Kelley Blue Book names coolest cars under $18k
Cool doesn't have to be expensive. At least that's what the folks over at Kelley Blue Book figure. The website of the authoritative car-buying resource has put together a list of what they figure are the ten coolest cars you can buy with less than $18,000.
There are some definite good choices on the list, but some of their choices – and how they arrived at them – leave us scratching our heads and wondering if their cool-meter doesn't need recalibration. Rather than taking the entirely subjective Top Gear "Cool Wall" approach and anointing a car cool or not based purely on image, KBB.com came up with a list of criteria. A cool car, they figure, should have folding seats. Huh? Yeah, versatility was their first criteria, including such features as "clever cubbies and innovative storage solutions" as a prerequisite for classifying a car as cool or not. (That way you've got more places to hide your coolness.) Also taken into consideration were such factors as safety, fuel economy and cabin space, before subjective assessments came into the mix.
The resulting list includes a Chevy pick-up at the top, followed by a Focus, a tiny Honda, an Hyundai, a Jeep, a Mazda3, a Nissan hatch, a Scion, a Suzuki and a VW. Each was included in the sub-$18k list based on Kelley's own proprietary blue-book value; follow the link to find out what made each of these cars cool enough to make the cut.
[Source: Kelley Blue Book]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BartMack 8:29PM (4/25/2007)
Cool? the Scion-yes. hmmm...maybe the Hyundai, Jeep and Golf- ok cool enough, and maaybee the Mazda.. yeah ok the Mazda too, but hey, the Fit? Suzuki? Focus? no, no, not cool, just inexpensive transport- sorry.
The truck, only in black, my friends, with chrome wheels and tint.
Reply
iorange 8:30PM (4/25/2007)
for once I agree with something on this site.. I bought a (used svt) Focus last december and love it.. great fuel economy, great performance really really fun to drive.. although I know the SVT and regular foci are different, the platform itself is great.. now if we could only get the new euro version.
Reply
Jaymez 8:47PM (4/25/2007)
Too bad the truck they chose as "cool" is only available in a 6 cylinder.
Reply
Deezee 8:49PM (4/25/2007)
Out of all of those I'd probably only take the Mazda3 and Focus.
Reply
CT A 9:12PM (4/25/2007)
V-Dub... Jaaaa
Reply
Steve Shickles 9:40PM (4/25/2007)
No Jeep?
Reply
jj 10:42PM (4/25/2007)
Hate on the Fit all you like, but it's a sweet car, and not just for the money.
Reply
whathe? 11:42PM (4/25/2007)
Rabbit is best by far.
Reply
Endurancevm 12:36AM (4/26/2007)
None of those vehicles are cool.
Reply
dan the viking 12:50AM (4/26/2007)
ridiculous.
utter nonsense.
utterly meaningless.
publishing rankings like this (and trust me, they know it's nonsense) are just attention-seeking behavior, so that people would pay attention to the organization (kbb in this case)
Reply
joseph O 12:54AM (4/26/2007)
cool is like porn: you can't define it, but you know it when you see it.
Reply
Cody 7:54AM (4/26/2007)
It's hard to be cool for reasonable money. Your not going to get 911 or vette cool at this price. I like all on the list except for the Jeep. I still can't get it in my head that a Jeep can be car based. Sorry Jeep.
Reply
mike 9:36AM (4/26/2007)
For $18k you can get any number of used BMW, Audi, Merc and can't you get a new MINI for just over $18k ($18,700 I believe)? I think the Fit fits but it doesn't compare in cool factor to a clean pre-owned BMW. Talk about reliability all you want. I've had 7 BMW's thus far and they have been nothing but reliable and never expensive to fix (ok, once I broke something on an e28 M5 that WAS NOT CHEAP but otherwise, affordable).
Reply
skeptic 8:44AM (4/26/2007)
The Jeep Cherokee (1984) was a unibody - hence the first "car based" jeep was the one that became the most mainstream. As far as I am concerned, The new Patriot is a faithful extension of the brand. Maybe it doesnt have the same abilities as the XJ did, but the aftermarket can do wonders.
Now the Compass is an abomination simply because of its styling......more like a bloated Caliber than anything Jeep.
Reply
Geoff Gibson 4:13PM (4/26/2007)
They didn't include the new Mitsu Lancer in that list? Blasphemy! I mean the car is damn sexy, even in DE or LS versions, although the GTS is by far the sexiest.
I used to rant about how the Mazda3 was the best looking small car, but now it is by far the 2008 Lancer. I think I'll go test drive it this week.
Reply
Don 5:19PM (4/26/2007)
I'll take the Focus SES.
Reply