Suggestions for possible new car?

[BimmerM3]

In case you haven't seen my thread in General Talk (http://www.carspin.net/forums/index.php?topic=19985.0), my car was flooded and there's a pretty decent chance it'll be totaled, so I'll need a new car.

Criteria:
Maximum $5000 - $7000 (depends on what insurance gives me and how much my dad is willing to help, so that's just a guess)
Manual transmission
Decent gas mileage
Reliable
At least as fun to drive as an Accord on lowering springs.

I would prefer, but not 100% necessary:
Under 100,000 miles
Convertible

Cars I have in mind:
Mazda Miata
VW Golf/GTI
Mazda Protege5
BMW 3 series (E36)??? (That's stretching mileage, budget and reliability)

Any other cars to consider?

[2o6]

Focus.

Neon.

Corolla Matrix.

Vibe. (GT!!!)

Civic.

[2o6]

[2o6]

Maybe?

[Eye of the Tiger]

03 Fucus SVT $5500 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1387781639.html

[CALL_911]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1387766780.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1384851048.html

[BimmerM3]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=267389984&dealer_id=66574&car_year=2000&rdm=1253675339408&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=SAAB&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=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=4&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=265582004&dealer_id=64396613&car_year=1999&rdm=1253675339408&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=SAAB&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=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=26&standard=false

????

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=267389984&dealer_id=66574&car_year=2000&rdm=1253675339408&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=SAAB&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=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=4&standard=false

????

YES

[BimmerM3]

YES

Check edit.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Check edit.

Which ever suits you. I am partial to the 9-5, myself.

[BimmerM3]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=265769713&dealer_id=64411777&car_year=1999&rdm=1253675581469&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=600517&showZipError=y&make=HONDA&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=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=50&standard=false


Except that it has a fart can and a tassel hanging from the mirror, which probably means it was owned by a recent high school grad.

[CALL_911]

Which ever suits you. I am partial to the 9-5, myself.

+1

Actually, I'm partial to that 328i I posted.

[Eye of the Tiger]

+1

Actually, I'm partial to that 328i I posted.

Meh. I'm more partial to 335i's.

[CALL_911]

Meh. I'm more partial to 335i's.

M3 plz

[BimmerM3]

+1

Actually, I'm partial to that 328i I posted.

It is damn sexy, but it has nearly twice the mileage of either of those Saabs.

Dude, I just realized that I could own a car that has two As in a row in the name. Awesome.

Oh yeah, also:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/1369432998.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1367344965.html (Cheap!)

[Eye of the Tiger]

It is damn sexy, but it has nearly twice the mileage of either of those Saabs.

Dude, I just realized that I could own a car that has two As in a row in the name. Awesome.

Oh yeah, also:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/1369432998.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1367344965.html (Cheap!)

The 99, no doubt

[BimmerM3]

Which ever suits you. I am partial to the 9-5, myself.

The 9-5 is a much better looker, but I'm very much a fan of infinite head room.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The 9-5 is a much better looker, but I'm very much a fan of infinite head room.

There is something about 4-seat convertibles that bothers me.

[BimmerM3]

There is something about 4-seat convertibles that bothers me.

They aren't my favorite, but again, infinite headroom.

[Eye of the Tiger]

They aren't my favorite, but again, infinite headroom.

I really wouldn't complain too much if I had a 9-3 turbo convertible.

[CALL_911]

There is something about 4-seat convertibles that bothers me.

+1

[the Teuton]

2.5 RS or Integra

[CJ]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1387539946.html

[BimmerM3]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1387539946.html

I actually was shopping for those and had all but decided on them when I found the Accord. That one has way too many miles though.

[BimmerM3]

2.5 RS or Integra

Integra?
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=264016337&dealer_id=57684400&car_year=2002&rdm=1253676380113&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=ACURA&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=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=63&standard=false

[the Teuton]

I see no "Type S" at the end of that one.

It's a nice car, but I'm not sure if an Integra GSR wouldn't be more fun.

[CJ]

They're not bad to drive, but they're SO noisy.

[Minpin]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=266679391&dealer_id=64474869&car_year=2000&rdm=1253677680357&num_records=25&systime=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=1&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=CONVERT&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=263&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=254948516&dealer_id=563783&car_year=2000&rdm=1253677680357&num_records=25&systime=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=1&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=CONVERT&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=221&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

And I have always like Wrangler's, and they are technically a convertible.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=265845470&dealer_id=64415413&car_year=2002&rdm=1253677932130&model=WRANGLER&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2000&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=105263&showZipError=y&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=314&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

[BimmerM3]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=266679391&dealer_id=64474869&car_year=2000&rdm=1253677680357&num_records=25&systime=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=1&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=CONVERT&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=263&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=254948516&dealer_id=563783&car_year=2000&rdm=1253677680357&num_records=25&systime=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=1&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=CONVERT&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=221&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

And I have always like Wrangler's, and they are technically a convertible.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=265845470&dealer_id=64415413&car_year=2002&rdm=1253677932130&model=WRANGLER&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2000&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=105263&showZipError=y&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30301&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=314&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

Holy shit I didn't even think to look at MR2s. I was scrolling through the "Make" list on Autotrader, saw "Toyota" and just thought to myself "yeah fuck that." MR2 might crack the realm of too impractical though.

I considered a Wrangler, and they can be fun, but it would have to be a second car for me. I've driven several of them and I just wouldn't like one as a DD.

[BimmerM3]

I see no "Type S" at the end of that one.

It's a nice car, but I'm not sure if an Integra GSR wouldn't be more fun.

Integras are just too expensive or too high mileage for what they are.