what kind of car should a 16 year drive?

Well, dont get the Mercedes C320, terrible car and terrible engine. SAAB are terrible cars with the worse reliability. The BMW is the only real choice. The 3 Series has been critically acclaimed and as been on the CarandDriver Best10 Cars list for years. But with your money, there are way better cars out there. Here is a list of cars around your price range:

Used Cars For Around 12,000:

2005-2009 Ford Mustang V6/GT (RWD 0-60 5.5-6.8 sec)

1990-1996 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (RWD 0-60 5.9 sec)

1995-1999 BMW M3 (RWD 0-60 5.4)

2000-2005 BMW 3 Series (RWD 0-60 7 sec) (#5 Best Buy for Used Car)

1995-2001 BMW 7 Seres (RWD 0-60 7.9 sec)

2003 Infiniti G35 Sedan (RWD 0-60 5.9 sec)

2000-2005 Lexus IS 300 (RWD 0-60 7.4 sec)

2000-2007 Mercedes C-Class (RWD 0-60 6.8-8.9 sec)

2000-2003 Nissan Maxima (FWD 0-60 8.3 sec)

2007-2008 Dodge Caliber (FWD 0-60 8.8 sec)

2003-2005 Dodge SRT-4 (FWD 0-60 5.6 sec)

2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS SuperCharged (RWD 0-60 5.7 sec)

2003-2007 Honda Accord Sedan/Coupe (FWD 0-60 7.5 sec)

1990-2003 Mazda Miata (RWD 0-60 8.3 sec)

1998-2000 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (RWD 0-60 5.6 sec)

2003-2005 Honda Civic Si (FWD 0-60 6.7 sec)

2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Type S (FWD 0-60 8.9 sec)

2003-2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan (RWD 0-60 6.7 sec)

1989-1996 Acura Legend (FWD 0-60 8.3 sec)

2005-2007 Dodge Magnum (RWD 0-60 7.8 sec)

2001-2004 Volvo S60 (FWD 0-60 7.3 sec)

1996-1998 Audi A4 (FWD 0-60 8.4 sec)

2006-2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse (FWD 0-60 8.3 sec)

1998-2007 Ford Crown Victoria (RWD 0-60 8.7 sec)

1997-2003 BMW 5 Series (RWD 0-60 ?)

1994-2001 Volkswagen Golf (FWD 0-60 8.2 sec)

2000-2004 Honda S2000 (RWD 0-60 5.7 sec)

2004-2005 Pontiac GTO 5.7 (RWD 0-60 5.3 sec)

1994-1998 Ford Mustang Cobra (RWD 0-60 6 sec)

1999-2004 Ford Mustang GT/Mach 1/Bullitt (RWD 0-60 5.8-6.3 sec)

1992-2000 Lexus SC 300/400 (RWD 0-60 5.9-8 sec)

2003-2006 Hyundai Tiburon (FWD 0-60 9 sec)

1998-2002 Honda Accord Coupe (FWD 0-60 6.9-7.6 sec)

1997-2002 Honda Prelude (FWD 0-60 7.6 sec)

1997-2004 Porsche Boxster (RWD 0-60 6.9 sec?)

2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL Class (RWD 0-60 I think 6.8 sec)

2006 Dodge Charget 2.7L V6 (RWD 0-60 9 sec)

1991-1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT Base/VR4 (RWD/AWD 0-60 5.8 sec-7 sec)

2002-Up Jaguar X-Type (RWD 0-60 8.1 sec)

2000-2004 Jaguar S-Type (RWD 0-60 6.2 sec)

2004-2006 Scion xB (FWD 0-60 8.5 sec)

1992-1996 Jaguar XJS (RWD 0-60 6.7 sec)

1995-1998 Nissan 240sx (RWD 0-60 8.1 sec)

1984-1996 Chevrolet Corvette (RWD 0-60 4.7 sec)

1993-1994 Infiniti J30 Base/Touring (RWD 0-60 8.7 sec)

2000-2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (RWD 0-60 9 sec)

2003-2007 Cadillac CTS (RWD 0-60 7.8 sec)

1999-2006 Toyota Solara (FWD 0-60 9.2 sec)

2008-2009 Mitsubishi Lancer DX (FWD 0-60 9.4 sec)

2002-2006 Nissan Altima 2.5/3.5(FWD 0-60 6.7-8.9 sec)

2004-2006 Nissan Sentra SE-R (FWD 0-60 5.8 sec)

1989-1994 Nissan Skyline (AWD 0-60 6.7 sec)

2002-2005 Subaru Impreza WRX (AWD 0-60 6.9 sec)

2002-2006 Toyota Camry LE/SE/XLE (FWD 0-60 7.2-8.7sec)

2000-2006 Audi TT (FWD 0-60 7.8 sec)

1999-2002 BMW M Coupe (RWD 0-60 5.2 sec) (#3 Best Buy for Used Car)

2002-2004 Ford SVT Focus (FWD 0-60 7.4 sec) (#1 Best Buy for Used Car)

1999-2005 Mazda Miata (RWD 0-60 6.5 sec) (#6 Best Buy for Used Car)

1999-2005 BMW 3 Series (RWD 0-60 6.3-10 sec) (#5 Best Buy for Used Car)

AND MANY MANY MORE!!!

Well I suppose you could get an old BMW 3 for under 12k, but you'd be better off buying a newer year Japanese car. They are more reliable and usually safer, especially since they will be newer. Research a little into the 2004-2008 Nissan Maxima. It has 5-star safety rating, Japanese reliability, 293-hp V6, 21-28 mpg, and you can get one with leather seats, navi system, and bose sound for around 12k.

EDIT:

Ugh, Alex, you keep filling all these questions with superb answers. :P

You would be better off in an old Buick or something you can afford and when you ruin it it won't be such a loss. You may have a hard time finding a MANUAL transmission. You need to not be so picky and work your way up to a nice car when you pay for it yourself along with the gas, maintenance and insurance.

BMW Z3

avoid Saab

if you have 12k to spend on a car, get 3 $4000 cars. You'll be better off, trust me. If you wreck one, you have another one to drive. Plus you won't need to get collision insurance since you can just part out the wrecked car and get a good chunk of money for it. Also, you can get three completely different cars so you'll never be bored with one.

Im selling my toyota camry. It may be kind of older than what youre looking for but its a manual and it runs great!

european cars are going to be so expensive on parts and servicing

judging by your budget you cant afford to spend so little on a car that will cost so much to maintain

stick to your toyota mazda holden and such.

those are not cheap, not reliable and expensive to maintain. if you want luxury, get a used lexus is300 or an acura tsx.

get someting you can afford to keep running if it needs work