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

[BimmerM3]

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.

I mean, I haven't driven one, but I doubt it's anywhere near as fun to drive as a 3er, G35, RX-8, etc that others have been suggesting. Sure, it's the practical choice, but this kid is in college. It's the perfect time for impracticality.

[Laconian]

Pontiac G8:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/floor-continues-to-fall-on-used-pontiac-g8-prices/

"Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the Pontiac G8, one of my favorite cars, and how the prices for lightly used examples are getting rather low. Back in November, a V6 model with around 10,000 miles was $20,000. Cars with the big V8 were landing around $24,000. Now they?re even cheaper. The V8 models have hit the $20,000 mark on several have been offered below it. A Cuyahoga Falls, OH Pontiac dealer offered a 12,000 mile car for $19,994 (didn?t sell). That same dealer was, however, able to move a 361 hp G8 GT with 11,000 miles for $18,994. AutoTrader, too, is jam packed with 8-cylinder Pontiac G8s for just under $20,000 and some even have under 10,000 miles on the clock. If you are willing to get the V6 version with some 260 horsepower (though with the V8s so cheap, I?m not sure it makes sense even now), a Houston reseller was offering a 10,500 mile G8 V6 for a hair under $16,000. If the G8 is your cup of tea (and I realize that for many folks it?s not), these are stonking good deals. The question is where they will bottom out. Assuming the warranties stay intact (whether GM stays around or the government does an FDIC-style arrangement), I would think about $16,000-$17,000 is the absolute lowest a low-mileage 8-cylinder G8 could cost. That would be 50% of the original MSRP, but it remains to be seen."

[hotrodalex]

Pontiac G8:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/floor-continues-to-fall-on-used-pontiac-g8-prices/

"Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the Pontiac G8, one of my favorite cars, and how the prices for lightly used examples are getting rather low. Back in November, a V6 model with around 10,000 miles was $20,000. Cars with the big V8 were landing around $24,000. Now they?re even cheaper. The V8 models have hit the $20,000 mark on several have been offered below it. A Cuyahoga Falls, OH Pontiac dealer offered a 12,000 mile car for $19,994 (didn?t sell). That same dealer was, however, able to move a 361 hp G8 GT with 11,000 miles for $18,994. AutoTrader, too, is jam packed with 8-cylinder Pontiac G8s for just under $20,000 and some even have under 10,000 miles on the clock. If you are willing to get the V6 version with some 260 horsepower (though with the V8s so cheap, I?m not sure it makes sense even now), a Houston reseller was offering a 10,500 mile G8 V6 for a hair under $16,000. If the G8 is your cup of tea (and I realize that for many folks it?s not), these are stonking good deals. The question is where they will bottom out. Assuming the warranties stay intact (whether GM stays around or the government does an FDIC-style arrangement), I would think about $16,000-$17,000 is the absolute lowest a low-mileage 8-cylinder G8 could cost. That would be 50% of the original MSRP, but it remains to be seen."

Even better than a GTO. Though wasn't a manual transmission a requirement?

[Laconian]

Even better than a GTO. Though wasn't a manual transmission a requirement?

The GT G8 can be had with a stick.

[hotrodalex]

The GT G8 can be had with a stick.

I was under the impression that only the GXP model could.?

[Laconian]

I was under the impression that only the GXP model could.?

Oh, hmm. GTs with sticks are new for 2009.

The automatic is still 6 speed, at least. This car is the bargain of a century.

[hotrodalex]

Oh, hmm. GTs with sticks are new for 2009.

Oh okay.

[Champ]

MazdaSpeed 6?
ovloV S60R?

[Raza]

MazdaSpeed 6?
ovloV S60R?

Ovlov!?

[Rich]

Oh, hmm. GTs with sticks are new for 2009.

No they aren't

[nickdrinkwater]

Golf GTI

[Secret Chimp]

TURBO WAGEN

[MX793]

Oh, hmm. GTs with sticks are new for 2009.

The automatic is still 6 speed, at least. This car is the bargain of a century.

No, that's GXP.  You cannot get the GT with a stick shift and, according to a letter GM wrote to Autoblog correcting them when they reported that the GT would be available with a stick, there are no immediate plans to offer the GT with a stick shift.

[the Teuton]

TURBOWAGEN INDEED.

[68_427]

LS2 GTO.

[Laconian]

So what did he buy?

[MrH]

Opps, forgot to update this.

So we didn't get a chance to test drive together as much as we'd hope (schedules didn't line up very well), but here's what he bought.

A brand new Mini Cooper-S Clubman.  He loved the drive of it, gets great gas mileage, easy to maneuver and big enough for him.  He liked the additional room of the Clubman.  I prefer the normal mini much more, but he thought it was just too small.  Still a good choice I think.

He got it in Lightning Blue (the royal blue color), with the Premium Package, so he gets the double sunroof deal.  Also got the sport suspension and of course a 6-speed manual.  Should be a pretty awesome car.  It was more than he wanted to spend, but he liked the Cooper-S much more than the standard one.

He ordered it obviously with exactly what he wanted.  It comes in February, so he's going to fly out here, he and I are going up for a bar crawl through Columbus, then he's driving it back out to the East Coast.

We decided last night we're going on a road trip this summer.  From Dayton, OH to Chicago to Kansas City to Colorado Springs.  It should be a blast.  I'll post more about it as the time nears, but I'll probably be doing about half the driving, so I'll be logging atleast 1000 miles in this car, so I'll have a whole thread about the trip along with a review about the car.


Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I'll be sure to have pictures and my impressions of it in February when it comes in.

[the Teuton]

Tell him congrats.

Great car, lousy rear window.

[CJ]

I love the Clubman to death.

[the Teuton]

I love the Clubman to death.

You would.