Car Shopping: What should thewizard drive?

[thewizard16]

With the recent passing of the Camry, it's time to find a suitable replacement. I am actually not looking forward to car shopping at all right now (time constraints), so it may be a slower process than it normally would until things are a little more opened up. Therefore, I've not done any significant research into a replacement despite the Camry being dead for over a week now, so I'm enlisting the help of the CarSpin team!

The details:

Should be able to seat 4. Just a personal preference, but I like the extra space even when it's just me and I enjoy being able to take a couple people with me if I want to go somewhere as a group.
Should not be a Miata.
Needs to have acceptable gas mileage and power. Not expecting anything amazing, I've been used to 185 hp and 18/24 mileage, so anything that good or better is fine by me.
Needs to be comfortable. I'd like to continue to have leather seats and a sunroof. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but I won't buy something with an interior I think is made my Mattel.
Should be a sedan or roomy coupe. I can't think of any SUV that would fit my criteria, and I don't want a truck, convertible, or god forbid, a minivan.
Should be pretty relaible. I don't want something ancient (keep in mind the Camry was 20 years old though) or something that will cost a fortune to keep on the road, considering my budget right now.
Should not be a Miata.
Budget is $5,000-$7,000 ish. I prefer to keep it in the lower half of that range if possible, and I won't go over the 7k figure.

Suggestions for what I should be looking at?

[cawimmer430]

Miata. 

[thewizard16]

Miata. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Your best bet is probably Miata, but a Mazda3 would also work. Consider also an E36 or A4 1.8T.

[Raza]

How much are older Imprezas going for?  The 2.5s, not WRXs.  They can't cost much more than 6 or 7.

[SVT666]

early 2000s BMW 3 series

[hotrodalex]

early 2000s BMW 3 series

According to KBB, my dad's is worth $8.3k (2000 328i w/ premium package, 130k miles). So they might be just out of reach. I'm sure you could find some for $6k, but they might not be in the best shape.

[TurboDan]

Used S40, Mazda3, Jetta, Golf all work...

[Eye of the Tiger]

How much are older Imprezas going for?  The 2.5s, not WRXs.  They can't cost much more than 6 or 7.

My friend has a hawk eye 2.5. He says his Skion exB was more fun to drive.  It's only redeeming quality is the excellent snow dorifto. I agree.  Heavy, tall gears, cramped interior, and that particular version of the 2.5 is just dull.

[CJ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LE-V6-3-0L-VIN-Etched-Glass-Air-Conditioning-Power-Steering-Power-Door-Locks-/330714252285?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4d001b03fd#ht_14068wt_1165

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LE-V6-3-0L-VIN-Etched-Glass-Air-Conditioning-Power-Steering-Power-Door-Locks-/330714252285?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4d001b03fd#ht_14068wt_1165

That is one hell of a rip off.

[2o6]

Infinti G20, Acura TL, Nissan Maxima



Not much in this criteria that isn't IMO super old or possibly very problematic.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Passat TDI. Give it some consideration.

[2o6]

How much are older Imprezas going for?  The 2.5s, not WRXs.  They can't cost much more than 6 or 7.

The used car market is so out of whack. About a year ago you'd be right.

[2o6]

Also, Golf/Jetta IV's are small inside, pretty slow and are a hot mess in regards to reliability.

[thewizard16]

Infinti G20, Acura TL, Nissan Maxima



Not much in this criteria that isn't IMO super old or possibly very problematic.

Your car shopping experiences are not a path I would choose, or I'd be looking at slightly newer cheaper cars. I recognize that under $10k isn't a lot of money, but I don't want to have a loan of any sort and I'm not opposed to nicer older cars. I've had a pretty reliable, pretty nice, really old car for 8 years. Something being 10-12+ years old doesn't bother me one bit as long as it's a solid car, and with as long as cars last anymore if something has been treated pretty well and I treat it well, it'll last more than long enough for me.

That is one hell of a rip off.

Not really. The average replacement cost for a car like the 92 I wrecked was over $4000. These cars drop in price to a certain point and then the value just trickles away from there on apparently, it's very strange. That car looks almost exactly like the 2000 Camry my sister now owns (just a bit nicer model) which is the real reason I wouldn't buy it, that'd just be excessive at family gatherings.   That also has nearly as many miles as the 92 did, which would bother me a bit for a car that much newer.

