Choices for new daily driver?

I haven't yet been able to fix my Milano, and unless that changes shortly that means it is time for a replacement. I just need a fairly reliable car, that can be bought and all deferred maintenance dealt with for a total of say $5500. It would mostly get used for freeway and some around town driving. An automatic would be acceptable, as long as it will last a long time I had a few thoughts of cars that might work, and im curious what people think about them.

Saab 900 classic-cheap, easy to find parts, but from what I understand the tranny is really weak, and I dont want to have to deal with electrical problems.

mk2 vw - easy to get parts for, good mileage, but pretty boring, and a very long list of standard maintenance items ignored by most people. I have also never driven one that (all at the same time) ran properly, shifted properly, had good brake pedal feel, and suspension that wasn't sloppy and noisy, although I have experienced all of those things functioning correctly on various examples.

Mercedes w123 300D. I drove a 240D once and i liked it alot, but the cruising speed isnt quite up to normal freeway driving here, but I think the 300d is better. but, I have no idea what to look for when buying one, and i have seen pictures (and in the core pile at the junkyard) of exploded om617s, so they obviously dont last forever. They are also easy to get parts for around here, and look simple to work on.

95-99 Neon, simple and durable, but almost impossible to find a clean one anymore except in the junkyard after they are too stripped to be worth paying $600 for to buy the whole thing. My dad has one, and it was reliable to 364k miles, now its waiting for a new engine. From what I understand, quality CV joints arent available for them anymore (other than drive$shaft $hop)

Or for a little bit nicer more expensive cars:

BMW 740il-nice, but isnt the tranny pretty much a 100k mile maintenance item?

Q45- seems to be the 64 impala of the 90s around here, so might attract the wrong kind of attention, but are they good cars?

LS400-they seem to be able to take an amazing amount of abuse, but I dont really know much about them either.They seem to appeal to the same types as the q45, although they are driven by other types of people too, so it might not be quite as much of an issue.

Thats pretty much all I can think of for right now.

Sedan, Reliable, Some sport but automatic okay. $5k
You have a nice list but you should add Maxima to the list as well.
The Maxima is/was available with a manual trans also.

I'd add the E28 BMW to that list. < $5.5K would likely bag a great example. A 535i with the M30 'ought to last damn near forever, or there's the Eta models to choose from. My M30-powered car is driven everyday and continues to run like a top, despite pushing 300K miles.

If you're considering Mk2 VW, for 5500 you can bag an earlier MK3 GTI VR6, and take care of chains, clutch, cooling parts, etc.

Volvo 740/940 turbo.

I used to own a Q45 as a daily driver a while back and a co-worker had a LS400 at the same time. Both are nice drivers, but the Q is much quicker and sportier to drive. A lot of the underneath stuff is 300ZX derived. If you find an active suspension model though stay away. Anyway, 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds and 150mph, what's not to like!

I might also include an E36 3 series, a Volvo of various models, the Mazda with the Miller Cycle engine whose name escapes me, or even a Protoge.

In reply to racerdave600:

I worked on a q45 a while back and the guy brought me the factory service manual. It was about 5" thick and a good 4" was dedicated to the active suspension and rear steer mechanism. The manual was hilariously detailed at points, even having a spec for how far you should stand from the sodium filled exhaust valves if you need to dispose of one by breaking it (it was like 2.2' or so). Great cars to drive, not terribly difficult to work on.

As for a 740il, you'll never find a better car for eating up highway miles while still being unusually fun to drive for such a big car. While the trans probably needs to be replaced at 100k, it isn't an expensive rebuild. Otherwise change the valley pan gaskets if you're ever in there and keep an eye on the cooling system. My father has had a bunch of E38 cars and they've all been pretty bulletproof.

I did the Mk2 VW thing - and I wouldn't recommend it unless you like to work on your daily driver. I had a pretty good example, but it was a bit higher maintenance than I cared for. It was fun to drive (mine was a 16v) and it turned, stopped and drove great. A/C broke, heater core went out, cruise control stopped working, door handles broke (3 in 2 weeks), headliner sagged - those little things add up in a daily driver (at least for me).

My vote from your list would be for the LS400.

Luke wrote: I'd add the E28 BMW to that list. < $5.5K would likely bag a great example. A 535i with the M30 'ought to last damn near forever, or there's the Eta models to choose from. My M30-powered car is driven everyday and continues to run like a top, despite pushing 300K miles.

this.

I got very lucky and found one for $750. It's built like a panzer. It's been my DD for a couple of months and 4,000 miles. I've changed a tail light so far.

I love C900s as daily drivers. Once you get the little things taken care of, they're great. Fair fuel econ and spacious. I drive one ~50 miles round-trip daily, and my girlfriend does a bit more than that on hers. Mine was free and hers was $500. Both non-turbo. Mine manual, hers (regrettably) automatic.

