All your friends are getting married and having families. But not you. You don't have time for a family, you want to stay young forever. You can't be seen in a four-door sedan or a crossover; people need to know that there's no room in your car for a baby seat.
A sporty little two-seat coupe will do the trick. Unfortunately, your limited pocketbook is holding you back from buying new, so you'll miss out on a Porsche Cayman or even the Scion FR-S. However, with $10,000 in your pocket, you can find a few fun-to-drive numbers with just enough room for you and a co-pilot.
Sensible
Here's a classic muscle nameplate: the Chevrolet Corvette. This American rear-wheel-drive icon can be found up to around 1991 at this price, though you'll find a wide range of years depending on mileage and condition. The fourth-generation C4, built from 1984 to 1996, was a major improvement over the sad, underpowered versions from the late 1970s. Under the hood, the C4 has a naturally aspirated V-8, with power ranging from 250 horsepower up to 330, depending on the year and version. Its exterior design is classic Corvette with pop-up headlights, but the interior is bland and not fitting of a top-end car. And while it is a competent performer, the downside is that the car is at least 25 years old, so expect repairs and problems. Recalls include those for a seat belt retractor and fuel lines.
The Nissan 350Z was supposed to be the successor to the Datsun 240Z when it debuted in 2002 and, to a point, it is, with decent sports-car performance and looks; we can find them here up to around 2005. It comes with a 3.5-litre V-6 with 287 horsepower mounted behind the front wheels for better balance, though it still shows more than a bit of understeer when pushed hard. You can find direct steering and an excellent six-speed gearbox with a sporty short-throw shifter, but the heavy clutch is a bother in rush-hour traffic. As well, its firm suspension is good for corners but might be a bit rough over bumpy roads. But it looks the part of a sports car, and inside offers a comfy if cramped cabin with good materials and details – the gauge cluster, for example, moves with the adjustable steering wheel. Recalls deal with a fuel filler hose and a faulty circuit board.
Indispensable
For a distinctive look, we can find the original Audi TT up to 2004 here. The Bauhaus-inspired design was a hit when it debuted and will surely be a classic one day. The interior boasts Audi's famous fit and finish, too, with a flat-bottomed steering wheel and aluminum accents. Standard is a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 180-horsepower and front-wheel drive for decent though sedate performance, but a 225-horsepower 1.8T and a 3.2-litre V-6 with 247 horsepower increase the excitement. The last two engines also come with quattro all-wheel drive, which can be helpful for Canadian winters, and an automatic or manual gearbox or a DSG are available. It may not have the pure driving dynamics of its BMW or Porsche rivals, but it's stylish and fun. One recall deals with a clutch for the DSG that needs replacing.
Questionable
Here's a little two-seater from Mercedes-Benz that we can find up to 2013 with your dough. But don't get your hopes up: Smart may be owned by Merc, but its fortwo city car isn't exactly a luxury vehicle. It's easy to park and gets great fuel economy, but you won't find anything exciting about its 70-horsepower 1.0-litre engine. You also won't get any second looks from people you'd like to have sitting beside you.
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