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I'm 21 and would like to get my first car soon. Planning on financing a vehicle in the next two months. I have saved a good amount for the downpayment but I'm not sure what car I want. At first I wanted an 04 CLK but from reading the reviews about expensive to maintain and such, I'm now back to square one.

Which would b good picks? Thanks    

Well, the best way to get good answers here is to be far more specific about the type of car you want, the price you're willing to pay, whether you want new or used, and if have any special needs, like room for the exceptionally tall, or seating position for the short.  It might also help to specify what your priorities are--Style? luxury? reliability?

If you're 21 and looking at an 04 CLK, you're either looking at a high mileage one, or you have exceptionally good finances and can afford something with some serious style and performance potential.  If that's the case, forget the CLK.  I've driven them extensivly when I worked at a Merc dealer years ago.  They're nice, but overpriced for what you get, and anything Merc from 00-05 is not only unreliable, but expensive as *** to fix. And even if you're willing to deal with that for the Cache of a Three point star on your hood, consider that it's also a relatively lame handling car with mediocre performance for the money, especially with the V6.  

If you want a coupe in the mid to high $20K's, as a CLK might cost, look into an 04 Infinity G35 Coupe or Nissan Z350.  Both are essentially the same car, but the Infinity has a small back seat for emergencies, a better interior, a snarly exhaust note, a more compliant ride without sacraficing handling, and, I think, is sexier than the Z.  

If premium brand status is a must, and if you're gonna get an expensive German, get a BMW.  They're hands-down the best handling, sounding, feeling, looking coupes money can buy out of Germany, save Porsche.

Then again, if style and performance are your primary concern, the Audi TT with the 225HP 1.8T is fun and stylish, the Honda S2000 is hard-core fun and intense (and a 2004 has the 2.2 with better torque than the original), the the Subaru WRX is dopey lookin but a cult favorit for people who want serious speed and handling wihtout attracting police attention, and the Mazda RX-8 is quick, unique, rare, stylish, and functional as long as you're willing to accept poor gas mileage and be very careful about checking your oil quantity.  

I didn't necessarily want a coupe, just thought the CLK looked nice and it's a coupe. Since u pointed out the maintainance fee and all that other stuff, I'm now open to more options.

I'm willing to finance anything up to 30k. I'm a small person, no preference whether it be a sedan or a coupe, just looking for a reliable decent car.

I will start checking out the Audi's. I'm not a fan of Honda.  

I also like the Lexus GS 2003 and up.  

Well I'm still not sure if you prioritize speed over luxry, style over substance, or status over value...but it seems that you simply want a "nice" car.  

The thing is that up to 30K, there are a TON of options, each with their own pros and cons, and things get far more complicted when you consider the price difference between new "entry level" premium cars and used.  

But if reliability is a priority, it's hard to justify some of the premium european brands like Mercedes, BMW, and Audi because, while none are likely to leave you stranded by the side of the road, they have a reputation for minor electrical glitches that, while covered by warrantee, require a day in at the service department.  It also seems like new car would offer the most hassle-free experience due to a full factory-supported warrantee.  

So, unless you specify otherwise, I'll assume that a new car is what you want.

If the chance of small problems (in reality, they can happen to ANY car, even a toyota) doesn't bother you, consider the Audi A3. It's a smallish 4 door hatch that's quick, stylish (if you dig the utility of a hatch), and really nicely appointed on the inside.  

That's pretty much the only German new car option in that price range, I can only think of one other "premium" brand that offers a well equipped new car for under 30K.  The Acura TSX is a nice looking, richly appointed, fun to drive 4dr sedan.  It has an excellent reputation for reliability, and is likely to be more trouble-free than an audi.  

As for non-premium brands, you can get loaded examples of sedans and coupes for under 30K, but with many of the premium items that are options on Audis and BMWs.  The Nissan altima is updated for this year, and is stylish, fast (with the V6), and well built.  The Toyota Camry is common and hardly exciting, but very nice, and absolutely loaded with features in that price range, including a very powerful V6.  More interesting is the Mazda6, a stylish 4dr sedan that's sportier than most, and available as a "mazdaspeed6", with lots of power and All wheel drive.  

If you want something flashier, or at least more sporty, again consider the Mazda RX-8.  It's a sports car with a novel 4-door arrangement that allows reasonable comfort for 4 passengers.  But be prepared for high fuel and oil consumption.  

Not a small person and wanting just a good reliable car? But your first choice is a 20K 3 year old car? I think  you have some good suggestions to substitute for your first choice already. But if you really want a roomy comfortable reliable car, you should check out the Sonata/Optimas and get a brand new one and a new boat or motorcycle for the same money.