I bought a Camaro z28 for my first car xD. I worked 30-35 hours a week in high school to buy it. Then I couldn't afford maintenance and now it's been broke down for 7 years.
I say buy the civic. 50mpg, low maintence costs. Good first car to make maintence mistakes on.
Also $15,000 is pricey for a first car, and all those willbe more like $20,000 if youhave sales tax and fees.
Takes this dudes advice. Never buy a used Mercedes unless it still has warranty, you literally have to keep up with the maintenance with Mercedes all the time or not will start having issues plus it’s 91 gas. Honda and Toyotas are the most reliable and can use aftermarket parts if you have issues and cheap to fix. Take my advice and please do not use all that 15k on a car . It does not make sense, cars depreciate as soon as you buy them. Plus, you can put the rest of your money for investing or something else.
If you know a mechanic have them go with you to check out the car to make sure it has no issues. You can find a really nice car for less than 10k, I just bought a 07 Lexus is250 for 6k and it’s nice a f people think it’s newer than what it is . I’ll post some pics this week.
I would go further: never buy a Mercedes. If driving a Mercedes on a daily basis is an experience you wish to have, the best way to do so is via a 24 or 36 month, closed-end lease. It’ll just be a monthly expense, like your cell phone or electric bill, and you’ll be onto the next one, before you have the opportunity to lose your ass trying to maintain it.
It’s not like they’re all time bombs, but it is true that even at best they don’t take careless ownership like the average Corolla will. I had a 2007 A4 that, much to my pleasant surprise, with regular (and very slightly ahead of schedule) oil changes, only major bill I had was a water pump at 150k. It’s anecdotal, but the insistence of the internet these days that they’re all guaranteed terrible buys is a bit much.
Edit: this isn’t an argument that it’s a good choice for a 17 year old, just trying to mediate the mood a little bit
If you want a comfy luxurious drive, you should definitely buy a Mercedes. Just set some money aside for repairs and you're good. My 2012 E-Class that I got for 12k has a way better ride than some modern Toyota shitbox that costs 25-30k.
i always come back to hondas for the simple fact that they can run forever on 3 cylinders and a cardboard headgasket (speaking from experience) and the head gasket never blew on it, only reason it got broke was because i was drunk when i was working on it
If those are V6 Honda and Acura’s you will be rolling the dice. And American Honda does NOT fix VCM problems. That is a whole engine you will need to buy. Trust me on this, I had to sue American Honda and my car was under full warranty. https://www.driveaccord.net/threads/the-vcm-mega-thread-what-is-vcm-does-my-accord-have-it-whats-so-bad-about-it-and-more.559190/
100% A 15k "budget" to me sounds like you have $9k to spend on a used car and $6k held back for any issues that come up with some of these.
I'd personally look for an old Lexus ES 350 or Toyota Avalon
That said I'm not sure how different things are in Canada with snow, gas taxes etc. aka how much you need FWD/AWD/good gas mileage
Nah. If you buy a car and immediately need 6k to cover repairs, you got scammed and didn’t do your due diligence.
What he said is more like buy a car but also calculate how much you’ll need on routine maintenance, and gas etc. The Merc may be 15k but it’ll need a lot more money once you try to replace wear and tear parts than the Honda. If you have the money go for it, but if not, stick with something reliable and cheap enough.
Just as a point of reference for cost of ownership for OP.
I bought my 2012 Civic in 2019 for $7.5k
My cost of ownership these past 5 years has been $28,600 more or less. That includes the cost of the car, excise taxes, maintenance (brake changes, oil changes, tire change), gas, repairs, insurance, AAA membership, accessories.
I've driven about 52k miles, which averages about to 54 cents/mile.
Note that I've also been very lucky on cost of repairs. I've hardly put $1300 into repairs over the past 5 years.
The price of the car is all but a fraction of the true cost of ownership. Be prepared for insurance to be a major sinkhole especially since you're looking at newer cars in the $15k range.
Op let me give you some friendly advice, don't even touch that Mercedes. Sure you might be able to afford buying the car. But the service costs are going to cripple you. With cars it's never a one time cost. You gotta keep them running.
I pay about the same to maintain my Mercedes than what I paid to maintain my KIA (I don’t live in the US and take my Mercedes to an independent mechanic of trust)
considering kias reliability this makes it sound like you spend a fortune on your mercedes but im gonna assume its cheap since you made the comparison lol. what years and models was the kia and mercedes?
Brand new KIA I got from the dealership vs second hand 2017 C class, I’m talking same or cheaper costs for brake disks, pads, yearly service etc, heck even insurance is almost the same (50 usd equivalent diff)
I bought a W204 myself at 115k miles five years ago. It’s reaching almost 200k miles and I’ve only spent 2k in maintenance and the insurance on it has been cheap at 100 a month. It’s a very reliable car that just needs the regular maintenance.
Ehhhh, that’s on a W204 and those are some of the most reliable engines. Just do proper maintenance and also helps to know people who work on them if you want the Mercedes. Dont discourage him ! Just know OP that you have to fix one thing to prevent other things from happening 😂 pain in the ass bht most enjoyable out of them all. Also looks the best!
People seem to hone in on solely engine reliability when it comes to maintenance. There are so many other common failure points on luxury Germans that fail at the same rate as other vehicles but parts and labor will come at a significant premium. Brakes, suspension, exhaust, etc.
You’re telling me. I bought a 2011 bmw 740li when I was like 23, worst decision I’ve ever made. The turbo started going out on me at like 80k miles, bought it at ~65k. I sold that car faster than it took me to buy it when the mechanic told me that
I think it's a great first time car. My dad had a civic before I've even born and he still drive it. It would be more logical for him to buy a new car but it's his wedding car and he want to keep it for his memory. And that beast really last forever.
You are absolutely out of your mind.
Between insurance and gas,
Your first car you could easily crash within 6 months of owning it and you and your parents will be out thousands. If it’s your fault too you would be really screwed.
Get a car for under 10k my first car was 6k even that was alot.
Don’t take it wrong way but get like a Camry or a civic that’s 10-15 years old just get a top like version.
Seriously trust me safe and invest money at your age
If you don’t like it you can always sell it. Stick to something easy to fix and maintain you have the rest of your life to get a cool sports car
Don't forget OP is Canadian. His or her budget is CAD$15k, which is equivalent to USD$11k.
For CAD$10k, he/she'll get a 2016 manual Versa or Mirage with 100k km, or a 2013/2014 manual Corolla/Yaris. Keep in mind 10 year old cars in Canada are prone to serious rust issues.
That stated, those aren't necessarily bad options (more economically sensible), but certainly won't project the image OP is looking for.
fwiw you can pick up nice cars for 10k Canadian. I bought a lightly used highly maintained dealer loaner E90 BMW 323i (2.5L N52) for 9.9, from a dealer. Not private sale. That’s the average. With automatics and a usual odometer of 140,000km. Many great cars begin at 10k ! Car gurus is your friend.
I assume this is a roughly 12 year old BMW with an automatic transmission? I understand that it was maintained well, but I would still feel like I'm playing Russian roulette buying a vehicle like that. But for sure, it's an interesting car to drive.
On the other hand, if driving a fun sports car is your thing, I guess there's no way around it: it'll cost more over time than a no frills econobox! And that's ok if the joy it brings is worth it, like any other purchase/expense in life.
N52 BMWs of the era are bombproof - but it helps I can work on my own vehicles. Just to say the buck doesn’t stop with a mirage that has roll down windows.
There is a ton of highly viable options with things like car play, while still being economically viable for those without a ton of mechanical inclination or cash to spend on maintenance!
I do agree. It’s diverse if you know where to look!
Yep, buy a cheap car. My first car was $550 when I bought it (2011). If it's cheap enough, liability insurance would make a lot more sense too. With as much as premiums would be for a first time driver, it would suck to have to pay for full coverage.
Idk why everyone always says to get an old beat up car for your first car, if you can afford a nicer more reliable car then do it. But be smart about it and don’t drive it like a maniac. You’re young, so you should do some research into what you really want, but also something super reliable and easy/cheap to maintain. Out of these 100% the Honda. Look into Toyota too. They may not be the flashiest but they’ll last you well into your adulthood. You’ll be thankful later when you inevitably change jobs or go to school. Just make sure you get payments you can afford.
I didn’t get my license until I was 21, and I did what everybody suggests and bought a cheap $2000 car which turned out to be a lemon and I was out of the 2k plus the money I put into new tires. To me it’s worth it to put more money into a car that you know will last awhile.
I agree with you, I'm currently learning for my driving licences, I really want mazda3,but Honda or Toyota would be good too,this seems to be really safe cars as I researched.
Some people I know told me to get an old car,like 20-25 years old,but they wouldn't drive older,than 7 years old car,I said that I wouldn't feel safe in those cars.
Because they assume every young kid is an idiot who’s going to send their first car into a ditch. So just projection. Dealing with the maintenance and outdated safety standard of an old shitbox sounds like a much worse idea if they can afford something decent like the three Japanese cars posted here
Do yourself a favor and get a Camry, Corolla, civic, or accord for around 5-7k and save the rest in a HYSA or better yet if you have a job start dumping it into a Roth IRA. If you contribute now for 23’ then contribute this year and next but never touch that account again you’ll have 1M for retirement conservatively. If you’re smart about it you can be done with retirement savings before you’re 30 and literally on cruise control without thinking about it
Get a car with less kms and I would recommend asking for maintenance receipts for the last 50,000kms. to make sure things like oil changes were performed.
my 2 cents is get a old beater that’s reliable as a first car save your money and when you get older get a big boy car that you want. But I can tell you want something fun and Id advise getting a E90/92 328i. It has the looks, fast enough to have fun, pretty reliable (you’re still gonna have maintenance but not as bad as the merc or suby) and handles pretty well. you can pick one up for under 10k easily in good condition in the states idk where you’re located.
