Help a brother find a car. Used, a little less than 20k.
 

Hey guys, been a DAMN long while since I've hit the tfp. Here's the deal; I want to buy a used car for a lil bit less than 20k.

Requirements:
1. Automatic (I've fought and fought and fought and fought my parents on this, but there is apparently no budging. Jesus fucking christ, it's ridiculous shit.)
2. 20k maximum

Preferences:
1. Sporty, fun to drive
2. Reliable
3. Nice interior

Any help would be very much appreciated... I'm just starting my forray into this car search, help a brutha out.

Thanks,
Sexy

Honda: Accord V-6, Civic
Toyota: Celica, Matrix
Subaru: WRX (there are a few autos running around out there)
Nissan: Sentra, Altima V-6

I would also throw out Mustang, Camaro, etc. but they all have crappy interiors imo.

How many miles on the car, what year's are you looking for? Under $20K is a pretty broad range for a used automatic.

my girlfriend has a brand new mazda 6 and i'm very impressed with it. it's very sporty and fun to drive, has had absolutely no reliability issues so far, and the interior doesn't look or feel cheap. you could probably find a basic, slightly used one or a more used, fully-loaded one for about that price.

a used rx-8 would be awesome.

Define your version of "sporty".

Do you want a car that can kind of handle a little but isn't all that fast?
Do you want a car that has some quicks to it?
Two doors? four doors?

You can find a used 01-02 Cadillac Catera for under 20k
Maybe a BMW 323?

MINI Cooper

For that range of options...just buy something that was a few years old and preleased...you should be able to get somethign nice for cheap.

The parameters have been set at around a little more than 15,000, automatic, and fun to drive. I would say I want a car that's nice to be in but more fun to drive. All wheel drive is highly preferred. Hopefully under 50,000 miles. Help me find a car :)

I was thinking perhaps a Lancer Evo.

If you've got the time to spend digging eBay motors actually has some excellent cars listed if you're selective about who you buy from, you'll have to do a little research on your individual options but it will at least give you an idea that you can start from.

http://www.motors.ebay.com/

And at $15K for the price you'll get a lot to choose from.

Yeah but I have no idea what kind of car I want. It just has to be
1. Automatic transmission
2. Reliable
3. Under 50,000 Miles
4. Used
5. Around 15,000

I'm just looking for some general car ideas, please throw some out, I'm very excited about beginning this search :).

First off, are your parents buying it or are you? If any of your money's going in to it, I don't see why you can't have a manual. Of course, since YOU will be driving it, I don't see why your folks insist on automatic, since they cost more to buy and cost more to fix. Makes no sense.

Second, is 15000 the firm price? It started at 20, which gave you all kinds of options.


A good one to look at is a later model Legend GS coupe. They're FAST for a coupe, come in automatics, and are REALLY nice cars.

Well, 18,000 is probably max. But that is very firm, no more than 18,000. It has to be an automatic. I would really prefer a manual too, but ive fought to a place where the point is just moot. The car I get has to be automatic, no point in even talking about it anymore.

Hell I know of a place around here that has an 01 for $9500, what a beautiful car to drive, quick, not a boat, sporty as hell and even gets decent gas mileage. One of the best cars I test drove in a long time.

Hahaha for some reason that made me laugh a lot. Cynthetiq, recommending a Cooper right off the bat, offering no other guidance, as if it should have been the clear choice from the first moment buying a car was mentioned? Nooooo way! That's dedication, brother. :lol:

Buy a Maxima. 2001 maxima GLE with like 40-45 miles on it. They're v6 240 HP, nice and quick, but also SO comfortable to drive, and they run forever if you get oil changes regularly.

I got a 95 maxima GLE at 175k miles and it runs great, I highly recommend them.