Can only spend 15K on my first car. Any suggestions?

Buy my x5. You can't go wrong.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2785656921.html

Lots of records and recent maintenance, needs nothing, turns heads. great city car

and when it comes to dates...let's just say girls like the color

 

You could get a decent Boxster for that money. Just shop around, don't buy the 1st one you find, and stay away from pre-2000 versions as some had problems with cylinder liners.

Here's a couple of examples.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=312889638&dealer_id=53579181&car_year=2000&systime=&doors=&position=top&model=BOXSTE&search_lang=en&start_year=2000&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=50&min_price=&rdm=1325941567752&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2006&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=NEW_YORK_NY&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&isFlashPlugin=true&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=10308&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=POR&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=56&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=304407092&dealer_id=66519777&car_year=2003&systime=&doors=&position=top&model=BOXSTE&search_lang=en&start_year=2000&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=50&min_price=&rdm=1325941567752&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2006&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=NEW_YORK_NY&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&isFlashPlugin=true&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=10308&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=POR&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=40&standard=false

 

Get yourself a BMW e46 M3. You might even be able to get into a convertible....

 

why buy all these "prestigious" brands that will probably cost you a fortune in service/repair. Go get a civic or fit, under warranty and still fun to drive. But one must have something cooler, S2000 would probably be my vote.

 

A Boxster, a 3 series or an A4. Since the 3 series is changing its body style you may be able to get an early model of the current/outgoing model instead of an E46. SUV's are more expensive to garage park in Manhattan. Don't forget to paint test every part of every metal body panel for accident damage. Don't rely on those commercial reporting services. If they say accident all great, but if it does not say so do NOT assume it is ok. Good luck.

 

i would recommend one of the Japanese premium brands if prestige is important to you. I have an FX35 that I have put 193k trouble free miles on and i couldn't ask for a better vehicle. It has retained a good amount of its value(kbb is still around 10-13k which is more than i'd ever think for any car with that many miles), has never given me any trouble, and is fun to drive. I'll admit that i get more attention driving my parents' more premium cars, but there is something to be said for peace of mind...especially when it'll be your only car.

 

Cmon guys you are supposed to be backing me up I need to sell my x5!

 

hah oops....if you really want a bimmer though, that's one really nice looking 4.6 and it's pre-electronic trans which has given my mom tons of problems in her 750. Pre-Bangle era BMWs were much more solidly built. Prior to her current 750 she had an '01 740 which was pretty much bulletproof.

 

These seem like great buys! Fun cars, cheap. Can't go wrong.

 

Thanks. It's a rare color and has i have records. lots of maintenance done in the past couple of years. It really is a fantastic car and again for a young guy, let's just say it's served me very well. I truly love the car and don't want to see it go, but I need a commuter car since my office moved.

 

also worth mentioning as a possitive for your truck that a sporty SUV would be preferable to a sporty car for city driving because of the road conditions(potholes, construction, etc.)

 

A Kia or VW. Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, girlz thinks its cute. And when it rattles and falls apart in the city, your not crying the blues.

 

You can get a E36 in top condition for your price range. Fun, great on gas, and cheap to maintain.

 

Don't buy a 1990 C4 those are a nightmare as like 1st or 2nd year of the all wheel drive. Plus, the seller uses stupid terms like verrry and V6. It is flat 6. Steer clear of that thing.

 

I would go for the e46 m3 that's a nice car. just make sure the rod bearing recall has been one on the pre 2003.5 MY cars.

 

Go for half that price as your budget because....

if you live in the city, be prepared to:
a) spend 200/mo+++ on parking
b) spend 200/mo+++ on parking tickets
c) spend 200/mo+++ on insurance
and
d) spend a lot on gas and TOLLS (you can't get to NJ w/o paying $12 for the privilege).
(the +++ depending on where exactly you are b/c I've seen parking as high as 900 near CPW e.g. Jerry Seinfeld territory)

You could get away with parking on the street, but that is a major commitment of time.
You could store it at your parents/buddies house outside the city, but that also is a major time commitment.

My best advice to you as an owner in NYC, is to get something A LOT CHEAPER than your budget. The costs here are killers and you won't know what I'm talking about until you get hit with a single parking ticket that costs $200!!! YEOW.

With a cheaper car and money in the bank to pay the monthly nut, you are going to be glad I brought you down to Earth.

Last thing. Driving in the city even a lot won't be more than about 3,500 miles per year.

You can get away with a high mileage, really well cared for car like an e36 people have mentioned - sweet ride, tough enough for the city, and get the right color and the ladies will be all yours.

 

Hello get yourself a Pontaic Solstice GXP which is the turbo version. Nice ones can be had for around that money and Long Island has a very active club for the kapppa platform (Solstice, Sky). You can really do alot to these, even stock they are plently fast 14 sec 1/4 times out of the box are common. Thanks Norm
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I am going to tell you something that will blow your mind + give you years of fun and will be one of the most fun cars and one of the best preforming cars too , + great for the City , i used to live in Brooklyn and drive into Manhattan all the time , + back + forth to long island daily , You need to get a RX 2 or a RX 3 Mazda , years 1970-1974 , the RX2 comes in 2 or 4 door , the 4 door is cool because you will blow the doors off practically everything on the road, ( except my Diablo ) + people will be in shock that you blew their doors off in a 4 door sedan , the RX3 is a really cool looking car too, the cars are small , great gas mileage , rev to 9,000RPM all day long , + with the money you have to spend you can get a really nice one + have tons of money left over for parking tickets , + nights on the town . just so you know i had a R100 , 4 or 5 RX2`s , 1 RX3 , i used to run them at Shea stadium , Red Hook piers , + Fountain ave on Wendsday , Friday , Saturday + Sunday nights , I also ran at 150 th Street . on the South Conduit . Boy those were the days .!

 

Is this car for you to enjoy or to impress your dates with?

Most females in your age bracket are not into sports cars compared to luxury cars.
So, a relatively new MB CLK or BMW 5-series is going to impress your dates probably more than a quick-shifting nimble sports car.
Even a Cadillac CTS would be more impressive to them than a sports car.

The other angle is to go for "cute". So, something like a Mini or a Honda Fit.

If the car is for your enjoyment, then an older sports car like the Honda S2000, Mazda Miata, or Porsche Boxster is a good car to consider.

 

Boxtser

 

I'm with ETL330. I own an '07 G35s Sedan and you cannot go wrong with Infiniti. Compared to the 3-series, C-class, A4 and GS models this car is fantastic value for the $. You probably won't get an 07 for $15k but you can definitely find a coupe G35 in the older body style for $10-15k. It's a fun and sporty drive, reliable, comfortable and the ladies love it. Don't go the M route because the only people who will check out your car will be guys. My brother owns an M5 and he gets more attention from guys than from girls and he spends more on maintenance a week then I do a decade.

My friend owns an E46 M3 and it's the same with him. Good cars, don't get me wrong, but you'll attract the wrong crowd and spend quite a bit on tires and other "regular maintenance" like broken sensors that cost thousands.

 

+1. We have had two Gs. One 2008 G35x and now an 2011 G37x. These cars are insanely fast. Try and pick one of these cars up, or as stated above one of the older G35 coupes, also very fast. Its not fast like the 430, but you could assume that. I strongly believe its the best car you can buy in its class.

The M3s will cost you some cash. E46s in particular suffer from VANOS failure and other issues that won't make you happy come time to write the check. Of course you could get lucky and never have a problem throughout ownership. Either way good luck in your search.