Car sites and car lists are as old as the internet - yet no one has ever done it right...until now! Here are my top ten best cars TO OWN. We can all stare at Testarossas, but chances are you aren't going to have one in the driveway anytime soon. Let's get down to brass tacks...
10. Hyundai Accent Coupé (2010)
An instant CLASSIC coupé. For starters, it is gorgeous. For seconders, it's as practical as earplugs at a Ke$ha concert. Gas mileage is tops. It's a Hyundai - so there's some cachet there. You can expect operating and insurance costs to be reasonable. Since Honda decided to ruin their company by discontinuing the legendary Civic hatch, this car has become the go-to choice for people who know what they're doing. The 2010 is the prettiest year. (you can get one for about $6,000-9,000)
This was the last car Ford ever made, as far as I'm concerned. LOOK AT ALL THAT ROOM! You can sleep in the back, no problem. Cars and parts are plentiful and dirt cheap. This is for the man who knows who he is and what he wants out of life. (you can get one for under $2,000. Probably under $1,000)
8. Toyota Sr5 4x4 Xtra-cab
I know in the "truck debate" Toyota is often left out. Well, if you had to buy a 25-year-old truck, what would you rather have: a 4x4 Toyota, or an F150? If you aren't towing, this isn't even a question. Marty McFly knew what he was talking about - he travelled to 2015, saw this truck's resale value and reliability track record, then went back to '85 and bought one. (a good one will cost $2,500)
7. Nissan Exa/Pulsar/NX hatchback
I have to detract points because it's too small for me to fit in, but look at what a sick car that is. T-tops, maximized cargo space, common parts and cheap to buy/insure. Plus pop-up headlights? I want to shake the designer's hand. You can get a nice one for like $1,800. No-brainer.
This car has an unfair reputation as the embodiment of the midlife crisis. BUT IT'S STILL AWESOME. There will be a point in my life when I think "Gee, I never owned that C4 Corvette. I better get one before I die." And, if that happens to be when I'm 54 and recently divorced, so be it. Fortunately, the C4 is very common and very cheap. Get a black one with the Targa top and people will want to ride in it. This was THE American sports car at a time when the Berlin Wall was crumbling. It's our collective legacy and we need to honor it. (Most C4s in great condition aren't going to sell for over $6,000)
5. Chevrolet Sprint Turbo
Why would anyone buy a new Mini when, for the price, you can get 4 of these? It's dead sexy. (These are hard to find, but under $3,000)
4. Acura Integra (Generation III)
It's basically a luxury Civic but - unlike a Civic - it's available much cheaper since broke 20-somethings aren't taking 20% APR loans out to buy them used because their friends told them to buy a Civic. Hatchback, fast, low, handles great - if you can find one stock, buy it - especially a Type R (shown) (Get a nice one for $3,000)
I realize I said I was going to make this about affordable cars. And this one is. You can get a 412 for under $50k and - while I know that's still a lot - people are out there paying near double that for the dumb and super-common Porsche 911. If that's your budget, why not get a 412? It's got 12 cylinders and is the epitome of class (look at it in traffic...it's noble example1 example2 ). This is the ultimate luxury exotic sports car. Put it side-by-side with a $250k Bentley GT and people will be looking at the Ferrari. Because, at the end of the day, it's a Ferrari - not a common one, either. ($30,000-$40,000 on ebay)
Diesel costs more than gasoline in the U.S., but when you get 50 highway miles to the gallon, that's fine. This 'lil guy is almost as fun as the GTI on the road, and twice as fun on your bank statement. If you can take care of it properly, it's pretty fantastic. (newer ones are about $20,000. Older ones at all price points)
1. Nissan 300ZX (1990-1996)
Nothing comes close. It's the best looking car at every angle. Lower to the ground than the 350/370Z? Check. T-tops? Check. Hatchback? Check. Amazing performance with optional turbo charger? Check. Japanese reliability? Check. Can you buy a nice stock one for under $10,000? Absolutely. It's 20 years old and, waxed up, you'd think it was brand new. This car is the reason cars were invented. See all those people not driving one? They made a mistake.
Honorable mentions: Toyota Supra (gen4 is too expensive, gen3 is great but has head gasket issues and 20 years of asian teenager modding), Subaru Impreza (affordable models have bad mileage for a tiny car with impractical clearance), Honda Civic hatchback (couldn't put it on the list because the ones on the market are ridiculously overpriced and, more often than not, modded past embarrassment.
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