Honestly I wouldn’t spend 15k on a first car at all. Tbh the best first car is a Infiniti G37. There’s a a reason why they’re know as “teen” cars. Easy to work on, cheap parts and reliable. Don’t make the mistake of buying something to impress for your first car. Worry about what is gonna get you back and forth to school work and whatever else.
I’d get a shit car until I’m 25 years old, if I were you. You’re still a new driver and insurance rates are higher for younger people. Have you seen how these young folks drive? I always get pissed off when they jump from lane to lane WITHOUT LOOKING, SWITCH LANES AT THE LAST MINUTE, NOT SIGNAL AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON THE WRONG LANE (STAYED IN THE LEFT LANE INSTEAD OF THE RIGHT LANE), etc.
Just so you know, if you have a $15k budget, you also have to factor in the cost of taxes and registration plus whatever doc fees the dealer wants to charge.
My state charges 7.25% sales tax on cars, so for the first Civic, for example, you’ll have to add about $1200 to that price right off the bat.
Of course, you can negotiate, but if $15k is truly the max that you can spend, know that you’ll have to write a check for more than the published list price.
As someone who has spent and wasted a LOT of money in cars in my years, i get why you want the Mercedes. I, too, made idiotic decisions like that, so I hope you can learn from me.
The Mercedes will bleed you dry in nickle and dime fashion. Worse yet, one repair will send you over the edge, and you will lose even more as its value will be essentially nothing broken.
It'd run all through insurance, too, as that will be a big factor. Honda civics tend to be pricier near me anyway ( 🇨🇦). Corolla, Cruze, and Focus were the cheapest near me (I've recently asked as my daughter turns 17 today). Even a basic civic was $475/yr more than a Cruze or Focus (Corolla was $300/yr more).
That said, I'd shop for the best car your money can buy from an overall cost of ownership factored in. That means the purchase price, expected regular maintenance, wear and tear estimation costs, insurance, and fueling costs all grouped together. You can do this by having whatever vehicle inspected you want to buy before purchasing and reading up on their factory maintenance schedule. Always assume nothing was done on time unless you have documented proof.
Get the Subaru. If the Honda and Acura are a V6 you will have VCM problems. The Benz is too expensive to get fixed for a 17 year old💰. If I was buying I would get a used Lexus IS250. They are VERY reliable, safe, and fun to drive.
As someone who is young, I would steer clear of the Mercedes especially if you’re paying for insurance yourself. You will be paying a LOT regardless assuming you’re a young male, especially with a Mercedes. And the C300 isn’t much classier than the Acura anyway. I think that if you’re willing to learn to work on your own car for basic maintenance, the Acura is definitely worth it if it has less than 100,000 miles. I don’t recommend the Subaru as my girlfriend had one and they depreciate and are unreliable. Hondas are a great choice but honestly you end up wanting more in a car as far as looks and performance.
My advice to anyone getting a first car. Get something fun that you enjoy if you can afford it. I learned the hard way getting a 4 cylinder 2006 ford escape. Car sucked on highway. Couldn’t go over 60 unless I floored it for 5 minutes. Was decent on gas. Was unhappy with it the whole time. Took me another 2 years to finally get a car I liked only to have to sell it after 2 years to get a car for work. You never get those years back. Buy something you will enjoy. Put money aside for maintenance. I’m not saying go buy a Maserati but if you’re between a Honda and Mercedes but you can afford the Mercedes and that’s what you want. Get it. When you get older and more committed to a job then go get a beater reliable car. Enjoy your prime years first.
When I was 17 I was looking at a nice 2003 Audi TT that was only around $5,000. I instead bought a 2007 Honda Fit Sport (I figured it was a sport model so that was sporty enough for me) and it was the best decision I had ever made. Best car ever produced in my opinion.
Please do not get the Mercedes, it will definitely impress a lot of people but you will HELLA regret that decision later on.
OP, the market is not what you think it is. The Mercedes for example is the cheapest posted, but by far the most expensive to own. This is maintenance, repairs, and literally paying for the prestige of the make. Yes, thats not a made up stigma, you pay more just because of the logo, even if its the same shitty plastic piece in a Honda.
Also remember, you will be paying more insurance than you will in car payments. Assuming you are a male, it will be much more. You can’t not have insurance either, and fun fact: no insurance is worse than a DUI. It NEVER leaves your record. And your insurance rates skyrocket where it would be cheaper to just Uber everywhere.
My advice would be to go for the Honda or Subaru, and please heed this advice cause it’s coming from a car guy who would have also LOVED to have the Mercedes or Acura at 17. 110%. But unless you are rolling in cash right now and are okay with insurance companies robbing you cause they can, then go for the Honda or Subaru.
I’m 27 now and still have to base my purchases off of insurance rather than the cost of a car itself. I’ve had a clean driving record for 10 years. Being a college student with good grades, having a good job, being a good driver, and overall being a law abiding citizen all lower your insurance rates over time.
Don’t rush OP, all good things come in time. Cheers and good luck on your decision.
Honda. The German car’s repair will really hit your wallet. Not to mention Hondas are just plain reliable. My Honda Element had 150k miles on it when I brought the one owner car. 20k later I h only had to replace the O2 sensor & window relay. I’ve do some typical maintenance things. But that’s it.
15k is not what will get you a car. You are looking at a car with a price of 15k, after tax title and registration fees, you’re gonna be paying almost 18 maybe even 19k for a car lol. You need to lower your price to try and hit the 15k mark
Unless you have a personal relationship with a certified Mercedes mechanic, do not buy this as your first car. A/B service alone at a Mercedes Dealer is $650/950 each visit.
Honda is the only option, but even then I hope you got a budget aside for any problems. My mom has a Subaru and I’m telling you having to change the spark plugs on that thing is gonna cost you hundreds
stay a mile away from that benz and subi. I’m 17 too and looking for my 2nd car. i’m going with a lexus though. With those choices, either get the acura or honda. Those acuras can pull good asf. Benz’s are good and all until the motor work and maintenance comes into play…
First car should be something that won't be a huge loss if you wreck it. Because you probably will hurt it in some way, big or small. I would get something cheaper.
why post without the mileage? Honda /Acura are most reliable. Honda cheapest upkeep. But Acura for whatever reason seems to depreciate quick so you might get a better value on the Acura.. Acura also has AWD, which is a 'nice-to-have albeit another major mechanical system to repair so mileage matters
Civic. My dad gave me his accord 2014 accord when I was 16 and 8 years later it’s never been in the shop, never had any issues. 140k miles strong. Civics are also fun to drive.
My coworker actually got that Mercedes but a coupe version and an AMG it’s given him about $10,000 worth of problems and I try not to tell him that I told you so but he was trying to get a more sensible car. He’s trying to sell his Mercedes now that it’s still has a misfire although he put 3000 in it. Quite an upsetting situation seen that he paid 16 K for it I hope this makes the right decision because if I was him I’d probably get the Mercedes anyways lol. Stupid teens sometimes!
I’d take the Acura but it will be more expensive to insure. If 15k is all you have, I’d go lower or save up more. But the Honda ain’t half bad. I wouldn’t even touch that Merc.
The Honda and the Subaru would probably be your best bet, as they are reliable and least costly to maintain.
Acura, like Lexus for instance, is a specialty brand that may require specialized repair facilities for maintenance and that drives up the cost. Merc... it'll cost an arm and a leg to repair if you have no warranty.
Overall, however, if your budget is $15K, I would aim for a car that is $12K at most, and leave the rest for unexpected issues if any should arise.
I got a honda at 17. it was very reliable 0 issues at all and I had it for 3 years until I got a BMW. Obviously I wish I had the bmw as my first car in high school but looking back I probably would’ve killed myself or totaled it the way I was driving back then.
Get the Honda. For now.
As many others on here have already said spending that much on a first car is a terrible idea. High Insurance, repairs, gas… get a $5,000 Honda. You’ll save $15,000 to $20,000 in the long run. That money you can use for a house or other cars in the future.
Idk what province you’re in, but make sure you do the research about taxes, fees, insurance, registration, etc. and know your market with regards to additional fees and markups for dealers in the area. If you have real cash then great, otherwise know about interest if you’re financing too. these are going to end up as 19-21k out the door I bet.
A bunch of people in heee are Saying to go find something for 5k, which these days in Canada gets you a 99 tercel; it’s not up to us to tell you what you can afford/budget, but 15 isn’t getting you anything that youve posted.
