Everyone wants to know where the gateway car went. You think it vanished, but perhaps you’re just looking in the wrong place.
New cars have hit record high prices. Right now, a new MK8 Volkswagen GTI has surged near (or over) a $40,000 sticker price. And even the Toyota GR86 isn’t far behind it. And these are the cars that are “supposed to be” built for younger buyers?! By the time you factor in tax, title, & these ridiculous dealer markup fees, they’ve all turned into platforms most 22-year-olds can only try to imagine financing. But – exciting, charismatic gateway cars have not necessarily vanished into extinction, they’ve just moved. They’re now on the used market… 2014-2019 something. Live listings suggest a variety of clean ~50k-mile MK7 GTIs available below $20,000. Fiesta STs are easily obtainable below $12,000. It’s a good time to be car shopping… if you know what you’re looking for
Here Are a few Likely Culprits
If I were gateway car shopping, here’s what I’d be looking at…
Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST is a killer bang for the buck. Heralded by automotive journalists worth their salt, Fiesta STs are light, fun, very affordable, and surprisingly rowdy in the aftermarket. It’s a dog tugging on its leash. All the attitude of a 90’s sport-compact, with turbocharged punch! Look out for blend door actuator failures (usually livable), and inquire whether or not the 10-year timing belt service has already been done. If not, use it as a little negotiating leverage. If you need a bit more size & versatility, the Focus ST is also a barrel of monkeys. These single-generation, one-&-done ST cars are guaranteed cult-classics.
Toyota FRS/86 and Subaru BRZ
The FRS/FT-86/BRZ is THE timeless, soulful, RWD sports car experience. Everything you need for a great driving experience, and nothing you don’t. These platforms have all the intangible/classic ingredients that make you fall in love with your car. The chassis is incredible, and the Subaru boxer engine gives the car a low center of gravity. However, the engine can also be the weak link. Where most owners go wrong, is they try to overpower it. My advice: Add bolt-ons & have fun, but don’t try to break horsepower records. Enjoy the car for the classic (almost 80’s) sports car experience it offers.
Mazda Miata
I almost skipped the Miata, but it deserves to be here. Historically, the Miata was not necessarily at the top of younger buyers’ list. But consider this: No carmaker has stayed truer to their roots, than Mazda with the Miata. Even the Porsche 911 got fat; Miata never did. It never sold out to changing market trends. In my mind, that’s punk rock. Plus – I think there’s something in the Miata, that speaks to younger buyers who feel some sense of attachment to an era they never got to live in. If you can find one in the budget, 2019+ is ideal because of some engine/horsepower tweaks. But overall, the ND-generation Miata has been out since 2015, making it a great bargain for a car that is both ‘current’ and timeless.
Subaru WRX
If you’re looking for all-wheel-drive – the WRX is a burly way to get it. It’s a lifestyle vehicle through & through. Lift it a little, lower it a lot, tarmac, dirt, snow… anything goes with a WRX. Similar to the 86, don’t try to break horsepower records unless you’re ready to break banks. Add reasonable mods, respect the transmission, and grow with it. And enjoy what a turbocharger, AWD, and 3-pedals can do for your soul.
9th-Gen Honda Civic Si
9th Generation Civic Si (2012-2015): I put this car on the list because it’s the last of the iconic, naturally-aspirated VTEC era. And if we’re talking about new-ish options… the sun is setting on these, and the window is closing. Admittedly, they’re not quite golden-age, high-revving Hondas. But they’ve still got enough golden-age traces left in them to feel it. My advice to get the most out of this car: Have fun with it, go wild, think light, and drive it like it’s 2002. That’s the spirit of the car & the Honda community (which is 2nd-to-none btw).
MK7 Volkswagen GTI
The MK7 GTI might go down as the best in the GTI lineage (at least in the modern era), before tech took over. It has impressive aftermarket power-potential, it’s razor sharp & can be missile-fast… all while having Euro sophistication & refinement. Try to find one that was previously-owned by a VW guru, and ask for scheduled-maintenance records, especially concerning things like DSG transmission services every 40k-miles. Because the downside is – these VWs can become Audi/Porsche expensive when they fail.
Modified?
If you’re buying one of these cars used, chances are, they might already have some modifications. These are not just A-to-B boring cars. Original owners bought these cars to drive them & enjoy them. And that’s ok! Because they probably took great care of them too. Aftermarket parts are probably fine (even a bonus) if they’re from well-respected brands & look to be installed legitimately.
The Loan Is The tricky Part
It’s wise for first-time buyers with short credit history to put some money down, get a shorter term, and finance less than the bank may be offering you. Don’t get starry-eyed at what they may approve you for. And don’t finance to the tippy-top level, you will not always get the best interest rate. Get in the habit right out the gate of paying a little more/extra than the monthly payment. It doesn’t take much, but doing so will build your credit, and pay the vehicle down faster than you think. Also – set aside a few hundred in your budget for unexpected repairs. Shopping multiple lenders is recommended. And if you’ve actually crunched the numbers after looking at regional inventory, used cars Philadelphia is great for giving a 100% more accurate price range across mileage than any other single listing page.
The Gateway Car Still exists…
They may not be brand new, but they can definitely still be exciting & ‘worth it’… you just have to know where to look. Prioritize older-school features that are timeless & true… over tech that is glitzy but glitchy. Look for vehicles that are relatively straightforward & easily serviceable. Cars that are built to last rather than planned to fail. For example, when hybrids fail, the cost to repair them can easily be more than the value of the vehicle at that time. Same goes with these CVT transmissions. You don’t want to be stuck holding that bag as a young buyer who’s still making payments. These days, older cars can often be less integrated & problematic than new ones. And less expensive & complicated to fix should a problem occur. A 10-year old car actually sits at low-key sweet-spot right now.
