By Jared Hinderer

A teen’s first car represents a lot. It represents their first step to independence, and a small sign of freedom. It also represents a big responsibility. Also, with so many choices, buying a first car is a tough choice. So what do you do? Think about what is important to you. Do you like cars? Do you not care what you drive, just as long as it gets you there? Or do you want something small and sporty?

This week I will make my suggestions for a price range of up to $5000. I will try to help out with some suggestions to get you thinking about your choices by covering three types of cars; the “A to B” eco-car for those that just want to get there, a more luxurious ride for those that want to drive in comfort and style, and sporty option for those who enjoy a bit of fun while commuting.

My choices for cars up $5000:

 1. Toyota Camry. As the “A to B” car of this price range, I like the 1997-2002 Toyota Camry. These vary in price from $3000-$4500 depending on condition and mileage. These cars continue to get high ratings for reliability and overall quality. Having driven a few Camrys, I can verify that they really a quality product, especially for the price.

2. Volvo S70. Entry level luxury can’t be defined any better than a solid Swedish built Volvo. That’s why the 1998 to 2000 S70 takes the spot for the luxury car in this range. Volvos are very safe cars and often receive high praise for their durability and reliability. With the T5 model pushing 236 horsepower, they are reasonably quick. Although, take caution when going with this option, because, while these are reliable vehicles, they can be costly to maintain if something does go wrong.

3. Mazda Miata. At the risk of being supremely cliché, the Miata is what makes it as my sports car suggestion for under $5000. While they are not exactly safe cars, they are an absolute blast to drive. Not the fastest, by far, but definitely a fun car. And for those of us really into cars, aftermarket parts are quite cheap and accessible, so it’s not difficult to make one a bit quicker.

Be sure to check back next week for more of my picks of cars at a slightly higher price range of $5000-$10000.