Best Friend Buys in a Week! I need car suggestions NOW!!!

[MrH]

My best friend from high school is coming home in a week from the Coast Guard Academy, and will be buying a car.  He's mostly looking at new cars, but he'd look at lightly used cars too (which is what I'm pushing for.  Let someone else take the depreciation hit and get a better car.)

Here's his criteria I know of up to this point.

$20,000 limit
Manual transmission (I'm pretty sure that's a requirement for him)
Fits 4 people (it can be a 2-door, it just needs to have 4 seats).
Fun to drive
If it's used, it needs to have really low miles, and certified pre-owned would be awesome
Fuel economy at least in the low 20 mpg I would think.

So let's hear it!  He likes the Mini Clubman, but I'm trying to steer him towards something else.  I'll probably test drive a lot this week, to see if I can find something for him, and then when he gets back, we'll both go out test driving.

Some of my suggestions so far:

Acura RSX-S
Rx-8
Mini

[TBR]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=255586760&dealer_id=63610569&car_year=2008&rdm=1228682668884&model=MAZDASPD3&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=75&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=MAZDA&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=45204&advanced=&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=84

Could probably haggle it down to $20k.

[Cookie Monster]

Civic Si Sedan, MS3, could go for an E46 but I'd think those are too old.

[hotrodalex]

GTO.

[MrH]

I might go look around today and see what's out there.  I'm shocked by a few things.  I was thinking for $20,000, you could get a barely used, nice luxury car.  G35 prices are too high, but man, Cadillac STS's are CHEAP.  I thought those were supposed to be pretty nice cars, but man, they go for about the same as the CTS does almost.  An STS under $20,000 isn't too hard to find at all.

[Cookie Monster]

I might go look around today and see what's out there.  I'm shocked by a few things.  I was thinking for $20,000, you could get a barely used, nice luxury car.  G35 prices are too high, but man, Cadillac STS's are CHEAP.  I thought those were supposed to be pretty nice cars, but man, they go for about the same as the CTS does almost.  An STS under $20,000 isn't too hard to find at all.

STS = automatic.

[2o6]

Fit?

[BimmerM3]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___05-325Ci-Coupe-5-Speed-Sport-Pkg-HS-H-K-SR-MSC_W0QQitemZ370121590063QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item370121590063&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A7|39%3A1|240%3A1308


/thread.

[Lebowski]

I might go look around today and see what's out there.  I'm shocked by a few things.  I was thinking for $20,000, you could get a barely used, nice luxury car.  G35 prices are too high, but man, Cadillac STS's are CHEAP.  I thought those were supposed to be pretty nice cars, but man, they go for about the same as the CTS does almost.  An STS under $20,000 isn't too hard to find at all.

American luxury cars depreciate like nobody's business.

[dazzleman]

With his price limit, I'd go with a late model used car.  I think that's the best value.  It's still pretty new, but somebody else has absorbed a lot of the depreciation.

[ChrisV]

American luxury cars depreciate like nobody's business.

Every luxury car depreciates like that. My neighbor just bought a 6000 mile Mercedes S class for half price.


As for the original suggestion, if he likes the Mini Clubman, let him drive one. They are nice cars, with more interior room than the Mini, without actually losing the fun to drive factor that the original Mini had. More rear legroom and more storage room, in a barely larger package.

[Raza]

Some American car dealerships are selling cars at buy one (at sticker) and get one for free (plus tax, tags, et al). 

What about a used GTI?

[565]

You can definitely get a decent used G35 coupe for 20k.

[BimmerM3]

You can definitely get a decent used G35 coupe for 20k.

This is true... a friend of mine got one recently for around 16k, but IIRC it had relatively high miles (80k or so).

[Byteme]

You can get a very nicely equipped Mazda3 or one of the lower trim level 6s for under $20K.

[SVT666]

You just described a 2006 or 2007 Mustang GT.

[Byteme]

You just described a 2006 or 2007 Mustang GT.

I think he stated it needs to fit four people, not 'in theory" fit four people.  The Mustang's rear seat is pretty tight.

[SVT666]

I think he stated it needs to fit four people, not 'in theory" fit four people.  The Mustang's rear seat is pretty tight.

Who are the people riding in the back?  If they're just friends, then who gives a shit.

[r0tor]

2.0T jetta

[hotrodalex]

I think he stated it needs to fit four people, not 'in theory" fit four people.  The Mustang's rear seat is pretty tight.

I can fit in the back fine

Heck, I can fit in the back on my Camaro pretty well...

[CJ]

2006/2007 Accord V6 6-speed.

/thread.

[2o6]

Volvo S40?

[CJ]

Volvo S60 R?

[Raza]

2006/2007 Accord V6 6-speed.

/thread.

Not everyone is as boring as you are.

[GoCougs]

2006/2007 Accord V6 6-speed.

/thread.

Second the motion. There is no better fit IMO.

[Eye of the Tiger]

[Secret Chimp]

Legacy GT turbo 5-speed wagon.

[TBR]

Perhaps a Cobalt SS Turbo could be haggled down into that range?

[BimmerM3]

Second the motion. There is no better fit IMO.

Fun to drive

You, sir, are incorrect.

[sportyaccordy]

Accord 6/6 isn't fun to drive? That's a bummer...

For that money I would prob go with a ZHP 3 series or G35 coupe. Yes, they're very generic but they are fun cars too.