Need a new DD asap, need ideas!
 

I just accepted a new job offer... :D
I will be doing a LOT of driving though and it has to be in a decent car.

Need ideas meeting the following specs:

$12k or less would be best but might be willing to do a little more.
Manual transmission, the ONLY way I might go away from this is for something like DSG or SMG.
It has GOT to be interesting/fun to drive... My last couple of cars have been 951s and a VW GTI 1.8t. I will be spending lots of time behind the wheel, all over the southeast and don't want to be bored to death.
So it also has to be reliable! I don't mind maintenance but I don't really want to have to keep up with a 951 type doing this.... Will probably sit in lots of traffic.
I have to be able to put stuff in it - Audi TT would be cool, but I can't fit network gear in it.

e46 330?

Help!

How many seats do you need?

Speedy:)

Speedy!!!


I would prefer a 4 door :(

E36 M3 4 door?

Glad to see you are still around.

Speedy:)

I am thinking about it but I am not sure. I think I might want a newer car than that...

Of course I am still around :D
Still addicted to Porsches you know......
How's the V8 project?

I will also be adding a Lotus to the mix hopefully in time for spring....... :)

No such beast as an E46 M 4door. Now there is an E36M sedan...


You could go for an E46 ZHP. Any 3series would be a great choice really....

Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3

Both can be worked over a bit, both have 4 doors and lots of room (hatch), both can be driven beyond the normal person's capability. Parts are actually not bad if you keep to the aftermarket stuff.

E39 540 6-speed.....should be able to fine a nice example for 12-15 grand..............

I wasn't thinking e46 M3 - just a 330 with a 5 speed.

I had a Mazda3 when they first came out ('04) and it was in the shop 6 times before I sold it in 9 months. Now, my first weekend with it I did go out and beat most of the field of Porsches at a PCA auto-x....

I also did see a nice 540 for sale.... MMmm black... !

If you need to use the backseat for adults I'd skip the 3 and get a 5'er.

Motorcycle!

I commuted daily for almost 3 years on a motorcycle. Drove the car for about 5 months, and now I'm back on a bike.

With the right gear it can be enjoyable in almost any weather.

I like Hondas for commuting, cage, not scoot

I have beat the heck out of my integra for over a decade and put very little dough in it, fun and fast enough. Acura TL is not bad and a bit bigger. I drove a TSX 6 speed for a goof that was not bad.

Subaru. Not sexy or anything but reliable and can be a bit of fun. Honda, Ford? Our family has had poor luck with Toyotas that were not Celicas.

How about a supercharged G35 (430 HP)w/ 6sp, Brembos, all the bells & whistles? Selling the wife's car as she's getting a nice 993 cab next week.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1287141608.jpg

Sales job? What are you selling and to who?
Be mindful of the cars "image" to customers. BMW's, Mercedes, Porsches, etc. can really alienate you.

I chose a new Jetta last year...picked it up new for 19k out the door; tax, tag and title...loaded. Huge trunk but little back seat leg room...customers don't blink an eye at it but many make smart comments when i drive my 24 year old 911 that i paid 16.5k for over 14 years ago.

An added benefit is that it handles extremely well on the mountain roads that I travel daily..30,000 plus each year. I have suprised a few "sport" cars in the twisties by leaving them far behind.
Ben

Its overpriced but nice car.....



And yes do be mindful of who you are selling to.. If you are selling to more industrial people.. Well you better get your azz in a 4dr truck.

I know you mentioned this, but recheck the audi tt coupe. It has a decent amount of room with the rear seats folded down.

Sadly not a shiftable auto or manual but the power, looks, build quality and reliability makes up for it and 349hp and 0-60mp/h in a solid 5secs makes up for it..yet modern and ownership is very affordable.

http://data.motor-talk.de/data/galle...c-27-53186.JPG

If you are selling how about something low profile but yet fun. A couple cars come to mind.

1st generation Mazdaspeed 3
Mazdaspeed 6
Subaru Legacy GT with the turbo engine

All cars are capable of 5 sec 0-60 times and don't scream "look at me! I am a boy racer!"

