Spend my money

[Deceus]

Yeah another one of these threads. I'm looking for a grocery-getter to share with my GF. Once the Demon is done I'm selling my Challenger, taking out my student loans and buying something to tow it. She needs something a little more reliable than a $800 Jeep and I need something that's not a pain in the ass to park and gets a little more than 10 MPG.

Parameters:

-Automatic
-4 door (she has a kid)
-$10-15k
-40-75k miles
-2008 and up

Bonus points:
-AWD (her)
-Turbo (me)
-30 MPG

So help me out here friends. Not good at this whole practical thing. Would really like to have something like an EVO or STI but she refuses to learn stick and quite frankly if she's going to suck at it, it's better to avoid it IMO. Not to mention it's out of the price range for now. Once everything is paid off I'd really like to go that route but for now we stay sane.

I was looking at the WRX but they only offered automatics starting in 2015 so that drives the price up. Can't seem to find very many of them either for obvious reasons. Then I was considering a Lancer GT and realized they're just really boring cars but I found a 2013 50k miles for $10k, not bad.

Then I realized I wasn't even considering any German cars. I know fuck-all about them except the expensive ones look exactly the same as the peasant versions. One of you kraut-lovers help me out here (please). Found a 2011 328i xDrive 41k miles for $15,000. Gonna take a look at it this weekend but I'm wondering what else I'm not considering, so please help a brother out.

Not going to mod or track this thing ever so no need to consider any of that. Would likely never take it out over the Demon anyways after all the money I've dumped into it.

[davej]

Follow Rex and get a twin turbo (awd) Flex.

or if you want German headaches, <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5972928752.html">http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5972928752.html</a><!-- m -->

[CaptainHenreh]

Follow Rex and get a twin turbo (awd) Flex.

I mean, the SpoolBus is cool as hell, but you're gonna get a piece of shit of one for 15k.

[Deceus]

Yeah just checked a few out. Looking at 2011 with 100k miles for that kind of price range. Not a bad $20k option though.

or if you want German headaches, <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5972928752.html">http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5972928752.html</a><!-- m -->

How the hell does an $80,000 car drop so damn fast? Do they implode at 100k or something?

[WRXtranceformed]

Can you find a Legacy GT in that price range?

[SlimKlim]

Don't buy anything German.

A 2008ish V6 4runner would hit most of your requirements except easy to park and the fuel economy. Might be worth the compromise depending on the age & size of the kid.

Mazda 3 is pretty much the no brainer for an economical runabout. FWD is fine for bad weather, and these things are <$10k all damn day so just get a set of good winter tires for it. Could be on the small side for a kid though.


Speaking of Mazda are first year CX-5s down to $15k yet? That'd be pretty rock solid for a grocery getter.

[davej]

How the hell does an $80,000 car drop so damn fast? Do they implode at 100k or something?

I'd guess mostly due to service costs. the 4.2 has a pretty good history of the timing chain guides failing, which is an engine out fix.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://redlinespeedworx.com/audi-v8-timing-chain-service-real-story/">https://redlinespeedworx.com/audi-v8-ti ... eal-story/</a><!-- m -->

[davej]

Don't buy anything German.

x2 grab something from Japan, put 200k miles on it and change the oil, or not. Pretty happy with the Fit as a commuter car, even if it is soul-killing to drive. CR-V's can be awd and plentiful in that price range.

[Ken]

Then I was considering a Lancer GT and realized they're just really boring cars but I found a 2013 50k miles for $10k, not bad.

GT is not the way to go, look for a Ralliart. It had the twin clutch from the Evo MR and engine, just a smaller single scroll turbo and obviously different tuning. I had one and it was arguably my favorite car i've owned. You won't see 30MPG but it'll definitely be an improvement from 10MPG. I think i averaged around 20 overall and saw as high as 28ish on the highway. Only 2009+ for the good Ralliar though.


http://www.autoblog.com/used-detail-2131...ancer-2011

[ViPER1313]

Taurus SHO? <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/680350509/overview?aff=share_text">https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/deta ... share_text</a><!-- m -->

[Deceus]

Don't buy anything German.

A 2008ish V6 4runner would hit most of your requirements except easy to park and the fuel economy. Might be worth the compromise depending on the age & size of the kid.

Mazda 3 is pretty much the no brainer for an economical runabout. FWD is fine for bad weather, and these things are <$10k all damn day so just get a set of good winter tires for it. Could be on the small side for a kid though.


Speaking of Mazda are first year CX-5s down to $15k yet? That'd be pretty rock solid for a grocery getter.

Yeah I'm cool with FWD as well, just can't seem to convince her that snow doesn't mean AWD is required. The kid is 3, but definitely trying to limit it to mid-sized cars. Will have a decent sized truck when needed and would like something that's not going to be expensive to drive across the state since I seem to do that every other weekend.

Can you find a Legacy GT in that price range?

