[LiteraryLark]

I am saving up to buy a new first car. I'd like the Kia Soul, but at the same time...I am ready for a sports car. I really don't know where to start. In a quick Google search of "affordable sports cars" I only see a few cars with nothing catching my eyes aside from the 2015 Mustang.

True, I want a new car, but sports cars come in all shapes and sizes and there are some sports cars that are better as an older model...but I want a NICE car, a dependable car, one that even though it's an older model, still runs as smoothly as a new car.

And what about CLASSIC CARS? My budget is $25,000. Can I buy an awesome classic car that runs smoothly, is dependable, and looks badass for $25,000?

I really don't know how to research sports cars. Pix are gladly welcome!

[LiteraryLark]

PS If any of you watch Gas Monkey Garage, they have their own website where they sell classic cars in my price range, and they ship it out to me. Of course, these cars are put up on auction on ebay, but still, if I save up $25,000 I can buy a really nice classic car...if they do a good job.

[Yoda]

I bought a used Audi A4 converible in 2007. It has been a great car. Mandatory feature in cars I drive is AWD and when I found AWD/convertible combo for a decent price I pounced. Audi is made my VW so is very durable. Hope to drive it for long time to go.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I bought a used Audi A4 converible in 2007. It has been a great car. Mandatory feature in cars I drive is AWD and when I found AWD/convertible combo for a decent price I pounced. Audi is made my VW so is very durable. Hope to drive it for long time to go.

I looked at the photos of the A4 and it doesn't look like a sports car to me.

This is what I think of when I think of sports car:

1. Mustang


2. Camaro (My Dad has 2014)



3. Corvette...My dream car, but waaaaaaayyyyy out of my price range


I am also a big fan of classic cars...sort of....I couldn't name a classic car, but my head swivels and mouth drools if I see one...My all time favorite is the 1920s-1940s and classic trucks.





I hope this gives people some idea of the cars I am interested in and what I should be looking for when I search for my first car.

[Timgt5]

Autotrader.com has a classics section once you click into the website.

Some good bets for your price range.

1. 3 Year old Porsche Boxter could be had for around 25K, very agile, well made and good performance

2. Honda Accord V6 Coupe, handsome, roomy, reliable as the sunrise, 278 HP with an available 6 speed manual. A used 14 EX should be in your price range.

3. A 4 year old BMW M3 should be in your price range

4 Infiniti G37 Coupe or its sister Nissan 370Z, 3 year old examples can be had for around 25K, both come with 330HP V6 engines. The Infinity is roomier and more luxurious, the Nissan more hardcore.

5. Subaru WRX-STI you should be able to snag a 15 for around 25K,

6. Golf GTI-I have driven these, very quick, agile and highly polished. The hatch has some room for your gear.

[EnglishDave]

Have you considered the Mazda MX5 Miata, the top selling, best handling, most fun sports roadster for the past 25 years?

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews, Pictures and Prices | U.S. News Best Cars

The List Price for a new 2016 Sports Trim is right on your budget, negotiations will bring this down. Warranty and reliablilty are excellent - and who needs trunk space in a sports car?

Dave.

I think Mazda makes some great cars. Take a look at the Miata and RX8

Also, consider something used. A new car loses 30% of it's value the moment it is driven off the lot. You can find some very good deals on nearly new vehicles. Try www.Kijiji.com to search. My son got a 6 month old Lexus for near half the orignal ticket price.

Just for the record, the Miata and the Boxster are the only sports cars mentioned lol. Stay away from the RX8. It looks good standing still and that's good because that's usually what it does
LL, it sounds like you want a muscle car or a classic. Tim mentioned the M3. I like the E36 and E39 versions. If I had $25K and I wanted a muscle car that handles like a sports car I'd look for an early 2000s M5. You can get a well kept example in my area for less that $25K. I think you'd be happier in a Miata though. The consensus for cool cars for young women around here seems to be the Scion XB or the Mini. Personally I don't get it but I'm okay with that.
One thing you didn't mention. Can you use a clutch?

[LiteraryLark]

Thank you for all the advice! My best friend had once driven a mazda and loved it. I don't know how to use clutch, though I've talen a manual car out a couple times.

[EnglishDave]

The Miata comes with an automatic gearbox at $1075 extra. However, I would use that money on lessons on how to handle a manual box. The driving experience in a sports car can only be fully appreciated when you are totally in control - and it will impress everyone you know

Dave.

[eskielover]

Know you said you wanted a new car but honestly you are financially better off buying a 1-2 year old car. Let the first owner absorbe the $5000 depreciation that hits the minute you drive the new car off the lot. Not only that but any bugs from the factory have been sorted out bu then also.

Back before my truck became my only vehicle & I was foolishly living up a 2 engineer family salary, I loved my toyota supra & before that, had a black & gold turbo conquest. Learned that turbo anything is expensive to maintain.