I had a '97 LS400 Coach Edition. It was the most boring car I've ever owned, but it did its job well. It was a comfortable cruiser and needed very little maintenance. The fuel economy was fair for the power, torque and weight, but the automatic transmission (while competent) sucked a lot of the interestingness out of driving the car. I sold it and put the money towards the expenses that came with buying my house. I do not regret that decision AT ALL, but the LS400/430 is one of the cars that I recommend most often to non-car people who want a comfortable and reliable car.

The W123 and Neon are cars that I always have to check out when I see ads for them. Seems like we have some similar tastes in cars.

I like the Maxima - especially with a 5 speed. Sporty feeling, fun car.

Mazda Protege is another option for a manual trans car. The Mazda Milenia is a cool car as well.

Are Infiniti G20s in the budget yet?

love me a maxima. love

I'll be the dissenting vote here and say I'm underwhelmed with my Max ('99 GXE 5-spd) and wish I had my Contour back that it replaced.

I know I put an infiniti on the list, but I left off the maxima and the g20 because I had a b13 sentra and my hands were just too big to work on it easily. It was durable, even things that shouldn't have been were complicated becasue everything was so hard to get to.

The E28 is a good idea, I looked at one and although it was a terrible example, it was a nice car. But, it had electrical issues, and that is why I am selling the car I have, so probably not. I decided to leave volvos out for the same reason.

I like the E36, but dont they need even more work then an MK2 VW to get in good shape again? I could probably get a decent one for $2500, but im not sure how much more money id have to spend on it.

Does anyone know about how much a rebuilt tranny for a 740il would be? For a nice car, that would probably be my first choice, it looks like it would be about $4500 for a higher mileage one that is still nice.

fastEddie wrote: I'll be the dissenting vote here and say I'm underwhelmed with my Max ('99 GXE 5-spd) and wish I had my Contour back that it replaced.

another 65hp doesn't hurt the car any.

Manual Mazda Protege. I have a '93, paid $1150 FOR IT 5 YEARS AGO; HAVE CHANGED THE TIMING BELT, USUAL UNEUP ITEMS, OIL, AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. aT 30 MPG..RELIABLE, FUN, EASY TO WORK ON, CHEAP PARTS...AND IT'S LET ME SPEND MY MONEY ON AUTOMOTIVE TOYS INSTEAD OF MY DAILY DRIVER. AND IT'S A 4 DOOR W ITH FOLD DOWN REAR SEATS...DON'T GET THE AUTOMATIC, THAT TRANS DIES AT 100K...

trans for an E38 - used for $1000ish - rebuilds start around $2k and up. 944/s/t - 968 turf??? I've seen decent 928s in that range - then again I've seen behind the fuse panel of one - yeesh. Cruise a few of the specialty forums for a better idea of what you get for the price. For 5k you've got a lot of options. Also wouldn't rule out a type of car based on a bad example. Plan B - spend $100 or 200 on some electrical tools/books and stomp the gremlins.

that price range will get you an early 2000s Subaru Legacy GT/Outback/possibly WRX/impreza....

that would be my choice, though I'm a bit biased.

--

Also in that price range, a good highway car is a 2000-2003 Nissan Maxima. Cruises smooth, around 30 mpg highway, plenty of power, and drivetrain is bulletproof to 250k miles easily. Plus their resale value sucks, so you can get them cheap with relatively low miles/good shape. 5500 would EASILY get you a 00-03 maxima with under 150k miles.

Let me know if you want more info on the maxima...I was a moderator on Maxima.org so know a good bit ;)

Hmm ok, E38 is off the list then, with the price and mileage of most of them around here, a tranny replacement would be likely, and I couldnt afford that and the other work it would likely need. I thought about a porsche, but 924/944s are too uncomfortable for me, and I couldnt afford a 928 id want as my only car.

Are the no grille Q45s bad? There are lots of them for cheap here. Or what about a J30? I thought about an SVX too, but arent some of the parts for those kinda expensive? I was surprised how much some of the parts for my dads legacy cost, and I cant imagine an SVX is much better.

As soon as I have time Im planning to go test drive a classic 900, a W123 300d, Ls400 and Q45, but it still wouldn't hurt to have some other ideas.

your requirements are pretty wide open there are a lot of cars that would fit the bill...

Miata

P71

Ford Focus

Camry

Celica

Corrola

Saturn S-series.

keep the oil level up, and they will run forever.

You can get a nice Infinity G20 for that budget. They are super cars and you can modify the sr20 as much or as little as you like. Easy to find 5 speeds and great gas mileage to boot.

Travis_K wrote: it had electrical issues, and that is why I am selling the car I have, so probably not. I decided to leave volvos out for the same reason.

Never had any electrical troubles* in 2+ years of Volvo ownership. Stay away from the pre-88s and you should be fine. They changed the harness covers around that time.

*with my 740 and 940. My 1970 142 has all kinds

can fusions be found for that kind of coin?
Outback sedans?