Mostly seeing 04-08's,

[WRXtranceformed]

Look for a while for one of these:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=447942857&zip=28277&modelCode1=RDX&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D28277%26modelCode1%3DRDX%26showcaseOwnerId%3D70638703%26mmt%3D%255BACURA%255BRDX%255B%255D%255D%255B%255D%255D%26startYear%3D1981%26makeCode1%3DACURA%26maxPrice%3D15000%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%3D2017%26modelCodeList%3DRDX%26searchRadius%3D100%26makeCodeList%3DACURA&showcaseOwnerId=70638703&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&makeCode1=ACURA&maxPrice=15000&firstRecord=0&endYear=2017&searchRadius=100&makeCode1=ACURA&modelCode1=RDX">http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... lCode1=RDX</a><!-- m -->

Hits all of your boxes except for mpg, you'll have to do some searching for low mileage like that one. My wife and I love hers. You won't get 30mpg but I think she gets like 25ish on the highway. They are damn fun to drive!

[Deceus]

Then I was considering a Lancer GT and realized they're just really boring cars but I found a 2013 50k miles for $10k, not bad.

GT is not the way to go, look for a Ralliart. It had the twin clutch from the Evo MR and engine, just a smaller single scroll turbo and obviously different tuning. I had one and it was arguably my favorite car i've owned. You won't see 30MPG but it'll definitely be an improvement from 10MPG. I think i averaged around 20 overall and saw as high as 28ish on the highway. Only 2009+ for the good Ralliar though.


http://www.autoblog.com/used-detail-2131...ancer-2011

Do want

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?sourceContext=carGurusHomePage_false_0&formSourceTag=112&newSearchFromOverviewPage=true&inventorySearchWidgetType=AUTO&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d422&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity2=&zip=49015&distance=500&searchChanged=true&modelChanged=false&filtersModified=true#listing=164037094">https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventory ... =164037094</a><!-- m -->

Hits all of your boxes except for mpg, you'll have to do some searching for low mileage like that one. My wife and I love hers. You won't get 30mpg but I think she gets like 25ish on the highway. They are damn fun to drive!

Mid 20s is fine, the second list is all optional stuff. More than anything it just needs to be convenient without being soul-sucking.

[Ken]

Then I was considering a Lancer GT and realized they're just really boring cars but I found a 2013 50k miles for $10k, not bad.

GT is not the way to go, look for a Ralliart. It had the twin clutch from the Evo MR and engine, just a smaller single scroll turbo and obviously different tuning. I had one and it was arguably my favorite car i've owned. You won't see 30MPG but it'll definitely be an improvement from 10MPG. I think i averaged around 20 overall and saw as high as 28ish on the highway. Only 2009+ for the good Ralliar though.


http://www.autoblog.com/used-detail-2131...ancer-2011

Do want

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?sourceContext=carGurusHomePage_false_0&formSourceTag=112&newSearchFromOverviewPage=true&inventorySearchWidgetType=AUTO&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d422&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity2=&zip=49015&distance=500&searchChanged=true&modelChanged=false&filtersModified=true#listing=164037094">https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventory ... =164037094</a><!-- m -->

Snow tires on that and I was blasting by lifted jeeps, etc. Seriously such a fun car, probably the only car i really felt a pang of regret when i sold it, even though i was getting the Evo at the time.

Also, you can get a Cobb AP and have even more fun. Just sayin'

EDIT: Fuck. That was the color i had too. i miss that fucking car.

[SlimKlim]

Snow tires on that and I was blasting by lifted jeeps, etc. Seriously such a fun car, probably the only car i really felt a pang of regret when i sold it, even though i was getting the Evo at the time.

Also, you can get a Cobb AP and have even more fun. Just sayin'

EDIT: Fuck. That was the color i had too. i miss that fucking car.

I miss this car something awful too. I remember when Port Republic was covered in like 8" of snow and hadn't been plowed yet. You could turn left onto Neff by hurling the wheel to the left, planting your foot on the throttle and counter steering. Rooster tails 4 dayz.

[Deceus]

Taurus SHO? <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/680350509/overview?aff=share_text">https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/deta ... share_text</a><!-- m -->

oh lawd a 365 HP, AWD 4dr from Ford? Definitely added to the list of cars to consider.

EDIT: great now my Lancer boner is back.

[.RJ]

taking out my student loans and buying something to tow it.

Wait, you're buying a car with your student loans?

[Deceus]

taking out my student loans and buying something to tow it.

Wait, you're buying a car with your student loans?

No taking the ~$18,000 or so I'm going to get for my Challenger and paying them off instead of using it as a trade-in. Will take out another car loan and just chunk it. I have like $1-2k free a month at the moment so not too worried about taking out another car loan.

[.RJ]

Ah, carryon making bad automotive decisions then.

Look for a mazda CX-5 or 3, those seem to get great reviews and should be dead reliable. Dont buy an Audi A4 :lol:

[ScottyB]

Taurus SHO? <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/680350509/overview?aff=share_text">https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/deta ... share_text</a><!-- m -->

oh lawd a 365 HP, AWD 4dr from Ford?

check out what just a tune and some breathing does to those things. would be a ridiculous sleeper.


i'm sure a tune would let you put it in stock mode when your wife is driving so she doesn't launch into orbit by accident when pulling up the driveway