What Car - Premium Edition Used, Sporty, under $40k

Have a good friend that just got a new job with a big pay raise. He wants to treat himself with a very nice fun weekend car. Something that is a nice place to sit in, handles well, and feels special. Must be available with a manual trans. Also, he does not work on his cars, so something that is not going to cost him dearly in maintenance. He has his cars well maintained, it's just that he pays somebody to do it for him so something with inherent expensive flaws or extreme maintenance costs is not practical.

His DD is a 2013 WRX hatch. His previous DD was a 2005 SAABaru 9?X Aero wagon thingy. He does not appreciate 'Merican muscle, so no Mustang, Crammit, Viper, or Corvettes. He is not as limber as he used to be so climbing in and out of my FR-S is a chore for him. He was talking P-car or BMW M. I think he would be putting about $15k down and borrowing the rest, so availability of financing is also a consideration.

And go...

So, he is going to spend the raise before he earns it? Smart money is on enjoying the WRX and putting away some cash for a later deal.

In reply to trucke:

He's keeping the WRX for his DD. He's single with no other debt and wants to own one nice car before he gets too old to enjoy it...I'm not going to blame him for that.

Lease a new BMW or go used with a killer extended warranty. It may be in the shop constantly, but at least it will be covered under warranty.

Does he motorsport? If I wanted a street car that would pamper me while being brutal and a bit special I'd at least go drive a second gen CTS-V. They're heavy for autocross and a bit tire limited for track stuff but they are brutal below 80mph, comfortable, and special without necessarily demanding exotic levels of upkeep.

M235i. Or a really nice E90/92 M3

In reply to mazdeuce:

Only street use so far, but he lives about 45 miles from Carolina Motorsports Park and I might be able to talk him into a HPDE or other track day fun. Probably no autox or rallyx in his future...

cmcgregor wrote: M235i. Or a really nice E90/92 M3

He was reading the specs for the 2 series M to me on the phone last night...I think he thought it was some sort of phone sex, but I wasn't stimulated...

Have him drive a vette before writing them off. He may not think it's his style but a couple minutes behind the wheel could well sway him to buy American.

Simple... German Viper = V10 BMW M6.

KyAllroad wrote: Have him drive a vette before writing them off. He may not think it's his style but a couple minutes behind the wheel could well sway him to buy American.

I know it is a mental block on his part that 'Merican V-8 cars are all brawn, but as much as I try I cannot get him to drive any car manufactured by the big 3. Also, the access is a potential problem for him. Like I said earlier, he complains about getting in & out of my FR-S so I'm not sure about a 'vette. If I was looking in his price range, I'd be considering a C6, CTS-V, a Boss 'Stang, a ZL1 Crammit, or a modified latest gen LE1 Crammit with a supercharger.

NSX

He'd be doing himself a disservice by not at least test driving.

Chevrolet SS.

Keith Tanner wrote: He'd be doing himself a disservice by not at least test driving.

I agree. I'll try to get him to consider one of those, but I don't think it will get very far. He wouldn't even drive my NB in the 5+ years that I had it. I think he rode in it once...He's at least been in the FR-S about a dozen times and driven it twice.

Appleseed wrote: Chevrolet SS.

But, 'Merican bias says "NOPE"...

So, I'm gonna list the vehicles that he has mentioned in the past few days. S2000, 911, Boxster, Cayman, various BMW 2 door coupes of the M variety (1, 2, & 3 series), BR-Z. So he wants something that handles well, is fun to drive, and mostly has a nice interior/driver interface. He's about 5'-9" with a 30" inseam but probably weighs 230 lbs, so not skinny. Combined with age and physical ailments this results in some difficulty entering cars that are small and low along with feeling confined once inside a small cabin. That is why he would not drive my NB model Answer and only rode in it one time. I don't think he would like living with an S2000 or BR-Z even though he mentioned them. He also probably wouldn't like anything with less creature comforts than his 2013 WRX and sounds like he wants more nice things on the interior to make it feel "special".

Lexus IS-F

Infiniti coupe (whatever the G35 is now called Q-something?)

Dr Ribs Revere wrote: Lexus IS-F Infiniti coupe (whatever the G35 is now called Q-something?)

Don't think any Lexus has a manual trans, not sure of the Infiniti...

missed that line about the manual trans... The Infiniti was available with it and may still be available. Correct on the Lexus IS-F some of the other IS models were available with manuals though

Lease a Cayman

He could get a very nice old Toyota:

Edit: reread requirements. He needs to be very limber indeed. Scratch that.

Manual Audi S5 from Carmax with a killer warranty. If he likes the WRX, he'll love the S5.

secretariata wrote:

Appleseed wrote: Chevrolet SS.

But, 'Merican bias says "NOPE"...

It's not Merican. It's Oztralian. That's a fair dinkum Holden Commodore SS right there, mate. Someone just stuck a Chevy badge on the front.

996tt or 997.2 and buy an extended warranty.