I hate to do this.... but what car do I want?

[BLINGMW]

hey it's fun

I need a "new" daily driver very soon before my current one falls out from under me. *edit*-- Wants are now in order of importance:

4 seats (gotta take Nathan to school, and another one is on the way)
RWD
5-spd
simple and easy to work on and/or won't need any serious work soon
30+ MPG highway
turbo diesel (this isn't very high on the list I guess, but it would make up for a lot)
the smaller and lighter the better
should be able to survive an autocross or track day every now and then
needs to have some character, charm, look nice.... at least in my eyes
Jess wouldn't be embarrassed or scared to drive it

Since that car doesn't exist in the US :oops: I have to pick as many as possible

I could scrap together $7k if the car's worth it, interior's nice, and Jess would want to drive it. But spending half that or less would be fine too if that meant it's not so fancy, doesn't have AC and Jess would think it's crap.

My list ATM, pics from ads I've considered:

VW TDI Golf or Jetta, '99-'05

I'm having trouble accepting the FWD, but hey, it's 99.5% a street car and maybe it's time to try one. Jess would find it acceptable.

BMW 318i, '84-'85

I know all about these and can find a "nice" one for maybe $2k. Super easy and cheap to work on. I miss mine.

BMW 318ti, '95-'99

I'm a little bored with this, and falling apart interiors and plastics suck. It's heavier than it should be.

BMW 2002, '72-'76

Would have to have gone through *some* restoration and paint, I don't want a rust-bucket. Has a lot in common with the early 318 so I should be able to figure it out, and carbs don't scare me. I'm finding a few for $3-$4k, pretty intriguing.

Merc E300 diesel, '98-'99

Seems like a sweet car for the $, Jess would like it too. Loses points for the automatic. Probably a pain to work on to keep a lot of 12yr-old electronics and power everything working.

Toyota Tundra, '02, coworker needs to ditch it since he's moving to Seattle

It's a 5-spd, 4cyl, 4WD, extended cab, nice shape, would probably get it for a great price. Meets the least of my requirements but would be useful in other ways.

What else? What fits me?

[ScottyB]

V6 camaro! :lol:

volvo 240 or 740 turbo sedan/wagon - old, RWD, simple, safe, big aftermarket and boosted. probably need a fair amount of work to handle nicely. you'll also get to look like a hippy.

galant VR4 - good luck

240SX - not much of a back seat, but it's there. light-ish, more modern, simple

2.5RS - you won't get the gas mileage out of it and they hold their resale value, but you can do alot with it

i wouldn't think a mercedes would really fit the budget AND be enjoyable to drive, probably one or the other. if you're willing to go back to the 70's for a car, that opens up a ton of options from the 80's (AE86, 944, Merkur) but it sounds like you really just want back into an E30. i'd just find a really nice (well, "intact") one and drive away happy.

[ViPER1313]

The only car made in the last 30 years that I can think of that meets 99% of your requirements is the Chevy Chevette - the only thing it is missing is the *turbo* for the diesel. They are in no way sporty but are supposedly like cockroaches in that your can't kill them. An older Toyota Corolla (late 70s / early 80s) would also meet those requirements except for the diesel. Both of these cars would be old and busted.

Why not just buy a Sentra SE-R or Civic :dunno: If you want something newer you may be able to find a 4-door Yaris or Fit in your price range - my buddy sold his 2007 Yaris with 40k miles for ~8k a year ago.

[Jeff]

Are you a Jeep Wrangler kinda guy? Fits almost as well as the pickup in your wants and has its own set of benifits. The biggest detracts would be the small back seat and the fuel economy. They are easy to work on, as reliable as most of the othe things on your list, rwd/4x4, 5-speed, small. 4 banger unmodified should be able to get 20mpg. Plus the top comes off and it will get you places in the snow!

Edit- but I am with Adam, just buy a Civic or something.

[G.Irish]

Why not rate your wants in order of importance? If gas mileage is most important then you could get a VW diesel or a used Civic Hybrid or Prius. If RWD is most important, that opens the door to a couple of things like a IS300 (although it'd be hard to find a manual). If you could live with FWD, Civic Si's get 30 mpg hwy. Just depends on where you want to make your compromise.

