First-Time Car Buyer’s Guide: What to Skip & What to Grab
So you made it to the big time, champ. It’s time to buy your first new car. Whatever the impetus - need for reliability, comfort of a warranty, whatever - palming the keys to a brand new ride is indeed the right move for some people, never mind what the so-called internet experts say. Not everyone can afford to miss a day of work because that “great deal” of a used car failed to start again. Can it be smart and financially advantageous not to have a car payment? For some, yes. But it doesn’t work that way for everyone, which is why blanket advice is nonsensical.
Today’s list runs down a few reasonably-priced options from the new car lot for first-time car buyers, praising some as ‘grab’ and and some as ‘skip’. You’ll agree with some, get confused with others, and (since you’re the B&B) froth at the mouth over most. See you in the comments.
[Images: Manufacturers]
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Grab: 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback 2.5S - $25,150
Why did we pop for the hatch when an equivalently-priced Mazda3 sedan is a thousand bucks less damaging on yer bank account? Practicality, of course. Sure, the word ‘hatchback’ is radioactive to some Americans but its usefulness was driven home for your author this weekend when he couldn’t even begin to fit a pair of patio chairs in a compact sedan, ones which would have been swallowed easily had it been the hatch variant. It doesn’t hurt that this Mazda is absolutely sultry in hatchback form, especially when slathered with Deep Crystal Blue Mica paint, which Mazda sees fit to offer even on this base trim.
Grab: 2025 Subaru Impreza Base - $24,360
If a hatchback is practical, then all-wheel drive is even practicaler. Yes, we just made up a word. Deal with it. Adding all-wheel drive to the equation for one’s first new car is usually an expensive proposition but the Exploding Galaxy brand has been the purveyor or power to all four corners for ages. These days, even a base Impreza gets the likes of dual-zone climate control and LED headlamps which respond to steering inputs.
Skip: 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT - $39,395
Look, we know it’s tempting to belt into a pickup truck - acres of space, square-jaw good looks, and the ability to literally haul the mail. But even this affordable option (the MSRP shown here has little basis in reality given the amount of cash on the hood) isn’t the greatest of ideas. You’lll be stuck (literally) with a 2WD variant powered by the miserable four-banger. And base models still get an interior from the last generation truck, so it looks ten years old up in here. Ed. note -- Chevy doesn't appear to have images of the non-EV WT available, so we're using the regular Silverado. So no need to send corrections.
Grab: 2025 Ford Maverick XL - $28,145
So you really want a truck? Ok, fine. Grab a Maverick. At less than thirty grand, its price is approachable yet the machine still provides a dose of usability generally found in much larger pickups. Two-wheel drive seems to be less of a hindrance in the Mav than the truck mentioned earlier. As of this writing, both the gasser and hybrid have almost identical MSRPs though opting for the gas-powered version also brings all-wheel drive.