Though I always thought a REAL sport car was the Porche....the heavier sporty cars were an affordable substitute....but definitely if you are going sport or sporty.....manual is the only way to go. I drove stick shift from the age of 13 until 54 when I finally ended up in my life that required me to have a truck on my new farm & I didn't have time or money to shop for a truck that was stick shift. Dang...kept putting my clutch foot through the floor trying to find it for the first 6 months driving my huge crew cab truck.....quite a difference going to that from smaller sports/sporty cars.

Hope you find what you are looking for

[EnglishDave]

Yes, there is depreciation to consider when buying a new car, but there are also other factors to consider. Manufacturer Warranties are likely to have expired, buying a used car can be buying somebody else's problems - no sports car has only been driven to Church on Sunday by a little old lady, they have been thrashed in all likelihood.

I do not know whether the option exists over there that we have here, buying Dealer Ex-Demonstrators with a couple of thousand miles on the clock, still with full Warranty, at huge discount. These cars are pre-registered to the Dealer, so show up as pre-owned, but are only used by potential customers looking for a test drive. They are replaced at 9-12 months old, or when significant model changes come in.

Dave.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Timgt5

Autotrader.com has a classics section once you click into the website.

Some good bets for your price range.

1. 3 Year old Porsche Boxter could be had for around 25K, very agile, well made and good performance

2. Honda Accord V6 Coupe, handsome, roomy, reliable as the sunrise, 278 HP with an available 6 speed manual. A used 14 EX should be in your price range.

3. A 4 year old BMW M3 should be in your price range

4 Infiniti G37 Coupe or its sister Nissan 370Z, 3 year old examples can be had for around 25K, both come with 330HP V6 engines. The Infinity is roomier and more luxurious, the Nissan more hardcore.

5. Subaru WRX-STI you should be able to snag a 15 for around 25K,

6. Golf GTI-I have driven these, very quick, agile and highly polished. The hatch has some room for your gear.

I love the Nisson 370Z especially in black! So cool! I found a couple in my area for $18k.

My parents don't want me to have a sports car though. They told me it's not "practical". The F you mean...a sports car isn't meant to be practical! I don't want a practical car! I want a car just for ME. NOT to drive my friends around. NOT to lug around crap like I do with my SUV. I don't even buy my own groceries and if I did, I wouldn't buy bags and bags full of groceries! PLUS...IT'S MY MONEY! I am the one paying for it. I get to choose what car I get to drive if I'm the one who pays for it!

Sorry if I sound immature...but I'm mostly just venting. I am going to make a more presentable case later...but my parents are so stubborn sometimes!

[LiteraryLark]

This is what I posted for my mom

"PSA and a bit of fair warning...If I save up enough money for a new car...money that I earned and worked towards saving...I get to choose the car I drive.

Firstly, I don't want an SUV. I'm sick of them. I don't have a big circle of friends nor do I want to drive around my friends. In past experience, I've had friends who called me up or hung out with me specifically to use my car. And that's not going to happen when the car is registered under my name. No more freebies. "Sorry, there's no room in my car". I want a car for myself, not to be a taxi driver.

Second, I don't want a big car. What on earth do I need a big car for? I don't buy furniture on a regular basis. I don't buy groceries. All the shopping I do can fit in the backseat. If my family needs to haul something, they have a truck. My new car will be for my own personal use.

Lastly, I'm not looking for approval in the car I want to buy. I'd like to know how to get a good deal on a car and find the best car for me, but it's my hard-earned money, I want to get a car that makes me happy..."Don't settle." "

[ChipperMonkey]

Definitely learn how to drive a manual.

That is, if you want the sports car experience and not just the sports car look.

[eskielover]

You will have higher insurance rates on a sports car than just a normal car. Also look into the price of the tires. I went into shock when I found out the cost of tires for the supra. Low profile tires cost a fortune. Would be sad to own a car & when comes time tires need to be replaced you can't afford them. Can't drive a car on bald or flat tires. All things a wise person budgets for in considering your monthly expense.

[EnglishDave]

Eskielover is right about factoring in costs of insurance, tyres, servicing - which will be higher and more regular.

You are right about your reasons for wanting a sports car. You have the finances and you are of the correct age. There is nothing sadder than a middle-aged, chubby, balding man squeezing himself into a sports car, desperately trying to recapture his youth. Keep at least one car from this fate

Dave.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by EnglishDave

Eskielover is right about factoring in costs of insurance, tyres, servicing - which will be higher and more regular.

You are right about your reasons for wanting a sports car. You have the finances and you are of the correct age. There is nothing sadder than a middle-aged, chubby, balding man squeezing himself into a sports car, desperately trying to recapture his youth. Keep at least one car from this fate

Dave.

Okay, okay, okay...thank god this is anonymous...my dad is in his 50s and bought his camaro a couple years ago as his mid life crisis...he had to get hip surgery...and though he's all healed it's still hard for him to get in and out of it!

He still loves it though.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by eskielover

You will have higher insurance rates on a sports car than just a normal car. Also look into the price of the tires. I went into shock when I found out the cost of tires for the supra. Low profile tires cost a fortune. Would be sad to own a car & when comes time tires need to be replaced you can't afford them. Can't drive a car on bald or flat tires. All things a wise person budgets for in considering your monthly expense.

