I'm going to keep my comments vague to keep with what car thread tradition.
I'm going to need a car soon. I'm looking for smooth and comfortable over harsh and sporty, but still fun. Think grand touring vs. sports car.
As always I prefer 2 doors, manual and RWD. But that's not a deal breaker if the driving experience is good enough.
I have no time for a project nor a maintenance hog.
Looking somewhere between 10-20K as far as budget.
No mustang's.
What ya got?
In reply to Nick Comstock :
Look at Jaguars in that price range. There are some fantastic deals to be had. Unlike "common knowledge" Jaguar's quality is on par or in some cases better than similar German or some Japanese offerings.
On the other hand Jaguar does seem to retain the ability to produce some stunningly good looking and elegant vehicles with awesome handling and performance.
Lexus SC300 manual! Below your bottom end budget wise but you'll get the nicest one out there.
In reply to dculberson :
Hard to find though...
The Challenger is widely reported to be the most "GT" of the current muscle car crop with an actual back seat and healthy trunk. RWD by default and manuals are available. Autotrader shows 90 manuals under $20k (including a few SRT models), and two under $10k.
In reply to STM317 :
Definitely on the list, high on the list.
Nick Comstock said:In reply to dculberson :
Hard to find though...
You only need one. (Or are you building a fleet? :-)
The last of the G37S would be a great option.
It's FWD, but a 2013-2016 Accord V6 6spd coupe would also fit the bill quite nicely.
BMW 3-series, over a variety of generations, trims, and conditions?
These are also well within your budget, including the later models with the LS2.
I see 57 manual equipped examples within budget on Autotrader, including 3 with less than 30k miles on the clock
Genesis Coupe, 3.8 Track. Has the LSD, brembos and sweet sweet sounding 3.8 V6.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/790484065/overview/
bobzilla said:Genesis Coupe, 3.8 Track. Has the LSD, brembos and sweet sweet sounding 3.8 V6.
How many of those came with a manual?
In reply to STM317 :
How in the world did I forget about the GTO...
jstein77 said:bobzilla said:Genesis Coupe, 3.8 Track. Has the LSD, brembos and sweet sweet sounding 3.8 V6.
How many of those came with a manual?
Quite a few.
I came up with a few contenders if I was looking for a sub-$20k, RWD, coupe.
Since you said no Mustangs, I immediately crossed the Camaro off the list as well. They seem similar enough that I figured they where also out. That left the Challenger out of the American muscle/pony car group. I think you could find a decent, V8 powered, RWD example for your budget. Outside of that the only other American car that came to mind was a base C6. C5 ZO6 came to mind, but they are decidely more "sporty" so I think the base C6 is where you would land in Corvette world.
You can absolutely find a 996 in this price range. I would even hazard a guess you could find one with the IMS addressed in this budget. Do your research, get a PPI, and generally the cars will treat you well.
I'll mention some BMW's to consider, though they might be bumping up against the low maintenance criteria. I would look into the 228i or something like a 3.0is Z4, bonus points if you can find a coupe. If you are willing to take a little more risk on go for a Z4M roadster, the coupes are too expensive, or a E46 M3 convertible. I'd personally avoid the SMG on the M3.
Ransom said:BMW 3-series, over a variety of generations, trims, and conditions?
This and actually pick up when the next robo-dialed extended warranty call comes through.
Lightly used 2014-2018 Mazda3 hatch, Touring trim, 6 speed. 188HP inline 4, 0-60 6 seconds, 35 mpg.
I forgot another contender. The Audi TT.
If you don't need back seats that can accommodate humans, a TT is definitely something to consider. Coupe/convertible, FWD/AWD, NA V6/Turbo I4, so many choices! Probably going to be more maintenance intensive, but you end up with a car that could do it all.
Bonus points if you find a car with the baseball golve interior
In reply to MTechnically :
Im a fan of the TT, but only from a distance. Call me overly cautious but I'm very leery of them.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
I'd need to drive one but I have a feeling those are a little too on the harsh side for what I'm looking for. My sister had a Mazda 6 and it was too harsh and buzzy.
Challenger all day, if you hadn't said "No Mustangs" would be an 03-04 Termi.
Anything else is gonna be a disappointment and Challengers still turn heads.
Otherwise get a C5 or C6 if you dont need a back seat.
Couldn't give me a GTO. You couldn't get parts when they were new and Pontiac was still a viable-ish brand. The situation has not gotten better. Gonna have to live with a lot of small issues on one of those.
Speaking about the smaller side anyone with personal experience with the frisbee twins care to comment about the driving experience? Are they buzzy and harsh?
If the 86 twins are in, then early 987 Boxsters and Caymans have to make the grade. You could find an incredibly nice 986 Boxster S within your price range, as well.
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