Speedy:)

+ 1 on the Mazda.

I'm a fellow 944 owner.

Test drove a Mazda3 and steering/transmission were very tight. I imagine with the extra power of a Mazdaspeed3 it would be more fun than a barrel full of lesbians.

+1 on the 540, just bought one and every day am amazed at how great it is. Mine had every option, great condition, 100k on the odo, and only cost $7500.

But at the end of the day... Its still putting power down to the rear wheels... Go drive an E36 M3.... It is very 944 esque, has a ****load of power, and is more fun than a barrel of lesbians....

Very true, I guess this would come down to his budget... I haven't penciled out the numbers but I presume a Mazdaspeed3 is much less expensive to buy and maintain that a M3.

SmileWavy

Can you get a slick speed 3 for 10k?

The Mazdaspeed3 are about double the cost of an e36 M3.
The M3 does sound good but I worry about reliability of an older car.

What about parts/maintenance of a M3?

Don't get me wrong, all things being equal I would be on a BMW like flys on doggie doo.

I did test drive a Mazdaspeed3 today.
It had 50k on it and I doubt it had much more. Felt like it had been driven hard and put away wet.... $16k.

Also test drove a couple GTIs - I think I may go this route...

If properly maintained they aren't that bad. I would venture to guess that the MS3 isn't near as much car. The M3 cruises down the highway amazingly and then you can throw it through corners and it will hang with the 944... and then theres the power... :D


Any extra work is totally worth it....

GTI is probably a great choice...so far, with 31k on my Jetta, I am very pleased with VW. The Golf won't raise anyones "radar"...including the cops.

Didn't you own a turbo VW before?

Speedy:)

I did :)

An 05 with the 1.8t. Might even try to find another one of those.

I wouldn't dismiss at GTI either... They look like fun little cars...

Hell I've been eying a turbo Bug this weekend....

Yep!
 

Yep!

So far I am swaying towards the e39 540i.

Got to find one in a color other than silver though, which is proving difficult.

There are way too many silver/white/black BMWs. We hunted for a while to find the right color M....

Ok. Car shopping officially sucks.

Went to look at 2 330s.

1 - Looked great in pics, gotta hand it to the photographer on that one. Talk about **** paint over an even worse bondo job.

2 - Even better in pics, not sure how I missed the whole guardrail-esque run in on the drivers side.

And WTF happened to car prices??? Guy at the VW dealer said after cash for clunkers a lot of prices went up....

I sold my 05 GTI for 6500 about a year ago... Can you get one now for 10k? No.

Grrrr.....


Bout to give up and go get a dang Corolla.

I'd sell you my Corolla... '07 with a 5spd... ~40k on the clock.

Lots of good suggestions. This would be my list:

GTi/GLI - subtle, the GLI is a bigger option
Audi B5 S4 - awesome cars, bring your wallet for maintenance
Audi A4 or A6 - good, AWD, not as good as a BMW
Mercedes C36, C43, E55 AMG - all rock solid tanks, my C36 was incredible.
Nissan Maxima - cheap, easy to find, subtle, but fast.
Subaru WRX, Legacy GT, Forester XT - turbo flat four, AWD, 5 speed, easy mods. Lots to love here.
Saab 9-5 Aero, 9-3 Viggen - cheap highway rockets, well over 30 MPG. Don't discount it until you try one.
BMW E46, 330i ZHP, E39, E36 M3 - you can find good E46, E39, and E36 M3s for well under $10k. That leaves money for repairs or mods, and they're awesome driving cars.
Porsche 944S2, 968, Boxster - more DD friendly and reliable than a 951.
Jaguar XJR - $12k buys a super nice one, mine was rock solid and freaking amazing to drive. I seriously miss that car.
Mazda RX8
Nissan 350Z
Infiniti G35
Acura TL or TSX
Mustang GT
Focus SVT

So I'd say you have plenty of decent options.:D Personally, at least of my list, I'd favor one of the AMGs or the XJR. Incredible cars to drive that are also great DDs.