Spacious, Reliable, Manual Car Under $15,000! What Should I Buy?

Joe is an engineer from Michigan and has a tough question this week. With a budget of $15,000, he wants something reliable, four or all-wheel drive, roomy and, most importantly, with three pedals. Also, he wants it to be newer than his 2010 and ideally he has less than 100,000 miles. which car should he buy?

(welcome home which car to buyA place that offers real advice to real people about buying a car.? Would you like help finding a car? Submit your story with the form.)

Here’s the scenario:

I’m a Mechanical Engineer at SE MI and I love the outdoors and my buddy. My current 2013 VW CC Sport is a fun car, but I do all the brakes twice a year, clutching the slave cylinder on day 2 of ownership, (previously) leaking water pump, list, etc. is undergoing serious repairs. go to. Cargo space is also severely lacking when moving boxy things, with over 102,000 miles. A nice and efficient car with some spicy attributes like a 6th gear that was great on my last commute which was 80 miles round trip. Now that I’m about 10 miles away from work, I need less efficiency and want something more reliable and practical that won’t break the bank.

I want reliable, plenty of cargo space (SUV, truck, wagon), manual (must have!), AWD/4×4, preferably less than 100k miles and newer than 2010. Good gas mileage is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. Good aftermarket support for mods and Apple CarPlay is also a plus.Budget cap is $15,000

A quick fact:

budget: Up to $15,000

position: Macomb County, Michigan

Daily driver: yes

desire: Reliable, Manual, Spacious

I do not want to do it: automatic

Expert 1: Tom McParland – very close…

Joe, this was tough. It’s even more so if you narrow it down to only manual cars. Needless to say, this requires extensive net searching, but I found a viable option that just misses your mark. This is a 2009 Suzuki SX4 with both AWD and a 6-speed manual. Just over 97,000 miles. The wagon hatchback body and folding seats provide plenty of room for luggage.

It’s only a year older than the request, but it’s $7,500, which is also half of the allotted budget. I always thought these Suzukis looked like everyday rally cars that could be turned into something really fun with just a few simple mods. And with some ground left, enough cash to add CarPlay, do the necessary maintenance, and splurge on some big mudflaps, some bumpy tires, and rally lights .

Expert 2: Andy Karumowitz – It’s Subie Time

joe, i know a little bit Volkswagen frequently breaks downThey’re great little cars, but it’s time to build something different.Second buddy, did I get perfect Next car for you. 4th generation Subaru Forester. So isn’t this exactly what you’re looking for?

The 2014 Forester literally checks all the boxes. Can be purchased for less than 15 grand with less than 100,000 miles. You can get it by transmission by God’s choice.Also Plenty of room for the boxy shit you carry around. Feel at ease on an incredibly long 10-mile commute. moreover, Subaru was kind enough to fit the Forester with a standard double din head unit. An Apple Carplay-enabled screen is less of a hassle. Hell, it even gets decent gas mileage. Will the Forester be the most fun car you can buy? Definitely not, but Joe, it’s going to do exactly what you need.

I wonderful man, I found the perfect Forester for youThis particular car is a nice light green with a beige interior and has only 81,000 miles on it. Not too bad for a car that’s nearly 10 years old at this point. It’s also just under your $15,000 budget. Do the right thing, Joe. Buy a Subaru Forester.

Expert 3: Colin Woodard – A few extra miles doesn’t hurt

Joe, you are really putting us in a difficult position here. Used car prices are still insanely high, making it much harder to find one you’ll be happy with than it was three or four years ago. Again, that’s probably why you turned to us, your team of trusted automotive advice providers. As you can see, there are already two solid proposals of his that you may not have considered.

But I say go with the car you’ve probably already considered. Yes, it’s a Jeep Wrangler. 4 wheel drive? check. cargo space? check. manual transmission? check. What about after-sales support? check. The only problem is finding one with low enough mileage in your price range.

Unfortunately, we searched your area but were unable to find a Wrangler that meets your exact criteria. requirementsHowever, if you accept a vehicle a few miles further than you are looking for, head to Waterford Township to pick it up. This 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited SaharaIt has just under 120,000 miles, costs just under $15,000, and should keep you warmer than a soft top. That’s the right choice, but I’m sure you already knew that.

Expert 4: Lalita Chemello – Choose Your Own Jeep Adventure

Joe, I’m not going to rehash the thoughtful arguments that my colleagues have already put on paper (in this case, screened), but I’ll say they’re fine. It’s a tough game to make to your liking, and you might have to tweak one of his parameters a bit to get something you really like. Or maybe you don’t have to.

Collin’s Wrangler proposal is solid (from Michigan’s Wrangler Unlimited owner), but it may still be a bit lacking for everyday life.Great for West Michigan adventures, but in Macomb? You can still have fun and get something a little more affordable. Jeep Renegade.

Yes, it’s built on the same platform as the Fiat 500X, but the Jeep is clearly better. Renegade, like his 4×4 in Jeep, comes with a manual so you can enjoy Michigan’s bountiful adventures. It’s also small enough that it’s very easy to park downtown for a night out.A tall truck-like cargo/seating area also provides plenty of room to carry things. If you can fit all your IKEA trips in a Fiat 500, you can double the Renegade as well.

found this used 2017 Jeep Renegade Sport Yellow$87,000 for just over $12,000 across the Ohio border clock miles. But if you look around, you can find them at various budget-friendly prices well under $100,000. Apply for miles. Now, if the Renegade is a little small for your taste, jeep compass A bit hard to find by standards in a Latitude or Sport trim but it’s there and as is the manual jeep patriot, if you need more space. Anyway, Jeep can meet your every need.