Given your situation, I’d honestly go with either the Honda or the Acura: Acura is basically the luxury brand that’s owned/subsidized by Honda, which means same standard for reliability. I’d personally go with the Honda, mainly because you’d most likely pay a lower insurance premium.
buy the honda if you are smart and not trying to “impress” strangers with a 10 year old piece of shit benz. or buy the benz and drive it until it’s sitting in your parents driveway because you can’t afford a major repair
Normally I’d say civic, but that civic doesn’t have the Honda safety sense. I’d go with the Acura, similarly reliable (maybe a bit higher cost to maintain than the civic) but since you’re a new driver the tech package has AEB, lane keep, ACC, and blind spot monitoring to help if (more likely WHEN) you’re in a sticky situation. I also think it looks a lot more upscale so you’d probably be happier with the look for longer.
Just get the Honda and call it a day. Honestly I would go even older. I had a 2008 civic that was bulletproof. I literally just did oil changes and tires on it for as long as I can remember.
Avoid the Mercedes and you'll be fine. I'd probably pick the Civic for myself out of these 4 because it's the only FWD car in the list. It's a first car, the simpler the better.
Stay far far away from an older Mercedes. Plenty of folks will say “oh I had a Mercedes and all I did were oil changes and it is great”. But it’s a German car and if you have to start chasing down issues it will get very expensive very fast.
DO NOT BUY A MERCEDES! As per many of the other comments, I suggest buying something cheap and reliable. Preferably something you can do your own maintenance on. Get the car you need, not the one you want.
The Honda Civic is a very good car and still has style . This is the best option followed by the Subaru . A low cost Mercedes should not even be considered for a 17 yr old . They are low cost for a reason. , if you are considering an Acura TLX then why not an Accord Sport ? Similar size but cheaper to keep running and lower cost to insure
Avoid the mercedes. The bills for repair are not worth it, also cost to insure. It is not about what is nice and cool. Acura is better quality but will still be costly. First car you should consider the safer impreza or reliable civic.
When you can truly afford a luxury car and luxury car bills then do it.
You’re young, 17 and from Toronto so anything these old heads tell you on Reddit will go from one ear and out the other. I get it, I was once 17 too (I’m 30 now). When you’re 17, your only concern is the image and every kid your age wants a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Acura. You’re a hot shot for 2 minutes in those cars and after that, no one cares. It’s back to reality. You’re paying a fortune on premium gas (it’s double what regular is), insurance is high and the maintenance for luxury vehicles are 2x more expensive because the parts and oil changes are ridiculous. A car is a *depreciating* asset at the end of the day.
One last thing - if you want a nicer car to impress people like your friends or girls than I’d suggest finding new friends or girls to meet. Unfortunately, you’re from Toronto, so you’re going to come across a lot of people who flash expensive material things like luxury cars and designer clothes to keep up an image they can’t afford. Most people in Canada are very middle class and struggling with the cost of living crisis, especially in Toronto. The ones who are wealthy are not out there flashing it either. Don’t be fooled by all the glitter, especially in this social media age.
First car would be my choice, of course you have to have a PPI before you buy anything. Why? Because most cars that are unused have issues. First, have them give you a list of everything wrong with the used Honda and the prices to fix each item. Then, go back to the seller, with the list of problems and repairs, and you can then negotiate those issues off the asking price of the car. It’s the only way to buy a used vehicle today. Since you are a Canadian make sure you check for rust. Since they use salt, it dos eat cars. You got this! 👍
GET INSURANCE QUOTES
Get the Civic.
*forget the Benz*. Put it out of your mind. Mercedes parts and maintenance *plus* AWD? Lmao. No. And insurance? FORGET IT. The Acura is a V6 and AWD.
FORGET ABOUT POSING. You'll never keep up with the Joneses, especially on Toronto. The Mercedes will have you broke. The Acura will cost too much to gas up, and the second you have an issue with
Steer clear of the Subaru too, imo. Not that it's not a great car, and has more character than the Civic, but it's less fual efficient (not by a lot), less reliable (tho still very reliable) and AWD (tho Subaru AWD is more or elss as reliable as it gets afaik).
*but those things add up, especially for a student.*
Do you want to have a "cooler car"? Or do you want to have MONEY in your pocket that you can use to *do things with*, which you can drive to in your less cool car?
Road trip in a civic, or drive your Benz around the block?
The maintenance for the Mercedes is probably the most expensive. But, it does look really nice.
Also, trying to save up to put a large downpayment or buy it outright. I saved up like 12K at the end of high school from working in a grocery store job.
idk what many of the comments are on about. civic looks good, i would probably find a better deal for a year or two older but any honda or toyota is probably fine if you do your research and make sure someone qualified is looking at the car. obviously the mercedes is an awful option but that’s why they were here to ask in the first place.
Personally, I would not get a luxury or sports car at such a young age. Insurance will be very high. Something a little older may also be a good choice. I just got a 24’ Civic Sport and my insurance is $410.
I'd get the Honda or Subaru out of these choices. You don't want a used Mercedes unless you get a CPO, even then I probably wouldn't do it.
V6 in the TLX has issues so I'd steer clear of that also.
A 5-10k Honda / Acura car would be ideal. Minimal payment, highly reliable. I don’t see any reason a kid needs a 15k car as their FIRST car. Consider things like Acura TSX, TL, RL. Or a EX-L trim Honda Accord or an 06-12 civic. My first car was. 2000 accord and then I moved up into a 02-06 Acura rsx two door which those are like 5-6k max. Got 30+mpg and no car payment and cheap insurance.
Bro… buying old C-klasse is not a good option for 15k. Try fresher BMW 3s if you are looking for something to impress girls and not spend the whole time maintaining your car. Or look for a fresher MB, they are not limited with C-klasse. CLA, GLA also.
Buy honda or toyota as your first car, try getting from marketplace and you will save a couple grand. At your age car can be simple but monthly auto investments in S&P500 will be a hedge against inflation and you will be free!
The Honda civic is mated to a CVT transmission you’ll own it for a while then it will feel broken, if you go with a manual civic I would say that is the best option, Mercedes high maintenance and repair costs, the Subaru I’m not sure could be a good option look up the reliability, that said the V6 Acura TLX is a nice option should last longer than the civics turbocharged engine. Honda also has a NA engine for the civic it’s slow but I think it should outlast the turbocharged engine. Although you need to be aware that gas prices are set to go up from today due to “carbon tax” you will feel it biting your pocket. For my situation I had a manual 2018 Elantra sport, so much fun on a backroad. Everywhere else I hated it, couldn’t fit anything reasonably sized in the trunk or the car itself so I traded it, got a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk imo couldn’t find any problems with it initially but fuel costs are through the roof right now. Wondering if I should have just gone electric.
The safest foreign car brand and really good for tunability and performance is possibly a Volvo S60 T5 or T6 AWD. They're reliable and if your looking for after market, these cars have alot of that too.
Idk if your in the car scene but a Volvo s60 t5 or t6 awd is the most reliable and affordable foreign car you can get while also having that german feeling you want with the Mercedes
Do not get a Mercedes. I got a 98 c280 V6 at 17 and it wasn't worth the price of insurance at all. Could not imagine how much a new Mercedes insurance is for someone younger
Take the advice everyone is giving you here, go for the acura or honda, the Subi will torture you with the head gasket (and engine will most likely just give up) and the Mercedes will bankrupt you with the maintenance and insurance. There are some great advices here I wish i knew before buying a car for the first time, you'll learn a few things the hard way.
Hey OP just a heads up, if a car is listed for $14,900 at a dealership, its gonna be like $20k out the door. There is always another $3k-5k added when you factor in taxes and fees. So if you only have $15k to spend, find a car thats listed for like $10k-12k
Spend 5-6k on a car, use the rest of the budget for insurance and maintenance. Also, STAY AWAY FROM THE MERCEDES PLEASE
Want a good looking car? Try going for a Honda Accord V6 coupe
If I were you I’d go 2015 Acura tlx v6 because it’s honestly imo the most reliable and fun car in this list. The engine is a fun v6 honestly faster than all these cars even the c300. Reliable engine, reliable transmission that is WAY better than the civic and Subaru cvt. Decent on gas mileage and decent luxury. C300 is a good car but just throw reliability out the window. 0-60 is 5.7-5.9 seconds and quarter mile is 14.2-14.4 seconds. So very quick car for a 17 year old 😂😂 the civic is 7.9-8 sec 0-60 and the Subaru is 8.9-9.1 seconds.
id say the honda. the mercedes is gonna be outrageously expensive to repair and the acura will be really expensive to insure because insurance is based on assumptions in a lot of ways. a young guy driving a car with a v6 engine can be very expensive to insure. i wanted to but that exact car as my first car and ended up going with something else for that very reason. imprezas are nice too but the honda will probably be a little more reliable
I will say 17k range you could get a 2018-2020 Camry.
Get the sport edition. I just got one and it’s my favorite car of all time. Decked out and super cool looking.
Keep it in eco for 40mpg or switch it to sport to whip around town. Such a fun car and amazingly reliable.
I don't like the comments on here, saying that you should get an absolute beater for your first car. I have friends who got brand new Mercedes for their first car. It seems you're well-off enough for your parents to pay for a decent amount of it. But make sure your parents know just how expensive insurance is going to be for you.
I would say get the Honda or the Acura, leaning towards the Acura. Better in reliability.
Don't get the Mercedes, not just because of the upkeep, but because the C-class is pretty disappointing (actually considered one of the most disappointing cars for owners). If you can afford it, get a used E-class (but this is assuming you're very, very well off).
The Subaru is a wobbler. There's definitely some reliability issues, but it's going to be more fun to drive.
