Sean and his spouse are changing their 2009 Audi A3 because it’s getting up there in mileage and repairs are beginning to be costly. This could be a every day driver for simply two folks, so it doesn’t should be tremendous sensible. They are open to used automobiles however they need it to “feel” like a brand new one. What automotive ought to they purchase?
(Welcome again to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give actual folks actual recommendation about shopping for automobiles. Do you need us that can assist you discover a automotive? Submit your story on our kind.)
Here is the state of affairs.
Quick Facts:
It’s time to exchange my spouse’s 2009 Audi A3. It drives nice, however a 102,000 mile Audi simply isn’t all that dependable. This could be her every day driver, and she or he is working residence for the foreseeable future, so she doesn’t drive a complete bunch. Ideally a automotive that’s enjoyable to drive however nonetheless nonetheless has a bit of little bit of a sensible facet. ( NO CROSSOVERS!) Other than that it doesn’t should be significantly sensible. We don’t have any youngsters, so actually solely want room for two folks. Our different automobiles are my 4 door Titan XD and TJ Wrangler so it will be good do get higher and the 12-14 MPG I common in these 2, however that ain’t arduous. We need it to FEEL new, so newer than 3 years and fewer than 30K miles is good. A automotive I received’t should work on or repair aside from common service for the subsequent 5 years/50K miles. Fun to drive, guide could be nice however not crucial. Only want room for two.
We do like our previous A3, Its a enjoyable mixture of enjoyable to drive and sensible. Something like this, however leaning even a bit of extra in direction of the enjoyable facet is good. She virtually purchased a TT reasonably than the A3. So I’d say she likes that. Fun and sporty. Basically we would like a enjoyable dependable automotive that isn’t a Miata or a BRZ/86
Budget is as much as $30,000
Budget: as much as $30,000
Location: San Diego, CA
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: New-ish, Fun, Low upkeep
Doesn’t need: Too previous
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Manual And Practical
Sean, I wished to provide the apparent resolution, which is a Volkswagen GTI. You already just like the turbo energy out of your A3 and the Golf GTI is actually the identical automotive minus the all-wheel drive. Even as a GTI proprietor myself, I nonetheless don’t assume that’s your finest guess. Since you reside in sunny San Diego, a few of my colleagues will insist on a convertible, and that’s nice. However, you probably did say you wanted some practicality so I believe you want a steadiness between open-top motoring and the usability of a hatchback.
Therefore, a frivolously used Mini Cooper is the way in which to go. For beneath thirty grand, you possibly can rating a pleasant guide hatchback with loads of guarantee remaining. But it would be best to remember to get one with the panoramic roof choice. That method, you will get many of the advantages of an open-top cruise with out sacrificing any usability. Cooper S fashions pack a turbocharged motor with about 190 horsepower, which must be loads of enjoyable round city particularly when paired with their six-speed guide.
The different upside to the Mini is you could make the most of another person’s deprecation and get a automotive that “feels” new however supplies a greater worth to your greenback over the GTI. Here is a loaded-up, Mini-Certified 2021 Signature trim mannequin with about 14,000 miles for beneath twenty-five grand.
Expert 2: Bradley Brownell – Hotter And Hatchier
![Image for article titled We Need A Used Car That Feels New! What Should We Buy?](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/f1c9001b40b742984b35576bcb7bd6a6.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
Somehow 2019 inexplicably occurred 5 years in the past already, however this little Korean scorching hatch is ten years newer and 100 years higher than your previous German machine. Keep the front-wheel drive, however add a complete secure of ponies to your proper foot, and management it with a guide transmission, you possibly can’t go fallacious. Every time I’ve pushed a Hyundai N product, I’ve walked away with an enormous smile, so hopefully this may do the identical for you.
