Hey! I am currently 15 and want to get a car in next year August. I will be making about 9k a year and I will probably have about 12k saved up when I am looking for a car. I really want a new car because of all those bells and whistles, but I also don't want to be in debt because I will save up money for college. I want to spend about 7k max for a car so I can have about 5k to keep that car running even If I can't earn money. So that money will be like my emergency money. I am looking at 2009-2014 Honda Civics (excludes 2012), 2009-2014 Honda Accords, 2012-2014 Toyota Camrys and, 2010-2013 Mazda 3's. My uncle owns a 2011 Civic and a 2012 Mazda 3. He had little to no issues with those cars and I might get something like that too or I can get a little bigger car which probably will be a Honda Accord. These are reliable cars but I have never owned a car before so I don't really know what to expect in these cars. Can you help me to choose one that is a little sporty feeling, I don't want a fast car. It should be safe, reliable, get me through High school, and maybe even a little bit of College without major issues. I will do my own oil changes and maintenance. What do you think? Should I go for these cars, or which one should I go for? Did you have any experience with these cars?
If you don't like Corollas, look at the Civics.
Don't overthink the model of your first car. Your top priority right now should be lowest mileage.
What you end up getting will be mostly dictated by what's available anyway.
All the cars on your short list are decent cars. So just find the youngest car in the best condition that fits in your budget.
After you have 100k miles of driving under your belt, you will know EXACTLY what to buy next time.
Consider a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla.
I don't like Corollas. but I might think about Civic.
Accords and camrys are long, big vehicles with space and utility, but are NO fun driving for a long time. Civics and Mazda 3s are a little bit more for our generation because they are sportier and smaller and more nimble and have a sportier chassis. I myself would get a civic, but its your choice on what you actually like because you actually have to go see the cars with your own eyes to know if its a car for you. You can't like a car because of some pics you see online. Cars have to be driven and tested. I have wanted a rav4 for a long time and I thoguht they were great, but I actually drove one and I found out their rides were really bumpy, the interior was crafted at the lowest quality I could ever have imagined and the months of research I did turned out to be complete and utterly useless.
Go with the Honda Civic: be sure to have a trusted mechanic thoroughly check those out including with a fancy scan tool, road test, and give his his OK before you buy (as some of those could have had a rough life), but otherwise a good choice for first car.
See below for some issues in those years, but not dealbreakers:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/the-best-used-honda-civic-model-years-you-should-buy/
https://redmountainfunding.co/blog/best-used-honda-cars-what-models-and-years-are-most-reliable/
https://www.samarins.com/reviews/civic_06.html
https://www.samarins.com/reviews/civic-2015.html
http://www.hondaproblems.com/models/civic/generations/8/
http://www.hondaproblems.com/models/civic/generations/9/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2OSw46ewUU&feature=youtu.be
can probably find a civic coupe in that price range
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/rockwell-2009-honda-civic-dx/7335597257.html