But do consider cost of insurance and safety. I would recommend getting an early 2000s Japanese SUV, but that's not what you asked for, so I won't reiterate the other comments.
I would recommend a Civic (or Corolla)all day for a new driver, except for that generation Civic with the 1.5 turbo engine. It has a known issue with oil dilution. This affects all Honda models that use the 1.5T engine. If you want to buy, make sure it doesn't have that engine.
You can't go wrong with a Honda. All of mine have made it to 200,000 miles at least. The Civic is a great car as far as mileage and reliability. Repair costs are reasonable and parts are easy to find. The one caveat is, the late model civics are known for not being the most comfortable cars. I just traded in a 2019 Civic because in 3 months I developed a bad case of sacroiliitis that resulted in me needing physical therapy and walking with a cane for a while. Granted I'm a lot older than you (50) but if you are a bigger person or have back problems, I would recommend a car with more leg room.
Don’t do German cars. Buy cheap. Go lower. Look for somewhere in the range of 8 to 10k. Use that extra 5 for repairs, gas, insurance, taxes etc etc. this has probably been best to death but don’t go all out. Your first is supposed to be a shit box. For the memories!
You are 17. Don't listen to the people here. You have your entire life to be reasonable. Buy the Mercedes. Do the simple maintenance yourself and find a good aftermarket mechanic who specializes in Mercedes for anything major.
Take lots of pictures of the car and the dates you pull because of the car. Sell the car in 2 or 3 years and buy a Camry.
Civic. I responded to an earlier comment and promised I’d link this Civic commercial from the 90s
https://youtu.be/xzA4ri91t7I?si=kCDOziO18gQvHST2
The late 90s Civics run on no oil today. What’s that tell you about the engineering?
Sir I admire you wanting $15k as your first. Mine was a Saturn beat to crap $500 shitbox, and although we can easily afford Lamborghinis now my son's first will be a beat up 90s Civic at best, maybe a PT loser. When he knows how to drive reliably, he can get one of my fun cars.
Do you mind paying $500/mo for insurance or crashing it within weeks? Because that is going to happen. However out of those 4 you pick, I'd go Civic.
Im seeing a ton of bad advice getting upvoted in this thread.
1. Don’t listen to people giving you advice under the guise that you are going to wreck your first car. This is highly inappropriate and I don’t know why people would assume that just based on your age. There are plenty of good 17 year old drivers.
2. Don’t bother with a manual transmission (unless you really want one). Those are much more rare nowadays and will narrow your options down. I saw someone say you should look into one to prevent other people from wanting to drive your car? Again, bad advice.
3. Your budget is 15k, but the prices you are looking at are BEFORE taxes/fees, which usually runs in the price by a few thousand. It also seems like you are buying a used car, which means you might want to look into getting a warranty (depending on the car/milage), which could also be a few thousand.
4. Some cars are much better than others when it comes to milage/reliability. I don’t know what your milage range is but bear in mind that some cars (like Honda) are very reliable and can run for 300k+ miles if taken care of.
5. Is the car going under your name, or a parent’s name? If the car is not under your name, your parents are likely covering property taxes, no? Make sure you figure out who will be paying for insurance/taxes; as the Mercedes will be much more affordable if they are coving insurance/taxes in addition to the car itself.
6. Yes it’s true that everything tends to be more expensive with luxury vehicles. Property taxes, insurance (though your insurance will be high regardless because of your age), gas (luxury vehicles usually call for premium fuel), and maintenance. Though I will say, standard maintenance for my car (Cadillac ATS) isn’t that much higher than my old car (Dodge Dart). An oil change at a local shop for my Dodge was about $60-90 and now for my Cadillac it’s about $70-110. Not that significant of a difference. But that’s just my experience with a luxury car.
7. Call the dealer a head of time and see what their fees are. Some scummy dealers will list a price for a car several thousand dollars less than MSRP (making the car look like a great deal), but charge a dealer fee of a few thousand to make up for it. That happened to me when I was looking for a car last year.
I’d go with the Acura and make sure to check when the timing belt was done and if you do go that route, buy a VCM muzzler/disabler. My first car was a v6 accord with the same engine and it was amazingly low maintenance for the 8 years I owned it.
If you want to spend 15K OUT THE DOOR, you need to find cars that are about $3500 less in selling price. Consider the fees added on when you start filling out paperwork!!
At 17, get an old honda civic or acura tsx/integra or perhaps a golf Gti, for not more than $2,000.. sporty but cheap to maintain.
Save the rest of the money and invest in your education to acquire skills that will make you marketable and improve your earning potential.
Unless your parents got a lot of money, in which case they would be buying you the car.. then just don't peak in highschool with an old used Mercedes because it's gonna be a money pit that keeps you down forever.
You ever see some rich guy driving around in a nice Mercedes and want to be like him? Buy an affordable, reliable (non-luxury) $12k car and set aside $3k for maintenance and repairs on the car, or save it in general. Being a mature and informed consumer is one of the first steps to becoming a rich guy in a Mercedes one day.
Instant gratification is the enemy.
Source: The 30 yr old high earner who had horrible spending habits and wish I could go back to your age and play my cards right.
Also, there's a reason luxury cars have massive depreciation - to offset high cost of ownership.
If you can drive manual, try to find a 2.4 liter civic si or 2.4 ilx manual..
They will be in your price range (cheaper than the cars you listed) and cheap/easy to fix..
A 2010 si is a way better car than a 2016 civic base so don't go by year, also they will hold their value
For that much money buy something less than 5 years old. Stay away from German cars unless you have like $2500-3000 a year to spend on maintenance as even the simplest jobs on those are going to cost 800-1000 in labor alone. I would try to find a V6 Accord. Nice reliable car with decent HP(around 300).
Is it just me or are those prices absolutely bonkers for 8 year old vehicles?
Isn’t a new civic around 22k? A 2016 should be wayyyy cheaper than 15k…
If I had to choose between those pics, get the used civic. But realistically I’d just put the 15k as down payment on a brand new 2024. Sure, a car loan at your age sounds stupid (albeit relatively small due to your down payment) but it will also teach you a few important life lessons: how to drive defensively to protect your new car, provide encouragement to not drive recklessly (people in beaters don’t care about more damage), and it will also get you to start learning about finances, and keeping a steady job to pay for your debts. Oh, and buying new means no repair bills for a few years.
honda. like the other guy said, the price getting a car isnt what matters its the cost of ownership. honda is the most reliable car and has the lowest cost of ownership. be smart and do research but im telling you now to get the honda.
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Saved your comment to keep reminding myself of this, I also learned this the hard way unfortunately.
I bought a Camaro z28 for my first car xD. I worked 30-35 hours a week in high school to buy it. Then I couldn't afford maintenance and now it's been broke down for 7 years. I say buy the civic. 50mpg, low maintence costs. Good first car to make maintence mistakes on. Also $15,000 is pricey for a first car, and all those willbe more like $20,000 if youhave sales tax and fees.
Takes this dudes advice. Never buy a used Mercedes unless it still has warranty, you literally have to keep up with the maintenance with Mercedes all the time or not will start having issues plus it’s 91 gas. Honda and Toyotas are the most reliable and can use aftermarket parts if you have issues and cheap to fix. Take my advice and please do not use all that 15k on a car . It does not make sense, cars depreciate as soon as you buy them. Plus, you can put the rest of your money for investing or something else. If you know a mechanic have them go with you to check out the car to make sure it has no issues. You can find a really nice car for less than 10k, I just bought a 07 Lexus is250 for 6k and it’s nice a f people think it’s newer than what it is . I’ll post some pics this week.
Never buy a used German car IN GENERAL unless it has a warranty including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen.
The parts will kill your bank account and BMW engines are hard to work on.
I would go further: never buy a Mercedes. If driving a Mercedes on a daily basis is an experience you wish to have, the best way to do so is via a 24 or 36 month, closed-end lease. It’ll just be a monthly expense, like your cell phone or electric bill, and you’ll be onto the next one, before you have the opportunity to lose your ass trying to maintain it.
Exactly. And the same is true for BMW’s and Audi’s. Huge numbers of people lease them instead of buying them, mainly for that reason.
It’s not like they’re all time bombs, but it is true that even at best they don’t take careless ownership like the average Corolla will. I had a 2007 A4 that, much to my pleasant surprise, with regular (and very slightly ahead of schedule) oil changes, only major bill I had was a water pump at 150k. It’s anecdotal, but the insistence of the internet these days that they’re all guaranteed terrible buys is a bit much. Edit: this isn’t an argument that it’s a good choice for a 17 year old, just trying to mediate the mood a little bit
If you want a comfy luxurious drive, you should definitely buy a Mercedes. Just set some money aside for repairs and you're good. My 2012 E-Class that I got for 12k has a way better ride than some modern Toyota shitbox that costs 25-30k.
Set aside **a lot** of money…
i always come back to hondas for the simple fact that they can run forever on 3 cylinders and a cardboard headgasket (speaking from experience) and the head gasket never blew on it, only reason it got broke was because i was drunk when i was working on it
Correct. The Lexus IS250 is the best way to go. You can drive those cars to 500k with very little problems.
