Good first car for a budget of $5000

[asdf qwer]

Hey guys,

This is my first post here, so sorry if I’ve posted in the wrong place.

I will be getting my first car for my birthday in late February, and am looking at different options. Being a new driver, I am looking for something that I won’t get into trouble in lol, but I don’t want something too boring either. Currently, I drive my parent’s 2006 Subaru Legacy wagon, which is a great car, but is probably out of my budget and I’d like something with better gas mileage.

I already have a pretty extensive list of cars I am willing to consider lol, mostly Japanese/German cars, but I am willing to consider American (wouldn’t be my first choice though, just a personal preference).

Here is what I am currently considering:

• Honda Civic/Accord
• Acura Integra
• Nissan Sentra/Altima
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Volkswagen Golf/GTI
• Subaru Impreza
• Audi A4
• BMW 3-series/5-series
• Ford Focus

As you can see, it’s a pretty long list of options 🙂 . I still have a long time to make the decision, though. What I am curious about is your opinion/experiences with any of these cars. Like I said before, I really prefer German made cars. But, my parent’s most recent German car, a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, had more problems than it was worth. This makes me wonder if Japanese is really the way to go, but honestly, I have no idea, it could have just been that particular car lol.

Please let me know if you need any more information, and I really appreciate the help, thanks,
-CarGuy123

Topic

[David]

Welcome to the board!

I can personally vouch for the Accord and Integra. I’ve owned both as a young driver and will say they’re pretty much unbeatable for that kind of duty. Both cars will let you get away with a little less maintenance. The Integra is a very fun and zippy car to drive and Accords with a 5-speed aren’t too bad either.

Both cars have huge fan clubs and ETCG is a Honda tech so you’re in a good group here if you need DIY repair info for either car.

Good luck on your car search.

[Paul]

I’ve had good luck with Hondas.

One of my former housemates bought a used BMW for what he thought was a good deal but turned out to be a money pit. It spent more time in the shop (and stuck in the driveway because he couldn’t afford to fix it) than it did on the road.

Another one of my good friends bought a Focus for ~$3000. It runs a little rough and needs an occasional repair, but it has gotten her from Point A to B for 3 years and 50k miles now.

[asdf qwer]

Thanks guys for the quick responses :)!

Another thing I forgot to mention, I really would prefer to have a car with a standard transmission.

I’ve heard very good things about the Integra, and I love the styling. However, they seem to be pretty hard to find these days. What I mean by that is, one that is all stock, in decent shape, and with good mileage. Most of the ones I find for sale unfortunately are customized with things I don’t like, or have too high mileage :(. So far, for my budget, I have only found two Integras with good mileage and that are all stock. One of them is an automatic though, and I don’t think they’ll be there in February lol.

A friend of mine has a 2003 Honda Accord and has had a very good experience with it. Just curious though, why would the Accord be a better option than the Civic? From what I can tell the Civic gets better MPG and a 5speed is more common. A friend of mine test drove a 98 Civic and was not impressed by the engine performance, however. Is the Accord better?

@Hanneman, that experience with the BMW sounds like similar experiences I’ve heard about German cars. Would Volkswagens or Audis be any better than BMW in terms of reliability?

Unfortunately, I have realized that while any advice is greatly appreciated, I can’t really make a final decision until I actually drive the vehicle. Which, sadly, can’t be until February.

But, again, thanks for the help so far :)!

[Jamie]

My advice is to TAKE YOUR TIME! The trick to finding a good clean car for a decent price is to not be in a hurry to buy. If your parents are going to let you use their car even better. I personally have had great luck with Honda/Acura. My 96 Integra was easily the best handling front drive car I’ve ever driven. I still kick myself for selling it. I recently sold a Civic Si that ran like a scalded dog and required VERY little maintenance. For whatever reason I never fell in love with it but it was a good car. I never owned a German car that didn’t beat me down and break my heart. You’ve got the right idea avoiding modded cars. Done correctly there’s no reason they won’t run as well as stock. That is assuming it was done correctly…….

[Paul]

I don’t think the Accord is “better” than the Civic, it’s the next larger vehicle in the Honda lineup, and there are some styling differences. I had a 2001 Accord and my friend got the Civic at about the same time – similar but different. Also, Honda added the V6 option to the newer Accords (I think those cars had more transmission problems though).

