Dylan just bought a house in the San Francisco metro, the downside is that the garage is a bit too small for his 2019 RAV4. Since his girlfriend will be driving a more practical car, he wants something fun that can fit in the garage. With a budget up to $30,000 what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
I bought a new house, and the garage is too small to fit a normal car while allowing me to get out of the driver’s seat. I currently have a 2019 RAV4 that is ~73″ in width. I need something that is <70″ so I can open the door and back myself out of the garage without assistance and side mirrors.
Convertibles great too since I can pop out the top.
My girlfriend’s getting a Model Y, so that will be the practical car (that’s parked on the street) while we have agreed my car will be the fun car! Budget is up to $30,000 and I am very open on body style.
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $30,000
Location: San Francisco
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Compact, fun, easy to park
Doesn’t want: Anything over 70 inches wide.
Expert 1: Tom McParland- Compact And Fun
Congratulations on the house, that is quite an achievement, especially in that housing market. Of course with good things, come some downsides but this is now an opportunity to trade out the RAV4 for something more enjoyable.
If you are looking for something compact and fun, you are the perfect case for a Mini Cooper. The standard hatchback body style measures 68 inches in width and you have the option of 2-door, 4-door, wagon or convertible. You can even get an EV but with the Tesla already in the driveway, it seems you are probably looking to have one gas car as well. I happen to think that the 2-door hatch is the best of the bunch in terms of style and features. I would recommend finding one with the panoramic sunroof for a “convertible-like” motoring experience. While a new car is likely out of budget, there are plenty of quality pre-owned examples in your region, like this well-equipped 2022 S model with 34,000 miles. Cast a wider net and you can score one in a more interesting color.
Expert 2: Owen Bellwood – The Right Kind Of Compact And Fun
This was tougher than I’d expected, mostly because I was today years old when I found out that the Ford Focus RS was more than 70 inches wide. But never fear, because there are some equally excellent options out there, as Tom has found with the Mini.
I think you can do better than that, so I’m going to suggest the most fun kind of car you can find: a convertible. Because if you want a fun, small car that won’t break the bank, there’s really only one option: the Honda S2000.
Sure, the Mazda Miata might be the obvious fun, cheap car out there, but with your budget to play with I’ve unearthed two great S2000s that I think would suit you down to a T. They’re both finished in classic silver, both look to be in great condition and both come in on budget. What’s more, this one has only done 37,000 miles with one careful owner, which is nothing in Honda terms, and it comes in well under 70 inches, looks awesome and will surely leave you with a big smile on your face every time you see what’s parked up in your garage.
Expert 3: Rory Carroll – Just Get A BRZ
These are really excellent cars and this one is just under your cash budget at $29,990 AND just under your width budget at 69.9 inches. It’s fun to drive. offers a reasonable amount of interior space and nails the comfortable/engaging balance. You should try to talk your GF out of that Model Y, those things are junk.
Expert 4: Bradley Brownell – Be Young And Save A Buck
When it comes to a compact car that’s fun to drive, not that long ago the answer was Ford Fiesta ST. Maybe that’s still the answer. There’s a really nice low-mile example on Cars & Bids right now, and as of this writing the bidding is only up to $8,209. Go grab yourself maybe the best handling front-wheel-drive car of the modern era, it’s a really good little machine.
If it was my choice, I’d hold out for one of the fairly rare “Molten Orange” painted machines, but this “Magnetic Metallic” example is maybe one of the nicest examples left in the world. It’s nimble and quick enough to zip through traffic in San Francisco, but small enough you’ll still be able to find parking. And it’s handy for trips outside of the city, because it’ll fit four people and most of their stuff. Go. Buy.
