That said, there were fewer restrictions for this thread. The car didn’t necessarily have to be cool, though it definitely didn’t hurt. And at this price point, we understand that odometer readings will vary, with some cars at or approaching six digits. After reading through more than 70 comments, we’ve picked some of our 10 favorite suggestions below.
The Volkswagen Golf popped up more than once, specifically a Mark IV and Mark V. Commenter bjtheskier once worked at a VW dealership “and saw plenty that only came in for routine maintenance and had over 200k. … [They] can be had with a great manual and they have plenty of room in the back to carry things while still being small enough to park easily on the street.”
Next up is the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, which astondriver picked for being “fast and not bad on gas.” Its turbo-four propels the compact from 0-60 mph in under six seconds and it’s possible to hit 30 mpg on the highway if you’re gentle with the gas pedal.
The first-gen Ford Fusion “is a very solid car” with “responsive handling and good steering,” according to reffuots. Make sure to consider the SE trim, which can be had with a manual transmission.
Lists like these wouldn’t be complete with the reliable and fuel-efficient Civic. Holee-Driver speaks from experience and says his 2000 Civic EX coupe got him “through college and well beyond. It was very reliable and fun to drive… and it was very efficient.”
The Mazda6 is another midsize sedan that makes the list thanks to commenter MistyGreen who “loved the style of the first generation… while you’re at it, find a wagon. Space for that futon from Walmart, the fridge, the contents of said fridge, or extra people!”
Toycrusher started a debate when he picked the Ford Ranger compact truck for the list. Some defended his choice and others asked why not spend the money on a “real” truck with a V-8. Thoughts?
It’s possible to get a relatively reliable luxury car in this price range. In fact, squashed_vw_beetle is shopping for a car at this price range and is strongly considering a 2004 Acura TL.
Commenter dafuture would spend $10,000 on a Subaru Forester XT, which is somewhat of a sleeper thanks to the turbocharged boxer-four hiding beneath its wagon body. It’s also a good pick for students living in snowy climes thanks to its full-time all-wheel-drive system.
The E46 BMW 330i was chosen by marshknute, who would have a hard time passing up the car’s 225-hp inline-six, rear-wheel drive, and manual transmission.
Showing no concern for gas money is Tyler No Swags Baugh, who would spend his $10,000 on a Mercury Marauder. “It is American Muscle at its finest… big V-8 power on a reliable Crown Vic platform. It is stealthy and fast and who cares about fuel economy looking that good.”
What would you suggest as a good college car under $10,000?
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