It’s acquired loads of practicality with a spacious-ish hatch, and a bizarre third-door thingy that you just may like and may not. I prefer it and advocate it extremely as a every day. This one has had just a few modifications completed to it, together with a set of Rotiform wheels and a few sport springs. These are issues I’d do to my very own automotive if I purchased one, and it seems to be fairly nice sitting like this. The vendor is asking $19,500 for this automotive in Encinitas, however you possibly can most likely discover an unmodified instance in case you really feel strongly about it.
It’s 271 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds, and 28 mpg on the freeway for beneath twenty grand. How are you able to beat that?
Expert 3: Collin Woodard – Lexus Miles Hit Different
![2018 Lexus IS 350](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/9b371d1296ff9265ec369bc74c32b566.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
I completely perceive wanting a automotive that feels new however doesn’t price fairly as a lot as it will if it was really new, Sean. Especially contemplating the Audi you’d like to exchange is 15 years previous and possibly lacks many extra trendy tech and security options. If these are particularly the sorts of stuff you’re searching for, I’m positive both the Mini or the Hyundai shall be implausible selections.
One factor that I fear about, although, is that coming from an Audi, your spouse isn’t going to love the standard of the inside supplies supplied with both automotive. I’m an enormous fan of each, in order that’s not the problem. They’re simply not luxurious automobiles and don’t faux to be. Typically, in case you make the bounce as much as a luxurious automotive that’s depreciated sufficient to suit your funds, you must take care of reliability points and costly repairs. And it sounds such as you positively don’t wish to take care of that.
So what are we going to do? We’re going to disregard your mannequin 12 months and mileage necessities and go together with a Lexus IS. There are lots in your value vary which might be nonetheless fairly new, and I’d be prepared to guess neither your spouse nor anybody else you present the automotive to can have any thought it’s greater than three years previous. You received’t get probably the most superior infotainment system, however that’s simply the value you pay to get a snug sport sedan with each glorious reliability and construct high quality.
As I discussed, you could have loads of choices to select from with a $30,000 funds, however possibly begin your search with this 2018 Lexus IS 350 that I discovered close by. It has practically 50,000 miles on it, which is greater than you have been hoping for, however bear in mind, these are Lexus miles. In 5 years, it’ll nonetheless most likely really feel as nicely bolted collectively because it does the day you purchase it, which is one thing I don’t know if I can say concerning the earlier two strategies.
Expert 4: José Rodríguez Jr. – The Newest Used Car Of All
![Image for article titled We Need A Used Car That Feels New! What Should We Buy?](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/7fef7aebb7bc556c112b15f91b28a930.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
There are loads of choices for a enjoyable used automotive inside your funds, although they begin to slender down if we exclude automobiles made earlier than 2021 and restrict the odometer to 30,000 miles. If you add in a guide transmission, choices whittle down as a result of the stick shift is now extra of an fanatic badge of honor, which carmakers use to cost extra. So, I’m going to zero in on the used automotive that feels most like new. And, actually, what may really feel extra new than an EV like this 2022 Polestar 2?
You point out that you just’d wish to recover from 13-14 miles per gallon, and that this car goes to be a every day. EVs have their weaknesses by way of vary and infrastructure, however for a every day that may be supplemented by your four-door Titan and Wrangler, the Polestar 2 can’t be beat. Forget about main upkeep within the subsequent 5 years or 50,000 miles. There’s merely not that a lot to interrupt on the Polestar 2 relative to its ICE-powered counterparts. And it’s very good-looking.
As far as luxurious goes, the Polestar is actually a whizz-bang, high-speed Volvo, that means it’ll rival any Audi or different German automotive you possibly can carry to the desk. The mannequin I’ve really useful has over 30,000 miles on it, but it surely’s additionally a CPO lengthy vary, twin motor model that makes 408 horsepower and will get 249 miles per cost. All of that at beneath $30,000. If you’d desire one with lower than 30k on the clock, there are many Polestar 2s round. Why? Because persons are creatures of behavior, and an EV is an excessive amount of of a raffle for them. But in your case, there’s no used automotive that can really feel newer.
Source: jalopnik.com