ok....2nd vehicle time
 

Well, I've been living with the 911 as my only car for 3 months now, and whille it is great for most things, I finally am heading towards needing to carry more than one passenger, and needing to haul my music gear. So far my choices include:

Used Honda Civic hatchback
Pro: cheap, functional
con: no warranty, somewhat limited in what it can carry

WRX wagon
pro: fun, can haul enough stuff, tow a small trailer in a pinch, 4 doors for passengers
con: car payment

Cooper S
pro: fun, at least has a back seat
con: car payment, limited hauling capability

Toyota Tacoma truck
pro: haul plenty of stuff including bikes
con: car payment, not optimal for 3rd passenger (most likely my son though).

anything I'm missing?

I would eliminate the Cooper for hauling things. Even with the back seat down, it has a very limited hauling capacity.

Tacoma - kids can fit in jumper seats. Trucks and/or SUVs and sports cars compliment each other very well. I'm thinking of all the 911 parts I've hauled in my Mountaineer, bicycles as well, etc.

I wouldn't go buying a fun car (wrx) as you already have the ultimate fun car, a '79SC.

My other car is a Corolla wagon and I've just put a towbar on it so I can tow the tin dinghy to other beaches and to carry things I can't quite squeek into the back of the wagon. It's also rather nice to have a totally discrete vehicle. People never bother calling the police when it's only a Corolla wagon. ...And Toyotas are the most reliable vehile ever :)

I wouldn't go buying a fun car (wrx) as you already have the ultimate fun car, a '79SC.

My other car is a Corolla wagon and I've just put a towbar on it so I can tow the tin dinghy to other beaches and to carry things I can't quite squeek into the back of the wagon, plus I can fit the surfboards inside. It's also rather nice to have a totally discrete vehicle. People never bother calling the police when it's only a Corolla wagon. ...And Toyotas are the most reliable vehile ever :)

I bought a used '97 F150 extended cab. I can tow up to 9000 pounds, pack plenty in the bed, and still comfortably drive around 4 people. The fact that it was used (but well cared for) made it easy on the wallet too.

I vote WRX! A very fun and pratical car. Turbo and AWD for a fair price.

Todd - get a truck. Will give you the most flexibility.

Trcuk will give you more flexability, probably cheaper too. However, the bad side to owning just about any truck espeically big ones is that *all* your friends, coworkers, basically everyone calls you on moving day.

My vote's on the Tacoma.

2.0L Focus 5-spd - '00-'04 - any bodystyle

Wanna make it 220HP/200 ft-lbs with OE reliability? I know of a way ...

Something you can't bolt a roll - bar in.

This question precludes all your disposable income (and some of the indisposable income too ) going away.

That said, I say KIA or a truck.

rjp

hmm...I can slap a roll bar on most anything. I have always liked off road...I wonder how much it is to mod the suspension on the Tacoma to get a few more inches of travel...

I'm guessing fuel economy isn't a concern. If not then the truck sounds like a good choice. The Mini is really tiny.

I'd look farther into used Honda / Toyota mid-sized or station wagon

Just get a truck, then put the mini in the bed of it.

If your hauling - Tacoma. I would love to buy one. Otherwise get the Cooper S. Those were two of my choices and I went with the VW Jetta instead.

Some trucks get fairly good mileage these days, too.

uh oh.... Hope this doesn't lead to another pcar jealousy thing :)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1108415261.jpg

Subaru Outback Wagon
OK driver
Cheap/Reliable
Fit four pretty easy
Haul plenty of gear
Flat 6 so your SC will not think you are cheating