Hypothetically Ver. 2.0

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Bones Brigade

Bones Brigade

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GTP_BrokenVow, zmikedz
Under 30k USD. What to buy. I'm tired of my Ford Escort. 35mpg is great, but nothing else is. I had kind of settled on a 350Z, but it might be nice to maybe own a car that my neighbor (and his, and his, etc) doesn't. Not that it's a big deal, but some individuality would be nice. Performance per dollar, the Z will only be trumped by a few others, but I'm not sure how i feel about them. Evo? I secretly DO like the looks (but I feel ashamed!) and there aren't too many around compared to the Z. But, I am concerned about the drivers. A Z owner is going to push the car, certainly, but I just have this view that the Evo driver will be a little younger and therefore more reckless and careless. I feel like they've probably been abused. Plus, low mileage examples are hard to come by and considerably more than a same year, same mileage Z Enthusiast. I have recently discovered the affordability of the Cadillac CTS-V. More recently, I discovered the issues with the differential.

My needs are simple:

Manual Transmission
No FWD
Good performance

I have mulled over the G35, 03/04 SVT Cobras, Mazdaspeed 6's, Legacy GT's, and everything seems to have some big issues. What would you buy?
 
1996-1998 Cobra.

That, or a 03-04 Mach 1.

Solid rear axle, 300hp DOHC 4.6L in either.

Plenty quick, decent handling, and (IMO) good looking.
 
I actually almost bought an 03 Mach 1 last year. But due to little credit history I would have needed a cosigner. My dad was quick to deny me. I dunno how I feel about Mustangs anymore, other than the SVT which would be purchased just to tell the world that the Terminator still reigns. (The numbers I've seen from the first road tests of the Challenger are equal to or less than the Cobra in nearly all categories.)
 
Well I will be graduating college in just less than a week and am going to be in the same boat when it comes to car shopping.

I plan on looking at:
  • Honda S2000
  • Nissan 350Z
  • Infiniti G35 Coupe
  • And most everything else under the sun below $30k

After graduation, I have a month off before I start working and I plan on going to all of the different dealers and looking at everything they have to offer.
 
mustangGT90210
Get a G8 GT. Most power for under 30k and drop dead gorgeous.
Click to expand...

starts at 29995. something silly like that. plus, there will be no room for talking them down. a used G35 or something going for 30k can probably be had for 27. a G8 will go for 29995. and its new, so the moment i drive away i will owe more than the car is worth.

i am only putting 5-7000 down. i had planned on waiting until after summer and putting down 10, but i am just too itchy. gotta get something.

i guess, well under 30k. 25ish.
 
You could join the Mazda 3 brigade, but from the sound of it, you might want something more of a sports car.

Who knows, perhaps a Speed 3 or a Mazda 6 would be more like it. You could also look into a Subaru STi, or a Legacy GT.
 
gah... wish car prices here were closer to what they are in the US.


If you can hold out a little, the 2009 Lancer Ralliart should fit your budget and requirements when it's released. Sure, it's no Evo, but I think it'll be about $8000 USD less - that'll buy a few gallons of gas.


M3?
I know that Autotrader.com lists several 02, 03, and a few 04 M3's that'd fit your price bracket. I was considering it for a time (///M-Spec got me looking into it) until I discovered what it'd cost me to have one brought across the border into Canada.
 
yeah, but with and M3 around 25k id be looking at 50,000 miles of hard driving already done on the car.
 
I'd say GTO, but gas is killer now. Go for a more powerful (250 hp+) 6 cylinder.


So, how about a used late model 330i? Or maybe a previous-gen CTS with the manual tranny...
 
Okay. No G8. You could have some fun like this:

2004 Mustang GT. Pewter, black stripe on the hood scoop, Mach I style. LS1 swap.
 
800px-2005_Ford_Mustang_GT_Coupe_in_Redfire_with_Bullitt_wheels_KFoley.jpg


$27K out the door, maybe even less than that with Ford wanting to get rid of them... Get a stripper for $25 and have them chop $5K off the sticker.

Seriously.

Its probably one of the best cars you can get for less than $30K.
 
04-06 Pontiac gto...

