What’s The Best First Car For An Enthusiast? Help A Reader Pick A Car For Their Kid

Buying your first car. It’s a rite of passage, a pivotal moment in the life of every car enthusiast. I remember when I was in school, getting my first car was more important than graduating or losing my virginity. Getting your first car felt like the biggest day in life at the time, especially with the huge pressure to do it right. We’ve recently been contacted by a reader named Mike whose son is about to turn 16, and he’s looking for some guidance in today’s crazy used car market.

Hello David, Jason and the rest of the gang.  Longtime reader from early lightning site days.  I need to save up some moolah to become a member but right now we are saving to help our son buy his first car in this crazy inflated market.  My article idea is this:  What fun car would you recommend for a car-obsessed soon to be sixteen year old boy?  He’s been working and saving up his money for years, has sold off his drumset, bikes and other items and is almost ready to buy a car.  Honestly, his passion for cars has kept him out of trouble with drugs and girls.  So we fully support his passion.  He wants to study engineering and get into the auto industry somehow.

The good news is that Mike’s son has a budget of $12,000, and he has great criteria. A manual gearbox is mandatory, as is a certain fizz factor once described by a floppy-haired Top Gear host. What’s more, Mike’s son wants something that’s cool, and something that can be autocrossed. Hell yeah.

As for keeping parents happy, a car needs to tick some more sensible boxes. First, it needs to be safe. I’d recommend at least side airbags and stability control, just in case. Second, it has to be reasonable to insure. This means that Hondas are out completely, as is anything with enough straight-line performance to get into modern trouble. Sorry Pontiac GTO and Ford Mustang GT, now’s not your time. Third, it needs to work most of the time. Otherwise it’s an NFT, or non-functional transportation.

Well Mike, you’ve reached out to the right people. I love dodging cones just as much as the next helmeted enthusiast, and your criteria basically matches what I search for in cars that I’d want to own. So, without further ado, here are six great enthusiast picks under $12,000.

Mazda MX-5 NC

Model Years: 2006 to 2015

Engine: Two-liter inline-four

Gearbox: Five- or six-speed manual

Power: 170 horsepower

Torque: 140 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 2,441 to 2,498 pounds.

Fuel Economy: 24 MPG combined

IIHS Safety Rating: Not Rated

SCCA Autocross Class: C Street

Sure, the NC MX-5 isn’t the coolest Miata on the market, but it’s not the barge the internet makes it out to be. Quicker, safer, more capable, and more modern than the NA and NB roadsters, the NC represents a value sweet spot where you can get a very capable, very reliable little sports car for not a lot of scratch. Not only does it suffer from fewer old car issues than its father and grandfather, it’s also full of mod-cons like side airbags and available xenon headlamps. If you’re looking for something really sharp, you might be let down by the NC. While this drop-top is objectively a good performer, the stock suspension allows for plenty of roll and dive. Splashing a bit of cash on some upgraded anti-roll bars(like Eibach units) helps dial in the feel, but it’s worth paying attention to how that affects SCCA classing should the autocross bug bite hard.

As far as common issues go, the plastic coolant reservoirs are now old enough to shit their dacks, but the same goes for just about any car on this list. Plastic getting brittle as it ages is about as new information as the fact that the earth revolves around the sun. In terms of spec, I’d definitely recommend investing in a proper roll bar like a Hard Dog unit and searching for a model with the close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox and the limited-slip differential, as both are fun options to have. The NC MX-5 may not offer the best thrills under $12,000, but it’s a safe bet with low running costs and is pleasing in a slow-car-fast way if you can get around the body motions.

Subaru BRZ

Model Years: 2013 to 2020

Engine: Two-liter flat-four

Gearbox: Six-speed manual

Power: 200 HP

Torque: 151 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 2,762 to 2,776 pounds.

Fuel Economy: 24 MPG combined.

IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick

SCCA Autocross Class: D Street

The NC MX-5 is a great starter enthusiast car, but what if you want more? Say, more space, more power, more revs, that sort of stuff. Well, the famous Toyota/Subaru twins are more than a decade old and bargains considering what you get. Whether you call it a Scion FR-S or a Subaru BRZ, these coupes give you all the spice a sports car should while still being perfectly livable as everyday cars. They seat two passengers comfortably and two more if you chop their legs off, and you won’t struggle to get anything larger than a backpack in the trunk.