What about the RSX? It is the closest successor to the Integra. The same friend above has one now and it’s a nice car. Ironically, my next car was the TSX aka rebadged EuroAccord.

Regarding German cars, I only knew one Audi person, and they only leased a car every 3 years. Also, I’ve only heard things secondhand about VW, and they were mostly complaints. My boss is German, and he has yet to own a German car here – mainly due to higher cost and a different model lineup here than in Europe.

I forgotten most of my “first car” experience. Sadly, that wasn’t too long ago. My advice is to learn as much as you can about the cars you’re interested in, especially their faults and ownership costs. Also, have a professional inspect the vehicle before you buy – this has saved my neck a few times. Similary, detailed maintenance records can provide more useful information than a CarFax report.

[asdf qwer]

From what I’ve heard about German cars, it seems to be a hit or miss with every vehicle. Some people seem to have no problems at all, and others have many problems.

While I will be very excited about purchasing my first car in February, I will do my best to take my time. It’s not an immediate requirement, since I can still use my parent’s car.

My dad actually owned an Integra a while back, and said it was the best car he’s ever driven. I really do like that car, but again, I’m worried about the availability of it. This is part of the reason why I have such an extensive list of cars I am considering.

How good is the Integra on gas?

Also, has anyone had experience with the Nissans or the Subaru Impreza? I really like the way the 2006 Legacy drives, which is part of the reason why I am considering the Impreza. However, it’s been hard to find one with below 150k on it for $5k.

Lol, car purchases are so complicated :D!

EDIT:

@Hanneman, heh, didn’t see your reply until I posted mine. I have considered the RSX, but after a little research, I thought you can’t get one for $5,000 (same with the TSX I think)?

As for the Accord vs Civic, I really think I will be able to decide my preference from test driving them both.

Thanks for the advice about mechanic inspection. One problem though, I may be testing cars in various locations away from where I am familiar, is it OK to just go to any independent mechanic that you find in the area?

[Paul]

[quote=”CarGuy123″ post=77317]EDIT:

@Hanneman, heh, didn’t see your reply until I posted mine. I have considered the RSX, but after a little research, I thought you can’t get one for $5,000 (same with the TSX I think)?

As for the Accord vs Civic, I really think I will be able to decide my preference from test driving them both.

Thanks for the advice about mechanic inspection. One problem though, I may be testing cars in various locations away from where I am familiar, is it OK to just go to any independent mechanic that you find in the area?[/quote]

Cast a wide net and see what you get. When I was looking in 2007-08, I found a few RSXs at a reasonable price that were not well advertised. My friend (above) got a great deal, although the car was located 3 states away.

Regarding the inspection, I honestly don’t have a good answer, aside from finding a trustworthy mechanic is like finding a good spouse. Not that independent shops and a frachise chains are bad, but a dealership may be your best bet in unfamiliar territory. Hopefully, others will provide you with their opinions.

[asdf qwer]

I did a little research on RSX’s for $5k on craigslist, and I found a good list. However, the majority of them have a little high mileage (ranging from 130k-150k usually). My parents have always told me to never buy any car with over 120k on it, but it is an Acura, would mileage really be a problem? I’ve also seen on almost every other post about it being “highway miles”, which I’m not so sure about since there really isn’t any proof for that.

Also how would a Honda/Acura be in terms of possible repair costs?

[Paul]

Time (and salt) wears the exterior while mileage wears the mechanical parts. But, 150k miles isn’t excessively high mileage for a Honda if the car has been well maintained (and has the records to prove it). Also, there’s a semi-extensive list of maintenance items at the 100k mark, like the timing belt (if the car has one), and some people prefer to get a new(er) car at this point.

I don’t put a lot of weight on things people say, like “highway miles” or “well-maintained”. Well-organized maintenance records back those claims. A proper vehicle inspection will tell you if the car is in great shape, if it needs x,y,z performed, or to walk away.

The cost for common maintenance items like air filters, brakes, belts, fluids, etc. are fairly normal (I usually do these items myself). In my experience, the repair costs are not excessive compared to what friends and family experience, although every car seems to have at least one exception. I haven’t had any major issues yet though either.

