5 Cars: Buggies for the Budget Conscious

It occurred to us that despite our advanced age, we have never, ever owned a brand-new car. Yes, we've purchased cars proclaimed as "new to me!," but they've all been used vehicles.

While that is perfectly OK, thinking about this week's installment of 5 Cars, and given that we focused on super-expensive vehicles last week, we wanted to see what the new-car market looked like for those with thin wallets (in our search, we limited ourselves to a maximum price of $17,000, the price we paid for our last previously-owned vehicle). 

And guess what: They are not easy to find. But there are options for you to smell new-car scent in an actual brand-new car.

1. 2013 Nissan Versa 1.6 S+ - New - $14,750

From Cars.com: A lot of bang for the buck with this one: This blue onyx sedan with a charcoal interior is under $15,000 and offers a lot in exchange for the relatively tiny price tag. The Versa 1.6 S+ features automatic CVT transmission, a 1.6 liter inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine, 109 HP horsepower, ABS and driveline tracking control, body-colored bumpers, bucket seats in front and more.

Available at Route 23 Auto Mall in Butler.

2. 2013 Chevrolet Spark LS  - New - $12,995

From Cars.com: We met the quirky and fun Chevy Spark a couple of weeks ago, and this one returned to our attention because we found it in denim! Yes, denim is the exterior color for this model, a four-passenger, five-door hatchback that features a bold style, lots of room for people and stuff, front bucket seats, black cloth interior, front wheel drive and more. And it's under $13,000, so it's quite kind to the pocketbook.

Available at Gearhart Chevrolet in Denville.  

3. 2013 Infiniti G37X - New - $289/month

From Craigslist: This one is a little bit of a sidestep in terms of the money—it's a new car, a 2013, but a two-year lease as opposed to a purchase. (All told, you would still spend less than $17,000.) But how good will you look for those 24 months? This ride is packed with luxuries, including a rear back-up camera, parking sensors, all wheel drive, navigation system, leather interior, heated seats, audio streaming, a moon roof, "Intelligent Key" push-button start, satellite radio and a 328 HP V6 engine. Suh-weet.

Contact the seller via text at 862-243-9144 for more info. 

4. 2013 Honda Fit - New - $16,915

From AOL Autos: Hondas are among the most durable cars out there (we drive one), and this new Fit is just plain adorable to boot. This one comes in Milano Red and has a 5-speed automatic transmission, a 1.5 liter engine, bucket seats, an AM/FM stereo-CD player-mp3 player, cruise control, keyless entry and more.

Available at Madison Honda in Madison. 

5. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta - New - $17,515

We had to go above our limit a little to find this one, but hey, we're window-shopping, right (and haggling is a tried and true part of the car-buying process). According to AOL Autos, the Jetta is the least expensive German sedan in the North American market, so it is possible to find deals that go even lower than the manufacturer's recommended starting price. This baby features a 2.5-liter gas 5-cylinder engine generating 170 horsepower, six air bags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, tire pressure monitoring, brake assist, traction control, head restraints and more.

Available at Trend Motors VW in Rockaway.