Unexpected What Car edition? 4 doors, 5k

I may be thrown into the new-to-me car buying soon, depending on how things work out with my car.

I'm looking for something with 4 proper doors (has to hold a rear facing seat behind the passenger seat and forward facing behind the driver). It needs to not embarrass itself at an autocross, but doesn't need to be competitive, per se. Can't be boring.

(Another) RX-8 is out because the rear facing seat is not quite doable in terms of entry/exit.

Budget is about $5k. Pretty open otherwise. Looking for some ideas.

Mazda6, mazda3, or chevy hhr

E39 or E46.

2006 Civic Si seems to be pretty competitive in H Street locally and should fit kids well enough.

A mazda3 will accommodate those carseats, I have done it. And it does not embarrass itself at an autocross either.

A rear-facing seat behind the passenger seat is going to be a challenge in most of the cars mentioned, unless your passenger is short enough not to mind the seat being moved most of the way forwards.

My next car, with exactly those parameters, will likely be a Mazda3 Wagon.

Should be enough to buy the nicest Mazda Protege P5 wagon out there, right? Maxima also fits the qualifications.

For giggles, Q45?

P5 and rear facing dont leave any room for a passenger. Unless they are tiny.

Lots of good options, but the rearward facing seat may be the hardest thing to make work. SWMBO, who swears she is 5 feet tall (I think she exaggerates), is pretty much the only person who can comfortably ride in the front passenger seat of my e46 if we have the rearward facing seat in the back.

Acura Tl with a 6-speed. with some decent shock and springs should handle pretty well.

Too bad you weren't looking about 3 weeks earlier. My Forte was perfect for that.

Millennium Falcon fits this job nicely

Roadmaster.

In reply to codrus:

My wife and I are both pretty short. For comparison, in the RX-8 (whose fate hangs in the balance), my wife can comfortably sit in front of a baby carrier. However, my baby will likely transition to a rear-facing soon.

In reply to others:

Piddling around on Autotrader, I see an early G35 or two, a TSX, possibly a TL, Mazda 3 (1st gen), Mazda 6(1st gen), and a GS400

I'm also curious if I can find a V8 Charger that's not too beat to death for $5k.

Don't know if they are down to $5K, but I still prefer the look of this gen Civic over most others. Better as a 2-door, but the 4-door is still pretty sweet. Decent mid-pack HS car and, well, it's a Honda so expect 300,000 miles.

Are they old enough to start showing up in police auctions yet?

The magnums show up on CL around here for under 5k, what about one of them?

Another great option is the Fit. Bigger inside than out, playful chassis, in your price range, Honda quality. Slap on some wide slicks on Panasports and you will have a LOT of fun at the autocross.

Some other inspiration

XJR

P51, is300, ls400, TL, e34, e38, CTS, Matrix/Vibe, Jag x-type, Fusion, Lincoln LS, SHO, Maxima, Altima SE-R, 'speed6, g35

How tall is the driver? I'm in the same situation myself, but Im 6'4. Every car i get in the drivers seat is slid all the way back. That being the case, very few of the cars listed in this thread have leg room for a child, much less a car seat.

In reply to darkbuddha:

Is a fusion a decent handler?

The four door answer is Q45.

scardeal wrote: In reply to darkbuddha: Is a fusion a decent handler?

Not at all lol