[valde]

Normally between 200tkm or 125tmiles to 300tkm or 190tmiles you have to replace shocks and wheel bearing and something else. But wheel bearing is the thing that is real problem course it might need replacing quickly after detecting problem and it may not be possible to do it yourself.

[asdf qwer]

Thanks guys for the useful information on repairs. Unfortunately I don’t think I will have the time to do car repairs by myself, especially since I’m not very knowledgeable about car engines etc. I am currently in the process of also finding a good independent mechanic in my area to do repairs at, since getting a car serviced at a dealership is not worth the price.

What are your opinions on Nissans? My neighbor has an older Altima and enjoys the car, and I’ve also heard good things about the Sentra (particularly the SE-R model). How is they’re reliability compared to Honda/Acura?

I’m still not going to rule out Volkswagens, and will still test drive a couple, but I’m starting to lean toward Honda/Acura mostly.

[asdf qwer]

I’ve been doing some research on repair costs, and found a website called RepairPal.com. Has anyone here heard of this website before? I looked it over and it’s pretty neat. You can find local mechanics that specialize in your auto make, and also look at estimated repair costs for different models. The repair estimates have things from preventive maintenance (oil changes, etc) to part replacements.

Are the estimates on this website actually accurate? Should I trust this site to help me make my decision in February?

From looking at the website, BMW seemed to be the most expensive to maintain out of all my choices. Honda was the lowest cost, but, Volkswagen only cost between $50-100 more than the Honda on most things, and was significantly cheaper than the BMW.

[asdf qwer]

Hey guys,

I know this post is a little old, but I’ve updated my list based on your feedback and feedback from my friends. Here is the updated list:

• Honda Accord
• Acura Integra/RSX
• Nissan Sentra/Altima
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Scion tC
• Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper is really starting to get my attention. I love the uniqueness of the car in general. From what I’ve heard, it’s a fun little car, but not too fast to handle. There is also the fact that it is small, making it easier to park and get good gas mileage. A couple of my friends have Minis and both really enjoy the car.

The Honda Civic is taken off the list because I have heard from a friend that the Accord is a better car. Is it true that the Accord gets around ~30MPG on the highway?

Anybody have opinions on the Scion tC?

It’s looking like I’ll have more cash than I thought by February, somewhere between $5k-6k. Are there any other suggestions anyone might have?

Thanks again guys for the help :)!

[Paul]

My ex had a Mini Cooper with a supercharger. That car had problems starting, hesitation, and poor acceleration when the temperatures were 10F or lower. If I remember correctly, this was a fairly common problem for the Type S. The winters are fairly cold where I live, so I had to drive her to work from mid-January through February. I don’t know what your climate is like, but something that you may want to research if it applies to you.

My 2001 Accord would get about 30 MPG on the highway for speeds below 65. It dropped a little with a 72 MPH cruising speed. And, the efficiency dropped to about 25 MPG in winter. My 2008 “Euro” Accord with a 5-speed AT gets between 37 and 42 MPG with a 72 MPH cruising speed. I’m guessing the North American Accord would get about the same mileage.

I wouldn’t say the Accord is better than the Civic. The Accord is Honda’s midsized coupe/sedan while the Civic is the compact version. Both cars have comparable feature packages (DX, LX, EX, etc), while certain years of the Accord offered a V6 engine (and I think those had more problems with the AT). The Civic is smaller, so it’s easier to park in metro areas, gets better fuel efficiency than the Accord, but has less passenger and trunk space.

[asdf qwer]

Thanks Hanneman for the info about the Mini. That is definitely not a problem I would want to be having.

Do you know if this problem happens for the non-S version of the Cooper?

That sounds like pretty good MPG for the Accord. Another thing I forgot to mention, is it true that only the EX model of the Accord has ABS Brakes? This feature is pretty important to me, being my first car safety is important, and also the fact that the roads can get pretty icy during the winter here.

My dad drove the Civic a while ago and was not impressed by the acceleration of the vehicle (he liked the Jetta better, and got that instead), he did not drive the Accord however. I guess what it comes down to is that this will all have to be determined when test driving the cars.

I don’t know if you can help me with this, but is there any place I can look for an estimated annual cost of ownership for these cars? It would be helpful to be able to compare the repair/maintenance costs of something like the Accord vs. Jetta.

Thanks again for the help :)!

[Author]

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