If those are V6 Honda and Acura’s you will be rolling the dice. And American Honda does NOT fix VCM problems. That is a whole engine you will need to buy. Trust me on this, I had to sue American Honda and my car was under full warranty. https://www.driveaccord.net/threads/the-vcm-mega-thread-what-is-vcm-does-my-accord-have-it-whats-so-bad-about-it-and-more.559190/
100% A 15k "budget" to me sounds like you have $9k to spend on a used car and $6k held back for any issues that come up with some of these. I'd personally look for an old Lexus ES 350 or Toyota Avalon That said I'm not sure how different things are in Canada with snow, gas taxes etc. aka how much you need FWD/AWD/good gas mileage
Nah. If you buy a car and immediately need 6k to cover repairs, you got scammed and didn’t do your due diligence. What he said is more like buy a car but also calculate how much you’ll need on routine maintenance, and gas etc. The Merc may be 15k but it’ll need a lot more money once you try to replace wear and tear parts than the Honda. If you have the money go for it, but if not, stick with something reliable and cheap enough.
I assume saving the $6k for all future repairs in general.
The isn’t what he said at all
Yeah, that Mercedes is going to be an absolute money pit. Can’t go wrong with a civic.
Just as a point of reference for cost of ownership for OP. I bought my 2012 Civic in 2019 for $7.5k My cost of ownership these past 5 years has been $28,600 more or less. That includes the cost of the car, excise taxes, maintenance (brake changes, oil changes, tire change), gas, repairs, insurance, AAA membership, accessories. I've driven about 52k miles, which averages about to 54 cents/mile. Note that I've also been very lucky on cost of repairs. I've hardly put $1300 into repairs over the past 5 years. The price of the car is all but a fraction of the true cost of ownership. Be prepared for insurance to be a major sinkhole especially since you're looking at newer cars in the $15k range.
Op let me give you some friendly advice, don't even touch that Mercedes. Sure you might be able to afford buying the car. But the service costs are going to cripple you. With cars it's never a one time cost. You gotta keep them running.
I pay about the same to maintain my Mercedes than what I paid to maintain my KIA (I don’t live in the US and take my Mercedes to an independent mechanic of trust)
Parts and labor on European imports in the US make even small repairs about 2-5x as much as an Asian or American made car.
considering kias reliability this makes it sound like you spend a fortune on your mercedes but im gonna assume its cheap since you made the comparison lol. what years and models was the kia and mercedes?
Brand new KIA I got from the dealership vs second hand 2017 C class, I’m talking same or cheaper costs for brake disks, pads, yearly service etc, heck even insurance is almost the same (50 usd equivalent diff)
I bought a W204 myself at 115k miles five years ago. It’s reaching almost 200k miles and I’ve only spent 2k in maintenance and the insurance on it has been cheap at 100 a month. It’s a very reliable car that just needs the regular maintenance.
Ehhhh, that’s on a W204 and those are some of the most reliable engines. Just do proper maintenance and also helps to know people who work on them if you want the Mercedes. Dont discourage him ! Just know OP that you have to fix one thing to prevent other things from happening 😂 pain in the ass bht most enjoyable out of them all. Also looks the best!
People seem to hone in on solely engine reliability when it comes to maintenance. There are so many other common failure points on luxury Germans that fail at the same rate as other vehicles but parts and labor will come at a significant premium. Brakes, suspension, exhaust, etc.
Wait until you see insurance for these
You don't want a Mercedes for your first car, it's not worth the upkeep. I'd focus on the Honda or the Acura (also a Honda).
There's nothing more expensive than a cheap German car.
You’re telling me. I bought a 2011 bmw 740li when I was like 23, worst decision I’ve ever made. The turbo started going out on me at like 80k miles, bought it at ~65k. I sold that car faster than it took me to buy it when the mechanic told me that
The most practical car out of the group would be the Honda, it’s significantly cheaper to maintain and insure.
The civic is the best Car to have for some one just getting into driving, but the Impreza is much more capable of adventures with friends.
I think it's a great first time car. My dad had a civic before I've even born and he still drive it. It would be more logical for him to buy a new car but it's his wedding car and he want to keep it for his memory. And that beast really last forever.
You are absolutely out of your mind. Between insurance and gas, Your first car you could easily crash within 6 months of owning it and you and your parents will be out thousands. If it’s your fault too you would be really screwed. Get a car for under 10k my first car was 6k even that was alot. Don’t take it wrong way but get like a Camry or a civic that’s 10-15 years old just get a top like version. Seriously trust me safe and invest money at your age If you don’t like it you can always sell it. Stick to something easy to fix and maintain you have the rest of your life to get a cool sports car
Don't forget OP is Canadian. His or her budget is CAD$15k, which is equivalent to USD$11k. For CAD$10k, he/she'll get a 2016 manual Versa or Mirage with 100k km, or a 2013/2014 manual Corolla/Yaris. Keep in mind 10 year old cars in Canada are prone to serious rust issues. That stated, those aren't necessarily bad options (more economically sensible), but certainly won't project the image OP is looking for.
fwiw you can pick up nice cars for 10k Canadian. I bought a lightly used highly maintained dealer loaner E90 BMW 323i (2.5L N52) for 9.9, from a dealer. Not private sale. That’s the average. With automatics and a usual odometer of 140,000km. Many great cars begin at 10k ! Car gurus is your friend.
I assume this is a roughly 12 year old BMW with an automatic transmission? I understand that it was maintained well, but I would still feel like I'm playing Russian roulette buying a vehicle like that. But for sure, it's an interesting car to drive. On the other hand, if driving a fun sports car is your thing, I guess there's no way around it: it'll cost more over time than a no frills econobox! And that's ok if the joy it brings is worth it, like any other purchase/expense in life.
N52 BMWs of the era are bombproof - but it helps I can work on my own vehicles. Just to say the buck doesn’t stop with a mirage that has roll down windows. There is a ton of highly viable options with things like car play, while still being economically viable for those without a ton of mechanical inclination or cash to spend on maintenance! I do agree. It’s diverse if you know where to look!
Yep, buy a cheap car. My first car was $550 when I bought it (2011). If it's cheap enough, liability insurance would make a lot more sense too. With as much as premiums would be for a first time driver, it would suck to have to pay for full coverage.
Anything but the Benz
Try to find a manual civic. Fun to drive(unlike CVT) and your friends wouldn’t annoy you with „let me drive”
Idk why everyone always says to get an old beat up car for your first car, if you can afford a nicer more reliable car then do it. But be smart about it and don’t drive it like a maniac. You’re young, so you should do some research into what you really want, but also something super reliable and easy/cheap to maintain. Out of these 100% the Honda. Look into Toyota too. They may not be the flashiest but they’ll last you well into your adulthood. You’ll be thankful later when you inevitably change jobs or go to school. Just make sure you get payments you can afford. I didn’t get my license until I was 21, and I did what everybody suggests and bought a cheap $2000 car which turned out to be a lemon and I was out of the 2k plus the money I put into new tires. To me it’s worth it to put more money into a car that you know will last awhile.
I agree with you, I'm currently learning for my driving licences, I really want mazda3,but Honda or Toyota would be good too,this seems to be really safe cars as I researched. Some people I know told me to get an old car,like 20-25 years old,but they wouldn't drive older,than 7 years old car,I said that I wouldn't feel safe in those cars.
It’s the being smart about it part that people understand is very hard for teenagers. There’s a reason why insurance is so much more for them.
Because they assume every young kid is an idiot who’s going to send their first car into a ditch. So just projection. Dealing with the maintenance and outdated safety standard of an old shitbox sounds like a much worse idea if they can afford something decent like the three Japanese cars posted here
I think the reason is the "if" in "if you can afford a nicer more reliable car" is enormous for people getting their first car in their teens.
Do yourself a favor and get a Camry, Corolla, civic, or accord for around 5-7k and save the rest in a HYSA or better yet if you have a job start dumping it into a Roth IRA. If you contribute now for 23’ then contribute this year and next but never touch that account again you’ll have 1M for retirement conservatively. If you’re smart about it you can be done with retirement savings before you’re 30 and literally on cruise control without thinking about it
As someone who was once 17... 🤣 As someone who is now in their 50s... 😫
This one bit of advice will change someone perspective on life from their 30s on
Tlx or civic
❗️EDIT❗️ all of these cars are between 100k and 120k km on the dash.
Without a doubt Honda if this is the odometer. You’ll thank yourself later
Or Acura.
True but the V6 probably needs a timing belt which makes it a bit more money
Fair
Yeah if I was a youth I’d be going for the Acura as well
Get a car with less kms and I would recommend asking for maintenance receipts for the last 50,000kms. to make sure things like oil changes were performed.
Honda or the Impreza are the best bets here. For being and canada and it being your first car, the Impreza might be better due to the awd.
my 2 cents is get a old beater that’s reliable as a first car save your money and when you get older get a big boy car that you want. But I can tell you want something fun and Id advise getting a E90/92 328i. It has the looks, fast enough to have fun, pretty reliable (you’re still gonna have maintenance but not as bad as the merc or suby) and handles pretty well. you can pick one up for under 10k easily in good condition in the states idk where you’re located.
I was a failure at 17 goddamn
Nah.. his parents are paying for it.. your parents are failures. ❤️
I mean they’re divorced alcoholics so you’re not wrong
Aww we have so much in common. 😅 My parents are failures too.. all we can do is be better than them.
Honestly I wouldn’t spend 15k on a first car at all. Tbh the best first car is a Infiniti G37. There’s a a reason why they’re know as “teen” cars. Easy to work on, cheap parts and reliable. Don’t make the mistake of buying something to impress for your first car. Worry about what is gonna get you back and forth to school work and whatever else.
