Time for a new(ish) car - suggestions?

[yark14]

I'm 90% sure the head gasket is going out on my '01 Oldsmobile Aurora. Although its a nice car, I really don't want to pump a ton of money into it...it will cost a TON to get it fixed.

I recently started a new job with a salary, so I can get something newer. I'm somewhat young, not married, nor do I have kids...so its more of what I want rather than what I need.

I grew up in a gearhead family, plus I also even sold cars for a while after college, so I am very familiar with most makes/models and have driven a lot of different ones.

I really haven't narrowed it down much just yet. I'm considering everything from small pickup trucks to sporty little coupes.

Here are the things I like:
- Fun to drive. Whether brawny or sporty, if I'd like something fun (I'm 24).
- Reliable. I work a lot and don't have time to deal with repairs.
- I'd like to stay well under $20k...so a low mileage vehicle that is a few years old would be a good bet.
- I drive mostly in the city... but will drive from Texas to Iowa a couple times per year, so a good cruiser would be nice.
- I'd like to buy American, but open to some imports (Toyota Tacoma for example).

Any suggestions?

[Joe Sailor]

Subaru WRX, 28 mpg, turbo, all wheel drive, and 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds.

[Colo Springs E]

Buy an early to mid 2000s BMW 3 series and have a ton left over for repairs and maintenance. In the meantime, drive a head-turner that actually gets your heart pounding.

Example:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3083315973.html

You're young... have fun!

[KevinB]

The most fun you can have on 4 wheels for under $50K...



You'll find many recent, low mileage examples out there for under $20K.

[yark14]

A Mazda Miata would be a hell of a lot of fun. But I think I would miss having a backseat. Perhaps a Mazdaspeed 3 series would be more practical while still fun??

[Colo Springs E]

Miatas are indeed fun to drive cars... back seats are over-rated. :)

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Joe Sailor

Subaru WRX, 28 mpg, turbo, all wheel drive, and 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds.

+1.

My Subaru was made in Indiana. Is the WRX made there too?

Jim

[DrumBob]

Originally Posted by Joe Sailor

Subaru WRX, 28 mpg, turbo, all wheel drive, and 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds.

And you'll be stuck with a car that has tires that wear out quickly, you'll have to use premium gas all the time, and your insurance will go up. There are dozens of WRX's for sale around here. They're too expensive to operate.

Stick with an Outback or Forester.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by DrumBob

And you'll be stuck with a car that has tires that wear out quickly, you'll have to use premium gas all the time, and your insurance will go up. There are dozens of WRX's for sale around here. They're too expensive to operate.

Stick with an Outback or Forester.

Blah blah blah... he's young with a decent job and some disposable income. Why sell his soul so young to drive a frikking outback or forester which by the way, will also go through tires just as quickly since they're all AWD duh.

Premium gas is about 10-12 cents higher a gallon than mid-grade. Big whoop. what does that save you if you go through 1000 gallons of gas a year? (more gas than most people use in a year) 120 frikking dollars. Annually. WOW. Yes, by all means by that car that runs on regular.

Higher insurance? So maybe $1200 annually instead of $800. WOW.

Just 'cuz your life sucks, don't make his suck too LOL. Plenty of time to become old and boring, let him live a little before he has to drive a dork-mobile.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by KevinB

Don't buy this "NC" version.

Get the previous body style. Much sweeter; and none of this re-setting the ride height higher and making the front big and blocky to "protect" pedestrians - this was some idiocy the Europeans foisted on the market and it made Zero sense in most of the USA. Now we crush your legs and pelvis, but you are slightly less likely to be pitched airborne .

The older versions are in fact much nicer; lighter, better gas mileage and tire wear, quieter at speed, more nimble, way prettier. Unless you absolutely must have a retractable hard top (more weight and foolishness) don't get the NC version.

Another reason I hate these crazy Euro pedestrian regulations is, it basically forced Honda to choose to screw up the S-2000 or to mothball it, and they chose the latter and now my car is a orphan.

[yark14]

The performance specs on some of the Subarus are impressive...but living in Texas I have to real use for it. If I still lived in Iowa, they would be handy.

I would love, love, love a good off-road Jeep....but I'll never, ever, ever be able to take it off road.

[wallis222]

2002-2005 Saab 9-5 Aero. Luxury to rival the most recent European imports, and killer speed. 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. Mid range acceleration is where this car really shines... Acceleration between 30-70mph is faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo from the same era. 5 star safety rating, best leather seats this side of Ferrari, Harmon and Kardon sound system (incredible), heated front and rear seats, awesome computer with all sorts of gadgets, separate heat and ac controls for passenger and driver, 260hp and 260lb-ft torque, etc...

