You can get between 3 and 5 of these for under $20K, they're a blast to drive, and are quite reliable (from a driveability standpoint...never mind the niggling electrics such as rear hatch release). Parts are even cheap if you know where to look. If you find a euro version like mine, they're even more fun
Hmm, with around 20k or so to play with, I would probably take a different approach rather than just one car... To me, the most important part of the equation is the safety of the two children in the back seat. If it were me, I would pick up a used Range Rover as my main kid-mobile, and use the rest for an older M3 as my play-toy. I sure wouldn't want to be doing "upgrades" or "Mods" to my daily over the weekend and have something go wrong, like it always seems to do when the parts store is closed, and not have a way to tote my kids. This way you have a nice daily driver, and a toy that you can mod, autocross, and drive on the street as well. As much as I like Porsche 911's, It would be far from the top of my list of cars to carry my kids on a daily basis.
No direct experience and Hyundai has the best warranty in the business. I actually worked in the Mazda half of the dealership, but walked through the Hyundai service area a lot. Seems like there were always Tiburons in there, and even the salesmen working behind me didn't care for them. Mark
I had one, loved it, burned badly by expenses. I sold it for slightly less than I paid for it, with the additional insult of $6k+ in expenses while I owned it. I would but another one but I have absolutely no interest in the running costs and depreciation again. I want a car that will sell well in a couple of years. Mark
Good idea! I was actually shopping for an M6 when I bought my current 525i (had to reduce shopping price). I would love an 850i but everything I have heard says the running costs are eye-watering, moreso than a Ferrari. Mark
mondail, nice ferrari 400/ 400i, porsche 928, ram air 6 speed trans am (sure to hold value, very collectable) older well sorted V12 jaguar..... my list!!!
I think this makes 3 votes for this car on this thread..I've always loved this car, and would jump on one if I had the chance for a daily. Even the four door ones are nice if you need that option.
I second the comment on the 928 as a daily driver. I've been driving my 86.5 around for about 4 years now with essentially no major problems. I drive a lot, and the car receives tons of abuse as I live in the city, but she never complains! For 20K you could pick up a perfect 928S4 or GT. 316-320hp, and your choice of auto or manual. -Jason
I would go for a Lexus SC400. They can be had for between $9k - $20k depending on the year and mileage. You get the 2+2 configuration plus a V8 and with just about every luxury feature known. For $20k you could pick up a 1999 with low miles.
I dont know how you'd go about getting one into the states but a Holden Monaro would be quite a fun car. Its got a manual Tranny Four doors and a LS-1 in it.
i'll throw in another recommendation for the mini cooper S. had a number of students this past weekend with mini's (the S models mostly), and i loved the car. i didn't rail on it, but the charactaristics of the car came through vibrantly; very direct steering; great chassis; very little body roll (for a stock car); great throttle response, and a very usable powerband. and, as mentioned, the interior had a lot of room (but if you're tall, don't get a sunroof equipped model), and i fit comfortably with my helmet on -- a rarity in production cars (i'm 6'2") all in all, i think the cooper S is a fantastic little hatch, and well worth the effort to look into. -hubert
Another 164 daily driver here. I bought it about 5 years ago for a total of ~$9000 (included all repairs to make the car right). Been driving it daily, also used it for the occasional autocross/time trial. These are kickass cars, and very underappreciated. Dom Image Unavailable, Please Login
Question, where you going to put the kids? BACK SEAT? Have you looked back there? As long as the small children fit into a baby carrier sized protection seat, you're ok, but, there ain't gonna be any kid legs jammed in behind a driver over 5' tall in this puppy.
have you sat in the back of a mini? i had a husband & wife couple as students, and both were tall, and could fit in the backseat. i even sat in the back myself, and found it agreeable (it's obviously not a luxury sedan, but it's not a crampped interior either -- i'm 6'2" and 200#.)
check out some Saabs! i have a 99 9-5, you can get them from 11K and up. if your looking for more of a sports car feel, you can get an aero which is basically a modified 9-5. also considering that they are turbocharged, you can extensively modify them, and they come in manual. an E36 M3 is also a great choice.
The Volvo is no longer in a coupe, or 5spd, a shame. For under 20k, as a daily driver, I would assume comfortto take higher precedent than performance. I would say that a used c70 5spd coupe with IPD plug and play mods is comfy, safe and quick. Then there is say that fun Alfa, GTV, and even dare I say the Saturns are not too bad for daily work. Maximas are cool too. Thanks to the wealth of parts for the previously mentioned, you will not be s.o.l. on another forum/yahoogroup sourcing parts.
I shopped those exact same cars this summer (if you mean mid-80's 911), along with a few others I won't mention (VW's for wife). I had pretty much the same criteria (although not *2* children, but needed at least a 2+2 for babyseat(s)). I went with a brand new 04 Subaru WRX (new front end and interior). If you're a Costco member you can get it pre-priced... we got ours for straight invoice and low interest(I'll PM with the details if you're interested). Ended up chickening out of the old 911's (and even shopped Boxsters) because the P-dealership sales manager was brutally honest about repair costs - it didn't *scare me off* but it made it realistic. If it were a 2nd car I'd love to tinker, but we needed a primary vehicle this time around (in hindsight, I might have got a cheap VW for wife and spent the rest on a 70's 911 to tinker/track). In honesty, I've waivered back and forth after buying the WRX. BUT, the past two weeks I've been here in Canada in the snow and I'm totally happy now. The AWD and grip of the car is great: you can start a drift and snap out of it with the power of your mind. Very responsive steering (I wouldn't dare complain about understeer after the car saving my butt the other day when I started sliding on the highway at 50mph and it snapped right out... oversteer would have had me hanging off a tree). Of course, your weather is different there, so snow is not likely an issue. As for mods, they're a ton, and they're relatively cheap. Take off the 3 cats, put a 3" up-pipe and exhast, and get a $400 Cobbtuning.com ECU reflash and you go from 227hp to 280hp for $1200-1500. If you can find a tuner garage with connections, inspections aren't a worry. Throw on a bigger sway bar and strut brace and the understeer can disappear. Eibach springs and 18" alloys give supergrip and a Wilwood or Stoptech brakekit can make it stop like a 996tt for $1500. That's my list of mods to come... I haven't started yet though, want to use up more warranty first.
I don't think anyone here has mentioned a 1997-98 BMW 540 sport. V-8 with 272 HP. 6sp tranny.. 17" factory rims. You can even find one with a navigation system for that price..
Well what kinda room do you need. If just a passenger seat, go with a pre-owned Honda S2000! Incredible car!!!! But if you need more room go WRX. Or Honda Prelude for even less and still very low miles.