[Jeff]

Why not rate your wants in order of importance? If gas mileage is most important than you could get a VW diesel or a used Civic Hybrid or Prius. If RWD is most important, that opens the door to a couple of things like a IS300 (although it'd be hard to find a manual). If you could live with FWD, Civic Si's get 30 mpg hwy. Just depends on where you want to make your compromise.

+1 My car buying criteria list usually starts with "Shift knob carved from a piece of the true cross." I usually have to move that to the bottom of the list as the search goes on.

[JohnC]

Scotty, I'm going to play devil's advocate for the moment, regarding the Mercedes...



That E220 diesel we had in Europe was actually pretty decent. It had enough power, it handled the 'Ring with aplomb, and it seated 4 comfortably. The only real shame is that you can't get the manual here in the colonies.. A brief Google search suggests that a manual swap is possible.

[Goodspeed]

opens the door to a couple of things like a IS300 (although it'd be hard to find a manual)

Ding ding ding. Pricier than your budget, but this is the car that seems to hit the most of your criteria. Or, jump on the WRX train. They make nice noises.

[BLINGMW]

volvo 240 or 740 turbo sedan/wagon

I'd rather have the merc diesel. I don't WANT to put up with a "turbo" unless it's followed by "diesel"

galant VR4

:?: :?: I also don't want AWD, or odd, unnecessary rarity

240SX

Good point. I guess I'd rather have another 318ti though.

2.5RS

not bad, still don't really want the AWD, though I guess I'd want to try one of these before giving up and going the civic/accord route.

i wouldn't think a mercedes would really fit the budget AND be enjoyable to drive

Some actually are. Sure, they all have 200k on them, but they appear to be holding up very well. I could be wrong and maybe service costs are horrible.

Chevy Chevette, older Toyota Corolla

I'm ok with old, but not busted.

Are you a Jeep Wrangler kinda guy?

Nah, and the only reason I'm considering the truck is that it would be useful for hauling stuff, mulch, house things and the like. The Jeep would be useless. But they are kinda fun I admit.

I am with Adam, just buy a Civic or something.

Thought about it. Just something with 4 wheels. If I can't find what I want in time, that's what I'll be doing. Would probably go for the Subaru mentioned above just to try something else.

IS300

I'd rather have another 318ti. Or the Merc if going nicer and pushing the budget.

[Jake]

I feel like this is the same type of thread as my "need halp making decisions" one. You say you're open to lots of things, but you know that one of these would fit most requirements and you'd like it.



Thus, I bought an E34 because I wanted one. I think you want another E30.

[Jeff]

If you decide to go cheap how about a cheap Jap Luxo Barge? 2001 Toyota Avalon. 167k, Leather, V6, Clean old people one owner, 27mpg hwy. $5,000

[ScottyB]

what are the going rates on the 2.3 16v 190E's? those are pretty sweet and came with a 5 speed.

[G.Irish]

what are the going rates on the 2.3 16v 190E's? those are pretty sweet and came with a 5 speed.

Dirt cheap ($2k-ish), problem is finding a nice one. I'd say if he was gonna do that, might as well get another E30 318i. He'll be able to find a 318i way faster than he'll be able to find a clean 190E.

[BLINGMW]

I think you want another E30.

Yeah, you probably have it right. :oops: Dammit. If I can actually land a NICE '85 quickly, and there aren't many of them, I'd probably do it. And the only reason I consider the 2002 is that it's so much like a 318, gets more style points, and many have been restored so that they're in better shape than the 318. No-one's restoring the m10 engine 318. Yet.

If you decide to go cheap how about a cheap Jap Luxo Barge?

The only reason the Merc barge makes the list is the turbo dieselness and RWD. Otherwise I don't want a sled. My side of the garage prob wouldn't even fit one of these cars anyway in its current state....

what are the going rates on the 2.3 16v 190E's? those are pretty sweet and came with a 5 speed.

Dirt cheap ($2k-ish), problem is finding a nice one. I'd say if he was gonna do that, might as well get another E30 318i. He'll be able to find a 318i way faster than he'll be able to find a clean 190E.

I think I'm with G on this one.

*edit*-- To muddy the water, I guess I'm looking for 2 different cars, either something $5-7k that Jess could DD (she has a longer drive than me) and I drive the Element, or $2-$4k and it's mine.

[TorinoCobra070]

hey it's fun

I need a "new" daily driver very soon before my current one falls out from under me. *edit*-- Wants are now in order of importance:

4 seats (gotta take Nathan to school, and another one is on the way) - LS1
RWD - LS1
5-spd - +1 LS1
simple and easy to work on and/or won't need any serious work soon - LS1 (mostly)
30+ MPG highway - LS1 (close enough / possible)
turbo diesel (this isn't very high on the list I guess, but it would make up for a lot) - NO WRONG BAD
the smaller and lighter the better - small...ish...
should be able to survive an autocross or track day every now and then - LS1
needs to have some character, charm, look nice.... at least in my eyes - LS1
Jess wouldn't be embarrassed or scared to drive it - :dunno: LS1

Thank me now, or later... whichever :thumbup:

[Steve85]

I had much of the same criteria. Although in looking for the DD, FWD v RWD was not much of a concern, I actually preferred FWD for weather considerations and a lack of being able to tell the difference for 99.9999999% of the miles driving the car. Even on the track and at autox I haven't missed RWD but I'm not an advanced driver and maybe I'm missing something. But then again, there are professional series' where FWD perform very well, so, maybe I'm not. Give it a drive, that's all I'm sayin.

The Integra interior is near perfect after 12 years and 170K. I get 31 mpg and my kids will fit a few more years. It's like a Civic that you can get leather seats in... you won't be pissed and smell it for a week when your kid spills his milk on the seat and doesn't tell you.

It can't be easier to work on, parts are everywhere and cheap. My wife is a bit picky but she's OK, and even likes driving it for the most part.

But even with all that good stuff, I wish I never got rid of the E30. Sometimes I feel a little old to be driving a such a boy-racer car. I think a clean E30 says appreciation for a classic of sorts and Integra says something entirely different. It definitely isn't something I get hung-up on though.

I guess you could argue that the Integra/Si is not much more than a FWD Ti...

I looked into 944s recently and found that mostly every repair is a royal PIA so for a DIYer it may be frustrating to own. (Pelican Parts Used Buyer Guide) It's a shame, I don't mind the look and I hear they handle pretty well. Maybe someone here could shed a little light on this option.

Misc ramble: Maybe somebody already swapped one of the new 300hp 30mpg V6s into an E30 and wants to sell it for 1/18th of what they have in it? You don't NEED 300 horsepower but it's kind of free when MPG reqs are being met. It would probably get another 3-4MPG in a car 1000 stones lighter than a latest generation pony car. Hmmmm...

[ViPER1313]

What you really want is my SHO, because it meets none of your criteria and I want to sell it :mrgreen:

[BLINGMW]

Thank me now, or later... whichever :thumbup:

I just... I .... I can't. :lol: Does that make me a racist? :oops:

....I actually preferred FWD for weather considerations and a lack of being able to tell the difference for 99.9999999% of the miles driving the car.

I'm right there with you, that's the only reason I can consider FWD. It's logical.... but my heart tells me NO! FWIW I exploit the RWDedness of my car almost every day, it brightens my commute. 8) I guess I'd prefer the 318ti or Jetta over an Integra though.

What you really want is my SHO, because it meets none of your criteria and I want to sell it :mrgreen:

where's the FS thread? I guess it meets more criteria than the Tacoma. :dunno:

[ViPER1313]

where's the FS thread? I guess it meets more criteria than the Tacoma. :dunno:

Bumped my old thread / added new information.

[SlimKlim]

The only reason the Merc barge makes the list is the turbo dieselness and RWD. Otherwise I don't want a sled. My side of the garage prob wouldn't even fit one of these cars anyway in its current state....

It's true, his garage has slowly grown around the tiny little cars he buys, I don't know if you could even fit a full sized E36 in there.