Dare I say, these twins offer up even more fun than an NC MX-5. Sure, open-topped motoring has its own appeal, but I reckon that stock-for-stock, the two-liter boxer engine has so much more character than the Mazda’s inline-four, and the chassis feels more buttoned-down. I’d argue the steering is sharper, too. We’re talking about a more serious driver’s car than an NC Miata, something that’s more rewarding to push through the cones at an autocross. Sure, cabin noise, vibration and harshness may feel like being in the pit at a Knocked Loose concert, but that just means the car’s nice and light. As a bonus, these cars are incredibly competitive at autocross, and a great platform to grow with. I’d recommend the Subaru version over the Scion, for one reason: Early models were affected by a valve spring recall, and Toyota dealerships unfamiliar with re-sealing Subaru engines may have used excessive RTV that could clog the oil pickup screen. Oh, and both cars have fragile original throw-out bearings, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, these cars are smiles all down. Move over Miata, there’s a new boss in town.

Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged

Model Years: 2008 to 2010

Engine: Two-liter turbocharged inline-four

Gearbox: Five-speed manual

Power: 260 horsepower

Torque: 260 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 2,935 pounds

Fuel Economy: 25 MPG combined

IIHS Safety Rating: Good front offset, acceptable side-impact.

SCCA Autocross Class: D Street

Everyone loves an underdog story. Rocky, the Miracle on Ice, Olivier Panis at Monaco in 1996. The turbocharged Cobalt SS is another one of the all-time greats. Here’s a brief list of cars it’s faster around the Nordschleife than: Mitsubishi Evo VII, Lotus Exige S, 987 Porsche Cayman S, Cosworth Type 25 Subaru Impreza STI spec C, Audi S5. Sure, it might not have a particularly great shifter and its interior feels decidedly low-rent, but this humble Cobalt is sport compact car royalty. So how did Chevrolet get one of the cheapest, nastiest economy cars in recent history to slay such automotive greats?

Long story short, Chevrolet employed great suspension tuning, buckets of turbocharged thrust, and some clever performance functions. The two-liter turbocharged motor puts out 260 rampaging horsepower, and when fed through a five-speed transaxle with an optional limited-slip diff and aided by launch control and no-lift shift, it catapults this plastic-fantastic penalty box to 60 mph in five and a half seconds. Then there’s the stiffer springs, firmer dampers, larger rear anti-roll bar, four-piston Brembo front calipers, and 10 percent quicker steering ratio. It all adds up to one hell of a performance bargain. These 2008 and up turbocharged models are hard to find, but if you can find one that hasn’t been beat to death, you’ll end up with a surprisingly spicy sport compact capable of slaying giants. Don’t forget, it’s a Cobalt so it’s still a shitbox, but it’s a fast and nimble shitbox with dirt-cheap parts.

Volvo C30 T5

Model Years: 2008 to 2013

Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five

Gearbox: Six-speed manual

Power: 227 horsepower

Torque: 236 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 2,970 pounds

Fuel Economy: 23 MPG combined

IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick

SCCA Autocross Class: H Street

The Volkswagen GTI is a nice enthusiast car. They’re handsome, quite fun if you’re talking about the MkV, and have massive aftermarket support. However, they are fairly maintenance-intensive. Allow me to present the alternative to German techno – a bit of Swedish metal. The Volvo C30 is a car almost everyone forgets about yet almost anyone likes. At the front, pre-facelift models look almost exactly like practical S40 sedans or V50 wagons. However, things are a different story around back. By drawing inspiration from the 1800ES shooting brake, Volvo created one of the most well-styled rear ends of any modern car. It’s all strawberry syrup taillights, cool glass, and flared hips. It’s a similar story on the inside with a waterfall of brushed metal taking center stage on the dashboard. Lovely.

What’s more, the C30 comes from Volvo’s Ford era, which means it’s based heavily on the second-generation Focus that America never got. This means you get a very composed front-drive chassis, well-weighted steering, and a ride that’s taut without ever being jarring. Plus, C30 T5 models came with the same turbocharged five-cylinder engine you’d find in a Focus ST. Figure horsepower in the low 200s, a torque band as wide and flat as Kansas, and a six-speed manual gearbox. Hot hatch guts with a bodyshell designed by people pathologically obsessed with safety is a brilliant combination. This little Volvo may not quite be as engaging as a GTI, but it’s still a very capable pick. Oh, and since Volvo is a premium brand, many C30s were fabulously-equipped. You could get a thumping ten-speaker Dynaudio sound system, push-to-start, xenon headlights, heated power seats, parking sensors, leather seats, and rain-sensing wipers in these practical hatchbacks. That’s a lot of kit.

