Look, I know what you’re going to say: Miata Is Always The Answer. Hey, the first letter of each word spells MIATA, what a crazy coincidence! As far as ten-year-old enthusiast cars go, you could certainly do a lot worse. And, aside from literally and chronologically, a 2016 Miata isn’t even old! The ND arrived in 2015, so in all the important ways, a decade-on Miata is just as good as a new one. Yes, I know, the ND’s had a power boost since it first dropped, but are you buying a Miata for power? I mean, it’s still only making, what, 180 horses? That’s plenty, and a little less will be fine too.
Now, something you might buy for power – I would – is a Mustang. The GT, specifically. No hate for the turbo-four model that debuted in 2015, and I would gladly own one, but if I’m shopping for a 2016 Mustang, it’s going to have the 435-horsepower aluminum-block V8. I had a 2012 GT, and I’d like to have another proper Mustang one day. I’m not sure how much after 2016 the Mustang got fully screenified inside, but I do like that the screen is not the star of the interior in the 2016 model. I am of the opinion that Mustang’s should be kinda dumb, just big muscley goofballs with analog gauges and buttons and knobs.
Of course, for every person shopping for a ten-year-old car as a means of economically adding a fun machine to the driveway, there’s probably a dozen shoppers just looking for as much car for as little as possible. In which case, we know the drill: you get a Toyota or a Honda. “What about …” No. You get a Toyota or a Honda.
Unless you wrench.
In which case ….
You tell us! What ten-year-old car would you buy?
Challenger, 300, Charger, CT6, LS460, or Genesis. Possibly a Camaro, maybe a 500 Abarth if it was a really good example
Miata IS the answer, since I could afford it.
I’ve always thought the Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster with the trick hard top convertible was a stunner and they were making them in 2016. I could probably budget and find a good low mileage used one (thinking mid-20s?), but then I’d have to budget the cost for maintenance and inevitable expensive repair. Sure would make a nice GT though.
Lotus Evora.
GT350
Fiat 500 Abarth might be fun. Still think it has the absolute best 4 cyl factory exhaust note ever.
That’d be 2016? Evora. I’ve thought about it for a bit already.
A manual, 2016 M140i.
2016 Falcon XR8
IIRC facelift mustangs got the full digital dash. My 2017 Ecoboost Performance/Premium Package 6MT has the analog dash. Only has 27K (I bought it with 15K) and I wouldn’t want any other car. So my answer is I would probably do it again.
I am usually getting rid of my 10 year old car ( that I bought 4 or 5 years old with 60K miles) when something goes wrong over 160k Miles.
Land Rover.
Infant mortality take out the worst one.
good timing!
I just pulled the trigger on a 10 year old car yesterday
2016 M235i replacing my 2006 330xi
Fiat Is an Answer Too.
Not a good one necessarily