Many singles I know decide to get something a little less “practical” in the grand scheme of things…

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So, you’re not married. That’s okay!

You don’t have kids? No worries.

You pretty much have the pick of the litter when it comes to buying a car. Why?

Because you don’t necessarily have specific requirements that need to be met when selecting a vehicle. Meaning, you don’t need to consider having a large enough backseat to fit car seats, unless you want a big back seat for other reasons. Like, you have a dog that weighs as much as an adult. Or you don’t need four doors because you’re pretty much the only one going to be inside the cabin at any given time.

Unless your profession requires you to haul around equipment or gear, you don’t have to buy a crossover, minivan, sedan or SUV… if you don’t want to.

That said, many singles I know decide to get something a little less “practical” in the grand scheme of things. Less practicality is usually spelled with five letters: coupe.

So, to those individuals who are the alpha of their one-person wolf pack, here are a few coupes under $30K to consider.

Honda Accord Coupe: Base MSRP $26,400

I’m starting off with the Accord because it’s a cool car. The current generation has so much going for it and definitely has developed more personality in the redesign. You have the option of two engines: a more economical 2.4L 4-cylinder or a more powerful 3.5L V6. Either way, you can get them equipped with a 6-speed manual or a CVT transmission. Only the EX-L Navi trim with the V6 has the option of a 6-speed automatic transmission. No matter how you slice it, you’re getting a great car. Better yet, it has a decent cargo capacity of 379L so you could easily dump your hockey gear inside. The interior is spacious and comfortable, and heck, it looks good.

MINI Coupe/Roadster: Base MSRP $25,950/$28,900

With room for two, even the base model of MINI Coupe or Roadster is a hoot. Specs-wise, it has the least impressive engine of the lot (only putting out 121 horsepower,) but that can be overlooked because of via driving dynamics. It has one of the best manual gearboxes for a car of its size and has an abundance of pep.

They’re not cheap, though. So it has that working against it in some regards. And you could argue that a Mazda MX-5 is a better value (you won’t be wrong) but it’s still loads of fun.

Dodge Challenger: Base MSRP $26,995

If you’re driving a Dodge Challenger, you’re getting noticed. You don’t even need to have the grunt and roar of the SRT’s 6.4L V8 HEMI to turn heads. Inside and out, this two-door has style and power. The base SXT trim comes equipped with a 3.6L V6 and 305 horsepower.

Kia Forte Koup: Base MSRP $20,550

For just over $20K, the Kia Forte Koup is a solid value. And it’s not a bad looking car either. Inside, the interior is well finished and isn’t cheap.

Furthermore, you have many great standard amenities that come with the base model like 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, heated front seats, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and more.

VW GTI: Base MSRP $29,375

The 3-door VW GTI is one of my favourite cars. The front-wheel, German engineered bundle of excitement has poise and pizzazz, along with a fabulous interior and a tried and tested engine. What’s great about the GTI is that it works for all ages. You could be 16 and driving it, or 60, and you’d still look good. You wouldn’t look out of place and people would give you nods of approval. Granted, the current generation is on its way out and the seventh generation (2014 model year) is coming soon. So if you want a killer deal on a 2013, now’s about as good of a time as any.

Contact: alexandra [dot] straub [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca