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?
My ’17 Accord V6 will be 10 in a few months. I would have bought a ’16, but there weren’t any left in March of 2017. It’s been flawless and fun. Man. That engine! I seldom hold the pedal down hard enough to engage VTEC. It doesn’t come on until 5150 RPM. In 82,000+ miles I think I’ve only felt/heard it maybe a dozen times. Otherwise, it handles and rides very well for a good-sized four-door sedan. It will be a wonderful used car some day when I replace it or die. Whichever comes first.
I used to dream of owning a Mercedes W123 or 124, but they are now getting long in the tooth. And are costlier to fix/maintain than I want to pay. The Accord’s doors shut with the solid sound and feeling those Mercs did.
My knees and hips wouldn’t be happy with anything that sits lower. My friend’s more than 10-years-old Audi S4 (B8 generation) is a remarkable car, but it too is expensive to maintain and getting in and out of that on a road trip a couple of years ago reminded me of my decaying infrastructure.
I rode in a current Camry Hybrid Lyft this evening and it has lots of knobs that I want and was quite comfortable. That could be next.
Did just this coming out of COVID – 2012 mustang base coupe. Under 50k miles at the time, super clean, V6 with automatic, in good shape. It’s been my DD ever since. Makes me happy.
I just bought one 2 months ago. 2016 Lexus ES300h. After having exclusively owned hot hatches, V8 Mustangs, or twin turbo sport sedans, this car has been… awesome!
Quiet, comfortable, practical, efficient, hopefully reliable. And I’ve been saving over 50% on gas. That’s a lotta money right now!
Can I go with 9? Is that close enough? The 2017 Chevy SS had a couple nice touches over the 2016. Either way, that’s the one that got away.
10 years old? Why would I buy something that new when there are so many interesting 20+ year old cars to try?
My dailies are 35 (1991 Stealth Twin Turbo) and 25 (348K mile 2001 Tundra).
The e63 AMG is the obvious answer,but really any car from 2016 would be more attractive to me than anything from 2026 I think.
My 2017 GTI is almost at the 10-year mark, and I would absolutely buy another one if I had to. So I guess I’m choosing the Mk7 Volkswagen GTI.
It’s fun to drive, when you want to get twisty. It’s a calm daily driver, when you just need to chill. It carries a ton of cargo, gets solid mileage, is more reliable than you think, isn’t drawing in unnecessary tech, and the design is pretty much timeless. Plus, you can find one with a stick. There are few cars that tick so many boxes.
My partner just got a newer 2023 GTI, and while it’s a lovely car in many ways, it’s also needlessly complicated and convoluted in areas where it didn’t really need to be.
I could easily see myself in a 3rd gen Cadillac CTS with some 27s hitting the market now I guess a ‘17 with either the 2.0 turbo 4 or 3.6 V6. I don’t really need the BaT special V model but a V-Sport might be nice if I could stand the thought of paying for premium at curren(and rising) fuel prices
Cobra
Probably a plug-in Prius. Apparently the fourth gen one launched that year.