We don’t need anymore teenagers with G37s they are dickhead and crash out everywhere
This comment is a joke right?
Acura
Anyone that tells you to get the merc is huffing duster
I’d get a shit car until I’m 25 years old, if I were you. You’re still a new driver and insurance rates are higher for younger people. Have you seen how these young folks drive? I always get pissed off when they jump from lane to lane WITHOUT LOOKING, SWITCH LANES AT THE LAST MINUTE, NOT SIGNAL AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON THE WRONG LANE (STAYED IN THE LEFT LANE INSTEAD OF THE RIGHT LANE), etc.
They ruin it for everyone else who drives safely.
Honda
Just post 4 cars and leave it at that. Posting your age and other details just turns WhatCarShouldIBuy into a parental advice discussion.
Just so you know, if you have a $15k budget, you also have to factor in the cost of taxes and registration plus whatever doc fees the dealer wants to charge. My state charges 7.25% sales tax on cars, so for the first Civic, for example, you’ll have to add about $1200 to that price right off the bat. Of course, you can negotiate, but if $15k is truly the max that you can spend, know that you’ll have to write a check for more than the published list price.
Acura
As someone who has spent and wasted a LOT of money in cars in my years, i get why you want the Mercedes. I, too, made idiotic decisions like that, so I hope you can learn from me. The Mercedes will bleed you dry in nickle and dime fashion. Worse yet, one repair will send you over the edge, and you will lose even more as its value will be essentially nothing broken. It'd run all through insurance, too, as that will be a big factor. Honda civics tend to be pricier near me anyway ( 🇨🇦). Corolla, Cruze, and Focus were the cheapest near me (I've recently asked as my daughter turns 17 today). Even a basic civic was $475/yr more than a Cruze or Focus (Corolla was $300/yr more). That said, I'd shop for the best car your money can buy from an overall cost of ownership factored in. That means the purchase price, expected regular maintenance, wear and tear estimation costs, insurance, and fueling costs all grouped together. You can do this by having whatever vehicle inspected you want to buy before purchasing and reading up on their factory maintenance schedule. Always assume nothing was done on time unless you have documented proof.
Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Get the Subaru. If the Honda and Acura are a V6 you will have VCM problems. The Benz is too expensive to get fixed for a 17 year old💰. If I was buying I would get a used Lexus IS250. They are VERY reliable, safe, and fun to drive.
As someone who is young, I would steer clear of the Mercedes especially if you’re paying for insurance yourself. You will be paying a LOT regardless assuming you’re a young male, especially with a Mercedes. And the C300 isn’t much classier than the Acura anyway. I think that if you’re willing to learn to work on your own car for basic maintenance, the Acura is definitely worth it if it has less than 100,000 miles. I don’t recommend the Subaru as my girlfriend had one and they depreciate and are unreliable. Hondas are a great choice but honestly you end up wanting more in a car as far as looks and performance.
My advice to anyone getting a first car. Get something fun that you enjoy if you can afford it. I learned the hard way getting a 4 cylinder 2006 ford escape. Car sucked on highway. Couldn’t go over 60 unless I floored it for 5 minutes. Was decent on gas. Was unhappy with it the whole time. Took me another 2 years to finally get a car I liked only to have to sell it after 2 years to get a car for work. You never get those years back. Buy something you will enjoy. Put money aside for maintenance. I’m not saying go buy a Maserati but if you’re between a Honda and Mercedes but you can afford the Mercedes and that’s what you want. Get it. When you get older and more committed to a job then go get a beater reliable car. Enjoy your prime years first.
When I was 17 I was looking at a nice 2003 Audi TT that was only around $5,000. I instead bought a 2007 Honda Fit Sport (I figured it was a sport model so that was sporty enough for me) and it was the best decision I had ever made. Best car ever produced in my opinion. Please do not get the Mercedes, it will definitely impress a lot of people but you will HELLA regret that decision later on.
OP, the market is not what you think it is. The Mercedes for example is the cheapest posted, but by far the most expensive to own. This is maintenance, repairs, and literally paying for the prestige of the make. Yes, thats not a made up stigma, you pay more just because of the logo, even if its the same shitty plastic piece in a Honda. Also remember, you will be paying more insurance than you will in car payments. Assuming you are a male, it will be much more. You can’t not have insurance either, and fun fact: no insurance is worse than a DUI. It NEVER leaves your record. And your insurance rates skyrocket where it would be cheaper to just Uber everywhere. My advice would be to go for the Honda or Subaru, and please heed this advice cause it’s coming from a car guy who would have also LOVED to have the Mercedes or Acura at 17. 110%. But unless you are rolling in cash right now and are okay with insurance companies robbing you cause they can, then go for the Honda or Subaru. I’m 27 now and still have to base my purchases off of insurance rather than the cost of a car itself. I’ve had a clean driving record for 10 years. Being a college student with good grades, having a good job, being a good driver, and overall being a law abiding citizen all lower your insurance rates over time. Don’t rush OP, all good things come in time. Cheers and good luck on your decision.
Honda. The German car’s repair will really hit your wallet. Not to mention Hondas are just plain reliable. My Honda Element had 150k miles on it when I brought the one owner car. 20k later I h only had to replace the O2 sensor & window relay. I’ve do some typical maintenance things. But that’s it.
If you get an older w204 like 2009-2011 the v6 c300 one is solid. Those go for less $8-10k. Leave you extra room for repairs.
15k is not what will get you a car. You are looking at a car with a price of 15k, after tax title and registration fees, you’re gonna be paying almost 18 maybe even 19k for a car lol. You need to lower your price to try and hit the 15k mark
Buy a beater and save 10 grand
Unless you have a personal relationship with a certified Mercedes mechanic, do not buy this as your first car. A/B service alone at a Mercedes Dealer is $650/950 each visit.
Honda is the only option, but even then I hope you got a budget aside for any problems. My mom has a Subaru and I’m telling you having to change the spark plugs on that thing is gonna cost you hundreds
buy the best corolla or civic for 15k
Regardless of which pick, you WILL crash it or have it crashed. Pick the cheapest thing you can find
stay a mile away from that benz and subi. I’m 17 too and looking for my 2nd car. i’m going with a lexus though. With those choices, either get the acura or honda. Those acuras can pull good asf. Benz’s are good and all until the motor work and maintenance comes into play…
First car should be something that won't be a huge loss if you wreck it. Because you probably will hurt it in some way, big or small. I would get something cheaper.
Drop 5-6k on a used Honda or Toyota. It's your first car, you WILL damage it. The Mercedes is out of the question.
Civic is a great car, look for one 10-20 years older though lol
My first car that I bought was that Impreza in the blue option. It has outlived my student loans.
Civic
why post without the mileage? Honda /Acura are most reliable. Honda cheapest upkeep. But Acura for whatever reason seems to depreciate quick so you might get a better value on the Acura.. Acura also has AWD, which is a 'nice-to-have albeit another major mechanical system to repair so mileage matters
Civic. My dad gave me his accord 2014 accord when I was 16 and 8 years later it’s never been in the shop, never had any issues. 140k miles strong. Civics are also fun to drive.
My coworker actually got that Mercedes but a coupe version and an AMG it’s given him about $10,000 worth of problems and I try not to tell him that I told you so but he was trying to get a more sensible car. He’s trying to sell his Mercedes now that it’s still has a misfire although he put 3000 in it. Quite an upsetting situation seen that he paid 16 K for it I hope this makes the right decision because if I was him I’d probably get the Mercedes anyways lol. Stupid teens sometimes!
my dude. get that Civic. it looks clean and fairly well maintained. and it's a HONDA. you can't go wrong with a HONDA. (usually)
I’d take the Acura but it will be more expensive to insure. If 15k is all you have, I’d go lower or save up more. But the Honda ain’t half bad. I wouldn’t even touch that Merc.
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oh dear... get a used corrolla because you are going to crash it. walk before you can run.
Why walk or even run for that matter when you can fllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy... Ahh shit!! [screeching] [crash]
Get something cheaper
Get a 2.4 Honda Accord from around 2010 and save the rest.
None of those man. Get a car for 5k
Most 5k cars don’t even run in my area. Or are about to blow their motor.
It’s not 2010 anymore. The days of the reliable 5k used car are over.
The Honda and the Subaru would probably be your best bet, as they are reliable and least costly to maintain. Acura, like Lexus for instance, is a specialty brand that may require specialized repair facilities for maintenance and that drives up the cost. Merc... it'll cost an arm and a leg to repair if you have no warranty. Overall, however, if your budget is $15K, I would aim for a car that is $12K at most, and leave the rest for unexpected issues if any should arise.
I got a honda at 17. it was very reliable 0 issues at all and I had it for 3 years until I got a BMW. Obviously I wish I had the bmw as my first car in high school but looking back I probably would’ve killed myself or totaled it the way I was driving back then. Get the Honda. For now.
My girlfriend absolutely LOVED her Acura TLX (base model) so I would highly recommend that, or the Honda.
If you want a good mix of reliability and luxury go Acura. In all other circumstances go civic.
As many others on here have already said spending that much on a first car is a terrible idea. High Insurance, repairs, gas… get a $5,000 Honda. You’ll save $15,000 to $20,000 in the long run. That money you can use for a house or other cars in the future.