You can get a great one for under you price range. The 2004 has the 5.7 (350ish hp) v8 and the 2005-2006 has the 6.0 (400ish hp)v8 and other various changes. They are all fast, loud and will turn heads.👍
 
YSSMAN
800px-2005_Ford_Mustang_GT_Coupe_in_Redfire_with_Bullitt_wheels_KFoley.jpg


$27K out the door, maybe even less than that with Ford wanting to get rid of them... Get a stripper for $25 and have them chop $5K off the sticker.

Seriously.

Its probably one of the best cars you can get for less than $30K.
Click to expand...

Except for the stone-age suspension... I know when they first introduced those cars in '05 they were just using a single axle in the rear. I don't know if they've changed it since..
 
The only time it'll give you any trouble is if you're putting more than 500 horses to the wheels whilst going 90 MPH around a bend.
 
I just think it's flimsy that they cheaped out on the suspension like that on a flagship sports car. Don't get me wrong though, I still really like that car. I like what they did with the styling. I feel like if you bought a Lancer Evolution or a Subaru WRX STi, you could have the same amount of power, but much more control. Not to mention the AWD for all-seasons and better acceleration.
 
.....Along with much higher costs ($5-10 grand is quite a bit), a boy racer image, a lame exhaust note (in comparison), and until recently, poor refinement. It's still a bit of an issue on the Lancer.

I'd rather have the Mustang.
 
Boy racer image? Not a fan of rally racing? An exhaust note doesn't make or break a car for me. Personally, I like the sound of higher revving engines, especially those of a boxer engine. It doesn't make it any better or any worse of a car. I see just as many younger teens driving Mustang GTs as I do older people driving Lan Evos and STi's... Different strokes for different folks I guess ;)
 
:boggled: If you say so. I just fail to see how a nice AWD, Japan-Built 300HP Turbo car is just a boy racer. There's no real denying that it still has a lot of bang for the buck. And don't get me wrong here, I don't dislike the Mustang GT. I still think it's a great car, especially for the price. My only beef with it was the suspension, as I mentioned before. And in the real world, having a single-axle in the rear probably isn't going to make that much of a difference, as I've also heard that they've added to it a bit to make it more tolerable.
 
And like I've said, for $30K or less, you aren't going to find many cars that are going to outdo it altogether. Maybe a stripper 350Z or a Mazdaspeed3, but that'd be it.

Which reminds me:

2009-Dodge-Challenger-001.JPG


...Although that'll likely start north of $30K...
 
I really like the way that challenger looks. I hope the interior is better than the Charger's. And YSSMAN - I agree, a 350Z would be another great car to have. I also like the Mazdaspeed3, I'm just not sure what to think of the direct injection for the fuel, I hear it's pretty hard on the oil and showing pretty poor wear numbers (concerned about longevity). I still like the car though, I've heard you can lean out the fuel dilution with one of the Mazdaspeed CAI systems, if not already installed. Also, what about a Mazdaspeed MX-5? Those are pretty nice too, in my opinion.
 
i settled on a 350z. very impromptu. we couldnt come to an agreement on financing, but it was sunday and neither my credit union or the majority of the lenders they generally use were available. im calling my bank first think in the morning and also another lender i was contacted by earlier in the year to see what they can offer.

its an 06 base with 13,000 miles. purchased in january of 06 so only about 6500 miles a year put on it. carfax is clean. 1 owner had all scheduled maintenance. i was definitely looking for an 07 enthusiast, but after driving it, i decided i was/am probably too much of a novice to be able to detect and enjoy an extra 20hp that the 07 has over the 06. i dont plan on doing any driving other than what is enjoyable to me. that is, no racing, no trying to prove anything to anyone. an 07 enthusiast with 10k will go for 25k private party. the dealer and i agreed to 21k on the 06 base. save 4 grand but lose a differential and and a little extra hp. ill take it. and anyway, 350z base > ford escort.

but i am keeping the escort, for sure. 35mpgs. ive been down to california and back in it. i learned how to drive clutch in it. its not going anywhere until its old age forces its departure.


WHAAAAT? AIG Auto just quoted me 1400 for 6 months on both cars. that is nuts! my other quotes were like...2,000 - 2,300 for just the Nissan! I knew there were multi-car discounts but thats nuts!
 
update:

deal finalized at 4.99% for 66 months. i only put 5 down so my payments are still pricey at 370. but i saved on insurance. 1500 for the nissan and my escort for 6 months.


dealer images:

6975550234.243827367.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

6975550236.243827367.IM1.03.565x421_A.562x421.jpg
 

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