best car for 25,000 dollars or less?

[McLaren]

V6 Mustang.

Why? Perfectly good '11-'12 5.0s on the used market.

We had one at work for sale at $25.5K, 2012 w/ 5,000 on the odo. Sold fast though, but they're out there.

 

[savage388]

If I just bought a car then a 05 sti would be my first choice. If i built one it would be an 80's trans am, but i am baised.

 

[JSadler]

New - Scion FRS
Used - Mazda RX7

 

[KNOCTERNAL CRX]

A Subaru sti would be my choice I got mine back in 05 brand new paid 35k for it and I haven't had a problem with it yet .. You can find one now for 20k with mods on it

 

[Murcie_LP640]

New on the Australian market? Probably go for a Suzuki Swift Sport with some extra cash spare for mods. Best "driver's car" for the money here arguably.

There's so many used cars I'd want for AU$25,000 that I can't really choose between. Here's my top picks in no real particular order:

- R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
- Teardrop Subaru Impreza WRX STi (2005 facelift with DCCD)
- HSV Maloo R8 Z Series (Quite random in this company but always wanted one of these)
- Honda S2000 AP1
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 Tommi Makinen Edition (Gotta have it in red)
- E36 BMW M3 (3.2)

 

[Aquarelle]

Well, there's an S2000 at the Honda dealership I live 50 meters away from (I live in automotive ally, I get to walk past every single main manufacturer to get literally anywhere it's lovely!) going for 19k NZD, I'd probably get that, I'd have about 10 grand left over (I'm presuming you meant american dollars not local currency for reasons of murr) to spend on maint and tires.
Or just get an army of MR2s!

 

[KinLM]

So I actually took this info from this thread to heart and purchased a 2012 5.0 for a little under $25k

 

[bremics]

So I actually took this info from this thread to heart and purchased a 2012 5.0 for a little under $25k

Nice. Try not to get any speeding tickets!

 

[JR98]

Dodge Charger SRT-8 2007

 

[MidFieldMaven]

Best car? Well, if we're talking new cars with the best mix of performance, fuel economy, amenities, driver comfort, passenger room and cargo volume, then I'd go with one of the following:

Ford Fiesta ST
Honda Civic Si Sedan (wait for the 10th gen model)
Subaru WRX (slightly over the $25k mark, but you can buy a leftover new 2015 for less)

 

[Beeblebrox237]

"Best" is a horrifically vague description.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> My choices:

- S2000 (within budget cap)
- ND Miata PHRT (within budget cap)
- E36 M3
- E46 M3
- E39 540i, M-Sport, & M5
- Acura RL SH-AWD (pre-facelift)
- Fiesta ST
- Certified Golf VII GTI
- Volvo S60/V60 R
- Infiniti G37 Sedan/Coupe
- Hyundai Gen-Coupe
- Mazdaspeed 3 (pre-facelift)
- Mazdaspeed 6
- Impreza WRX '02-'07 & '09-now (within budget cap)
- WRX STI '04-'11
- Legacy 2.5GT Sedan/Wagon '04-'09
- GTO 6.0
- Legacy Spec.B
- Outback 2.5XT '04-'09
- Forester 2.5XT '04-'09
- Focus ST (pre-facelift)

^ Got carried away, sorry.

 

[Akwaaba]

a 2005ish AMG Mercedes E55 estate or an Audi RS6 Avant
Love very powerful cars, need an estate for the space

 

[Tornado]

Hmm.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ I like the way the STS-V looks, but not the way it performed back in the day.

 

[MidFieldMaven]

I didn't even know there was a STS-V.

469 hp and 439 ft-lbs from a 4.4L V8.

0-60 in high 4's and the 1/4 mile in low 13's.

The only thing I don't like is that it only came with an automatic transmission. The car weighs around 4,300 lbs so it's perfect for the autobahn and that's about it.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Under 25k? Brand new I'd go for Mustang. Used? BMW 135i.