Sporty's next car

[sportyaccordy]

People didn't seem too hot on the Accordy waggy, which is really of no practical consequence to me, but does kind of beg the question, what you guys think would be a better choice. I'm not buying this till I leave NY btw so don't expect a "ran out for milk" thread any time soon.

Parameters:
- <$20K new or used
- stickshift
- better than ~20 mpg highway (flexible)
- Can legitimately seat at least 4 (lets say for 2 child seats)
- <15.5 sec quarter mile
- some level of aftermarket support/enthusiast community

Really flexible. Everything from a Forester XT to an E39 M5 fit the bill

Way less strict than what I was thinking which is probably for the better.

GO!!!

[Payman]

2008-09 Audi A4 2.0T. Thread over.

[850CSi]

Depends on how much $ you have lying around. If you can afford to maintain it, an E39 ///M5 cannot be beat for the things you require.

[Cookie Monster]

2008-09 Audi A4 2.0T. Thread over.

I hate it when people say thread over. That's not even that great of a choice.

[dazzleman]

Both good suggestions so far.

[sportyaccordy]

B6 A4? So.... generic. Theres no limit on age by the way.

[Lebowski]

Used GTI I guess.

[Laconian]

You're probably going to want 4 doors. Managing seats in a 2/3 door => ughhhhh.

[Payman]

I hate it when people say thread over. That's not even that great of a choice.

It's everything he asked for, looks great, has a great engine, and a great interior. Thread over was tongue in cheek, because I cannot imagine a better choice. Perhaps a 3 series BMW, but he'll compromise more on mileage/age to get an equivalent car under $20k.

[Cookie Monster]

It would be hard to find, but MS6 would be a cool choice. Other than that there's always the Evo/STI (Evo 8 and blobeye/ maybe hawkeye STI's should be in that price range).

But, I agree with Farris. If you can find a good one, an E39 M5 would be awesome. It has a good amount of room in the back (not a ton but great for a family), is extremely solid and an awesome drive.

[Laconian]

Is a great interior an asset or a liability?

Kids are going to destroy the car.

[sportyaccordy]

M5 is legit, solid + reliable too. If I did mainly highway driving that would be it, though it is hell on consumables

[Cookie Monster]

It's everything he asked for, looks great, has a great engine, and a great interior.

As Sporty said, they are pretty mundane and there are many other cars that outperform it.

[Payman]

As Sporty said, they are pretty mundane and there are many other cars that outperform it.

You suggested an M5. I challenge you to find one with less than 100,000 miles for less than $20,000. It's a stupid suggestion for a young couple starting out.

[Laconian]

The Element fails the performance requirement, but the interior is accessible, durable, it can be had with a stick, and it gets good fuel economy. Looks are subjective.

[sportyaccordy]

Good point on the interior. Whatever I get, it would have to have a black interior... maybe leather (is that easier to clean barf off of?). Which is actually a ding against the Accord, they didn't get black till about 2003 I think.

MS6s are OK, I just feel like I could do better for 20K. Theyre not that fast, dont get that fast with mods and are kind of delicate, from what I hear. EVO is out, too "im 33 and live at home so i can buy mods for my EVO". STi is better but still a little bleh. If I went the Subie route, it would have to be some kind of wagon... 9-2X, Forester XT, or an old swapped Legacy GT (mmm 3.0 + turbo... Porsche wagon).

Used GTI is OK, but my friends have one... its not a bad car at all, but it didn't leave me like 'mmmmmmmmm DAMN'. Maybe a good car for wifey.

[sportyaccordy]

You suggested an M5. I challenge you to find one with less than 100,000 miles for less than $20,000. It's a stupid suggestion for a young couple starting out.

There's a few

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=11510&endYear=2003&modelCode1=M5&startYear=1981&makeCode1=BMW&numRecords=25&maxMileage=100000&searchRadius=200&showcaseOwnerId=100022618&Log=0

I'm not scared of a 10-15 year old car either, it would be fine. People still daily drive em.

Plus if maintenance is the boogeyman I don't think an A4 would be much less of a hassle than an M5, but it sure as hell would be a lot slower

[Cookie Monster]

You suggested an M5. I challenge you to find one with less than 100,000 miles for less than $20,000. It's a stupid suggestion for a young couple starting out.

I suggested an M5 if he could maintain it. Plus sporty didn't say he had a mileage limit and he even said he has no age limit.

Also, easy challenge:

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/cars-sale-wanted/209738-2003-e39-m5-90xxx-miles-sale.html

90k miles for 19k. My friend got his highly modified and excellently maintained M5 for $22k with 102k miles 2 years ago, so less than $20k for a stock one with less than 100k miles is easy to find. His car has also been very reliable, but as sporty said, even regular maintenance is $$$$$.

[sportyaccordy]

I mean I think an oil change is like $150 just for parts. But thats about how much it is for my bike (cant change oil in the street). And the intervals would be longer.

[Cookie Monster]

Good point on the interior. Whatever I get, it would have to have a black interior... maybe leather (is that easier to clean barf off of?). Which is actually a ding against the Accord, they didn't get black till about 2003 I think.

MS6s are OK, I just feel like I could do better for 20K. Theyre not that fast, dont get that fast with mods and are kind of delicate, from what I hear. EVO is out, too "im 33 and live at home so i can buy mods for my EVO". STi is better but still a little bleh. If I went the Subie route, it would have to be some kind of wagon... 9-2X, Forester XT, or an old swapped Legacy GT (mmm 3.0 + turbo... Porsche wagon).

Used GTI is OK, but my friends have one... its not a bad car at all, but it didn't leave me like 'mmmmmmmmm DAMN'. Maybe a good car for wifey.

From what I've seen, my brother has barfed in the MDX and you can't even tell he ever barfed back there.


Although I don't remember which part is vinyl and which is leather...

[Payman]

A4 Quattro Sportwagon, 2.0T, black leather interior. Sporty, this is the car I imagine you in. I just looked at autotrader and seen a few under 20k with 40-65k miles.

[Cookie Monster]

There's a few

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=11510&endYear=2003&modelCode1=M5&startYear=1981&makeCode1=BMW&numRecords=25&maxMileage=100000&searchRadius=200&showcaseOwnerId=100022618&Log=0

I'm not scared of a 10-15 year old car either, it would be fine. People still daily drive em.

Plus if maintenance is the boogeyman I don't think an A4 would be much less of a hassle than an M5, but it sure as hell would be a lot slower

FYI you want a 2001 or 2002 + M5. Post facelift got angel eyes, widescreen navigation and some engine upgrades.

[Payman]

I wouldn't trust a cheap M5.

[Laconian]

Parents aren't even allowed to have fun, anyways.

[Cookie Monster]

I wouldn't trust a cheap M5.

[68_427]

GTO

[Cookie Monster]

GTO

Sounds like a nightmare with car seats.

[sportyaccordy]

GTO

Fail. Back seat basically doesn't exist + is hard to get to. Also heard less than good things about it from a dude who owned one for a while. E39 M5 is a better car in damn near every way.

[Payman]

Parents aren't even allowed to have fun, anyways.

? I'm all about fun. He asked for a sub 15.5 second car, and the Audi 2.0T easily fits the bill. In response to Rag's facepalm, any sub 20k M5 is going to be too old (good luck with financing), has high mileage, thrashed and abused, or all the above.

[Payman]

Fail. Back seat basically doesn't exist + is hard to get to. Also heard less than good things about it from a dude who owned one for a while. E39 M5 is a better car in damn near every way.

Why bother starting the thread?