My next car
 

Hi,

It looks like I may be changing jobs soon, and going for a longer commute. I'm pretty sure I can use this as an excuse to get a new(er) car. So, I'm asking for advice!

My desires:

o Fun to drive.
o Manual. (Because they're more Fun to drive)
o Good gas mileage (mostly highway)
o Reliable
o Probably less than $10,000 - $6 or $7k would be ideal.
o Quiet (Machines should be quiet - a loud machine is a poorly designed machine, in my mind)
o A convertable would be awesome, but not required.
o Used is fine, obviously.

What do y'all recommend? Obviously I can't have everything that I want, but what do you guys think I should be looking at with these needs in mind? What trade-offs should I look at making? I don't need a speed demon, and I have no desire to drive like an idiot...but at the same time, I want something that is more fun than my current car (Which, since it is a '91 Chrysler leBaron with no A/C, shouldn't be hard).

I drove a friend's miata last week - it was definately fun to drive, but a little loud for my taste, and I think it was tuned a bit towards 'racing'...I don't really need that. Would a decent used Mustang be something to look at?

My reccomendation: Mid to late 90s BMW 3 series (e36-e46). FUN TO DRIVE, manual, decent gas milage, very reliable, less than $10k, not exatly quiet, but not as loud as mopar or something, and they have decent convertables (though I can't recall the last time I've seen a man drive a convertable 3 series).

If you don't like loud or bad gas milage, stay away from the 5.0 mustang.

Or possibly an Infinity or Accura. Probably would have 100,00 miles but don't let the miles scare you. They are geat cars.

I think you will have to make a sacrifice on either quiet or convertible...since both really can't exist simultaneaously.

I also think that the europeans have been making unreliable junk for a while now...and this includes the previously vaunted uber-reliable volvo.

Quiet, fuel efficient, manual, fun to drive can all be had exclusively from Toyota or Honda...this includes their upmarket brands of Lexus and Acura....although I know of no manual acura's or Lexi.

HAve you thought about a few year old prius? My 2002, under warranty for 6 more years and 50,000 more miles is quiet, extremely fuel efficient, somewhat fun to drive, although more for uniqueness then adrenaline, and while reliabilty is declining, the dealership is making my entire transmission replacement painless with a car to drive, and a new transmission for a total cost to me of ZERO.

I could probably sell for 12-14k as is.

Food for thought.

-bear

Thanks for the advice - I'll look into those - what about a Honda Prelude?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/196349423.html

I recommend Honda. I had a Prelude, and the only reason it died is because I was young, stupid, and only changed the oil once in 20K miles (kicks self again). My step-mom also had a Prelude, and the only reason she sold it is because my sister and I got too big to fit in the back seat.

If you take care of it, it will run forever. I have a Saturn right now, and my next car is going to be a Honda. I'm not going to buy American again, as my family, friends, and myself have all had problems with different makes and models of American vehicles, but no one I know has had major issues with a Honda.

One thing you'll want to make sure about the model on CraigsList is that the way it's described, I'd think it was suped up some, and if you want something quiet, you probably wouldn't get that from a suped up car. Also, you're looking for a convertible, but this particular vehicle has a sunroof, which is also very nice. I miss having a sunroof (had one on my Honda, but my Saturn doesn't have one).

preludes are great cars. You won't go wrong with one.

Also, if you want ALL of your criteria, go look for a 2nd generation Toyota MR2 with T-tops. You get your convertible, fun to drive, and great mileage.

Honda Preludes are great cars. Very glad you are not getting ripped off by buying a new one.

Add another one to the list of praise for Honda Preludes. They're fun to drive, reliable, and get good gas mileage. It's a shame they stopped making them.

Definitely agree with Preludes ...sporty Honda manual tranny but not convertible.

To get the manual trans and convertible, I'd add Miata to the list if you can live with a two seater, maybe also the older Toyota MR2's.

Somebody said no Lexus with manual but they forgot the older IS300's ...very nice car, not convertible, I don't know price range on used ones.

Manual Acura = Integra ...another great car and I think better balanced and more sporty than the Prelude, no convertible though unless you have somebody "pimp your ride".

You could get an early model (~1998) MB SLK for about $10K in great shape. The retractible hardtop gives you a quiet convertible and it's a fun car that looks great with the top up or down. Probably won't ever depreciate much more either if it's kept in good condition.

any toyota would be a great choice they are very reliable and all pretty good on gas and mostly afordable. As far as being fun to drive i dunno. my idea of a fun car to drive is a beater that i can hit stuff with and not worry about it. just in case i felt the urge to move the random dumpster across a parking lot or something. ahh i miss my ex cop car 1985 ltd woo that thing was the best beater ever!! But yeah any toyota would be great. finding one to your style that you would enjoy driving souldnt be too hard if you liked a miata toyotas are mostly small and all try to pretend to be sporty.

Hondas are good cars too but i dont think they are quite as good as toyotas and mostly arnt as fun to drive. they seem to be more based on Cheap quality cars while toyota is more of a quality cheap car =)

A used chevy cavalier convertable might be good for you. they are reliable and dirt cheap.

Stay away from dodge. they dont have any quality in the cheaper cars they make.

Mustangs always have high insurance costs and they arnt really that fun to drive. and Bad on gas if its a V8.

Or just go way over budget and get one of the new mini coopers its like driving around a gocart and its the ultimite chick car. will meet lots of random girls that just want to tell you its cute. That cant be a bad thing can it?

Last time I checked the Camry and Avalon didn't claim to be sporty ;)


If you're using YOUR fun to drive criteria, perhaps not, since Hondas weren't designed to ram dumpsters. But if you compare equivalent cars (MR2/S2000, Integra/Celica), the hondas are more fun in the twisties, and less fun straight line.

Ummm. . .We'll just agree to disagree on the reliability there. . .


Tell that to the Omni GLH and GLH-S.

Oh man, if you can find an Omni GLH (GLH = Goes Like Hell, seriously), get it asap. Those things are pure fun. If you find one and don't want it, let me know. Those engines are so much fun to work on.

Cool, thanks guys! It doesn't look like I'll be able to get a new(er) car *quite* as soon as I'd like, but...soon...

I'll let you know what I find when the time comes!

The Scion XB, XA, and TC made from toyota!!!!
I have the TC which cost more then the other 2 models mine looks pretty sporty(my opinion) Mine was 18,780 because I added a spoiler and some other things. but you can get them from 14,000 and up brand new it depends on what you add.
Brand new 06 or 07 cost less then the used 05's
http://scion.com/

P.S. I went to the bank they were going to give me a 12.APR but the car dealership gave me 6.APR. this car saved me money because, its in the driving class of a station wagon, so the car insurance is less.

how can you not like a loud car, i mean yeah those ricers with fart cans are just down right obnoxious but a car that just growls is just so...:thumbsup: