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?
For the 2016 model year the cars I would consider would be the new facelifted Chevy Spark, Chevy SS, Fiat 500 Aparth, Fiat 124 Spider, the Toyobru twins, Ford Fiesta ST, and the Mazda 3 and 6.
Since it’s September – which means the next year’s models have been released:
2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet (W213)
or
2017 Mercedes-Benz S560 Cabriolet (W222)
Chevy SS
Awesome answer!!!! I second this, and make it my 2nd.
It’s cheating because I have one. However if I could get a pristine example from MY 16/17 I would get it again to replace my 100k+ mile example.
in b4 we start importing 25 year old Commodores.
This would be my answer but unfortunately finding a nice 16-17 SS you’re not paying much less if at all compared to new
As someone who recently discovered pretty much any 10+ yo car costs the same to insure whether it be a Yugo, Corvette, Camry or a Porsche and wants a cheap third car with decent EV only range I’m looking hardest at:
2nd gen Chevy Volt
Ford Fusion/CMax Energi
Chevy Bolt
Nissan Leaf
Chevy Spark EV
Man, my 2017 Bolt was such a great daily driver. Just enough tech to feel modern (CarPlay, 360 cam, well integrated screens, AEB), but also old enough to just have normal-ass buttons for all the important stuff. Interior space was incredible for a car that small. A bit more fun to drive than it had any right to be. And, it saved my ass when a teenager was distracted and rear ended me hard in an SUV twice its size. Still sad about that one.
Wow, a car from this century? Some kinda EV I guess.
I am intrigued by the Lexus F cars, and would probably test drive the IS F and GS F.
At the time I was obsessed with the Golf GTI and the Focus RS in that gorgeous blue! I’m not so convinced now unless I had space for a weekend only car. If that was the case, a Fiesta ST would be fun!
Same with the RS. I always think of that particular hue as “Ford Euro Blue” as you see variants of it on its European models since like the 80s.
The IS F is one of the best sedans I’ve ever driven. I still think about that test drive, and it was a decade ago.
10’s a little new for my taste. I might get a 10 year old Mazda 3, if that made room in my maintenance/fuel budget for something carbureted
I came to answer Mazda3. I prefer the previous generation vs the current one.
Same, the previous gen had better rearward visibility, a more squared off cargo area, and most importantly for me, an Escort-style 4-link rear suspension instead of the current gen’s twist beam, so ride quality and handling are both better than the new model.
Edit: And hydraulic steering!
2014-2018 Mazda3s used electric power steering, just FYI.
Huh, I could swear they were still running hydraulic, I looked up replacement racks and they all have hydraulic lines on them. Did it maybe use an electric pump?
Owner of a 2018 Mazda3 with 90k miles on the odometer. Plan to run it to at least 200k. It’s been solid. Just brakes, a randomly rusted shock (thanks Michigan), and the tint is starting to bubble. Otherwise mechanically very happy and ready to keep going. Love the car.
Porsche- I did it 3 times over the last couple years: 2013 Boxster, 2016 Cayenne, 2016 Panamera (riskiest one- air suspension, ceramic brakes, 100k miles… )
Very serviceable at home and continue to be very reliable through routine maintenance with supplied via FCP Euro
They all have many great tactile buttons (criticized at the time), minimal obtrusive tech, and a really solid beautiful build quality and interior treatments.
I had the same reaction when I looked at a 2016 RS7. I was excited about the performance pack spec until I realized it had ceramic brakes. Something about paying $40k for the whole car, but if it needed pads and rotors, it would almost cost the same as what I paid for it. Hard pass indeed. I will keep my tuned S6 and almost as fast as the RS model and still has a hyperagressive V8 wail when you’re on it.
You have great taste in cars and more than a little jealous.
Just to clarify, how many decades ago was the car in question ten years old?
I need to get a 2016 Toyota at some point I have a few 06 and a 96. Probably grab a 2016 highlander when they get cheap. 16 egolf is something I’ve toyed with but people want actual money for them I don’t think they are worth it. Same with the soul ev. I’ve also thought about the first 500e and and smart ev. But I think I’ll hold out for a deal on the current 500e.
The last of the first gen Tiguan and 2016 Sportage always seemed like honest decent looking cars to me they would be on my list.
Mazda6.
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.
I’m not that familiar with these modern cars the two in my garage are a 2001 and a 1978. But if I had to buy newer I guess maybe a Dodge Magnum if they made them in 2016. I would love to say Miata but I doubt I could still fit in one. But no way I would ever drive a Mustang made after 1970 unless it had the name Shelby on it and did have Carrols hand in it.
Dodge Magnum ceased production in 2008. You could still get the same platform, just not a wagon, in 2016 as the Dodge Charger, Challenger, or Chrylser 300.
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.
2016 EB Premium convertible 6MT owner here – I think these cars are great. I saw a new one today and they are….ugly. The 2015-2017 years look much better. To answer the authors question about screens – my 2016 has the Sync 3 screen which is 8″ and has Apple CarPlay. No more screenage needed, it’s perfectly cromulent.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15106693/2015-ford-mustang-23l-ecoboost-manual-test-review/
My car is essentially that without the Recaros. Those Vented/AC seats are a god-send. I had a rental EB Premium in Hawaii wen the subcompacts weren’t available and I was like: I NEED THESE SEATS IN MY LIFE.
Thanks for sharing the article – my only mod is that I added the Ford Racing reflash mentioned at the end of the article. It provides a noticeable improvement, probably should be standard with the performance package.
The early S550 is peak Mustang interior.
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
What a diplomatic wat to say a wrong answer
Friggin LOL
Depends which one. Finally It’s Abarth Time.
Abarth or 500 c manual. Or fuck it both.