It's a 2.3L 4 cylinder with an awesome turbo set at 22psi!!! So it's powerful and efficient. My highway average is 35mpg at 75mph. Or 42mpg at 60mph. In the city I average about 22mpg.

A low mileage Saab 9-5 Aero of this era can be had for around 8 000 - $10 000. I absolutely love my 9-5 Aero!!!

[onenotetom]

Love all of the American suggestions. Go test drive some used Mustangs. Or how about a Chevy SSR. I have a friend that has one and it is impressive.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by wallis222

2002-2005 Saab 9-5 Aero. Luxury to rival the most recent European imports, and killer speed. 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. Mid range acceleration is where this car really shines... Acceleration between 30-70mph is faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo from the same era. 5 star safety rating, best leather seats this side of Ferrari, Harmon and Kardon sound system (incredible), heated front and rear seats, awesome computer with all sorts of gadgets, separate heat and ac controls for passenger and driver, 260hp and 260lb-ft torque, etc...

But the brand is essentially caput. Some Japan/China consortium has bought the name and remaining assets and intends to sell an electric version (probably in China) but I think they'll be plowed under in 12 months.

One usually needs a new Direct Ignition Cassette every 60 thousand miles and these are suddenly $ 700 apiece. Several other parts, God only knows where and when we can find replacements.

By 2003 both the Aero and Arc had the high boost motors. Yeah, they're tough and quick but these things handle like the design is 15 years old (whoops, it is) and I don't really mind because I have the hang of it and I have an S-2000 for when I'm really in the mood.

We've got an '01 Aero and an '04 Arc and we'll keep them as long as we can. Half the enthusiasts are bailing and the other half are buying fresh ones for the long cold spell to come. I might get a spare, but it would be a "Dame Edna" that is a '06-'09 version. Partially decontented (cheap sound system, etc.) but fresher. A wagon, I think.

But Yark is 24 and I wouldn't recommend one to him. And not a Subaru either. These are cars for old people. Sneaky old people, but old people.

Sound check for the Fat Lady, I fear.

[getbent]

life is short.... this is what you need... raise hell boy!

[Warm Gums]

If you can hold out for another week or two, AND actually come up with @ 20k you might take a look at the new Dodge Dart.
I'm not a fan of MOPAR, but this has been getting some good press, and looks like a interesting blend of euro and US (the suspension and pan are from Alfa, and the rest is new stuff "imported from Detroit" ) it has my attention, and looks like it could be a lot of fun.
Of course they will be thin on the ground for a few months ( they are due at dealers later this week) and I'm not sure how they are rolling out the different models, and of course there will be teething problems..it's a Mopar/Alfa lol, but hopefully things have gotten better for both. The base SE is $16k, but I would try to go for the SXT (much better standard equipment including A/C) at $18k. With a little luck you might get a normaly aspirated stick out the door for that.

Falling that a late model Honda Civic EX Should do nicely. Well equipped, nippy, and a little fast.
Very reliable ( a few have engine block problems, but Honda is on it to a reasonable degree) assembled in Ohio. Well within budget.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by getbent

Perfect for New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, even Western North Carolina. Big areas in California as well.

But there's no where to take this, unless he makes fast friends with some landowners to the west of town (doable, worth trying I guess) who have big land holdings.

The #1 most frustrating thing about much of Texas is, no public lands.

[kelnet]

Brand new is nice,


but used is cheaper.

[gguitar55]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

Buy an early to mid 2000s BMW 3 series and have a ton left over for repairs and maintenance. In the meantime, drive a head-turner that actually gets your heart pounding.

Example:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3083315973.html

You're young... have fun!

If you buy an early 2000's BMW you will need the tons left over for maintenance.
Find something sporty in Toyota, Honda or Mazda and have fun. The truck you mentioned might just be the trick.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by gguitar55

If you buy an early 2000's BMW you will need the tons left over for maintenance.

I researched BMWs a few months ago when I was buying a car. From what I learned/conversations with friends who own used Bimmers, maintenance is indeed generally more costly, particularly if done at a stealership. But those costs can be kept down with a good reputable indy mech familiar with euro cars.

BMW 3-series from early/mid 2000s are actually average to above average reliability by most rating systems you find throughout the internet, and as observed from a handful of friends of mine who own them. (Link below is just one example, I've seen several others that were in line with it)

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Re...model=3-Series

It does sound like from things I've seen on internet that there can be irritating 'little things' (for instance interior stuff) that can go wrong from time to time and sometimes costly to fix... but in general, the engines/drivetrains have a good rep from what I've been able to find.

When repairs are needed, you're right they generally cost more... but the number of repairs isn't necessarily excessive.