13K for a used car

[sportyaccordy]

I'm taking the plunge & financing a late model car from a dealer w/a warranty.

My main criteria for the car is that its fun to drive, shorter than my car now (185") for easier parallel parking, and available with a stickshift.

I would def. prefer something w/a little more speed, but nothing crazy. I won't drive it much now (maybe 6-8K miles a year).

I'm lookin to get it around late Feb/early March. I listed what I was able to come up with...

I had no idea the G35 Coupe was so short(relatively... 182"). I was leaning towards the TSX but the G is def. more appealing.

The S is just a thought. They're cheap

[Cookie Monster]

S2000.

[SVT666]

G

[SVT666]

Keep insurance rates in mind.  I bet insurance for a 3, G, or S2000 will be much higher then a CSX.

[sportyaccordy]

Keep insurance rates in mind.  I bet insurance for a 3, G, or S2000 will be much higher then a CSX.

I checked with my insurer, the S's rates won't do me much harm. And we don't have CSXs here, but if I could do an even 20K I would def. consider the Civic Si.

[2o6]

Since you're so concerned with size, RSX.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Is a G35 coupe really only 13k now? Not bad. I could go for that. I vote for this RSX Type S which is only $9900. A sporty-little RSX just seems more up your alley than some fancy-pants Infiniti.

But if you ask me about this whole thing, warranties are overrated, and I would avoid financing. If I was just rollin' in money, I probably wouldn't care; but if I was in a bind and stuck between fixing up a beater and financing a newer car, I'd fix the beater or buy another beater.

[the Teuton]

I voted G because it would ultimately satisfy your itching desire for a premium compact that you've wanted for a while, as well as being relatively cheap and reliable.  But the RSX might be a better package for NYC.

As much as I, personally, would get an E46, I can't recommend it for you at all.

[280Z Turbo]

The BMW is always the best car, no matter how much you don't want it to be.

[Cookie Monster]

I voted G because it would ultimately satisfy your itching desire for a premium compact that you've wanted for a while, as well as being relatively cheap and reliable.  But the RSX might be a better package for NYC.

As much as I, personally, would get an E46, I can't recommend it for you at all.

The G isn't a compact.

[ifcar]

Is damage to a soft-top a potential risk in the city?

[the Teuton]

The BMW is always the best car, no matter how much you don't want it to be.

It's probably the most "solid" in terms of feeling like a quality product and making you feel special every time you drive it out of these, but it's not the best car out of these for practical reason like sun, cost of ownership, insurance, and reliability.

Yes, I know what I said.  An S2000 feels like crap if you can't rev the piss out of it and the G's engine sounds like crap from inside the car.

The G isn't a compact.

The coupe?

[Onslaught]

G, hands down.

[Cookie Monster]

It's probably the most "solid" in terms of feeling like a quality product and making you feel special every time you drive it out of these, but it's not the best car out of these for practical reason like sun, cost of ownership, insurance, and reliability.

Yes, I know what I said.  An S2000 feels like crap if you can't rev the piss out of it and the G's engine sounds like crap from inside the car.

The coupe?

The coupe has the same wheelbase as the sedan, right? It's a big car.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's probably the most "solid" in terms of feeling like a quality product and making you feel special every time you drive it out of these, but it's not the best car out of these for practical reason like sun, cost of ownership, insurance, and reliability.

Yes, I know what I said.  An S2000 feels like crap if you can't rev the piss out of it and the G's engine sounds like crap from inside the car.

The coupe?

Plz explain the "sun" aspect of owning a BMW.

[the Teuton]

Plz explain the "sun" aspect of owning a BMW.

Dinky, little sunroof =/= sun.

[Raza]

None of the above.  EP3 Civic Si.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Dinky, little sunroof =/= sun.

big sunroofs are heavy
little sunroof = big performance

[GoCougs]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

[2o6]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

You're boring. Please leave the thread immediately.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You're boring. Please leave the thread immediately.

[L. ed foote]

Is damage to a soft-top a potential risk in the city?

No, not really, but stranger things have happened.

[The Pirate]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

+1

That's certainly the most practical choice, and probably one I would take, given that it's going to be parked on the streets of NYC. 

I'd also consider an EP3 Si, like Raza mentioned, or a Mazda3.  All would still have a decent amount of 'fun to drive' and should be largely affordable to own.  Of the ones you've listed, I'd probably look at a TSX. 

I don't know if I'd want payments on something living in NYC though.  What's your budget for purchasing outright?

[L. ed foote]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

http://tinyurl.com/b2x65w

[sportyaccordy]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

If I'm gonna get a Civic, I'm not gonna fuckin finance it, I'll get a 96-00 EX coupe for like 4K. Those cars are bulletproof.

And the only car that might be problematic is the Bimmer which I prob. won't get anyway. I don't want another 15 year old car, but I also don't want to spend money on something I would hate to drive. Plus again I'll prob only drive the car ~3 days/150 miles a week tops, and aside from doing my own maintenance I have a mechanic too. If my next car is as reliable as my Maxima, which had 130K miles and was 9 years old when I got it, I will be more than satisfied.

[GoCougs]

YOU ARE HOPELESS. I'M CONVINCED THAT YOU NEED THE DRAMA OF CAR PROBLEMS TO FEEL COMPLETE.

[Tave]

If I was looking for a boring, reliable, cheap used car, I would not get a Civic. Those things hold onto their value like crazy.

[L. ed foote]

YOU ARE HOPELESS. I'M CONVINCED THAT YOU NEED THE DRAMA OF CAR PROBLEMS TO FEEL COMPLETE.

So?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Cheap, practically brand new, reliable, easy to parallel park and totally bitchin:
http://maine.craigslist.org/ctd/1004695709.html

[NomisR]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but you forgot NONE.

Most any of those at $13k will be older and higher mileage, which is the exact thing you in particular DON'T need.

2006 Civic EX sedan 5sp M/T with ~40k miles.

For 13k, you can probably find a similar year or maybe 2005 RSX-S that's in similar condition.  And you don't have to actually drive a Civic sedan.  I don't see anything wrong with that since it's a pretty strong reliable car.. it's basically a Civic!  And actually, when new, they cost almost the same.