How to be a Car Enthusiast on a Budget

Jan 11, 2017 Bob Sillick Tips 0

It can be difficult. Loving cars but being in no position to afford the ones we so love to read and watch videos about.

While super cars are well out of reach for most people, there are still plenty of options. Whether you’re looking for a new car or a classic, there are a lot of cars which are well loved by enthusiasts and relatively inexpensive.

Here are just a few of your options.

New Cars

These days, there are quite a few options if you’re looking for an affordable new car with enough power and performance to keep things interesting.

For around $20,000-$30,000, there are a number of very respectable options for enthusiasts. This price range is probably still a bit pricey for teenagers and young people looking for their first set of wheels. But if you’re looking to upgrade from that first car, then this is probably where you’ll be looking.

If you’re looking for a hot hatch, then you’re in luck. The Volkswagen Golf, Ford Fiesta, and Mini Cooper all have options in that price range, and all have their fans among car lovers. It is hard to look past the Golf, however. It’s been the benchmark that all other hot hatches have aspired to for a long time now.

If you want something a bit bigger, the Subaru WRX, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Challenger are all reasonably priced and come with plenty of power and driving prowess.

Used Cars

If you’re looking for a classic, then you have even more options, but it’s probably going to be much more difficult to find just what you’re looking for, at the right price and in the right condition.

Not only that, but the “budget” part of this advice goes out the window if you’re constantly having to pay for repairs. But with a bit of luck, a lot of knowledge, and the willingness to get your hands greasy, you might just find yourself a great car at a good price.

Obviously, the list of second hand cars that are good for enthusiasts could go on for quite a while, so here are just a few of them:

• The 1990s Toyota Supra is iconic and can be picked up pretty cheap, depending on age and condition.

• A mid 2000s Mitsubishi Evo IX will be priced more like some of the new cars mentioned above, but it’s a lot of car for the price.

• A Mazda RX-8 from the late 2000s is another sporty classic that’s usually pretty inexpensive.

The list could go on forever, and everyone has a different favourite. So whichever car you’re looking for, the most important thing for any car enthusiast is to love the car you drive and love driving.