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+--- Thread: New (used) car suggestions... (/showthread.php?tid=7024)
New (used) car suggestions... - Jake - 02-25-2008
Hey everyone. I have an 01 Escape that I'm looking to sell due to fairly awful mileage (17 MPG in town, only about 20 on the highway) for a 'compact' SUV. It's fast-ish for an SUV (200 HP V6) and handles okay - again, for an SUV. It was mom's first, now it's mine, and now I want something more fun that's better on gas.
That's kind of broad, so I'm looking for suggestions. I'd like to get about 30 mpg on the highway, and it's gotta be a stick. A convertible would be nice but a sunroof will do. In a sedan vs. coupe battle, I'd take the coupe. Ideally, this car would be oh, a 98-ish or newer and cost about $10k max.
I've been looking at a lot of different models and have come away very impressed from various BMWs I've driven. I've driven a Z3 2.8, E36 coupe, and E46 coupe. They were all fantastic to drive and I'd be happy with any of them. My big concern is reliability - i.e. I could afford the car, but not the maintenence that goes with it.
I could get a NB Miata (99-05) with everything I want for a decent price. I'm a little worried about the size; granted, to move and stuff I'll need a U-Haul or something anyway.
So... I'm very open to suggestions. Post up what you think could work for me, and I'll try and take a look at things that are interesting over break. Thanks
- HAULN-SS - 02-25-2008
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with the right tweaking these can get almost 30mpg.
- Goodspeed - 02-25-2008
![[Image: my_240sx_RPF1.jpg]](http://www.ka24development.com/file_images/my_240sx_RPF1.jpg)
![[Image: 2576076_2_full.jpg]](http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576076_2_full.jpg)
![[Image: toyota-mr2.jpg]](http://www.cartuningcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/toyota-mr2.jpg)
The 240 is reliable, reasonably sporty and is supported by a massive aftermarket. I almost got one of these and researched them heavily so I could give you a few more pointers on those. Depending on trim level, you can get a sunroof. The Miata has the same qualities, just a smaller package and easier to find at a reasonable price. The MR2 is my favorite of the group hands down, but again sourcing one and pricing can be an issue there. But its the best-looking, with turbo power and T-tops to boot. If you look hard enough, 10g's will get you a very good example of each.
- Mike - 02-25-2008
10k... hrmmm...
my short list would be:
e36
impreza (old 2.5 or wrx)
miata
mr2
ep civic
- G.Irish - 02-25-2008
Go with the Miata. You'll enjoy driving it and parts are cheap and plentiful. If you need cargo room to move stuff just hit up a friend or something. At any given time someone in MM has a truck or SUV.
I think the E46 is a bit better on maintenance issues than the E36 was but the BMW experts here will have to weigh in on that one. That would be a great car also.
- CaptainHenreh - 02-25-2008
The Camarobird answer is a good one,
- Mike - 02-25-2008
ohhh! i really dig the 240 idea too. pretty spacious, can be made to go and look like stink for relatively cheap.
- Mike - 02-25-2008
double post: you're starting to approach used s2k territory too. any chance you could swing another 2-3k? you would not be disappointed.
- Evan - 02-25-2008
NB Miata.
- Jake - 02-25-2008
Hmm. Well so far I'm digging the Miata and E36 (duh, I suggested them). The Camaro/Firebird is another one that has me interested. They can get roughly 30 on the highway, for real? That's insane. I'll have to try and drive one over spring break if I can find one.
The S2000 could be good. Mom looked at them when she got the XFire and I remember being pretty impressed just sitting in one. I'll go take a look. Who knows, maybe I'll find a random deal or something.
Not a fan of the 240. Just not my style. I'm not a huge fan of the MR2 either... but I'd choose that over the 240, if that helps. The Impreza could be good. I'll take a look at those as well.
Any BMW owners out there who want to chat about reliability?
- HAULN-SS - 02-25-2008
Jake Wrote:Hmm. Well so far I'm digging the Miata and E36 (duh, I suggested them). The Camaro/Firebird is another one that has me interested. They can get roughly 30 on the highway, for real? That's insane. I'll have to try and drive one over spring break if I can find one.
