Most Fun Daily for under 25K
10-12-2010, 02:08 AM
#21
See, I'm thinking in a bit of a different direction.
Corvettes, while certainly a handful, are common. So are WRXs and Evos and most everything made by BMW. I'm thinking that if I were going to go out and buy a non-Miata daily driver, something fun but luxurious, and had $25k to spend, I'd tend to go for something a bit more unique.
For instance, you can find a lot of Acura NSXs in the low 100,000 mile range in the low to mid $20s. A supercar? Maybe. But one that you can actually drive to work every day.
Or the V8 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa. One of their lesser-known works to be sure, but as amazing from the front as any Aston Martin, and not entirely awful from any other angle.
There's the Jaguar XJS, an absolutely stunning car to drive and be seen driving. Reliable? Well, to a point. But for $25k you can easily afford two of them. And the sound of that V12 engine, Barry White might just as well be having an orgasm under the hood.
You could try on a Mercedes 560SL convertible. Not since leather elbow patches were applied to the first tweed blazer has any man-made object proclaimed so quietly "I am a person of class and sophistication."
Feeling a bit boy-racer? How about a good ole' twin turbo 300ZX. Once a prize status symbol of trauma surgeons and personal injury attorneys everywhere, I'm really shocked at how well this car has taken on a fine patina of class Mwith age.
There are just so many cars out there which not only fulfill the basic requirements of being fun to drive and a comfortable place to sit in, but possess that intangible air that makes them... interesting.
Corvettes, while certainly a handful, are common. So are WRXs and Evos and most everything made by BMW. I'm thinking that if I were going to go out and buy a non-Miata daily driver, something fun but luxurious, and had $25k to spend, I'd tend to go for something a bit more unique.
For instance, you can find a lot of Acura NSXs in the low 100,000 mile range in the low to mid $20s. A supercar? Maybe. But one that you can actually drive to work every day.
Or the V8 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa. One of their lesser-known works to be sure, but as amazing from the front as any Aston Martin, and not entirely awful from any other angle.
There's the Jaguar XJS, an absolutely stunning car to drive and be seen driving. Reliable? Well, to a point. But for $25k you can easily afford two of them. And the sound of that V12 engine, Barry White might just as well be having an orgasm under the hood.
You could try on a Mercedes 560SL convertible. Not since leather elbow patches were applied to the first tweed blazer has any man-made object proclaimed so quietly "I am a person of class and sophistication."
Feeling a bit boy-racer? How about a good ole' twin turbo 300ZX. Once a prize status symbol of trauma surgeons and personal injury attorneys everywhere, I'm really shocked at how well this car has taken on a fine patina of class Mwith age.
There are just so many cars out there which not only fulfill the basic requirements of being fun to drive and a comfortable place to sit in, but possess that intangible air that makes them... interesting.
Something you'd put miles and miles onto without any sort of rebuild, overhaul, or replacing lots of worn out parts and/or broken parts.
nsx parts are just stupid expensive. so is an NSX itself. 20k for a 20 year old car? Even though its made of quality parts and hand assembled its still an old car (91-92 verisons).
300zx? you mean the z32? unreliable as **** and a royal pain in the *** to work on.
jag? sexy yes. reliable or efficient or practical? LOLOL
Maserati? you're kidding right?
You have good taste no doubt, but I just can't wrap my head around any of those cars being good "daily drivers".
And LOL @ whoever posted that a miata is a good daily
With that logic my triumph TT600 is a "spacious and practical car"
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10-12-2010, 02:19 AM
#22
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Go test drive an S40/V50 T5. You can find them with AWD and a 6-speed manual if you shop around a bit. Phenomenally comfortable, awesome sound system, reasonably fun to drive, reliable (my sister has one, an '06 with ~80k on it, no major problems), and you can find an extremely nice one for under $20k.
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10-12-2010, 02:30 AM
#23
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a tiny bit above your budget but the cheapest best one on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...item51957210fa
and this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...item53e40cf4e5
or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-...item4aa555af06
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...item51957210fa
and this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...item53e40cf4e5
or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-...item4aa555af06
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10-12-2010, 02:48 AM
#24
Hmm nice, fast, practical
I think you could find a nice E55 AMG(04-05 the supercharged one)for that kind of money. Very nice at least moderatly reliable and tunable-plenty of hoonage to be had there.
Relatively low mileage E39 M5s are very nice and can be had in this price range.
You could find a V8 audi S4 and it would have 4WD
I think you could find a nice E55 AMG(04-05 the supercharged one)for that kind of money. Very nice at least moderatly reliable and tunable-plenty of hoonage to be had there.
Relatively low mileage E39 M5s are very nice and can be had in this price range.
You could find a V8 audi S4 and it would have 4WD
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10-12-2010, 02:57 AM
#25
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The best M3 on ebay for $25k
2004 6spd white convertible 54k mi.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-...item19bff4bfcf
2004 6spd white convertible 54k mi.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-...item19bff4bfcf
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10-12-2010, 09:46 AM
#26
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Hmm nice, fast, practical
I think you could find a nice E55 AMG(04-05 the supercharged one)for that kind of money. Very nice at least moderatly reliable and tunable-plenty of hoonage to be had there.
