New Cars for $10,000?

What can you get for 10 grand in the new-car market? Not much. Here is what i could find for around that price.

2009 Hyundai Accent GS 3-Door Base

Hyundai's Accent GS 3-Door starts at a featherweight $9,970 (not including the destination charge). It's hard to top a new car for less than 10 grand, especially when it comes packed with the kind of standard features this little Hyundai has, such as air conditioning and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. The company's outstanding 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty rides shotgun, and buyers are treated to great safety features including front, side and side-curtain airbags. Under the hood there's a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 110 horsepower, which is ample to scoot the little hatch along.

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Base

Nissan is proud of its Versa, and it should be. The company isn't offering any cash incentives at the moment, but when the base model Versa starts at $9,990, it doesn't need them. It's rare that so little coin can buy such a smart vehicle, but the Versa delivers with a robust 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 107 horsepower. Coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission, the engine makes the car feel light on its feet and peppy enough to garner disapproving glares from parents and law enforcement alike. Six standard airbags and a tire-pressure-monitoring system are also part of the package.

2009 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio starts off with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11,495. But Kia is offering up to $1,500 toward your purchase if you visit a dealer before June 1. That knocks the damage back to a manageable $9,995. Even more cash is available if you're a recent graduate or in the military. As in the Accent, there's a peppy 110 horsepower on tap thanks to a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. However, the Rio is a 4-door sedan that's much more family friendly than Hyundai's 3-door. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard equipment, although you can still go for the automatic and fall under our price cutoff thanks to Kia's rebate. Kia's 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty adds the kind of peace of mind that's worth a mint, too.

2009 Chevrolet Aveo

Chevrolet's entry into the small-car segment starts at $11,965, but with a $1,000 cash incentive available right now the Aveo slides just below $12,000. Available in either sedan or hatchback trims, the Aveo has a surprising amount of room inside and it also sips gas. Its fuel economy of around 34 mpg highway means you'll save some cash even after you're through making car payments. The Aveo also comes with a one-year subscription to GM's helpful OnStar system, meaning any kind of assistance is always just a push of a button away. Chevrolet has graced the Aveo with an efficient 106-horsepower Ecotec engine, and a 5-speed manual transmission is the order of the day for the base car. Granted, the Aveo is a bit north of the $10,000 price point

2008 Ford Focus Sedan

This year may not be a great one for dealerships, but last year wasn't much better. That means you can still find brand-new, never-registered 2008 models with plenty of cash incentives. Ford is offering up to $3,000 cash back on 2008 Focus sedans right now. With an MSRP of $14,995, that knocks your final price down to $11,995. Applying your best negotiating skills could cut that price even further. Even so, you probably won't be able to buy it for less than $10,000. But with a capable 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that boasts 140 horsepower, it's the most powerful car on the list and a bargain for under $12,000. The 5-speed manual transmission doesn't leave much to complain about, and Ford has done an excellent job of making an inexpensive interior not feel like one.