Mike lives in Texas and using Jalop math has determined that it’s better to have two cars instead of just one. He will be selling his trusty Tacoma and wants to replace it with a reliable commuter and something fun for the weekends. With a combined budget of about $45,000, which cars should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
Quick Facts:
I’m looking to trade out my late model Tacoma for 2 vehicles – one for daily duty (possibly another truck) and one for weekend fun. I like the utility of the truck and use the bed frequently, so it’d be great to retain that utility, but we have a minivan that can do that work, too, so I don’t have to get a different truck. I’m handy but have very little wrenching experience but want to get more so the weekend fun can can be something that I can work on and restore over time, but the daily needs to be as low maintenance as possible. I’m torn between the many iterations of my options: a super cheap weekender and a modestly priced used daily, or possibly two very reasonably priced cars, etc, etc. There are endless options and I need some better ideas than just buying a decent Boxster and seeing what’s leftover for a beater Accord or Camry. Combined budget is about $45K.
Car 1 needs to get me from A to B reliably. Car 2 needs to make me feel alive (I’m an accountant so I’m basically dead inside 5 days a week). The fun car i’m targeting small and quick, I don’t need a lot of power. Ideally some kind of convertible or hatchback with a manual. Also, no crossovers or anything from Stellantis/FCA
Budget: Up to $45,00 for both
Location: Houston, TX
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Car 1 – Reliable, easy. Car 2- Fun, manual, small
Doesn’t want: A crossover
Expert 1: Tom McParland – New School + Old School
Mike, you are correct that it is better to have several vehicles each with their specific purpose over one car that tries to do it all. Though you could spend your total budget on a new GR Corolla and that would check all your boxes, since the market for that hot-hatch isn’t favorable, it’s best to split the budget.
For the commuter car, you want easy and low cost; in that case, it’s worth having a look at a lightly used Chevy Bolt. As we have mentioned before, these cars have had their batteries replaced so they benefit from an increase in range and most of them have a long warranty balance. You may also qualify for the tax credit on used cars making the net cost even lower. For example, here is a 2021 LT in an excellent color, barely used with only 1300 miles for about $18,000. When you factor in the tax savings your net cost gives you quite a bit leftover for the fun car.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should blow the whole remainder on the weekend toy. Since the Bolt is more of a “high-tech” ride, something a bit simpler might be the ticket for when you really want to connect with your car. If you are willing to look beyond the Texas borders you will find more options especially if you need a manual. For example, this 2013 BMW 135 convertible is perfect for enjoying the open road. You’ll get a 300 hp twin-turbo inline-six mated to an excellent manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. With less than 55,000 miles, this Bimmer looks really clean for only $17,000. That’s a lot of cash left over for German car maintenance, a home charging setup, and maybe even a nice getaway.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – We’re Getting Fancy
You know, the Bolt is a solid suggestion, Mike. Especially since it’s probably quicker than you’d expect. If you’re not ready to go all-electric, though, I think it still makes sense to go for a hybrid. Nothing in Houston seems to be near anything else, so you’ll probably appreciate not using as much gas. A Prius would make sense, but I say you deserve to treat yourself and get the Lexus version instead.
The Lexus CT200h is still rated at 42 mpg combined, so it’s going to be significantly more efficient than your Tacoma, but it’s also going to be way more comfortable. My mom has had one for years, and it still feels essentially brand new, so age and mileage aren’t as important compared to buying another car. You can certainly find lower-mileage versions for more, but you should also seriously consider this 2011 CT200h that I found near you for only $9,500. That’s pretty cheap for a used car, but trust me. It won’t feel cheap.
With your first car squared away, we now have about $35,000 left to spend on your fun car. You could definitely go with Tom’s 135i suggestion, but I’m guessing that since you mentioned it in your email, you like the idea of a Boxster. So let’s get you a Boxster. This 2006 Boxster S has just under 26,000 miles and costs $27,865. That’s a lot of money for a car that’s more than 15 years old, but that’s just the market for manual Boxsters these days. It also comes in far below what’s left of your budget, which means you should be able to afford to fix any problems that pop up.
Now, it might sound crazy to spend so much more money on your weekend car than your daily, but once you test drive the CT200h, it’ll all make sense. You’ll be getting a lot more car than that $9,500 price tag would suggest. Obviously, the Porsche will be way more fun to drive, but at the very least, the Lexus won’t feel like you’re sitting in a penalty box. Come on, Mike. Get the Boxster you really want.
Expert 3: Bradley Brownell – Boring & Bonkers
When someone says they want reliable daily transportation, my brain immediately jumps to Prius. It’s all the car most Americans need. Toyota built the perfect commuter car, and the plug-in Prime variant is even better. Your budget isn’t high enough to get a brand new one, but here’s a 2018 with 10,000 miles on it. Take care of it, and it’ll deliver 60+ miles per gallon for the next couple hundred thousand miles. You won’t love it for its excitement, but it has Toyota reliability, cheap parts, and it’s basically free to operate compared to your Tacoma. This one is just shy of $18,000 which gives you lots of room for a fun thing to add.
Which is why I’m recommending you get a brand new Polaris Slingshot as your second “car”. Grab a base model Slingshot S from the dealer with a warranty and more drama per dollar than an episode of Real Housewives. I reviewed one back in 2020, and immediately fell in love with it. It’s a rear-wheel-drive open-top machine with a stick and an 8,500 RPM redline for $21,499. I mean, come on, you can’t come close to that in anything else for less money or without switching to a motorcycle. Spend the rest of your budget on safety gear, because you’ll want a nice closed-face helmet with Bluetooth audio and a nice jacket for the best experience.
This is the most pure of two-car-solutions out there. Nothing else will beat it in your budget.