We all want a great deal on a car. With the economy in a downturn at this time, we can’t afford to pay top dollar for a luxury vehicle anymore. A car is just not as important as necessary items such as food, homes and clothing at this point in time. With gas prices soaring and the cost of keeping a vehicle maintained, we want to spend the least amount possible on a reliable vehicle that can get us from point a to b. Well, I have narrowed some choices down to the top 5 cars under $15,000 that are great cars for the money! You will get more bang for less buck with any of these choices and save a heck of a lot of money in the long run on maintenance.
#1) 2009 Toyota Corolla – MSRP: $14,000
The Corolla is a great, reliable vehicle that is my # 1 pick for the best car under $15,000. Right now is the time to buy this car. Deals are flying straight from Toyota on these vehicles on interest rates and cash back. The car is very low maintenance, drives smooth, has power options, and extremely comfortable and safe. It is roomy enough for 5, you can get the car in some great colors and you can take it as a base vehicle or load it with different options. The new lines for 2009 are awesome and the car is very stylish and the car gets a whopping 35MPG. After driving in a Corolla, it is my # 1 pick for a great, reliable car.
#2) 2009 Toyota Yaris – MSRP $12,500
The Yaris is another great money-saving option from Toyota. It is wonderful on gas, has side curtain airbags and a standard mp3 player jack inside the vehicle. You can get the Yaris in a 2 or 4 door. The Yaris also has great safety ratings as well. The car will save you on gas and get you a nice 30MPG on average. The car has a nice hatchback design, can seat 4 comfortably, and 5 if you want your back seat passengers to feel like they are sardines. The Yaris is a great money-saving option as well and you can bet you’ll end up with a reliable vehicle that will last you 4+ years without the headaches of maintenance.
#3) 2009 Honda Fit – MSRP $14,095
Honda has come out with a bang with the 2009 Honda Fit. They have redesigned the fit to make it more spacious. It is practical, fits 5 comfortably and gets you a great 30MPG regularly. The Fit can be configured in many ways to carry around large items in your car. It’s got SUV configurations in a car, but better. You can fit a plant, bike, surfboard, large dog, ladders, you name it, it fits in there! I’ve even traveled to Ikea in a fit and was able to get a large sized futon to fit from front to back. It was great! By no means does driving this car feel entry-level. You feel like you are in a nice comfortable sedan with awesome features like a USB jump drive to play music, or iPod integration and an oil life indicator. There are windows everywhere in the Fit which make visibility amazing and you have no blind spots. The car also has great safety ratings.
#4) 2009 Ford Focus – MSRP $14,200
If you are a sucker for American made vehicles, The 2009 Focus is perfect for you. It gets 35MPG on average and is a fun car to drive around. It does just the trick to get you from point a to b without any hoopla. The car has good looks, great features such as cruise control, tons of storage space, armrest, and a decent radio. The car has good handling and steering but the interior panels tend to look a little more generic than other vehicles in the same price range.
#5) 2009 Mazda 3 – MSRP $14,500
The Mazda 3 has a great design and gets about 25MPG easily. It is roomy inside, can fit 5 people (fits 4 comfortably) and has a great look to the interior. When you drive the Mazda 3 you feel like you are driving a sporty sedan. It has fast acceleration, good handling and very comfortable seats
My suggestions would be to test drive each of these vehicles and see which one you prefer. Everyone likes different features. For some, Honda seats seem lower to the ground which causes an issues. Toyota seats tend to feel like you are seated higher up. It’s all about personal preference. Try each of them out and you can’t go wrong with your choice! You should be able to get any of these vehicles under the $15,000 price tag. Each of these would be a great pick for your next car and will save you on gas, maintenance, and the car will last!
