Originally posted by halfracedrift
I think M5 would have some fun compiling a list of cars for me...
You know me too well...
$35,000 Canadian buys a bit more than $20,000 US - in fact, it's almost $25,000. Going strictly on the exact exchange rate - $24,800 - I recommend the following cars in order:
1 2003 Mazda 6s
The 6s starts a just $21,200 ($29,800 CDN), and just $22,100 ($31,100 CDN) with an automatic transmission. It's loaded - 220-horsepower 3.0L V6, traction control, 8-way power drivers' seat, antilock brakes, air-conditioning, power mirrors, windows, and locks, keyless entry, a CD player, and an alarm. I personally recommend leather upholstery since you've got a bit of room with the price - leather knocks the price up to
$22,960 ($32,321 CDN) with an automatic. Heated front seats and mirrors are $220 extra on top of that, which is a deal, but it's also worth considering if you want it enough or not. This is the bargain of the group.
2 2002-2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE
Altima barely fits in to my price range - the 3.5SE manual starts at $22,600 ($31,800 CDN), and the automatic at $23,100 ($32,500 CDN) - but it comes with just about everything standard on the SE model. In addition to the powerful 240-horsepower 3.5L V6, it's got an AM/FM radio, CD player, 8-way power drivers' seat, air-conditioning, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors, and locks, and an alarm. Due to some creative 'trimming' by Nissan, it does not have leather, heated seats, or a 6-disc CD changer all of which are standard on the less-expensive 2.5SL (which comes with a less-powerful 175-horsepower 2.5L 4-cyl. engine). I recommend the T01-level braking and airbag package, which includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes, front-side airbags, and side-curtain airbags, which costs $800 extra - total price
$23,900 ($33,644 CDN) with automatic.
3 2003 Honda Accord LX V6
Accord LX V6's are very well-equipped, not to mention distinctly powerful - they come standard with a 240-horsepower 3.0L V6. The V6 is only available on one LX model, which is equipped with anti-lock brakes, a 6-disc CD changer, power windows, locks, and mirrors, an alarm, and keyless entry. Standard LX's as well as base DX's come with an underpowered (compared to the class power leaders) 160-horsepower 2.4L 4-cylinder. LX V6's start at
$23,000 ($32,400 CDN) with automatic, the only available transmission for the LX V6.
4 2001-2003 Volkswagen Passat GLS
Passats are recommended by every magazine and they win all the comparisons - I personally don't find them so rewarding, but they're good and my fourth choice. The GLS comes with just a 170-horsepower 1.8L turbocharged 4-cylinder, but it's enough to power the average-size car. GLS's start at $22,900 ($32,200 CDN) with a manual transmission, and
$24,000 ($33,700 CDN) with an automatic. They come standard with dual front and front-side airbags as well as side-curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, a CD player, keyless entry, power (heated) mirrors, locks, and windows, and a power sunroof. The safety features mean a lot, they have more standard than any other family sedan manufacturer offers even as options.
5 2000-2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT1
The Grand Am is something of an odd choice but I've began recommending them to people because they're competely loaded and fairly cheap. GT1 is the top-of-the-line sedan, starting at $22,900 ($32,300 CDN). It includes a 175-horsepower 3.4L V6, slightly underpowered, a CD player, a power sunroof, a 6-way power driver seat, anti-lock brakes, an automatic transmission, keyless entry, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, air-conditioning, and an alarm. Leather upholstery, which I recommend because it's cheap, bumps the price to
$23,500 ($33,000 CDN).
This is a very competitive segment - be sure to choose wisely. The five above are the US favourites, though not in the right order, save for the Camry which I believe is now outclassed and slightly overpriced. It's farily unanimous that Mazda is now the maker of the best car in this segment.
div you're funny.. hehe
haha
