Car to get around $20,000

[CosmosMpower]

Anything good in this price range? I know you can get an older E46 M3 and maybe some FWD turbo cars like the MS3 in this price range. Obviously a pretty decent 04-05 S2000, 350Z, TT Audi S4 etc. What would you guys pick up for around 20K that is sporty but still DD able.

-Must be fun (not handle like an absolute pig)
-Pretty Reliable
-Ideally decent straight line acceleration
-Warranty would be nice, or CPO.

[Dave04]

What you would pick versus what I'd pick for that price might be different mind you...

LINK

[Titus]

Selling the Elise already?

[CosmosMpower]

What you would pick versus what I'd pick for that price might be different mind you...

LINK

Actually not a bad choice! Not sure if I can live with an auto tranny, should have put that in the requirements. If I were to go the big powerful sedan route I should add the V8 M5 as well I suppose but at that price it's going to have near 100,000 miles and the maintenance is ugly.

[mk2tmr2]

Assuming I'd be keeping the Miata at the same time - I'd get an STi. Of all the cars I've owned, my WRX had by far the most impressive response to being modified and it's hard to beat the straight-line acceleration of a 300+ awhp car. I spent less than $2k on power mods to get to 300whp in that thing. (Don't even ask me how much it cost to get the miata to ~220whp. lol.)

Hard to beat the reliability, too. Plus they're cheap to fix if something does happen to break.

If I were you I'd scratch the Audi off the list if you're looking for reliability.

[altiain]

Is this for you? Tired of the S2000 already?

RX-8 comes to mind, if you can live with the fuel mileage. You can find a nice low mileage '04-'06 for under $15k. But you've BTDT. I still enjoy driving mine.

Huffines Subaru in Lewisville has an '07 MS3 in silver on autotrader.com for less than $16k with less than 30k miles. Fun and practical daily driver, and you'd save a lot compared to a new one.

For $20k any E46 M3 you find is going to be pretty tired. However, that money would probably come close to finding you a nice E46 330i/Ci Performance Package.

[mk2tmr2]

What you would pick versus what I'd pick for that price might be different mind you...

LINK

I had a 2003 C32 AMG. Least reliable car I've ever owned. Thank God for the extended warranty. The AMG SpeedShift auto tranny is nice and I didn't miss the manual that much. My biggest complaint was NO LSD!! Who puts 350hp in a car and then leaves an open diff in the rear?

[CosmosMpower]

Is this for you? Tired of the S2000 already?

RX-8 comes to mind, if you can live with the fuel mileage. You can find a nice low mileage '04-'06 for under $15k. But you've BTDT. I still enjoy driving mine.

Huffines Subaru in Lewisville has an '07 MS3 in silver on autotrader.com for less than $16k with less than 30k miles. Fun and practical daily driver, and you'd save a lot compared to a new one.

For $20k any E46 M3 you find is going to be pretty tired. However, that money would probably come close to finding you a nice E46 330i/Ci Performance Package.

If I could stomach the FWD I think that 07 MS3 for 16 is hard to beat, hell Huffines is just down the road I might go test drive it anyway. I didn't mind the RX-8 but I don't want to go down that road again, plus it's too slow in a straight line for a fun daily car. I agree the TT S4 is way too unreliable just thinking of something similar to that.

No Evo or STi either. I looked at the Legacy GT B-spec a few years ago, I wonder if those came down a bit. There's also an 07-08 used Mini Cooper S, although I'm not sure how well that would go down with the Ms.

[CosmosMpower]

Who puts 350hp in a car and then leaves an open diff in the rear?

BMW (335/135), don't get me started.

[altiain]

BTW, you can also get a low mileage Mazdaspeed6 for ~$20k. Another alternative to a Legacy Spec B.

[POS Racing]

What are ya ditching Cosmo?

[CosmosMpower]

BTW, you can also get a low mileage Mazdaspeed6 for ~$20k. Another alternative to a Legacy Spec B.

True, I didn't like the one I drove at the Mazda zoom zoom event though. Maybe the course was too tight but it felt VERY FWD, more like a Maxima.

[CosmosMpower]

What are ya ditching Cosmo?

Don't know yet, one or both just got the Ken O bug and bored so I might do some shopping.

[CosmosMpower]

This thing looks decent if they would knock a grand or two off. Like that it's cloth and no sunroof. I'm not dead set on 20K but don't want to go over too much.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ctd/939099794.html

[TurboDuane]

This thing looks decent if they would knock a grand or two off. Like that it's cloth and no sunroof. I'm not dead set on 20K but don't want to go over too much.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ctd/939099794.html

To each his own, I've always wanted an M3, but I'm so scared of the maint. woe's that I've read so much about, and at 50k+ miles, I'd expect them to be kicking in soon. Also, $25k for a 4 to 5 year old car is more that I'm willing to part with. How are the banks now-a-days when it comes to borrowing a 4 year old car? will they still go 4, 5 or even 6 years? Even if they do, you'll still be making high payments on a 7 to 10 year old car before it's all over, assuming you don't sell it first. Then that brings another question, does the car depreciate faster than you can pay it off, leaving you upside down throughout your ownership?

Sorry, just my optimistic way of looking at things

[ken o]

I will sell you my Mini for $21K.

[Nails]

Have you considered an 06 NC with a Cosworth? Or did you want something with a back seat since your Elise is a two seater.

[CosmosMpower]

To each his own, I've always wanted an M3, but I'm so scared of the maint. woe's that I've read so much about, and at 50k+ miles, I'd expect them to be kicking in soon. Also, $25k for a 4 to 5 year old car is more that I'm willing to part with. How are the banks now-a-days when it comes to borrowing a 4 year old car? will they still go 4, 5 or even 6 years? Even if they do, you'll still be making high payments on a 7 to 10 year old car before it's all over, assuming you don't sell it first. Then that brings another question, does the car depreciate faster than you can pay it off, leaving you upside down throughout your ownership?

Sorry, just my optimistic way of looking at things

I have cash no loan needed

[CosmosMpower]

Have you considered an 06 NC with a Cosworth? Or did you want something with a back seat since your Elise is a two seater.

I don't mind 2 seats just want something with a roof I will already have a sc roadster soon

[CosmosMpower]

I will sell you my Mini for $21K.

Nah there has to be something wrong with it if you managed to keep it this long