Good Car for $12K?

Buy a Ford Fiesta. That is what I just bought recently. It is a smaller car so it is agile and accelerates nicely. It gets excellent gas mileage with its i4 engine and the car has good looks also. And for 12k you can buy a brand new one and not have to settle for a used car.

I only paid 13.5k and that was only because I got the four door model. I couldn't be happier with the choice I made.

 

If you're Australian,

Ford XR6
Holden Commodore VY S
Holden Commodore VX/VT/VZ Calais

Or more european..

Golf 2.0 Sport (my dad had this, very zippy)
Nissan R34 ?

Make sure all Holdens are clocked less than 150,000kms.

 

I live in U.S., Northern Ohio. So it is hard to find a lot of nicer low mileage cars that haven't gone through harsh winters. As of right now I am narrowed down to the following:
Eclipse
Lancer
Mazda 3

I'm not really interested in the Honda kind of cars, I'd rather something "sportier". I drove an 09 Eclipse today and an 08 Honda Civic and the Eclipse accelerated better and drove better IMO. If you really feel like I should keep in mind another car, post pleading your case. Thanks so far guys, I appreciate it!

 

Try a Mazda Rx-8. Great car (1.3L) Wankel engine and pushes about 230hp. It has a GREAT interior and has paddle shifter.