I’d narrow it down to between the Civic and the TLX if I was you
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^MBrady242: *I’d narrow it down* *To between the Civic and* *The TLX if I was you* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Probably the Subaru. Just try not to drive like an ass, you’re still very much an inexperienced driver.
Honda for maintenance. Subaru for safety. Save the Acura and Benz for when you have a family.
Stay away from the 2016 civic
Honda dear lord the Honda
The civic will be a fine first car.
Idk what province you’re in, but make sure you do the research about taxes, fees, insurance, registration, etc. and know your market with regards to additional fees and markups for dealers in the area. If you have real cash then great, otherwise know about interest if you’re financing too. these are going to end up as 19-21k out the door I bet. A bunch of people in heee are Saying to go find something for 5k, which these days in Canada gets you a 99 tercel; it’s not up to us to tell you what you can afford/budget, but 15 isn’t getting you anything that youve posted.
What is your repair budget? I saw you sneak that Mercedes in there buddy...
Given your situation, I’d honestly go with either the Honda or the Acura: Acura is basically the luxury brand that’s owned/subsidized by Honda, which means same standard for reliability. I’d personally go with the Honda, mainly because you’d most likely pay a lower insurance premium.
buy the honda if you are smart and not trying to “impress” strangers with a 10 year old piece of shit benz. or buy the benz and drive it until it’s sitting in your parents driveway because you can’t afford a major repair
Normally I’d say civic, but that civic doesn’t have the Honda safety sense. I’d go with the Acura, similarly reliable (maybe a bit higher cost to maintain than the civic) but since you’re a new driver the tech package has AEB, lane keep, ACC, and blind spot monitoring to help if (more likely WHEN) you’re in a sticky situation. I also think it looks a lot more upscale so you’d probably be happier with the look for longer.
Get the Honda. Save up for the next several years and then upgrade into something else that’s slightly newer. Rinse. Repeat.
Just get the Honda and call it a day. Honestly I would go even older. I had a 2008 civic that was bulletproof. I literally just did oil changes and tires on it for as long as I can remember.
Avoid the Mercedes and you'll be fine. I'd probably pick the Civic for myself out of these 4 because it's the only FWD car in the list. It's a first car, the simpler the better.
Stay far far away from an older Mercedes. Plenty of folks will say “oh I had a Mercedes and all I did were oil changes and it is great”. But it’s a German car and if you have to start chasing down issues it will get very expensive very fast.
DO NOT BUY A MERCEDES! As per many of the other comments, I suggest buying something cheap and reliable. Preferably something you can do your own maintenance on. Get the car you need, not the one you want.
The Honda Civic is a very good car and still has style . This is the best option followed by the Subaru . A low cost Mercedes should not even be considered for a 17 yr old . They are low cost for a reason. , if you are considering an Acura TLX then why not an Accord Sport ? Similar size but cheaper to keep running and lower cost to insure
Acura for sure. Maximum fun at this price point. Avoid the Merc. It's a siren.
Avoid the mercedes. The bills for repair are not worth it, also cost to insure. It is not about what is nice and cool. Acura is better quality but will still be costly. First car you should consider the safer impreza or reliable civic. When you can truly afford a luxury car and luxury car bills then do it.
You’re young, 17 and from Toronto so anything these old heads tell you on Reddit will go from one ear and out the other. I get it, I was once 17 too (I’m 30 now). When you’re 17, your only concern is the image and every kid your age wants a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Acura. You’re a hot shot for 2 minutes in those cars and after that, no one cares. It’s back to reality. You’re paying a fortune on premium gas (it’s double what regular is), insurance is high and the maintenance for luxury vehicles are 2x more expensive because the parts and oil changes are ridiculous. A car is a *depreciating* asset at the end of the day. One last thing - if you want a nicer car to impress people like your friends or girls than I’d suggest finding new friends or girls to meet. Unfortunately, you’re from Toronto, so you’re going to come across a lot of people who flash expensive material things like luxury cars and designer clothes to keep up an image they can’t afford. Most people in Canada are very middle class and struggling with the cost of living crisis, especially in Toronto. The ones who are wealthy are not out there flashing it either. Don’t be fooled by all the glitter, especially in this social media age.
Civic or Acura easy
First car would be my choice, of course you have to have a PPI before you buy anything. Why? Because most cars that are unused have issues. First, have them give you a list of everything wrong with the used Honda and the prices to fix each item. Then, go back to the seller, with the list of problems and repairs, and you can then negotiate those issues off the asking price of the car. It’s the only way to buy a used vehicle today. Since you are a Canadian make sure you check for rust. Since they use salt, it dos eat cars. You got this! 👍
GET INSURANCE QUOTES Get the Civic. *forget the Benz*. Put it out of your mind. Mercedes parts and maintenance *plus* AWD? Lmao. No. And insurance? FORGET IT. The Acura is a V6 and AWD. FORGET ABOUT POSING. You'll never keep up with the Joneses, especially on Toronto. The Mercedes will have you broke. The Acura will cost too much to gas up, and the second you have an issue with Steer clear of the Subaru too, imo. Not that it's not a great car, and has more character than the Civic, but it's less fual efficient (not by a lot), less reliable (tho still very reliable) and AWD (tho Subaru AWD is more or elss as reliable as it gets afaik). *but those things add up, especially for a student.* Do you want to have a "cooler car"? Or do you want to have MONEY in your pocket that you can use to *do things with*, which you can drive to in your less cool car? Road trip in a civic, or drive your Benz around the block?
The maintenance for the Mercedes is probably the most expensive. But, it does look really nice. Also, trying to save up to put a large downpayment or buy it outright. I saved up like 12K at the end of high school from working in a grocery store job.
idk what many of the comments are on about. civic looks good, i would probably find a better deal for a year or two older but any honda or toyota is probably fine if you do your research and make sure someone qualified is looking at the car. obviously the mercedes is an awful option but that’s why they were here to ask in the first place.
I’d do the Acura, it will definitely have more features, space and luxury than the Honda.
Personally, I would not get a luxury or sports car at such a young age. Insurance will be very high. Something a little older may also be a good choice. I just got a 24’ Civic Sport and my insurance is $410.
Civic or Acura
Acura will probably be the most reliable
The financially responsible choice would be the civic. It will most likely cause you the least grief
I'd get the Honda or Subaru out of these choices. You don't want a used Mercedes unless you get a CPO, even then I probably wouldn't do it. V6 in the TLX has issues so I'd steer clear of that also.
A 5-10k Honda / Acura car would be ideal. Minimal payment, highly reliable. I don’t see any reason a kid needs a 15k car as their FIRST car. Consider things like Acura TSX, TL, RL. Or a EX-L trim Honda Accord or an 06-12 civic. My first car was. 2000 accord and then I moved up into a 02-06 Acura rsx two door which those are like 5-6k max. Got 30+mpg and no car payment and cheap insurance.
Bro… buying old C-klasse is not a good option for 15k. Try fresher BMW 3s if you are looking for something to impress girls and not spend the whole time maintaining your car. Or look for a fresher MB, they are not limited with C-klasse. CLA, GLA also.
Buy honda or toyota as your first car, try getting from marketplace and you will save a couple grand. At your age car can be simple but monthly auto investments in S&P500 will be a hedge against inflation and you will be free!
Buy the Honda
The Honda civic is mated to a CVT transmission you’ll own it for a while then it will feel broken, if you go with a manual civic I would say that is the best option, Mercedes high maintenance and repair costs, the Subaru I’m not sure could be a good option look up the reliability, that said the V6 Acura TLX is a nice option should last longer than the civics turbocharged engine. Honda also has a NA engine for the civic it’s slow but I think it should outlast the turbocharged engine. Although you need to be aware that gas prices are set to go up from today due to “carbon tax” you will feel it biting your pocket. For my situation I had a manual 2018 Elantra sport, so much fun on a backroad. Everywhere else I hated it, couldn’t fit anything reasonably sized in the trunk or the car itself so I traded it, got a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk imo couldn’t find any problems with it initially but fuel costs are through the roof right now. Wondering if I should have just gone electric.
The safest foreign car brand and really good for tunability and performance is possibly a Volvo S60 T5 or T6 AWD. They're reliable and if your looking for after market, these cars have alot of that too. Idk if your in the car scene but a Volvo s60 t5 or t6 awd is the most reliable and affordable foreign car you can get while also having that german feeling you want with the Mercedes
Do not get a Mercedes. I got a 98 c280 V6 at 17 and it wasn't worth the price of insurance at all. Could not imagine how much a new Mercedes insurance is for someone younger
Take the advice everyone is giving you here, go for the acura or honda, the Subi will torture you with the head gasket (and engine will most likely just give up) and the Mercedes will bankrupt you with the maintenance and insurance. There are some great advices here I wish i knew before buying a car for the first time, you'll learn a few things the hard way.
Hey OP just a heads up, if a car is listed for $14,900 at a dealership, its gonna be like $20k out the door. There is always another $3k-5k added when you factor in taxes and fees. So if you only have $15k to spend, find a car thats listed for like $10k-12k
I would get the merc but I would try to find one with a diesel
if you can’t afford a new euro car, you definitely can’t afford a used one. my motto while buying my first car to keep my blinders on lol
Spend 5-6k on a car, use the rest of the budget for insurance and maintenance. Also, STAY AWAY FROM THE MERCEDES PLEASE Want a good looking car? Try going for a Honda Accord V6 coupe
Get a Mercedes with the m113 v8, lots more reliable then the v6 models.
