the ultimate entertaining "practical" car

[nostatic]

OK, the Subie will likely be gone and I'll be in a rental car. I see the ortho guy Thursday and hopefully will get some idea on how long/bad rehab will be for the left knee/foot.

So I have two scenarios: in one, my leg will heal back close to normal in a reasonable amount of time, and I can drive whatever. In the other, my leg will be in rehab for a long time (or never quite be right).

So a couple of options I'm thinking. At the top end of the money scale, an Audi A3 with DSG. A tad under $30K. That's really the most I'd want to finance. Just below that would be a GTi with DSG. Then a Mini Cooper S with Agitronic. Other autos are kinda sketchy....if I'm stuck with an auto i need something to entertain me. The DSG is actually a manual trans. The MCSa has a torque converter.

The Mazdaspeed3 wagon looks to be cool, and Volvo has a new hatchback coming in Sept that harkens back to the 1800.

All those would be $20K+ with resulting car payments, etc.

Another possibility that this board got me thinking about was an E30 with an auto trans. They seem cheap to buy but I worry about keeping them running.

I'm assuming that I need an auto for at least one month, and probably more like two. I can rent, but at some point it would be cheaper to buy a car (especially if I can find a used one cheap). If long term I can't drive a stick, then all bets are off as the 911 would have to go and I'd need to find a tiptronic track car. But i'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.

[pwd72s]

Rental? If that, try a variety...maybe a Mustang ragtop or something...

[Z-man]

A Volvo's on your list?!? Geez - are you some kinda metrosexual or somethin'???

My vote's for the GTi with DSG. Nearly the same as the Audi A3 for less $$.

-Z.

[speeder]

You can buy a decent E30 BMW off of craigslist for really cheap; $1500 buys a pretty good one and $800 for a beater. Keeping them running is not an issue if they are decent mechanically to start with, and you know how to check out a car.

You can always dump it for what you paid for it or close, this is called driving on the cheap and I've been doing it for years. Good temporary solution if nothing else.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

E30 autos are dogs. Not a real reliable tranny either.

[nostatic]

Which BMW autos aren't dogs? Other than M3 SMG. I can have TRE do a PPI. If I can find a decent cheap one that seems smarter than renting for one or two months ($600/mo give or take to rent).

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Try to find an 325i at the very least. Make sure timing belt has been changed.

[nostatic]

hmm...how about assuing someone else's lease?

[Jims5543]

Buy an old POS Auto Honda or Toyota then dump it when you can clutch again. THEN find a fun car.

[BeauBlues]

Get the GTI, my girlfriend just got one and its a blast. It is also equipped with the DSG transmission. I have driven the Mini S with the agitronic trans and it changes gears soooo slowly. The GTI on the other hand is lightning fast through the gears and it handles very well. Also it is very comfy and roomy. It gets my approval.

[beepbeep]

Old E30 318is. cheap and fun!

[dd74]

I'd first see what the ortho says about your healing before thinking about a car. But that's just me: I'm never in a hurry to come up with a plan to part ways with $20-$30K.

With that said, have you read the pre-reviews about the MazdaSpeed3. One blurb said, expect "massive torque steer." Plus, I'm not certain from what I've read that the Mazdaspeed3 will be offered in an auto.

[Seahawk]

My wife is on a long term assignment in DC, which came with a rental car. Two words:

Pontiac Vibe.

Catch the wave

[deathpunk dan]

GTI with DSG hands down more fun than the piggish A3.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by Z-man
A Volvo's on your list?!? Geez - are you some kinda metrosexual or somethin'???

My vote's for the GTi with DSG. Nearly the same as the Audi A3 for less $$.

-Z.

+1, on both counts!

[vash]

i mangled my leg in a motorbike lesson...i mean...crash. my right foot is numb permanently in certian spots, but other than that, i can drive whatever. you will be fine. having said that, an auto is great in a traffic jam, and i bet you get a few of those down south.

i love driving fun, but i think you should give all the fun duties to the 911, and lean on the more practical side with the other car. what about a subaru legacy wagon with paddle shift on the wheel? there is a guy kicking butt with one at our AX's, while his 911 is under the knife.

[}{arlequin]

i thought you already had an audi and hence learned your lessons... unless you'll dump it before the warranty runs out again

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Seahawk
My wife is on a long term assignment in DC, which came with a rental car. Two words:

Pontiac Vibe.

Catch the wave

Seriously?


http://www.cars.com/carsapp/boston/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/mvp/pontiac/vibe/vibe_overview.tmpl

Our handy Manufacturer Warranty Comparison shows that Toyota offers an additional two years of powertrain coverage, five years and 50,000 miles, where Pontiac is good for one more year of corrosion protection, at six years. But Pontiac has a 100,000-mile limit on this coverage, where Toyota’s is unlimited.

I told my wife to look at this car when replacing the Focus.

Good choice?

[thrown_hammer]

Dodge Magnum SRT/8.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by kach22i
Seriously?

I told my wife to look at this car when replacing the Focus.

Good choice?

Her quote was, "We can cross this one off the list"....

I really don't mind the looks, but I have not driven it. I'll give it a whirl this week and report back. My wife prefers trucks!