[2o6]

So what do you want in a car? A small car with a nice interior? A midsizer? A used luxury car?



----------

Fusion/Milan and Mazda 6. Seems to check every box, and they're cheaper than Honda and Toyota.

[thewizard16]

So what do you want in a car? A small car with a nice interior? A midsizer? A used luxury car?

I don't want to go much smaller if at all smaller. I am just not a small car person in general, although the 92 is a compact by recent standards, so I guess I'd just be ruling out things like subcompacts or two seaters. I want a comfortable interior, which the majority of economy cars do not have. Midsize is fine, full size would be a little much but I'm not opposed to it as long as it's not crazy inefficient. I don't dislike the idea of a coupe with a usable backseat, but people still hate getting into those. An older luxury car is probably a good fit for me since comfort and reliability are very high on my priorities list, while fun to drive is a priority but would be in third place of those three.

[2o6]

I don't know how low-maintenance modern BMW's and VW's are, especially compared to a Toyota. (probably the most reliable car Toyota has made, nonetheless)




The best thing I can say is really just get out there and figure out what you'd like.

[Madman]

Cadillac Catera.   

[2o6]

Cadillac Catera.   

I can say with confidence - Avoid this model.

[68_427]

ACURA TL

[thewizard16]

I don't know how low-maintenance modern BMW's and VW's are, especially compared to a Toyota. (probably the most reliable car Toyota has made, nonetheless)




The best thing I can say is really just get out there and figure out what you'd like.

As boring as it sounds, I liked that Camry. The things I would have changed about it include: better handling, a bit nicer interior (dash particularly... and bigger cupholders, those things were tiny), and a little more power. Otherwise it was a good fit. Most of my driving is in-town driving or highway driving, so I want something that does everything well enough to be good day to day and comfortable enough for a longer road trip. I have very little time to go test drive things (none on weekdays, slightly more than none on weekends for the next several weeks) so I'm trying to come up with a good list of things I should do some research/browsing on. So far the suggestions have been helpful.

I am hesitant to consider the BMWs and VWs in my price range (maintenance costs are high even for pretty normal wear and tear), they're often not enough if any better than the more reliable options for me to want one, but if something sounds amazing I'll definitely check it out.

Someone recommended the Lincoln LS. On paper it seems like a good fit, but they depreciate crazy fast into my price range which made me suspicious, and some brief internet searching suggested they may be hilariously expensive to maintain. Unfortunate that the LS is apparently not an option, but these are the things I'm trying to figure out.

[2o6]

ACURA TL

Those things seem to go through typical V6 automatic Honda failure.

As boring as it sounds, I liked that Camry. The things I would have changed about it include: better handling, a bit nicer interior (dash particularly... and bigger cupholders, those things were tiny), and a little more power. Otherwise it was a good fit. Most of my driving is in-town driving or highway driving, so I want something that does everything well enough to be good day to day and comfortable enough for a longer road trip. I have very little time to go test drive things (none on weekdays, slightly more than none on weekends for the next several weeks) so I'm trying to come up with a good list of things I should do some research/browsing on. So far the suggestions have been helpful.

I am hesitant to consider the BMWs and VWs in my price range (maintenance costs are high even for pretty normal wear and tear), they're often not enough if any better than the more reliable options for me to want one, but if something sounds amazing I'll definitely check it out.

Someone recommended the Lincoln LS. On paper it seems like a good fit, but they depreciate crazy fast into my price range which made me suspicious, and some brief internet searching suggested they may be hilariously expensive to maintain. Unfortunate that the LS is apparently not an option, but these are the things I'm trying to figure out.

Ford Fusion/Milan and Mazda 6.

[68_427]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-Acura-TL-Type-S-Sedan-4-Door-3-2L-/271030773921?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f1ab168a1

[2o6]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-Acura-TL-Type-S-Sedan-4-Door-3-2L-/271030773921?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f1ab168a1

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole....seems like the trannies in those things go out like clockwork.

[Madman]

One near you......

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/3131012108.html

[hotrodalex]

Mazda 6

[Rupert]

MR2 or 944.

[giant_mtb]

A4

Passat