Choices for new daily driver?

The 300D is a good car also. Very few of them are beat on. Just got to make sure maintenance is OK and check parts cost. The engines last forever.

4cylndrfury wrote: can fusions be found for that kind of coin?

I would not expect to find a Fusion for $5k. If you did find one I would expect something to be terribly wrong with it like salavage or no engine/trans.
Current low Retail for Fusions seems to be right around $9,999. They have only been out for 4 years.
Nice cars but for this situation there would be better choices.

racinginc215 wrote: I'll have to toss out the 99-04 Chrysler 300M I just had my first build quality problem with it in 190K the driver window clip broke had to replace it at a cost of 5 bucks. Leather loaded auto stick automatic sporty and if you can find a 02 special tons of fun.

+1. I had a Dodge Intrepid R/T for 125,000 miles or so. Tons of room, was dead-nuts reliable, all the comfort and convenience features you could want, lots of online support and truly a great GT car. A 4-speed (with autostick) and FWD means it will never win at the drags, but 250hp + 250 ft/lb and a slippery shape means that it will cruise at 120mph all day long.

Original trans?

jrw1621 wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: can fusions be found for that kind of coin?

I would not expect to find a Fusion for $5k. If you did find one I would expect something to be terribly wrong with it like salavage or no engine/trans. Current low Retail for Fusions seems to be right around $9,999. They have only been out for 4 years. Nice cars but for this situation there would be better choices.

True, but I have seen Millans depreciate faster than Fusions, it just takes some looking to find one with a stick, but they are out there

I'd like to suggest the BMW E23 7 series. All of the ones I've seen for sale are cheap and very well maintained, but YMMV. My buddy bought one last year for under $2000 and his only complaint has been the TRX wheels/tires which he resolved with some later model 5 series wheels. It is very comfortable, pretty economical, pretty quick (he has a 735i), and overall a great car. It's about as difficult to live with and maintain as other BMWs of the era, so not difficult at all.

i'm a big big fan of my 2003 Mazda6, V6 MT sport package. i paid a good bit under retail at $4k last weekend. needs front wheel bearings and intake manifold gaskets, which will cost me under $200 DIY.

I know an older (93-00) outback or legacy (wagons if you don't mind) could be found with 5-speed if you are looking hard enough. Granted they are usually beat up but they can last a long time.

In reply to Travis_K:

This was my delima this week. I sold my Toyota Landcruiser and needed to get a daily driver. I looked at E34 (89-95) 5 series, E39 (96-03) 5 series, 98-01 Merceded E320's and 420's, Lexus LS400. I was totally uninspired by the Lexus, and the others demand more than 5K purchase price for a good one. I also love vintage cars, and a PERFECT W123 300D Turbo presented itself to me for 5K out the door. These cars go for literally 1 Million miles as taxis in Europe. They can be had for much less than 5K, but at that price you get a VERY nice car. Mine is an '85, so it has aunroof, electric windows, power mirror, air, cruise, disk brakes, etc...

Look at Saab 900's Benz 300D Turbo, BMW's E12 (the first 5 series late 70's up to 88), or an older Volvo. One other interesting possibility is an ex-police Ford Crown Vic. Get it with the spotlights and front pushbars. Upgraded suspension, wheels and cars get out of your way. All modern cars are quite similar, I like mine with Chrome and Personality!! Good luck, and have fun!!

Hmm...

My opinion on a few mentioned so far..

4th gen max (95-99). Decently quick with a 5spd and fairly easy to get more power out of. Nothing special in the handling department but can be made very competent. Can AVG 27 mpg if driven nicely. Doesnt have a fold down rear seat, though, only a slide-through kinda hole. Thats annoying.

5th gen max.. a bit heavier, has a variable intake that contributes to better power at the upper end of the RPM band and also accounts for ALL of the peak power difference, which means with more weight and the same power everywhere else, it can feel slower than 4th gen. However, 2003 got the 3.5 and i think available 6spd manual, and those cars are just very quick for what they are. Its a very docile, tractable, well-behaved kind of powerful.

3.0/5spd Mazda6. Love the exterior styling, but doesnt have anywhere near the power of the 3.5 maxima for the same money and isnt nearly as cheap as the 3.0 maximas for the same power.

300m/ Intrepid R/T. Dynamically better than most people would guess. Id definitely take one over an auto 3.0 maxima or a 5spd 3.0 mazda6, though i wouldnt take over the 3.5 maxima. The motors are VERY reliable and solid, and are one of the RARE big family car motors thats still making power at 6800 rpm! The motor has a very progressive powerband and is fun to rev out, and since 2nd gear goes to 80 mph you can have all sorts of fun in the 55-80mph range in normal daily driving. The trans are far less bulletproof than the nissan autos, but in any case they dont break from power, they break from misuse and bad maintenance when they do break at all.

But.. ive RARELY seen a 3.5L maxima or i35 for less than 5500 (a handful), and i havent looked at the v6/5spd Mazda6s but i think you'd have a hard time finding those under 5500 as well.. For 5500 youd easily have your pick of NICE 4th gen maximas + mods, or a very nice 5th gen 3.0 maxima with not much left over. 2g 3.5L LH cars (300m, intrepid, concorde, lhs) can all easily be had for under 5500 and probably make the best case for practicality with humongous trunks, lots of interior room, decent handling, and various body style flavors if you like any of them.

@vigo- the 3.5 in the max isn't worth the penalty of its issues.
I'd hit (and have hit) a 98 I30t. 98 was the last year w/o the immobilizer which caused problems in 99. "t" models got the VLSD in both auto and stick. the I30 can usually be bought for less than the maxima and are typically kept up better. Swapping the 3.5 into the A32 chassis isn't tough, but you are better off swapping over the VQ30DE-K intake setup and being done with it. Much more reliable from what I have seen.

In reply to Travis_K:

At that price range there are a ton of good cars to choose from. A quick spin around the local Craigslist gave me several interesting cars, including a few mid-90s 5 series BMWs.

In an effort to keep it simple, I'd lean towards a Neon or a MkIII Golf, because you could make a rock-solid daily driver out of them have some change left over.

In addition to the fun factor, will you need to haul cargo or kids around?

I've got a 1998 Volvo V70 T5 auto for sale with 91k on the clock...

@vigo- the 3.5 in the max isn't worth the penalty of its issues.

could you expound on these issues? Its been years since i stopped keeping track of the Maxima forums.

You can get a nice e36 for that price. They are reliable and get great mileage (30 mpg highway) I have at one time or another had a 528i, 328i, m3 and a maxima. All have been great cars but the e36 provides the best combo of sportiness reliability and economy. And they look great and have a strong aftermarket.

I happen to be selling a nice one for $4700.00 with all of the maintinance and new tires. so I know you can get them in the price range you are looking for.

2nd the E36. We just paid $3800 for a 1998 328i sedan w/sport package: for my sister-in-law. 1 owner car, dealer maintained since new, 122k miles, everything (including A/C) works. She LOVES it, and I have a hard time imagining a better all-round vehicle.

If the OP has been shopping for a DD since May, I feel for him.

Although I'll third the E36

I don't know about that...I perpetually shop for a new DD, regardless of the state of my current one.

Wait.... that isn't normal?

Good point.

Let me rephrase: If the OP still has a busted Milano, and nothing to replace it with, I feel for him, as my DD AW11 is continually busted.