Another "what car should I get?" thread

[juxt3r]

I'm really tired of having cars that need modification to suit me & my tastes, so I'm looking around at what's available either from the factory or from the dealer in a lightly modded form, is and looks fun, unique, weird, or all of those together. Reliability is a plus.

Most choices are either li'l things or wagons...

Right now, I'm throwing around a few choices:
Volvo C30 2.0 (I like the Gecko Green they offer)
Mazda6 wagon, though discontinued now
Mazdaspeed3
Saab 9-2x
Saab 9-3
Subaru WRX 5-door

For the time being, I'm looking at a price ceiling, including fees & all that crap, of $30k and not a tick higher.

Any other suggestions?

Not looking to buy very soon; just looking.
Anybody want to buy a boosted Cavalier station wagon? Grocery getter with guts! ...oh, and it's ugly, too. heheh

[HudsonHawk]

Mazdaspeed 3 woo woo

[Radio-Active]

Be prepared to buy tires right away for the Mazdaspeed 3.

I think they discontinued the Saabaru 9-2 also.

[Radio-Active]

Go for the EDP from Saab and get a free trip out of the deal. Save 15% off retail and get a $2000 spending allowence for your trip.

Linkie

[Bacon]

Golf GTi? 4door.

[johnwag]

Mazdaspeed 3, or Subaru WRX wagon!

[MX-5EE]

Be prepared to buy tires right away for the Mazdaspeed 3.

I think they discontinued the Saabaru 9-2 also.

But if you find one on a lot or recently used, you can usually get a steal on one.

[aalvarez04]

Mazdaspeed 3, or Subaru WRX wagon!

I'm with Johnwag on this one, +1 on the ms3 and subaru wrx.

[Ataim]

A 2000 to 2002 BMW M5 or M3 could be had for that price.

here are some M3's

http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/459125145.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/458439347.html

and M5's

http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/456928621.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/420437374.html

[CosmosMpower]

Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8 Rx-8

If you get an M3 or M5 in that price range it will be a money pit.

[rob76turbo]

Love mine!

[Ataim]

If you get an M3 or M5 in that price range it will be a money pit.

I disagree, Look at how many high milage BMW's are out there. Kindof Like the Miata's they go for a really long time. About the only big ticket item that can go out is the clutch.

[Rogue]

Ive never had a car I did'nt want to Mod/Customize.

Even my lawn tractor is! :p

I'm also working on a big block V-twin golf cart to terrorize Propwash.

[Titus]

If it was me, I'd be looking at the Mazdaspeed 3, the Mini Cooper, and used Saabie 9-2s. In fact, those are the cars on the short list to replace the wife's Murano.

[Radio-Active]

Ive never had a car I did'nt want to Mod/Customize.

Even my lawn tractor is! :p

I'm also working on a big block V-twin golf cart to terrorize Propwash.

I know a guy who used to sell the Bar Stool racers...
Jim Lauden at Aero Country would be right up your alley. Now he's building T-bucket Kits and was seriously considering Lotus Sevens.

[Rogue]

I've heard the name, we bought the Swift from "Aero Country".

I wonder if you can Auto-X a cart?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YntA4Aw6UZk

[CosmosMpower]

I disagree, Look at how many high milage BMW's are out there. Kindof Like the Miata's they go for a really long time. About the only big ticket item that can go out is the clutch.

Obviously you've never owned one. I had a E36 M3 sedan and if you saw some of the repair bills you'd shit a brick. Just to name a few things for the E36 you have expldoing radiators, rear strut mounts, subframes that come apart, oil pump nut falling off, rear trailing arm bushing, vanos unit dying, SRS seatbelt sensor. The cheapest fix for any given problem with DIY labor is around 200-300 bucks. BMW's are NOTHING like miatas when you're talking about maintenance cost. The price of a small glitch in a M BMW could easily pay for a longblock and transmission replacement in a miata. Go do some reading on bimmerforums, 5 series and M stuff is very expensive.

[Majik]

I've heard the name, we bought the Swift from "Aero Country".

I wonder if you can Auto-X a cart?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YntA4Aw6UZk

After that seeing that video I doubt you would want to.

[srivendel]

Upcoming 128i or 135i.

[Ataim]

Obviously you've never owned one.

I've never owned a M3 or 5, but my past experience with my wifes 740iL has shown that a well maintained BMW will last for many miles. It has 160k miles on it. Besides regularly scheduled maintenance, we have had to replace the radiator and a pulley bearing for the belt. Total bill of about 650 at the stealership. Part for Part a Miata is less expensive. Hell my white car cost me less that a set of tires for my Porsche .