Simple thought experiment: you’re given a tax-free $5,000 limit and told to buy a car. Any car. We know what we’d buy — not that we didn’t spend a few hours debating and competing with each other for the “best” pick. This will be an ongoing series — other spending limits will follow — but why not start with the car we’re all most likely to purchase, perhaps on a whim? Check out our picks below… and please keep us in your thoughts as we annihilate our bank accounts.
What car would you buy with five grand? Click here to tell us — we’ll publish a bunch of the responses in an upcoming post.
1991 Volvo 240 (5-speed)
If you asked a four-year-old to draw a car, the result would probably look like the Volvo 240, but therein lies its charm: It’s an honest car. The 240 has built up a reputation as a dependable, safe and comfortable car, so despite its age, it should do you well as an old-school means of practical conveyance. A beautiful forest green paint job and a five-speed manual only sweeten the deal. If you’re looking for something fast, look to whatever my coworkers have dug up — but if you’re only spending $5,000 on a car, I assume practicality trumps speeds. – Andrew Connor, Associate Staff Writer
Mileage: 177,000 miles
Original MSRP: $19,975