Relatively low mileage E39 M5s are very nice and can be had in this price range.
You could find a V8 audi S4 and it would have 4WD
I think you could find a nice E55 AMG(04-05 the supercharged one)for that kind of money. Very nice at least moderatly reliable and tunable-plenty of hoonage to be had there.
Relatively low mileage E39 M5s are very nice and can be had in this price range.
You could find a V8 audi S4 and it would have 4WD
Unless you are "in the money" though, I would not seriously recommend a benz, audi, bmw etc. Unless they are easy to maintain yourself???
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10-12-2010, 11:32 AM
#27
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Thanks for the responses. I am by no means in the money, but I do have a pretty hood job now and an 03 Miata For Sale and eventually an 01 Mazda Tribute For Sale. I'm hoping to have btw 10-15k after both cars are gone. So I'd like a newer fun car that can be useful in many areas especially fun to drive year round that I could get a relatively small loan on that I can keep building credit with. I'd like to keep 4 seats and 4 doors is kind of a plus. Right now I've really got my eye on a newer STi, that seems like a good compromise and are less harsh than the pretty raw 04-05's.
Keep them coming! There have been a lot of good ideas thrown around.
Keep them coming! There have been a lot of good ideas thrown around.
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10-12-2010, 01:55 PM
#33
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I guess I'm just getting bored with life. Even cars that used to excite me like BMW M Roadsters and Carerra S Cabriolets just seem mundane and pedestrian nowadays. There are just too damned many of them, not to mention STis, Evos, 1 and 3 series BMWs, AMG Mercedes... Hell, you'd think they were selling them in 10-packs at Costco.
And a Hyundai Genesis? SlideRuler, your Man Card is hereby revoked effective immediately.
Honestly, no, I am not. I am as deadly serious as a priest at the YMCA swimming pool.
You can get a nice Maserati Coupé of early to mid 2000s vintage with 40-60,000 miles in the mid $2xk range. They've got a fabulous 390 HP engine, solid suspension, a great ride, can seat four actual human adults comfortably, and the look... it's just pure, deep-fried sex. Fun, luxurious, and a practical daily driver. A quick Edmunds search turned up eight of them under $26,000, most with under 5x,000 miles.
Here's one with 32,000 miles for $23,750: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
Seriously, how can you not covet that? I'd want to buy it an expensive handbag, take it to a nice restaurant, listen to it talk about its feelings, empathize with it, and snuggle with it on the sofa while watching some boring chick flick and nibbling on strawberries dipped in dark chocolate.
Still...
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10-12-2010, 02:29 PM
#34
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****.
I just realized that I've spent the last half hour researching and pricing Ferraris on Autotrader, eBay, and various other sites...
No good can come of this.
I just realized that I've spent the last half hour researching and pricing Ferraris on Autotrader, eBay, and various other sites...
No good can come of this.
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10-12-2010, 03:19 PM
#38
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Why not a minivan, while we're at it? A nice Toyota Sienna XLE. All-wheel drive, limited-slip diff, 265 HP, near 50/50 weight distribution, pretty much fits the bill perfectly.
Except that you'd have to be a complete and utter moron to buy one.
Notice a trend here?
Except that you'd have to be a complete and utter moron to buy one.
Notice a trend here?
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10-12-2010, 03:25 PM
#39
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As much as I love Joe Perez's suggestions....
WTF?! The first serious maintenance, he'll need to take out another loan!!! lulz
If we're neglecting the possible $1500 oil change for a Boxster, the $6k brakes/rotors/service job for a Ferrari, etc.....
then I suggest an AMG C32. About $16-24k for a good condition high to medium mileage. Still sexy and quick. However, the maintenance is not cheap.
I'd vote for an newish STI or the 2011 WRX. Possibly even the 2010 WRX in a dealership. Or a 2008 Forester XT (I paid $16k for mine w/ 36k miles) and mod it.
EVO is very nice...but clutch jobs are tedious and expensive. Some of the autocrossers have replaced them a few times. I think labor is quoted at 10 hrs? Not cheap. Subarus are a lot easier to work on.
EDIT: Well hell, if Joe's suggesting a Sienna, then +1 !! I have a 2008 Sienna. My favorite car to drive out of 3 (turbo Miata, Forester, and Sienna)
WTF?! The first serious maintenance, he'll need to take out another loan!!! lulz
If we're neglecting the possible $1500 oil change for a Boxster, the $6k brakes/rotors/service job for a Ferrari, etc.....
then I suggest an AMG C32. About $16-24k for a good condition high to medium mileage. Still sexy and quick. However, the maintenance is not cheap.
I'd vote for an newish STI or the 2011 WRX. Possibly even the 2010 WRX in a dealership. Or a 2008 Forester XT (I paid $16k for mine w/ 36k miles) and mod it.
EVO is very nice...but clutch jobs are tedious and expensive. Some of the autocrossers have replaced them a few times. I think labor is quoted at 10 hrs? Not cheap. Subarus are a lot easier to work on.
EDIT: Well hell, if Joe's suggesting a Sienna, then +1 !! I have a 2008 Sienna. My favorite car to drive out of 3 (turbo Miata, Forester, and Sienna)
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