Another "what car" where the answer isn't Miata

...because I already have one, and I'm not looking to get rid of it. I love it, but it sucks for highway trips and I have a 150 mile round-trip daily commute.

Thus, I need a highway car. Something with nice seats, nice ride, and quiet interior. Something I can put a really good stereo in and actually be able to hear it. Something with a usable trunk and backseat. Something that's not turning 4150 rpm at 78 mph. I need an anti-Miata.

But not just any highway car. I want something reliable, good-looking, and practical that gets at least ~28 for mileage, has three pedals, and is "fun" to drive. Note that fun is relative...think more GT car than sports car. Drive wheels are irrelevant.

My budget is about 5k, but if I can find what I want for less, then great.

So far, my short list:

1) E36 325i/is or 328i/is-seems to tick all the boxes, fairly easy to find, lots of hop-up potential. Downsides here are the electrical and cooling systems.

2) Infiniti G20- had a B13 SE-R and loved it. This seems like its grown up cousin. Downsides are that manual trans models are hard to find, and I think they also suffer from the fifth gear pop-out (correct me if I'm wrong).

3) Spirit R/T-the only car I've ever had that I truly regretted selling. If I could find one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'd also consider an early SHO Taurus or Contour SVT if I could find one, but they're also kinda thin on the ground.

What else should I be looking for or considering?

I go back to the Volvo wagons.... Or if you could find an older Legacy/Outback/Impreza.... that'd work too.

RSX

Here you go! Comfortable, and you could probably scare some people to move out of the way for you..

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=46083577&listingRecNum=58&criteria=prMx%3D5000%26sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26stkTyp%3DU%26rd%3D30%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-pseudoPrice%26zc%3D60189%26rn%3D50%26PMmt%3D0-0-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national

Check the cars for sale section on turbo-mopar.com. There are a couple Spirit R/T for sale right now.

RSX.

I too have a Miata but have never used it as a DD.
I loved my '95 Volvo wagon. NA with a 5 speed. Not fast but a comfy hyw cruiser. Delivered a typical 25 mpg in 70% hyw driving.

Otto_Maddox wrote: RSX

My RSX-S sits at 4k at 80, and about 3k at 60 mph. If you find one that has not been modified or an base auto, you might be in the clear here for cabin noise.

In your short list, I'd go G20. Great car.

Corvette C4, although a six-speed might be pretty ropey for that sort of budget.

well since the answer is not miata, im gonna have to say either e30 or p71

BoxheadTim wrote: Corvette C4, although a six-speed might be pretty ropey for that sort of budget.

Definitely something I'd love to have, but no backseat. I'd be stuck with an L98 with the 4+3 at my current budget, I'm afraid. Although if I could find a half-decent LT1/6sp for 5k, I'd probably buy it, backseat or not.

I vote for an E36. I'm not biased because I own one; I own one because I'm biased. However, I generally get around 24 mpg around town with my 328 'vert; you might want to consider a four banger.

I thought it was universally understood the anti-miata is a P71, getting over a 3rd pedal on long commutes can be pretty easy if the price is right, parts are cheap, maintenance easy, reliability high, back seat usable, trunk huge, and gas mileage approaching your goal...

Acura TL

Celica GTS? (not the 7th gen 6 speed, but before)

If it's a 90-93, chances are it already has what's called "System 10" audio. You won't have to work to make it sound good, it's already done.

A 9000 (or even 900) turbo would pretty much meet all of your needs if you come across one. Do not worry about finding an aero, they are all easily made to be pretty quick.

Firm 10 way leather seats; very quiet and smooth ride; 10 speaker harmon kardon cd player sounds great and it is absolutely huge inside. I'm turning around 3k at 80; averaging 37 highway.

mndsm wrote: I go back to the Volvo wagons.... Or if you could find an older Legacy/Outback/Impreza.... that'd work too.

[Insert annoying buzzer sound here] Wrong...fuel mileage knocks this one out of contention.

tb wrote: A 9000 (or even 900) turbo would pretty much meet all of your needs if you come across one. Do not worry about finding an aero, they are all easily made to be pretty quick.

With his budget, he could even find a well-maintained 9-3 or 9-5 if more modern (less personality, more comforts) is his preference. I've mostly stopped suggesting such things here, though, since my suggestions are mostly blown off as fanboi ramblings. Ho well.

Powar wrote: With his budget, he could even find a well-maintained 9-3 or 9-5 if more modern (less personality, more comforts) is his preference. I've mostly stopped suggesting such things here, though, since my suggestions are mostly blown off as fanboi ramblings. Ho well.

I know he could afford them, I personally just would not suggest a saab newer then 1998 for any particular reason...

I am running the risk of sounding like I too have drunk the kool-aid, but these cars are surprisingly enjoyable to drive.

When I had a 200 mile daily commute (round trip) I went out and bought an old Escort with a 5 speed.

Good on gas (it meets your criteria there). Even a two door has a nice backseat and the hatchback is handy. They're "fun" to drive in that I-can-drive-around-at-ten-tenths-all-the-time kind of way. The consumables (tires, brakes, body panels...j/k) are cheap. Mine was a 1.9. IF (big if) you could find a nice GT, I think it would be about as much fun as you can have for the money in FWD. They'll be well below your price threashold.

I know nothing of cars costing between $1K and $5K...you're on your own in that part of the spectrum.

If you're looking to spend a little more (you said you are...) what you really want in this car (I speak from experience) is a car that you KNOW will not strand you during the time you're doing this commute. Either that, or a good roadside assistance plan with a long tow option. That said...I'd be temped to find as new of a car as you can for the price. Old E30s are cool I hear (I will own one someday, I hope), but they have old cooling systems (like, radiator and heater hoses) that like to pop pinhole leaks (this goes for any old hose on any old car) and blow a head gasket before you realize what's going on.

You're going to get tired of that commute eventually and move or get a different job. Get a "for now" car that'll do the commute (at the expense of the "fun" factor) and enjoy the peace of mind that it'll get you there.

That's my angle on it all (not that you asked).

Clem

I'll +1 on the Turbo Saab comments.

Legacy or G20t
I could pull off the MPG you need with a minivan and auto trans FWIW. actually I have

I had two SR20 cars - an NX2000 and a 200SX SE-R. If you like those, you would love a Focus SVT. Just plain more of everything you liked in the SE-R. And more room. And more comfy. And more HP. And better handling. Etc.......

Since we mentioned the RSX, what are the 240SXs like? I shopped them against my integra when I had it....