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?
10 years old, huh? I’d keep my 11-year old Mazda3 for winter/commuting duty and get something a little more fun.
Probably a Scion FR-S (Toyota 86) or Subaru BRZ.
What I want is an Aston Martin Vantage. V8, V12… don’t care so long as it has a stick. But the answer that makes sense is a sixth-gen SS LE1 Camaro. Doesn’t matter, can’t afford either.
A partial list of 10 year old cars I’d buy:
-Toyota Prius
-Honda Fit (manual)
-Mazda MX5 Miata (manual)
-Mazda5 van (manual)
-An interesting JDM import like a Honda Beat or Toyota Sera
-Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86/Scion FRS
-a manual Nissan Micra like this one
-A Hyundai Elantra GT like this one
All I can afford are cars at least 10 years old, so for me the question is just “what car would I buy?” I’d like to get an adult-owned V8 Challenger, Camaro, or Mustang to replace my 05 Stratus Coupe.
Taiwanese market 2016 Toyota Sienna Limited. While I prefer the pre-facelift version of this Sienna generation (this would be considered a first facelift), it’s the easiest way to get one with adaptive cruise control (which was standard in Taiwan) with the more reliable/less problematic early powertrain consisting of the proven 2GR-FE V6 and U660E transmission.
2016 Honda Fit with a manual. The engine is a naturally aspirated Honda so it will run almost forever, the manual is oodles more fun than the CVT (I test drove both), and it’s good for almost anything. Want to cart the family around? It’ll do that! Move a bunch of Ikea flat pack boxes? Leave the kid at home, fold the seats, and cram it to the roof. Want to drive on a fun twisty road? It’s small, light, and has just the right amount of power! About the only thing it can’t do out of the box is pull a boat, but there’s always a rental truck for that problem. And you can easily fit a canoe/kayak on the roof, as my friend in British Columbia has proven!
2016 Mercedes E-class – I think it’s their high-water mark.
I like the ~2016 Mustang GTs much better than the current ones. Definitely would be fun to own one.
BMW M2 Coupe I guess?
I bought a 12 year old one just a few weeks ago. A 2014 F150 Raptor.
I actually sold something newer, to go back a few years older.
I think this truck is the sweet spot between technology and reliability/longevity.
It has a touch screen, backup camera, backup sensors and carplay. That’s where the technology inside ends, and it should all last a long time without issue.
Mechanically it doesn’t have any turbo’s to worry about, just a thirsty V8 that should last 300k miles.
The only technology complaint I have with the Raptor is that the heated/cooled seats are controlled via the touchscreen. I absolutely hate this, and can’t stand the newer cars that bury everything in the touchscreen.
I was going to say “the one I have” but wait that one’s actually 14 years old (delivered to its original owner in September 2012). A 2013 Audi TT RS.
And still other than the lack of a rear camera and the “premium” entertainment system that had to go away for a Carplay head unit I can’t think of a newer car in the same budget range that would work out the way this one does.
woooooow time moves fast don’t it. nuts to think of the S550 as 10 years old…
FoST, or FiST, I also really like Mustang GTs of that era, and for trips to menards give me a 2016 4cyl Tacoma access cab with a manual transmission.
Miata isn’t the answer but its close–I’d buy a 2017 or 2018 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso with brown leather and a manual transmission.
I want a Santa Cruz once they hit 10 years old and dump in value.
Growing up in Wyoming my life has always been pickups from the big 3, but something about the santa cruz stands out.
It’s ugly and the bed is tiny, but it’s also so practical. I can still fit a buttload of my packout boxes in there, have sitting space for the dog and kids, and park easier than my current daily which is a mega cab dodge.
I’ve driven some mavericks and they were cool, but didnt feel right.
Tacoma cabs do not work well for taller people.
Dodge gave up on midsize (for now), so Hyundai here I (eventually) come.
2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4MATIC. Wagon. Color: brown. comes with Android Auto
I would re-buy a low mileage 2016 replacement of my 2014 GX460. I could also be talked into a 981 Boxster as well.
At this point, I think you are better off buying a 10 yr old car, rather than a 5 yr old car. Stay away from anything made in the Covid era. There’s going to be about 4 or 5 years of cars from 2019 to about 2024 which I mostly wouldn’t touch.
For a fun car with a manual, look at a VA WRX.
I don’t own a car that is that new…
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2012 Jeep Liberty
2002 Dodge Dakota
I still need a physical key for 2 of my 3 cars, and don’t have a backup camera on my daily driver. My wife drives the GC, and it feels luxurious when I get to drive that…
I’ve been eying BMW M2’s for years now. By the time I’ll have the money to buy one, even the Comps will probably be 10 years old… and a 10 year old German car scares me…
The N55 in the base car is a pretty robust engine, as long as you avoid the 7-speed dual clutch, you’ll have a pretty maintainable car. But good luck finding a depreciated M2 without a chip tune, lowering springs and an illegal exhaust setup… And probably an unreported, half-repaired crash.
Yah I’m with you. I just posted M2 Coupe before I started reading replies.
I have a bunch of +10 year old cars
E46 330Ci
E90 M3
E92 M3
F13 M6
F85 X5M
F25 X3
I think you have too many M’s there.
I don’t think you have enough BMW’s
The last Golf TDi sold in the US. Yeah, I know that they’re trouble but the heart wants what the heart wants
Wrangler. 10 years ago is still last generation model and you can replace half of the body (new soft top) with ease. Buy one today and sell it for pretty much the same amount in a few years. Cost you nothing in the end.
2016 is roughly the dawn of what I call “excessive tech solutions in search of a problem, crammed into cars whether they belong there or not.”
I’d have to know more about which models WEREN’T already afflicted that way a decade ago. The answer is probably zero. Or… 2016 Chevy Express van, the last van standing, the only one I can think of off the top of my head. I could always find a use for a van.
The FRSBRZ twins that year use a Pioneer double-DIN touchscreen radio and….that’s it. And that’s only because the backup camera was required. I always like to say the car was dragged into modernity kicking and screaming.
I’m sitting in my 2016 FR-S right now.