A buddy of mine is looking to buy a 2+2 Coupe with a manual transmission. He's 6' tall and has two kids. The kids don't ride with him very often because his car is mostly used for driving to and from work, so 4 doors are not required. He wants something fun and stylish, but still gets decent fuel mileage (25+ mpg HWY), a manual tranny, and a relatively roomy back seat. I could only think of 2 cars when he asked me, so I thought I would post it here and see if we could come up with others. His budget is $18K CDN, so $14K USD and he's willing to go to the US to get the car.
All I could think of was a used Accord Coupe and a used G35 Coupe. The Mustang's backseat just isn't big enough. There is no legroom since his seat gets pushed all the way back with him being 6'1".
If he's looking for a usable backseat, then it isn't a 2+2.
Kinda an odd ball, but maybe a 2002 era Civic Si? Maybe an Acura RSX?
I'm not sure you could find a G35c worth buying for $14k usd. You might be lucky enough to find a GTO for that price, but I dunno about mpg's.
THIS is a 2+2. (Granted, its a convertible, but gets the point across) Yes, those ARE rear seats. :hammerhead:
Peugeot 206 cc
(http://www.arpem.com/pruebas/coches/peugeot/2006/peugeot-206-cc/fotos/350/peugeot-206cc-interior_small.jpg)
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Cars-Trucks___bmw-3_W0QQModel4710b09Z3Series91bb4571QQGeneration890a8538Z19992005ad554028QQTransmission3431604ZManual88efd3e6QQBodyTypebe9b8ef8ZCoupe3e4611eQQQ5ftrkparmsZ72Q253A727Q257C65Q253A12Q257C39Q253A1QQ_trksidZp4506Q2ec0Q2em245QQ_sopZYear29fc5d_ASCQQ_scZ1
I like these as choices. late '90s, early '00s 3 series coupes.
What about an RX8? They depreciate rather quickly.
Quote from: 2o6 on December 23, 2008, 09:56:35 AM
What about an RX8? They depreciate rather quickly.
20 mpg Hwy is not even close to good fuel mileage.
Quote from: ChrisV on December 23, 2008, 09:54:45 AM
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Cars-Trucks___bmw-3_W0QQModel4710b09Z3Series91bb4571QQGeneration890a8538Z19992005ad554028QQTransmission3431604ZManual88efd3e6QQBodyTypebe9b8ef8ZCoupe3e4611eQQQ5ftrkparmsZ72Q253A727Q257C65Q253A12Q257C39Q253A1QQ_trksidZp4506Q2ec0Q2em245QQ_sopZYear29fc5d_ASCQQ_scZ1
I like these as choices. late '90s, early '00s 3 series coupes.
I just called him and suggested the 3 series coupe, but he said he wants something newer then 10 years old and that he hears that the repair bills on Bimmers can't get very pricey.
Quote from: Vinsanity on December 23, 2008, 09:53:05 AM
I'm not sure you could find a G35c worth buying for $14k usd. You might be lucky enough to find a GTO for that price, but I dunno about mpg's.
I'll look into the GTO thing, because I don't know if we're allowed to import them since they weren't allowed to be sold here to begin with.
Quote from: HEMI666 on December 23, 2008, 10:12:39 AM
20 mpg Hwy is not even close to good fuel mileage.
It only achieves 20MPG!? Wow.........that's horrible.
2nd Hand Pontiac GTO? Those Small blocks are surprisingly good on gas.
EDIT: Didn't see visanity's post.
I don't think the G35's back seat is all that much roomier than a Mustang's. Accord should have enough room in the back to be useable. Maybe a Pontiac G6 GTP/GXP (whichever one offered the 6MT)? I don't know, there hasn't been a whole lot of selection in the mid-sized coupe with manual gearbox and useful rear seat segment in the past 10 years.
Quote from: HEMI666 on December 23, 2008, 10:14:17 AM
I just called him and suggested the 3 series coupe, but he said he wants something newer then 10 years old and that he hears that the repair bills on Bimmers can't get very pricey.
All the ones I linked to are newer than 10 years old. And my wife's ex, my stepson's dad, has a 2002 model and it now has almost 240k miles on it with very little money spent on repairs over the years.
If you don't let the dealers rape you, they are actually quite cheap to own. My high mileage 740 is a perfect example.
Cobalt SS S/C?
Quote from: 2o6 on December 23, 2008, 10:32:58 AM
Cobalt SS S/C?
Good suggestion. I was thinking mid size the whole time, so it never crossed my mind.
Quote from: 2o6 on December 23, 2008, 10:32:58 AM
Cobalt SS S/C?
If the back seat in a Mustang is too small, so will the rear seat in any of the C-class coupes (Cobalt, Civic, Focus, etc).
Quote from: MX793 on December 23, 2008, 10:36:15 AM
If the back seat in a Mustang is too small, so will the rear seat in any of the C-class coupes (Cobalt, Civic, Focus, etc).
Actually the seats in those 3 cars are roomier then any Mustang.
Quote from: MX793 on December 23, 2008, 10:23:46 AM
I don't think the G35's back seat is all that much roomier than a Mustang's. Accord should have enough room in the back to be useable. Maybe a Pontiac G6 GTP/GXP (whichever one offered the 6MT)? I don't know, there hasn't been a whole lot of selection in the mid-sized coupe with manual gearbox and useful rear seat segment in the past 10 years.
I can sit in the back of my brother's G35 coupe just fine and I'm about 6 foot. I don't think kids would have any problems.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 23, 2008, 10:55:19 AM
I can sit in the back of my brother's G35 coupe just fine and I'm about 6 foot. I don't think kids would have any problems.
Can you sit in the back with someone who is 6 ft in the seat in front of you with the seat in driving position?
I managed to sit in the back of my uncle's Mustang vert (top up) and I'm about 5'11". Granted, the person in front of me was under 6 ft and had their seat shoved more forward than they ordinarily would have.
G35 & E46s sound like the best bets. I would suggest the Acura CL but I wouldn't wish the looks of that car on my worst enemy
Later 325Cis have 6spds...