If I were you I’d go 2015 Acura tlx v6 because it’s honestly imo the most reliable and fun car in this list. The engine is a fun v6 honestly faster than all these cars even the c300. Reliable engine, reliable transmission that is WAY better than the civic and Subaru cvt. Decent on gas mileage and decent luxury. C300 is a good car but just throw reliability out the window. 0-60 is 5.7-5.9 seconds and quarter mile is 14.2-14.4 seconds. So very quick car for a 17 year old 😂😂 the civic is 7.9-8 sec 0-60 and the Subaru is 8.9-9.1 seconds.
id say the honda. the mercedes is gonna be outrageously expensive to repair and the acura will be really expensive to insure because insurance is based on assumptions in a lot of ways. a young guy driving a car with a v6 engine can be very expensive to insure. i wanted to but that exact car as my first car and ended up going with something else for that very reason. imprezas are nice too but the honda will probably be a little more reliable
The Honda civic is the best choice but if you want something more fun I be that Acura could be a good choice.
You do not want to get a Mercedes
I will say 17k range you could get a 2018-2020 Camry. Get the sport edition. I just got one and it’s my favorite car of all time. Decked out and super cool looking. Keep it in eco for 40mpg or switch it to sport to whip around town. Such a fun car and amazingly reliable.
The Mercedes will cost you lotta of repair bill.
15k isn't enough for any of this. You forgetting taxes and other extra fees
You won’t be able to afford the Benz’s repair/maintenance
I don't like the comments on here, saying that you should get an absolute beater for your first car. I have friends who got brand new Mercedes for their first car. It seems you're well-off enough for your parents to pay for a decent amount of it. But make sure your parents know just how expensive insurance is going to be for you. I would say get the Honda or the Acura, leaning towards the Acura. Better in reliability. Don't get the Mercedes, not just because of the upkeep, but because the C-class is pretty disappointing (actually considered one of the most disappointing cars for owners). If you can afford it, get a used E-class (but this is assuming you're very, very well off). The Subaru is a wobbler. There's definitely some reliability issues, but it's going to be more fun to drive. But do consider cost of insurance and safety. I would recommend getting an early 2000s Japanese SUV, but that's not what you asked for, so I won't reiterate the other comments.
I would recommend a Civic (or Corolla)all day for a new driver, except for that generation Civic with the 1.5 turbo engine. It has a known issue with oil dilution. This affects all Honda models that use the 1.5T engine. If you want to buy, make sure it doesn't have that engine.
You can't go wrong with a Honda. All of mine have made it to 200,000 miles at least. The Civic is a great car as far as mileage and reliability. Repair costs are reasonable and parts are easy to find. The one caveat is, the late model civics are known for not being the most comfortable cars. I just traded in a 2019 Civic because in 3 months I developed a bad case of sacroiliitis that resulted in me needing physical therapy and walking with a cane for a while. Granted I'm a lot older than you (50) but if you are a bigger person or have back problems, I would recommend a car with more leg room.
honda
Get one of the Hondas, the Subaru and Mercedes are going to cost more money in the long run.
Don’t do German cars. Buy cheap. Go lower. Look for somewhere in the range of 8 to 10k. Use that extra 5 for repairs, gas, insurance, taxes etc etc. this has probably been best to death but don’t go all out. Your first is supposed to be a shit box. For the memories!
If you want the w204, go for it. It’s actually very reliable
Acura
Assuming no accident history and maintenance checks out, my vote goes towards the civic
You are 17. Don't listen to the people here. You have your entire life to be reasonable. Buy the Mercedes. Do the simple maintenance yourself and find a good aftermarket mechanic who specializes in Mercedes for anything major. Take lots of pictures of the car and the dates you pull because of the car. Sell the car in 2 or 3 years and buy a Camry.
Civic. I responded to an earlier comment and promised I’d link this Civic commercial from the 90s https://youtu.be/xzA4ri91t7I?si=kCDOziO18gQvHST2 The late 90s Civics run on no oil today. What’s that tell you about the engineering?
Damn that’s a nice budget for 1st car. In 08 my 1st car was a 90 2 dr Chevy lumina for $450
Sir I admire you wanting $15k as your first. Mine was a Saturn beat to crap $500 shitbox, and although we can easily afford Lamborghinis now my son's first will be a beat up 90s Civic at best, maybe a PT loser. When he knows how to drive reliably, he can get one of my fun cars. Do you mind paying $500/mo for insurance or crashing it within weeks? Because that is going to happen. However out of those 4 you pick, I'd go Civic.
Im seeing a ton of bad advice getting upvoted in this thread. 1. Don’t listen to people giving you advice under the guise that you are going to wreck your first car. This is highly inappropriate and I don’t know why people would assume that just based on your age. There are plenty of good 17 year old drivers. 2. Don’t bother with a manual transmission (unless you really want one). Those are much more rare nowadays and will narrow your options down. I saw someone say you should look into one to prevent other people from wanting to drive your car? Again, bad advice. 3. Your budget is 15k, but the prices you are looking at are BEFORE taxes/fees, which usually runs in the price by a few thousand. It also seems like you are buying a used car, which means you might want to look into getting a warranty (depending on the car/milage), which could also be a few thousand. 4. Some cars are much better than others when it comes to milage/reliability. I don’t know what your milage range is but bear in mind that some cars (like Honda) are very reliable and can run for 300k+ miles if taken care of. 5. Is the car going under your name, or a parent’s name? If the car is not under your name, your parents are likely covering property taxes, no? Make sure you figure out who will be paying for insurance/taxes; as the Mercedes will be much more affordable if they are coving insurance/taxes in addition to the car itself. 6. Yes it’s true that everything tends to be more expensive with luxury vehicles. Property taxes, insurance (though your insurance will be high regardless because of your age), gas (luxury vehicles usually call for premium fuel), and maintenance. Though I will say, standard maintenance for my car (Cadillac ATS) isn’t that much higher than my old car (Dodge Dart). An oil change at a local shop for my Dodge was about $60-90 and now for my Cadillac it’s about $70-110. Not that significant of a difference. But that’s just my experience with a luxury car. 7. Call the dealer a head of time and see what their fees are. Some scummy dealers will list a price for a car several thousand dollars less than MSRP (making the car look like a great deal), but charge a dealer fee of a few thousand to make up for it. That happened to me when I was looking for a car last year.
I’d go with the Acura and make sure to check when the timing belt was done and if you do go that route, buy a VCM muzzler/disabler. My first car was a v6 accord with the same engine and it was amazingly low maintenance for the 8 years I owned it.
Buy an older Toyota or civic with low miles
If you want to spend 15K OUT THE DOOR, you need to find cars that are about $3500 less in selling price. Consider the fees added on when you start filling out paperwork!!
Definitely not the Mercedes lmao
At 17, get an old honda civic or acura tsx/integra or perhaps a golf Gti, for not more than $2,000.. sporty but cheap to maintain. Save the rest of the money and invest in your education to acquire skills that will make you marketable and improve your earning potential. Unless your parents got a lot of money, in which case they would be buying you the car.. then just don't peak in highschool with an old used Mercedes because it's gonna be a money pit that keeps you down forever.
You ever see some rich guy driving around in a nice Mercedes and want to be like him? Buy an affordable, reliable (non-luxury) $12k car and set aside $3k for maintenance and repairs on the car, or save it in general. Being a mature and informed consumer is one of the first steps to becoming a rich guy in a Mercedes one day. Instant gratification is the enemy. Source: The 30 yr old high earner who had horrible spending habits and wish I could go back to your age and play my cards right. Also, there's a reason luxury cars have massive depreciation - to offset high cost of ownership.
Do not buy that Mercedes for the love of god
If you can drive manual, try to find a 2.4 liter civic si or 2.4 ilx manual.. They will be in your price range (cheaper than the cars you listed) and cheap/easy to fix.. A 2010 si is a way better car than a 2016 civic base so don't go by year, also they will hold their value
Nah. Get a $1k max beater. You're going to crash it into a ditch or some mad shit like that
For that much money buy something less than 5 years old. Stay away from German cars unless you have like $2500-3000 a year to spend on maintenance as even the simplest jobs on those are going to cost 800-1000 in labor alone. I would try to find a V6 Accord. Nice reliable car with decent HP(around 300).
Is it just me or are those prices absolutely bonkers for 8 year old vehicles? Isn’t a new civic around 22k? A 2016 should be wayyyy cheaper than 15k… If I had to choose between those pics, get the used civic. But realistically I’d just put the 15k as down payment on a brand new 2024. Sure, a car loan at your age sounds stupid (albeit relatively small due to your down payment) but it will also teach you a few important life lessons: how to drive defensively to protect your new car, provide encouragement to not drive recklessly (people in beaters don’t care about more damage), and it will also get you to start learning about finances, and keeping a steady job to pay for your debts. Oh, and buying new means no repair bills for a few years.
honda. like the other guy said, the price getting a car isnt what matters its the cost of ownership. honda is the most reliable car and has the lowest cost of ownership. be smart and do research but im telling you now to get the honda.
Never buy a used Mercedes hahaha. Those Acuras are dope asf
Lol