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In the next couple of years, I will need to get rid of my CR-V. It's been a good family transportation appliance but it's getting up there in miles and I won't need something quite so family-oriented. For under $15K (used), I have found three vehicles that still have four seats but that I think would be fun to own for a while: a CTS-V, a GTO, or a Mini Cooper S. Does anybody have any particular horror stories about any of these or have strong opinions that one is clearly superior to the others?
My wifes 50k mile Cooper S rang up around 5K in repairs and tires in 1 year and 10k miles of ownership. It drove great, but was not nearly worth the trouble.
Was that my old car?Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
No... bought it before yours was for sale, but I do believe I tried out the usability of the back seat of your car at an autocross shortly before buying it. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ken o
With the wife or girlfriend?Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
jrj512.Quote:
Originally Posted by ken o
::slut::::whip::Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
I'd go for the Mini...
I've currently got an 06 GTO. It is an absolutely great car, I really love it. I actually was thinking about either this car or the CTS-V prior to purchase and what it boiled down to was for the money, I could afford a much nicer GTO than a CTS-V for the same money. I really wanted 4 doors, but the GTO does have very comfortable and spacious back seats with rear air conditioning as well. The LS2 is fantastic, and for my daily commute I average about 21MPG, not too shabby when I only got 27-28 in my Miata. The other thing that swayed my design was all the horror stories of the rear ends on the CTS-V's. I wanted a low maintenance car and the GTO has done great so far.
I will add however, the few things I will warn about the GTO:
- TINY trunk! For a car its size, it can't hold much, thankfully the back seats are of decent space
- Getting into the back seats is SLOW! You have to wait on the power seats to scoot all the way forward, and they aren't exactly fast
- The shifter has feel like it is in Jell-O. It really is awful. Uses a different design than other LS based cars and feels very disconnected. I HIGHLY recommend your first mod is to get a shifter. I got the Billet Pro, very pricey at $500 but worth every penny
I love the car and plan on keeping it pretty much forever, I also like knowing the car is fairly unique compared to the hoards of CTS's out there, even though mine may be a V
As for the Mini, if I had to get a FWD car, that would be the one, but I have sworn off owning any FWD car. Just a personal preference as I know they are supposed to be great cars, I still enjoy doing the occasional powerslide. A 400HP GTO does this quite nicely, even in stock form.
GTO.
The CTS will cost more and be more expensive to ensure due to brand and I betcha typical of the brand all the gimmicky electricals will stop working at 5 years and the plastic interior with the fake wood will crumble in your hands after 6 years.
I was interested in a Mini and everybody I know that had one where I live loved it for the first few months and then got rid of them within 2 years for what ever reason. The people I know that had them aren't really 'driving enthusiasts' however. I can't go by a car lot now without seeing a couple on it. They are usually automatics tho. Just makes me suspicious.
I'd go with the 'lac.
CTS-V for under 15K?
good luck with that...
I'd go with a Subaru :drive:
My vote goes to the Goat. They drive nice and I really like the looks inside and out. Plus, you can't quibble with the classic American/Australian layout - big-ass 2-door with 4 seats and 8 cylinders. Grrrr. Get a 6-liter 6-speed and call it a day.
The Mini Cooper will be a blast to drive, but I shudder to think about repair costs on one out of warranty (a German car built in England - yikes!). I guess you should reread Titus' post about that - sounds scary.
The early CTS-V was an impressive car, but a little junky on the inside and chunky on the outside, IMO.
Thanks for the inputs, guys. These are the kinds of things I was hoping to hear. I hadn't heard of Mini maintenance issues before, so that's good to know.
As for a CTS-V under $15K, yes they are rare, but they pop up every now and then. Who would think you could get a Miata for under $1K, but it happens (even if it's a $1900 one with a hardtop).
CTS-Vs under $15k aren't all that rare. I like the 1st gen CTS-V, but I don't think the styling aged that well.
