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+--- Thread: Help me spend my money! (/showthread.php?tid=9289)
Help me spend my money! - Jake - 02-26-2011
So after helping a few people find and buy cars recently, I'm getting my own search on. The budget is $5-6k, maybe a little more if I wait/save some.
I'm keeping the Miata and buying a car that doesn't suck as a daily driver. After I buy this _____, Miata is getting safety goodies and becoming the track toy.
What I want... hmm. Must be a 5-speed. Preferably a coupe, unless it's a bitchin sedan or hatch. I want four (or five) seats. I like RWD way more than FWD, but I'd at least consider something that mixed FWD + entertaining. Speaking of that, no boring shit. It can be slow but I want my commute to be more fun than say, a Camry LE. The kicker is that I want this to have a sense of luxury. The rattles, squeaks, road noise, etc. from the Miata really wear on me. Leather seats would be a nice touch. Heated leather seats would be win.
All signs point to an E36 325is/328is. I love the cars and would buy one no problem. Just wanted to see what else people would suggest in a similar combination of fun/lux.
Ideas?
Re: Help me spend my money! - TorinoCobra070 - 02-26-2011
Jake Wrote:All signs point to an E36 325is/328is.
I think you answered your own question lol.
What about an early 2000's A4?? Not really my thing, but it kind of fits what you want... sort of.
Re: Help me spend my money! - Evan - 02-26-2011
there are early 2000s A4s that are still running?
IBTfanboisaysmustang
I think you are a tad out of price range for an IS300. Would be a sweet DD though.
$6k can have you an e46 bmw, personally id much rather have one of those than an e36
Re: Help me spend my money! - Jake - 02-26-2011
VW/Audi scare me with electrical stuff.
Mustangs (IMO) aren't really "nice enough" in the sense of a refined car. If that makes sense.
I like David's IS300 quite a bit, but they are more the $8-10 range I think. And he may own the only one ever to be sold with a stickshift.
If I can find a $6k E46 that isn't beat to hell, I'd take it. I agree, they are a big step up from the E36 (particularly interior-wise). Just haven't found any decent examples for my budget.
Re: Help me spend my money! - CaptainHenreh - 02-26-2011
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Help me spend my money! - Jake - 02-26-2011
CaptainHenreh Wrote:viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9348
Interiors on the early WRX's don't really fit the "lux" part. I'd rock a Legacy GT but too much $$.
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Re: Help me spend my money! - JustinG - 02-26-2011
2g
Re: Help me spend my money! - JohnC - 02-26-2011
I didn't realize it until I looked, but for ~$7k you could lowball your way into a high-mileage TSX (which is neither RWD or a coupe, but still interesting).
Re: Help me spend my money! - Goodspeed - 02-26-2011
Probably stupid rare, but what about some form of a turbo Volvo sedan? Comfy, safe, fast, stealthy, etc.
Jake Wrote:CaptainHenreh Wrote:viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9348
Interiors on the early WRX's don't really fit the "lux" part. I'd rock a Legacy GT but too much $$.
I for one don't think the interiors of the 10+ yr old E36 cars are radically luxurious - the seats are comfy but they wear hard.
Then again, I'd probably take that $$$, replace the bushings to rid of squeaks, then turbah it :wink:
Re: Help me spend my money! - fiveoh2go - 02-26-2011
Evan Wrote:$6k can have you an e46 bmw, personally id much rather have one of those than an e36A BMW, how original.
Re: Help me spend my money! - Dave - 02-27-2011
If you can get over your 5-speed requirement, i bet you could score a SC300/400 in that price range pretty easily. Goody can speak to whether that is NA Supra territory...
I personally can't see how a 90s BMW is going to be much more luxurious that anything else of that vintage at this point, so for the sake of ending the E36 infestation I would 2nd a mustang, C4 vette, GC8 impreza, or Civic SI.
If you're looking for supreme comfort with a little bit of fun, I bet you could score a E39 for that kind of coin if you wait long enough. I personally haven't yet sat in anything else that felt like the perfect blend of comfort and agility in that size; just either hold out for the 540 or don't kid yourself about how slow the 525 really is...
Re: Help me spend my money! - Jake - 02-27-2011
Dave Wrote:If you can get over your 5-speed requirement
I can't. I considered a Lexus SC + manual swap for like 30 seconds; I just don't want to swap things. I want turn-key.
Quote:I personally can't see how a 90s BMW is going to be much more luxurious that anything else of that vintage at this point, so for the sake of ending the E36 infestation I would 2nd a mustang, C4 vette, GC8 impreza, or Civic SI.
If you're looking for supreme comfort with a little bit of fun, I bet you could score a E39 for that kind of coin if you wait long enough. I personally haven't yet sat in anything else that felt like the perfect blend of comfort and agility in that size; just either hold out for the 540 or don't kid yourself about how slow the 525 really is...
I've thought about Mustangs and Camaros. I'd go for the 'Stang just because I'm a Ford guy for no real reason. Not sure which generation I'd find for the price.
C4 Vettes do nothing for me, and I'm not a porn star
I've seen E39's come within the budget. I just don't know if I want that large of a car. The 2.5s are dogs - I drove one with the 5-speed and it was, well, okay. Also been in an automatic 540 of the E34 variety and it got up pretty good.
Goodspeed's suggestion of a TurboBrick is not the first time I've thought about those. Wondering if I could find one in manual (and?!) wagon form...
Re: Help me spend my money! - fiveoh2go - 02-27-2011
Hmm...
David Letterman and Paul Newman both owned one of those cars, what are you waiting for? :lol:
Re: Help me spend my money! - SlimKlim - 02-27-2011
This is pretty much exactly what you want, who knows where that price is headed though
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-VOVLO-S60-R-AWD-6SPD-RARE-MUST-SELL-NO-RESERVE-/150566039509?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item230e6f6fd5
Re: Help me spend my money! - WRXtranceformed - 02-27-2011
I second the GC8 Imprezars
Re: Help me spend my money! - Cody - 02-27-2011
Save up and go e46 if you want a solid, fun, easy to maintain, dd for years to come. Get 4 doors so the wife will let you keep it
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Re: Help me spend my money! - BLINGMW - 02-27-2011
Jake Wrote:VW/Audi scare me with electrical stuff.I haven't really done much research, but I hear the diesels are better about some of that. You could get a 5-spd '03 or '04 TDI Jetta or Golf in your price range. Interiors look decent, and 45+ MPG might help make up for the lack of power and wrong-wheel-drive. I'm not a FWD fan either, but we do have winter around here and it is a DD....
I need to drive one, maybe too boring for you, but I sure have been thinking about them recently... :dunno:
BTW good luck finding an E36 with interior not falling apart.
Re: Help me spend my money! - ViPER1313 - 02-27-2011
Interested in my SHO?
Re: Help me spend my money! - Scott - 02-27-2011
Jake Wrote:Dave Wrote:If you can get over your 5-speed requirement
I can't. I considered a Lexus SC + manual swap for like 30 seconds; I just don't want to swap things. I want turn-key.
.
You could get the SC300 with a 5-speed manual from the factory.
Re: Help me spend my money! - Goodspeed - 02-27-2011
Scott Wrote:You could get the SC300 with a 5-speed manual from the factory.
^This
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/2232170917.html