The Garage
10 Cars for under 10K
Steven Silva
There are few things more special than your first car. The feelings of new-found freedom overwhelm the senses, and life seems to present possibilities incessantly.
But like any honeymoon, reality soon sets in. Before you know it, you’re hit with insurance costs, maintenance costs, fuel prices, and you soon realize that this car is costing you more than public transit. However, it doesn’t have to be an overly expensive endeavour. Besides, who wants the waits and smells of public transit?
There are great deals out there to be had. The following rides are cheap on insurance, sip at the pumps, and are a shit-load of fun to drive. These 10 cars are the best way to throw around those hard-earned greenbacks.
1994 - 1996 Acura Integra
(GS, GS-R, LS, RS, SE)
Average Price: $6,000 - $7,000
Pros: Acura makes tough cars. Integras are readily available and easy to wrench on. The manuals are some of the smoothest in the business and the automatic transmission always keeps the motor in the right gear and at the right revs.
Cons: Finding low kilometre examples can be difficult. Watch out for cars that have had numerous owners. Some have lead hard racing lives, and although the paint might be shiny, you could have some serious problems on your hands, so it’s buyer beware.
Bottom Line: If you find a clean, well-maintained example, it’ll be one of the best cars you’ll ever own.
1995 - 1998 Eagle Talon (TSI)
Average Price: $5,000 - $10,000
Pros: AWD! Turbo! With a few modifications such as upgrading to a bigger turbo and adjusting your boost, it can easily be a 12 second car — enough said.
Cons: Most of these cars have lived hard lives. It’s almost a given that you’re going to need a new clutch, regardless of how few clicks it has. Chances are the car has already had more than one flywheel installed as well. Pay attention to the condition of the turbo and look for leaks or cracks in the engine block. The automatic versions are fun, as well, and will usually be in better condition than the manual equipped cars.
Bottom Line: About as much fun as you can have without your girlfriend.
1997 Ford Probe GT
Average Price: $4,000 - $7,000
Pros: These are quick cars. The clutches in the GTs hold up to so much abuse it’s ridiculous. You always have power on tap in any gear, and as a result you’ll find yourself shifting less often. With this car, manual is the only way to go — no automatics here.
Cons: Give yourself some time to get over all the “probing” jokes friends and family are bound to make. Also, if you lay on it too hard, fuel efficiency will go out the window. These can be thirsty V-6s.
Bottom Line: Great six-cylinder engine gives you a great base for adding on horsepower.
1993 - 1996 Mazda (MX-3 GS, RS, Precidia)
Average Price: $3,000 - $6,900
Pros: A very versatile car. With the right parts, enough time and a mild budget, you can really confuse some Civic drivers, leaving them wondering why you just smoked them.
Cons: Don’t buy one that has already been “improved” with aftermarket parts. These cars are notorious for being sold with butchered installation of aftermarket gear.
Bottom Line: Your girlfriend will think it’s cute and want to drive it.
1995 - 1998 Dodge Avenger
Average Price: $5,000 - $6,500
Pros: They just have a cool look to them, and a strong engine with a lot of pull (and lifespan to boot). One of the very few cars you can buy with a lot of clicks that is still able to put on a lot more.
Cons: The shift and clutch feel is great. If you’re a first time stick driver, these are good cars to hone your skills. Finding an untainted manual is tough and the market is flooded with automatics, if that’s your flavour.
Bottom Line: You get one in black and on any given Sunday night people on Portage will have to look at it twice to swear it’s not a Viper.
1991 - 1994 Toyota Celica
Average Price: $3,900 - $5,000
Pros: Toyota has always been known for quality, so if your biggest concern is maintenance cost you know you’re in for a relatively trouble-free ride.
Cons: These will generally have a lot of clicks on them. The market place is flooded with abused examples, often driven way too hard. Another problem is if you do find one in good shape and with decent mileage the owner will often be delusional about the value of the car, so be prepared for a full day of haggling.
Bottom Line: You’ll always be pronouncing “Celica” wrong according to some douchebag, but joke’s on him because you have a solid ride.
2001 Ford Focus ZX3
Average Price: $7,900 - $9,000
Pros: There are plenty of these cars in the market place owned by moms, dads and grandparents, so there are plenty of chances to find a clean example. If you find a clean one, there are catalogues and catalogues of aftermarket parts for these.
Cons: Pricing! Be careful that grandpa doesn’t pull the wool over your eyes. ZX3s often sell for a lot more than they should, so don’t be afraid to haggle.
Bottom Line: Cheap ride equals cheap fun.
1992 - 2002 Honda Civic
Average Price: $4,900 - $10,000
Pros: All in all these are very solid mechanically. You can put a lot of power in them and not break a single part. If you plan on owning a car for a long time, this is the car to have. There are plenty of used Civics out there, so finding a clean, well-cared for example is extremely easy.
Cons: If you’re trying to be unique and want to make a statement with your car, buying a Civic can make that hard. When it comes to customization almost everything has been tried and done when it comes to these rides.
Bottom Line: It can be a respectable, good-looking and fast ride, just please stay away from those fart cans!
1990 - 1994 Honda Prelude
Average Price: $4,900 - $6,000
Pros: Possibly the most comfortable streetcar of the 90s. If you’re a commuter and log a lot of kilometres, you may want to give these a try.
Cons: Again, these are fast cars. A lot of people race with these so be aware of who you’re buying it from. If the person looks like a young racer punk then you’re probably going to have more than a few mechanical surprises.
Bottom Line: Lots of bang for your hard-earned buck.
1997 - 2003 Mazda Protegé
(ES, SE or LX)
Average Price: $4,900 - $6,000
Pros: Gobs of fun if you know what you’re doing! The stick shift in the Protegé is one of the best you can get for the price. That said, this is one of the few cars where the automatic transmission versions are just as fun to throw around as the manuals.
Cons: Dealers tend to overprice these cars. There are a lot of trim levels and interior/engine/exterior packages, each with its own price, so do your homework. Parts can also be expensive to replace if you’re going to the Mazda dealerships to get the work done. Clutches can easily be smoked if you’re overly enthusiastic about your launches.
Bottom Line: It’s the kind of car that turns regular commutes to school into a scene from Le Mans.
There were a few more rides I wanted to add to the list but the numbers just didn’t add up. This gives you an idea of what is out there, readily available, and cheap to insure and maintain. Just remember, keep the shiny side up!
