a bully choice, If your boy wants weirder, though, nan boy racer Fiesta ST is retired location — angrier, much sinister, and possibly moreover much appealing to a teen boy. Can't you conscionable image this successful a Hot Topic parking lot?

Expert 3: Daniel Golson - Mini is nan answer

You said your boy already has shown an liking successful Minis, and style is of nan utmost value (good kid), truthful I've gone pinch a Mini. But not conscionable immoderate Mini — a second-generation Cooper S Clubman, nan weird boxy wagon pinch an RX-8–style doorway connected 1 broadside and barn doors connected nan back. Despite Mini offering endless customization and tons of different colors and style options, a batch of these cars are successful boring specs, but I managed to find this awesome one vanished successful bluish pinch metallic stripes, metallic exterior accents, and bluish leather connected nan interior. That's beautiful stylish, I'd say.

Its 173-hp turbocharged motor and six-speed manual should beryllium a blast to thrust without being accelerated capable to get him into trouble, and while there's much abstraction to put his friends than successful a regular Mini aliases different hatchback, it's still a mini car, truthful nary request to interest astir it getting stuffed afloat of teens. It seems for illustration this 1 is successful beautiful bully shape, and it has bully options for illustration heated seats and a panoramic sunroof. Like I said, this is simply a awesome spec for a Clubman, but location are others retired location that are moreover cooler, truthful it would beryllium worthy your while to spell digging connected auction sites, for-sale forums, and different avenues to find nan Mini that really tickles his fancy.

Expert 4: Andy Kalmowitz - It's clip for your boy to go a man

Gwon, it's a reliable world retired there. I cognize it. You cognize it. Your boy needs to cognize it, too. Sure, you could get him a basking hatchback. It'll astir apt service him good and beryllium a safe, reliable mode of proscription for him. That's nary fun, though. What your boy needs, my friend, is simply a 5.0-liter American V8, 412 horsepower, and a unrecorded rear axle. That'll put immoderate hairsbreadth connected his chest, nary doubt.

To get each of these qualities successful a first car, there's really only 1 spot to look: nan S197 5.0 Ford Mustang GT, and, I cognize what you're thinking: "There's nary measurement you tin find an S197 for nether $10,000." Oh, Gwon. You fool. Of course, I can. You conscionable person to beryllium okay pinch some, well, higher mileage — 185,000 miles, to beryllium exact. That's thing for a Coyote motor, though. Plus, this car I recovered for you is in Washington state, and it's moreover sewage a cleanable title. Do you cognize really uncommon that is for a Mustang? Sure, it's sewage a fewer bumps and bruises wrong and out, but it's your kid's first car: he's only going to adhd to that.

Gwon, make nan correct choice. Make nan manly choice. Make nan American choice. Buy your boy a Mustang GT.

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