I know my parents will help me on this one...I know that any sports car will have a higher insurance...a price I am willing to make...but how will I be able to figure out maintenance and tires? Something I need to know about a sports car is how dependable they are. I don't want to get a sports car and need to take it to the shop all the time.

[EnglishDave]

Haaa. When I was 45 I bought a Coupe/Convertible with a power hardtop. I'm chubby and balding and was just trying to relive my youth when I had a classic Triumph Spitfire. It didn't work - I looked and felt stupid and it was the most uncomfortable car ever. If your Dad's Camaro is a classic, I approve, if not then you should misappropriate it.

As for tyre and servicing costs and reliability: First go to tiresize.com, scroll down to Browse Tires By Vehicles, fill in appropriate info and you will get tyre sizes and common prices. For servicing, when you have a shortlist simply phone your nearest Dealer and ask the Service schedule and cost for the Models you are looking at. Remember, buying cash you will have leverage to negotiate good prices for 3 year Service Plans when you come to buy. Finally, and most importantly:

J.D. Power Car Ratings | J.D. Power Cars

Read this Site and utilise the Search functions to compare the quality of Manufacturers and Models. Remember, the more you know the more you have the power in negotiations.

Dave.

[LiteraryLark]

Do you guys know any good new sport cars? The top choices i can think of are the camaros and mustangs...both $25k new and automatic. As important it is to know manual...id prefer an automatic. Sorry sport car lovers.

Also, how much of a down payment is good? $10k? $15k? Half of the cost? My parents only put a few thousand down for their cars plus a trade in. But doesnt that mean their monthly payments are higher?

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Do you guys know any good new sport cars? The top choices i can think of are the camaros and mustangs...both $25k new and automatic. As important it is to know manual...id prefer an automatic. Sorry sport car lovers.

Also, how much of a down payment is good? $10k? $15k? Half of the cost? My parents only put a few thousand down for their cars plus a trade in. But doesnt that mean their monthly payments are higher?

Have you looked at the Dodge Challenger SXT (2016)?

$25K, 305 HP, 8-speed automatic transmission, 13/21 MPG.

Do you have a trade? Is your credit good/excellent? If so, put down as little as possible, for interest rates are low.

[EnglishDave]

The higher your deposit, the lower the amount to Finance, so lower monthly payments and - most importantly - the lower the overall price you will pay for the car. Also, check carefully the differences between Dealer Finance deals and Bank Loans. The latter usually work out much, much cheaper here, better interest rates with preferable terms.

You are asking all the right questions. Find out all you can about about your shortlist of cars when you have compiled one - and make sure you test drive each one.

Dave.

[LiteraryLark]

Some say to buy a new sports car, some say to buy an older model...but which is really the better deal?

The Nissan 370Z someone recommended is $19k as a 2011 model in my area...How do I know that's a good deal? On the web page it is linked to a car dealership. That's a good thing, like you guys have said. I wouldn't trust a private dealer with a sports car. However, I don't know the age range of a good sports car. Is it better to buy a new car? Yes, but it's a lot more expensive. I doubt buying anything older than a 5 year car would be worth buying...but I have no idea!

[eskielover]

I prefer either going with a car that has been turned on a lease deal after about 2 years & then buying NEVER leasing or as it was recommended, dealerships have their demo cars that they sell at the end of the year that the salesmen drive or they use it to give people interested the ability to drive it rather than one of the new on the lot cars. That is the best way to get the most for your money because then you aren't eating the depreciation.

Also it's much better to pay cash. Remember that when you pay interest, you are paying more for the car....sometimes almost double over the length of payment time. Lower interest rates help with that but aren't easy to get lower rates if you have really never purchased anything on credit. I honestly avoid paying anything on time unless it's a set time interest free & I divide my payments up to make it paid off in that amount of time, otherwise the interest reverts back to the purchase date & you end up paying all the back interest....not good....interest makes everything cost more than it's actually worth.

Great links of finding the information on prices of tires. Basically you can find out the tires that fit the car you are wanting to purchase & then go look them up. Yep, it was a shock when the supra tires ran cost $1000 to replace them...that's a lot of money just for tires. Obviously it depends on how much you drive but it's usually not much more than 30,000 on a set of tires before they are worn out. Also remember when you look at prices of the tire that's just for the tire itself. Then you have to add the cost of putting them on, balancing & usually aligning the wheels & then the road hazard.

I know my parents will help me on this one.

That is an assumption unless you have spoken to them about this.....NEVER just assume anything because it always comes back to bite us when we do especially when dealing with something as expensive as things like this. My feeling as a parent would be.....you want to buy something that is that expensive then you are going to be responsible for it all & not dependent on us as parents especially if you aren't willing to listen to what they have to say about it in the first place:

"PSA and a bit of fair warning...If I save up enough money for a new car...money that I earned and worked towards saving...I get to choose the car I drive.