GTOs don't really do it for me - I like the concept, but hated the "I'm a big Cavalier" exterior styling. I'm also not much of a coupe fan, since the lack of rear doors (imho) renders the backseat relatively useless.
The Mini is cute, but if you want a FWD hot hatch, the Mazdaspeed3 offers more speed, more practicality, and likely lower operating costs over the long term.
My pick for ~$15k four door daily driver fun would be a Mazdaspeed3 or Mazdaspeed6.
Exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain
For instance:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/ctd/1907609106.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/1906319315.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/1902897457.html
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/1902136345.html
I don't think it's a paragon of styling, either but it's better than okay in my eyes. I do like the suede inserts too since we're talking about TX here.
Good points but I actually like the GTO look as long as it hasn't been too pimped out by a previous owner. It would be yellow, btw. Another (questionable) personal preference. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain
I hadn't actually realized that the MS3's had gotten that low in price yet. Good pick!Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain
Another consideration: the Caddy might be a better date car....
MS3's aren't that expensive new... and you NEVER know what the previous knucklehead did to that turboed car....
Why are you looking at cars is NY and Chicago lol?
Because they were examples that disproved your claim. ;)
There was one in Plano this past week that had been at Cars and Coffee. It had a really non-restrictive (read: "loud") exhaust on it but it was pretty nice and less than $15K. It had already sold (quickly) by the time you said they were hard to find.
Let me correct myself...good luck finding one somewhat local that you would realistically look at buying...
I can't imagine going to NY or Chicago to look at a used car... I did a search on Autotrader with a radius of 100 miles up to 20K and only one CTS-v showed up and it was a used lot that I wouldn't look twice at...
I'd take a Subaru, STI or even the wrx.
Austin and San Antonio are local enough for me, considering it's a big purchase I'd be keeping for a few years. Just saying, they do actually come up and can be found. I bought my last three Miatas in Salt Lake, Minneapolis, and Denver too. I don't mind travel to get the right car. Besides, that means I get a road trip on the way home.
Subies aren't my style, btw. Feel free to get one for yourself though. ;-)
I have no personal experience with any of your three proposed vehicles. However, given the nature of the two domestics you're considering, I do have a question: what are your thoughts on the G8, and why is it not on your list?
Hadn't thought of the G8. I read lots of good press about it. Haven't priced them either. If I went for one, I'd want the G8 GT though. Still not sure it'd have as much personality as the other two.
e46 M3. Some are hitting $15K ish
If you could pick up the Caddy for under 15K or even a nice one for under 20K that would be a nice pick up. I think the G8's are still up there in price, I'd say over 20K but I haven't checked. I'd go with Ken's comment on the M3, all-around greatness. And I've seen plenty under 20K...
Listen to ken o on this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by ken o
Maintenance on a $15k E46 is not going to be do it yourself or cheap. Das German autos are pricey to maintain. And the back seat sucks to ride in. Smaller than a Civic.
What Goofy said. I love me some E46 M3s, but I wouldn't touch a $15k one with a ten foot pole.
I would imagine the G8 (as well as any STi that hasn't been ragged completely out) is above the OP's self-imposed $15k price cap.
Now, good E36 M3's (even in sedan trim!) are under $15k and are self wrenchers (for the most part).
::Banana:: These would match your Miata! - http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/1909816827.html or http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/1907479816.html
The 04 GTO is bland and boring...
You have to at least get the 6.0
Yep, those are the ones. If I could pick and choose, I'd have a yellow one with a smooth hood *and* the 6.0.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Only 04 had the non scooped hood (and a VERY small few 05's), and they had smaller brakes, smaller engine, and other things that to me make it less appealing. Plus, a decent used '04 should sell around 12k or so currently, at that price, you can find a '06 model. The only options even available on any GTO was the Sport Appearance Package (SAP) and the 18" wheels, that's it. Personally I like the SAP package but those are even harder to find.
G8 GT or MS3.