Keep the M3 for another year or two and a well bought CTS-V maybe possible.
Keep the M3 for another year or two and a well bought CTS-V maybe possible.
As someone else mentioned, Legacy GT might fit the bill. 2005+ is available with 2.5L turbo. Might be hard to find for $10k though.
WRX might be a candidate as well, definitely can be had for $10k.
There's an 05 LGT wagon with manual transmission for sale locally for $9500. They are out there...but take some searching.
Huge step down in interior/exterior quality between an E36 M3 and a WRX. Make sure you're ok with that...
LGT is nicer than a WRX....
docwyte wrote: Huge step down in interior/exterior quality between an E36 M3 and a WRX. Make sure you're ok with that...
But the longevity of the WRX interior is a huge step up. I'm ok with that.
I would second the CTS-V or Legacy GT option with the nod to the CTS-V.
Longevity vs an E36? What are you smoking? My STI interior was showing wear after 6 months and that was unfortunately typical...
You've got to remember the youngest E36 is 11 years old now, and the youngest E36 M3 sedan is 12 years old..
How about a muscle car?
http://nashville.craigslist.org/ctd/2111313503.html
Plus $5K to play with.
Or you could get a very nice TR6.
docwyte wrote: Longevity vs an E36? What are you smoking? My STI interior was showing wear after 6 months and that was unfortunately typical... You've got to remember the youngest E36 is 11 years old now, and the youngest E36 M3 sedan is 12 years old..
Not smoking the BMW fanboi swag thats for sure.
In the E36 and E46 Ive replaced enough window regulators and switches. Ive seen the falling headliners, seperating door panels, instruments lighting going out, false warning lights etc. Went through it with my brothers E46 and couldn't find an acceptable E36 vert for my wife. Also the 2008 335i Coupe a friend had several issues with the seatbelt retractor and automatic mirrors that were never resolved. Nice cars with nice interiors but they just don't hold up.
The only problem off the top of my head with the Subarus interior is the thin carpeting. My wifes old 2000 Impreza only had some nicks in the door panels from loading stuff and had a torn carpet. The 04 Forester doesn't have any interior issues.
Back on topic. If you do look at the CTS-V see if the rear end service has been done or listen for a loud diff. Also the paint on buttons from the radio/nav will chip off. It will probably feel similar to the M3 with a big jump in power.
How are the CTS-Vs on the scale of awesomeness? I've heard the same about the radio buttons and rear differentials on the cars built before 06. Is driving one awesome enough to make up for the obvious parts bin shopping GM did when building the interior?
If it's like driving a bigger and more powerful E36 M3/4/5 that would be a high score on the scale of awesomeness.
I test drove 2 CVT-Vs before buying a G35x. I was looking for something a little larger then my A4. Both were at small used car lots and I only drove on city streets and highway, no twisty roads.
One had a corsa exhaust and bald tires, I got to drive that in the rain. I don't think that I would ever get sick of going through the gears in that car.
I decided to get a cheaper awd sedan and plan to get another toy car (probably a Miata) rather then the V. I just couldn't have that as an only car with the winters that we have in Cleveland, especialy since the reason that I need a sedan is to haul two kids in car seats.
I had an IS300 5-speed for a while. Great car, incredible styling, really bizarre interior. Awesome to drive, great balance. Awful, terrible in the snow (even with snow tires, it seemed to get stuck ALL THE TIME). Definitely slower than the M3, but a heck of a lot weirder. 5-speed cars are getting harder and harder to find. They have a GIANT aftermarket though.
That being said, I'd rather have an M3 than another IS.
I have test drove half a dozen CTS-V's over the last six years. I couldn't talk the wife into one and with a company could never justify one as a toy.
They truly are awesome driving cars. Power for days, shifts well but could use an aftermarket shifter, brakes are incredible. If I ever loose the company car privelage that and the GTO will be very high on the list. That or something that gets twice the gas mileage and costs half as much.
The interior isn't great but isn't bad. The radio buttons are a known problem and I understand GM replaced them under warranty.
^ This
CTS-V
SlickDizzy wrote: I had an IS300 5-speed for a while. Great car, incredible styling, really bizarre interior.
Other than the chrono gauges, what else is odd about the interior?
I'll definitely add the CTS-V to the list. I just did a quick Autotrader and they look to be in the $15-20 range, but I didn't look too hard.
A CTS-V is the one car my dad has test driven in the last 10 years that he regrets not buying...
Evan wrote: WRX might be a candidate as well, definitely can be had for $10k.
I thought about this initially but took it off the list, wondering if I could find one that hadn't been abused
Look into the Forester XT or Legacy GT. Both available in manual, have lower insurance rates and are less likely to be beaten.
We picked up my wife's 04 Forester XT with 65k this summer for $12,500. Its not hard to find a manual if you are willing to travel.
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