Probably more like 28 in reality...but I'd say the "at least" 350hp tradeoff is worth it.
- JustinG - 02-25-2008
u could get a really nice 2g GSX for that kinda cash
- WRXtranceformed - 02-25-2008
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Not a convertible, but man that would be fun to drive and it would get pretty good gas mileage I bet. Subies are about as reliable as they come (in stockish form :lol
Just put what you can of the interior back in.
- JustinG - 02-25-2008
hell yea good call lee
- JohnC - 02-25-2008
Jake Wrote:Any BMW owners out there who want to chat about reliability?
I just bought an E46 sedan. I did a ton of research and basically came up with this: If the car was decently maintained, and you check all of the common E46 trouble spots, then it should be plenty reliable. Parts aren't *that* expensive, and most routine maintenance is easily DIY. Spend a couple of hours reading some E46 forums, and I think you'll come to the same conclusion.
Suffice to say, I'm not any more scared of reliability with this car vs. anything else I've owned (certainly less than the Z32), and the driving experience alone would make me forgive a lot
- BLINGMW - 02-25-2008
You should be able to find an early e46, a 323 or MAYBE a 325 for 10k. FWIW, if I had to choose between a 2000 323 with 120k on it and, say a 1998 328 with half the miles, and both were similarly taken care of, I'd take the e46 as IMHO it would be more reliable. However, I'd recommend neither of them if you can't (or don't like to) do basic service work and repair yourself. If you can do the basics, and stay away from the dealer, parts and such aren't too bad if you do need them.
- ScottyB - 02-25-2008
i can vouch for a suby. 10k will buy you a nice 2.5RS. they are very simple cars, easy to maintain and with so much platform interchangability and monstrous aftermarket you can modify until your savings account is toast. they are unique and rewarding cars to drive and will give you all-year all-weather utility. they also aren't as large a theft magnet as many other imports. i regularly see 28+ mpg combined on mine and they take 87 pee-water octane.
personally though i would give the highest nod to the 2nd gen miata. they are bulletproof and cheap to own/insure/modify. you will get a great teaching in RWD dynamics and if you are strapped for space, just do like alot of autocrossers and get yourself a hitch and a small harbor freight trailer (you can store them in a closet and they hold like 1000 pounds). miatas are easy to learn but you will be a long time outgrowing their maximum performance.
i would not recommend a mid engined car as a starter. the handling could bite you and they are not as easy to work on as a front-engine car because everything is tightly packed over the rear wheels. you also forfeit alot of cargo space due to packaging.
as mentioned by others, also consider a camaro LS1. they are geared super high for highway milage and are plenty potent in stock form, although they will consume wear items faster due to weight and speed.
- JohnC - 02-26-2008
ScottyB Wrote:i can vouch for a suby. 10k will buy you a nice 2.5RS. they are very simple cars, easy to maintain and with so much platform interchangability and monstrous aftermarket you can modify until your savings account is toast. they are unique and rewarding cars to drive and will give you all-year all-weather utility. they also aren't as large a theft magnet as many other imports. i regularly see 28+ mpg combined on mine and they take 87 pee-water octane.
Take a look at my sig. BMW and Subaru. What Scotty didn't mention is that you could also get a WRX for not much more than the 2.5RS. Mileage is slightly worse (ours gets about 25mpg combined) and you have to use high test. Everything else Scotty said basically holds true.
ScottyB Wrote:as mentioned by others, also consider a camaro LS1. they are geared super high for highway milage and are plenty potent in stock form, although they will consume wear items faster due to weight and speed.
Don't forget mullet maintenance. Between that and NASCAR paraphernalia, it might stretch your budget a little bit.
- BLINGMW - 02-26-2008
JohnC Wrote:Don't forget mullet maintenance. Between that and NASCAR paraphernalia, it might stretch your budget a little bit.:lol: That being said though, if you go BMW, you should budget for a whole new wardrobe unless all your shirts are already silk. And I'd also plan on a fancier cell phone (iPhone or Blackberry) and unjustifiably expensive coffee every day. It adds up.
The subie does have the edge in the "requisite lifestyle changes" category.
- HAULN-SS - 02-26-2008
none of those other cars sound like this
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