5 Cars: Bergen Buggies for the Budget Conscious

It occurred to us that despite our young age, we have never, ever owned a brand-new car. Yes, we've purchased cars proclaimed as "new to me!," but they've all been used vehicles.

While that is perfectly OK, thinking about this week's installment of 5 Cars, and given that we focused on super-expensive vehicles a few weeks ago, we wanted to see what the new-car market looked like for those with thin wallets (in our search, we limited ourselves to a maximum price of $13,000, the price we paid for our last previously-owned vehicle). 

And guess what: They are not easy to find. But there are options for you to smell new-car scent in an actual brand-new car.

1. 2013 Chevrolet Spark LS  - New - $12,995

From Cars.com: We met the quirky and fun Chevy Spark a couple of weeks ago, and this one returned to our attention because we found it in denim! Yes, denim is the exterior color for this model, a four-passenger, five-door hatchback that features a bold style, lots of room for people and stuff, front bucket seats, black cloth interior, front wheel drive and more. And it's under $13,000, so it's quite kind to the pocketbook.

Available soon at Paramus Chevrolet.

2. 2013 Nissan Versa  S - New - $12,950

From Ebay.com: A lot of bang for the buck with this one: This gray sedan with matching interior is under $15,000 and offers a lot in exchange for the relatively tiny price tag. The Versa S features manual transmission, a 1.6 liter inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine, 109 HP horsepower, ABS and driveline tracking control, body-colored bumpers, bucket seats in front and more.

Available at Ramsey Auto.

3. 2013 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ - New - $3,585

From Cars.com: Normally priced in the $20,000 range, this Equinox is a steal for your budget at a reduced priced. This SUV features a 2.4-liter gas engine with 6-speed automatic transmission. It is also outfitted with a compass, braking assist, audio controls on the steering wheel and much more.

Available at Englewood Auto Group.

4. 2012 Toyota Yaris L - Used - $12,901

From Cars.com: This hatchback may have been driven for the past year, but for the pricetag of under $13,000 the 1.5-liter, four-speed automatic transmission is a deal. Features include an MP3 player, bucket seats, power outlet, stability control, and traction control.

Available at Glen Toyota of Fair Lawn.

5. 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S - Used - $11,989

From Cars.com: We had to go for this used Rabbit because it happens to be the least expensive German hatchback in the North Jersey area. This baby features a 2.5-liter gas 5-cylinder engine generating 170 horsepower, six air bags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, tire pressure monitoring, brake assist, traction control, head restraints and more.

Available at Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Paramus.