Need advice on a good used car for around 10k

[ElectricJW]

I'm looking for a reliable used car, that preferably has leather seats, is fast and/or quick, with lower mileage and looks good.

So far, these are some of the cars I'm liking(any suggestions on these are welcomed) :

99-04 Mustangs
97-99 BMW m3
99-05 Lexus GS
Mazda 3
98-02 Mercedes Benz CLK

What car would YOU recommend?

[akboss]

Originally Posted by ElectricJW

I'm looking for a reliable used car, that preferably has leather seats, is fast and/or quick, with lower mileage and looks good.

So far, these are some of the cars I'm liking(any suggestions on these are welcomed) :

99-04 Mustangs
97-99 BMW m3
99-05 Lexus GS
Mazda 3
98-02 Mercedes Benz CLK

What car would YOU recommend?

Wow, you're all over the map! Mazda 3's and Mercedes-Benz CLK's don't usually come up in the same sentence. First off, what do you want the car for? Weekend cruiser, daily commuter? What is MOST important, reliability, efficiency, features? In the end, unless you buy a brand new premium luxury sports car, you can't have everything...so, you'll have to figure out what is most important and go from there.

Right off the bat my top suggestion would be an early Mazda6 V6 sedan. Lots of features, quick, reasonably efficient, great handler, and reliable.

If you want a $10K German luxury car, especially a hot model like an M3, expect to pay that amount every 2 years in repairs.

[ElectricJW]

Originally Posted by akboss

Wow, you're all over the map! Mazda 3's and Mercedes-Benz CLK's don't usually come up in the same sentence. First off, what do you want the car for? Weekend cruiser, daily commuter? What is MOST important, reliability, efficiency, features? In the end, unless you buy a brand new premium luxury sports car, you can't have everything...so, you'll have to figure out what is most important and go from there.

Right off the bat my top suggestion would be an early Mazda6 V6 sedan. Lots of features, quick, reasonably efficient, great handler, and reliable.

If you want a $10K German luxury car, especially a hot model like an M3, expect to pay that amount every 2 years in repairs.

I know! I am all over the place.

This will be a daily driver. Most important to me would be reliability, followed by quickness and looks. I also really want leather seats, but this doesn't seem to be too hard to find (at least for the models that I'm looking for).

How is the Mazda6 for reliability? I dont know too much about them. I'm really leaning toward these as of now, and the Mazda 3 is looking pretty good too.

[akboss]

Originally Posted by ElectricJW

I know! I am all over the place.

This will be a daily driver. Most important to me would be reliability, followed by quickness and looks. I also really want leather seats, but this doesn't seem to be too hard to find (at least for the models that I'm looking for).

How is the Mazda6 for reliability? I dont know too much about them. I'm really leaning toward these as of now, and the Mazda 3 is looking pretty good too.

Overall Mazda is a very reliable brand, and its funny because they are off of most people's radar - too bad for them. The Mazda3 especially has been a best seller here in Canada where we are more open to hatchbacks as well as sedans, which is less the case in the trunk-happy United States.

The 3 is a good blend of refinement, decent acceleration (especially with the 2.3L), decent mileage, and fun dynamics. The only reason to upgrade to a Mazda6 is if you want more space or prefer the looks. I for one think the previous-gen Mazda6 looks spectacular, especially the S model with ground effects package. The longer wheelbase and sleeker headlights/taillights give it a more aggressive and upscale look than the smaller Mazda3, and if you're looking for performance, the V6 with stick is a considerable advantage. Overall, Mazda offers the best blend of performance and value on the market - all of their cars feel sporty, even if they are coming in at a very reasonable price point.

If you are more serious about performance/luxury cars, also check out the first-gen Infiniti G35, which first came out in 2003, equipped with RWD and Nissan's beautiful 3.5L V6. The interior was sub-par for its league, but it does have the leather you are intent on having.

Good luck!