With our taxes finally done and knowing that we're getting at least a modest bit back (I overestimated how much we'd owe from some of what we did last year), I can finally try and make the case that I need another car as we've been down to 3 of the 4-car limit the Dancer imposed at the current house (and only 2 driveable, as the DMC is down until I fix the frame). I know she's going to fight it, but I both really want something more fun to drive than the good-sized automatic QX4 and said QX4 REALLY needs to spend a week or two in the garage with me working on it as there are a laundry list of things of varying degrees of urgency that have been piling up while I've needed it as my primary mode of transportation.
So, I'm looking for something with the following parameters:
- Ideally under $2k, much above that and I know I'll have a harder time selling her on it. And, of course, the cheaper the better.
- Stickshift. Pretty much the one non-negotiable point in all of this- I want something I can actually -drive- again.
- Daily drivable from the moment it's bought. I don't want to buy something only to have to work on it for a week to -then- be able to work on the Infiniti. Would have to be a really insane deal on something really fun to buy a project- and it would have to be a quick fix, because selling her on a project car when I have the DMC sitting there would NOT be fun.
- Relatively closer- less than 50 miles away from Lexington at most is what I'm aiming for.
- AWD would be nice- but unlikely.
- Not a truck or SUV- and probably not a true station wagon. I don't expect the Dancer to ride in whatever it is anyway, but she NEVER will if it's a station wagon. Plus, I want something a bit more fun- and station wagons generally don't fit that bill. Hot hatches are fine (at least for me).
Here's what I've found so far that seems to fit the bill:
2006 Cobalt SS
This would be the most fun of most that I've found, assuming that the idle issue isn't too terrible to fix (don't know how timing is on these, but gaskets/vacuum leaks should be easy to resolve). Toward the upper end of what I think I could get away with spending, but also one of the newer and more fun ones and also looks pretty good.
This would be the most fun of most that I've found, assuming that the idle issue isn't too terrible to fix (don't know how timing is on these, but gaskets/vacuum leaks should be easy to resolve). Toward the upper end of what I think I could get away with spending, but also one of the newer and more fun ones and also looks pretty good.
2007 Saturn Ion 2 Sedan
This is so far the one I think is probably one of the best balances of price and condition- whatever is wrong with the taillight should be easily resolved (there are several in the junkyard an hour away) as long as it runs and drives well. Not nearly as sporty/fun as some of the others, but also one of the newest.
This is so far the one I think is probably one of the best balances of price and condition- whatever is wrong with the taillight should be easily resolved (there are several in the junkyard an hour away) as long as it runs and drives well. Not nearly as sporty/fun as some of the others, but also one of the newest.
2007 Cobalt Coupe (non-SS)
Just found this one- interesting that the Cobalts keep popping up. I do like the way that they look, and this one is at least a more interesting color. Kind of... quaint? that it actually has manual windows as well...
Just found this one- interesting that the Cobalts keep popping up. I do like the way that they look, and this one is at least a more interesting color. Kind of... quaint? that it actually has manual windows as well...
2002 Impreza Sedan (non-turbo)
I rather like this one- mainly because I REALLY like the idea of having the AWD such that it should still make it up the hill to the cabin if I don't need the capacity of the Infiniti, but it's also solidly up there in the mileage and the seller already lists some thing that need done. At the same time, I do appreciate the information.
I rather like this one- mainly because I REALLY like the idea of having the AWD such that it should still make it up the hill to the cabin if I don't need the capacity of the Infiniti, but it's also solidly up there in the mileage and the seller already lists some thing that need done. At the same time, I do appreciate the information.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
