I say spend 8K on a solid used car and spend the rest of awesome ski gear. My first car was 4k. Imagine what I could've done with that extra 11k. We're talking heli-trips here.
my budget is 15k but realistically im trying to find the cheapest car possible and since my parents are paying they do not want to get me a car thats gonna break down which will end up costing them more money
Are your parents going to pay for insurance? Insurance for a male first time driver is absolutely retarded. No kid in high school can afford that shit.
Well I bought a 2007 impreza today with 64000 on it for 6500, and from the 4 or so hours I have had in it and getting to mess around in the snow, I would recommend it...
OK, well then try to get a used Outback or Forester. There's always good deals on those, they're super safe, can hold a lot of gear/people, kill it in the snow, and are decently economical with gas. Especially the newer ones.