What would $ 10,000 buy?
Our experts recommend some affordable, reliable used cars
We asked some of our expert contributors which used vehicle they would buy today with a budget of $ 10,000. Here’s what they said:
LORRAINE SOMMERFELD
It’s an easy pick to go Honda or Toyota for a good used car, but because everyone else has the same thought, it drives up the prices. Instead of going older to make my budget of $ 10,000, I’m going elsewhere. I’m going to look for a Ford Focus, and I can probably get a clean car as recent as a 2010.
Because I believe in being flexible when hunting for a used car, I’m also going to consider a Hyundai Elantra of the same vintage.
In a toss- up between an earlier vintage, higher- miler and a vehicle with fewer bells and whistles, I’m going to value better mechanical condition over things to play with.
GRAEME FLETCHER
The tendency to opt for the usual suspects as the best used- car buy was almost irresistible — the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Be it reliability, cost of operation or value for money both have it in spades.
My choice, however, was to forsake the humdrum and opt for something with a little driving excitement: the Mazda3.
Beyond reliability and build quality, it has more than a few sporty bolts in its makeup.
No, the power won’t bowl you over, but it out- corners its peers handily. At the time of writing, a 2009 Mazda3 GS sedan could be purchased for a palatable $ 8,560.
BRENDAN MCALEER
I’d buy another Subaru WRX wagon. They’re costly on fuel, but flexible enough to handle kids, bikes, boards and even spontaneous lawn furniture purchases. Visibility and safety ratings are good. It’s fast enough to be interesting, and secure enough in bad weather to feel safe. It’s the Swiss army knife of vehicles, and has good resale value.
Or, if unencumbered by wife, children, mortgage and responsibility, I’d just buy somebody’s first- generation Miata track car and spend the rest on tires.
BRIAN HARPER
This question is easy to answer, as I’m keeping an eye out for a second- generation Subaru Forester, a 2003- 08 model. A quick look on a couple of used- vehicle websites shows models from 2006- 08 tending to sell in the $ 8,000 to $ 10,000 range.
Why that Forester? The two biggest reasons are all- wheel drive — which makes it an ideal choice to handle Canada’s six months ( or so it seems) of winter — and a reputation for near- bulletproof reliability.
Unlike the current fourth- generation Forester sport- ute, the first two generations were more compact jacked- up station wagons ( possibly the first crossovers). Practically, they also featured large windows all around, meaning excellent visibility when driving, especially for shorter drivers.
DAVID BOOTH
I’ve heard too many horror stories about the lack of reliability and high cost of replacement parts of luxury cars to buy anything European older than 2012 or with more than 60,000 kilometres ( whichever comes first, as the fine print in a new car warranty states). Being a cheapskate, I’d opt for the traditional Honda or Toyota compact sedan or a newer Buick or Chevrolet. Not only are they reliable, their low parts- pricing makes long- term ownership more affordable.
JOHN LEBLANC
I’m an unabashed Wagon Guy. Swedish wagons, especially. And I like the feel of a clutch. So when I went trolling on the Internet, I found a 2008 Saab 9- 5 Aero SportCombi with a rare manual gearbox and the seller wanted only $ 9,690.
With fond memories of my old 1976 Saab 99 EMS dancing in my head, I’ll ignore the fact I’ll have to find a local Saab specialty shop to keep the 9- 5 on the road. And I’ll probably have to pay the price of a monthly new car payment to keep it running.
But when I put my head on my pillow at night, I’ll have the comfort of not driving a crossover.