Infiniti G35

Model Years: 2003 to 2007 for the coupe, 2003 to 2006 for the sedan

Engine: 3.5-liter V6

Gearbox: Six-speed manual

Power: 260 to 298 horsepower

Torque: 258 to 270 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 3,351 to 3,524 pounds

Fuel Economy: 20 MPG combined

IIHS Safety Rating: Good front overlap, acceptable side-impact

SCCA Autocross Class: D Street

It’s easy to forget how big of a deal the Infiniti G35 was when it came out. Not only was it a Nissan Skyline for America, it offered huge bang-for-the-buck. For the same price as a decently-equipped 184-horsepower E46 BMW 325i, you could have a 260-horsepower Infiniti sedan. The coupes got a bump to 280 horsepower, and available on the options list for both cars was an awesome six-speed manual gearbox with a rifle-bolt shifter linkage. What’s more, the pedal box is set up perfectly for heel-toeing and the steering is confidently-weighted. It all adds up to a car that’s great fun to grab by the scruff of its neck.

As far as issues go, there’s not much to worry about on these cars. The VQ35DE 3.5-liter V6 engines are known for oil consumption, so it’s best to check the dipstick at every other fill-up. Front suspension bushings are quick to wear and the combination radio and climate controls are known for going out every so often, but these are otherwise very reliable cars. Additionally, they all came with stability control, a full complement of airbags, and a reasonably modern crash structure. Mind you, they aren’t hugely refined. Lots of NVH makes it up through the floor on the highway, and some of the interior materials are a bit substandard. The glued-on pleather might flop off of the door trims, for example. Still, if you want a sports sedan and don’t want to pay the IS300 tax, a manual G35 is a good bet.

BMW 128i

Model Years: 2008 to 2013

Engine: Three-liter inline-six

Gearbox: Six-speed manual

Power: 230 HP

Torque: 200 lb.-ft.

Curb Weight: 3,252 pounds

Fuel Economy: 21 MPG combined

IIHS Safety Rating: Not Rated

SCCA Autocross Class: D Street

I’m breaking the rules here, Mike. I know you said no money pits that are a nightmare to fix and explicitly cited BMW in your email, but the N52-powered 128i is the exception to the rule. Trouble spots? Well, the electric water pump likes to go out at between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, but replace it with a Continental unit for a few hundred bucks and you’re more or less set for life. Otherwise, the VANOS solenoids enjoy periodic cleaning, there’s a coolant flange at the top of the engine that’s best to replace with aluminum for $20 or so, and models built between Sept. 2009 and Nov. 2011 should have the VANOS bolt recall done, but that’s really it. No VANOS rebuilds or subframe mount tearing or any of the annoying E46 stuff. This is a BMW that really just works. Just fix the odd valve cover gasket or oil filter housing gasket leak as it crops up, keep gas in it, change the fluids on time, and go. No different than a regular car, really.

Oh, and go it will. Out of all the cars on the list, this is the one most proven to make it to 300,000 miles, most of which will be very pleasurable. The hydraulic power steering is immaculately-tuned, the chassis just the perfect balance of firm yet comfortable, the seats genuinely all-day comfortable, and the three-liter straight-six engine so impeccably smooth even surging towards 7,000 RPM. Highway slogs are a doddle thanks to extensive NVH attenuation and cruising economy in the 30s, and this thing can still tear up an autocross course like the best of them. It’s not as nimble or as raw as a BRZ, but that’s a good thing for the realities of the road. Plus, it’s still a rich communicator that makes driving slow fun, and it’s incredibly well-equipped. As far as all-rounders go, the 128i is one of the best.

So there we are, six very different but very good picks for a first enthusiast car under $12,000. As for me, I owned a G35 before ending up with the 128i’s slightly bigger brother, the E90 3-Series. Mind you, I’d be pretty happy with nearly all of the cars on this list. They’re all reasonably swift, upgradable, cool enthusiast vehicles that should put a smile on any first car owner’s face, all while keeping parents happy. What reasonably modern, reasonably reliable enthusiast car would you recommend for a 16-year-old on a $12,000 budget? I’d love to know what’s on your radar.

(Photo credits: Mazda, Subaru, Chevrolet, Volvo, Infiniti, BMW)

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