High school is full of new experiences that we all go through as teenagers, most of which can be very stressful. But what most of us look forward to the most, is the day we are a able to  drive a car. The day that we no longer have to ask our parents to take us to a friends house, or ride to school on the bus. But the taste of freedom can easily be soured by one issue: which car should I buy? For this very reason, we have put together a list of five cars that you can find in good condition for under five thousand dollars, one or two summers of work, that will treat you well all the way through high school and into young adulthood. Craigslist, Cars.com, and Autotrader are some of the many reliable websites that you can use to search for your first  high school car.

1999-2002 Toyota 4runner: Versatility, reliability, and ruggedness are just a few of the things that Toyota 4runners are known for. The price point of the 4runner has a lot of variance, but can be found for far below the max of five thousand dollars. Along with the low price point, if you ever have to make a repair, it won’t break the bank: Toyota is a very generic brand of vehicles which means the parts are abundant and very affordable.

1900-2000 Ford F-150: The Ford F-150 is one of the most well-known trucks out there. With the F-150, you get reliability, power, and something that is going to last you quite a while. The price point of this truck varies, but you can definitely buy a good running F-150 for below the budget of 5k. These years of F-150 models are very safe too. They are built like a tank with a huge suspension system, and a smooth highway ride. You also don’t need to break the bank with repairs on this truck, because it’s very dependable and won’t break down in the first place.

1991-1997 Mazda Miata: Are you looking for an affordable, zippy, and small sports car? If you are, the Mazda Miata is the car for you.These roadsters are plenty of fun to drive and definitely don’t cost a fortune. You can find a lot of used Miatas under 5k on either Craigslist or eBay. Just check the descriptions first to make sure it’s reliable. Miata engines are very small, but stand up to heavy use pretty well. These little cars can last forever if you  keep it well-maintained.

1998-2004 Toyota Camry: When looking for a first highschool car, a Toyota Camry has been a popular choice for students. Following the same trend as the 4runner, the Camry has endless reliability all in a small, compact package. Camry’s can be found very cheap too, well under the price point of 5k. Surprisingly, this car can be fun to drive. It is has great acceleration for a small 4 cylinder car. This car can also run well past 200k miles (it will basically never break down).

1991-1993 Volvo 240 station wagon: When it comes to station wagons, the 240 is a legend. You get dependability, reliability, and a car that will last you an eternity. This wagon has been a choice for beginner drivers ever since Volvo came out with it. You can find the 240 dirt cheap too, especially on Craigslist or eBay. For what you pay it drives better than many newer vehicles. The maintenance on this car is affordable and repair parts are plentiful. As far as safety goes, there should be no worries. Volvo makes some of the safest cars out there. Overall, this is a great car for high schoolers, and definitely a keeper.

We hope that this guide to good high school cars will help you when it comes time for you to get a car. All of these recommendations are great for young drivers ready to get out on the road. Our cars are mainly chosen for reliability but also cars that will let you beat them up like all high schoolers will.