Help me pick a daily driver!
 

So i've decided its time to sell my seven, and buy a different daily driver. Im looking to spend no more than 10k, its going to be left stock mechanically. Ideally I should get a four door, but im not limiting myself to only four doors. I've been seriously considering a 2002-2003 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ , but have also been toying with the idea of a FD, but temptation to modify might bite me in the ass if I buy something that I would want to play with, and although I dont think it would be worse than the winter I spent driving the Miata, im sure a FD would suck in the snow. Im considering the galant since I would get a good deal through work, and would have money left over for whatever. The FD however would run me dry. Anyone have any other ideas? No domestics :nono:

I did a month-long search for a daily a couple months ago. My criteria was: import, fwd or awd for snow, moderately fun to drive, and hatchback since I move every year in college.

I didn't want a civic since they're overpriced and way too common around here. I ended up with a GTI since my dad found a one-owner 2000 in very good condition for $6k. The smooth, quiet ride spoils me on those 300 mile trips to and from school, and I get about 28mpg on the freeway averaging 80mph. I just hope it stays decently reliable for the next few years.

Attachment 215317

Attachment 215318

Attachment 215319

Mazda protege. Over 30 mpg, 4 door, slow, cheap on tires, cheap on gas, cheap on insurance. Plus you already know the motor if something goes wrong.
I only say that because my g/f has one, we take it on trips to save money on gas.
I personally want a small diesel car that i can convert to vegetable oil. Like a diesel rabbit. My schools cafeteria will provide me with all the oil i want.

I was gonna make a joke about the reliability of the mitsu but then i saw you've owned a few rx7's :p

Hey Mitsus are reliable.. DSMs aren't because of their chrystler blood, but everything else is for the most part. DSMs just give mitsubishi a bad rep.

Sam - This is random but out of curiosity, is that grille stock?

I use an SRT4 as my backup beater when the Miata's down, it's a 4 door but you said no domestics..

Agree the FD would be too much temptation to mod, I'd get an EG Civic for a daily if I were you. Good on gas, reliable, inexpensive to maintain, hell even if you blew the engine a used D series is like $50 lol.

No, it's made by Kamei or something like that. The grill and window tint were the only mods done by the previous owner.

I have to disagree. The Galant has been one of the worst cars ever made, in my experience. My brother had a '91. It went through two transmissions in only 75,000 miles of light use.

My cousin had a '96. It decided one day that the overdrive gear was superfluous and stopped offering it as available. It also popped a headgasket at only 15,000 miles. The paint gave up the ghost within three years of ownership. The brake rotors would warp if you looked at them wrong.

My ex-girlfriend had an '01. Two motors within 60,000 miles.

None of those people were enthusiasts, just average folks driving to and from work/school/what have you.

With that track record, when I heard mitsubishi was offering a 100,000 mile warranty on drivetrains, i figured they would have been out of business by now. lol.

About the Chrysler blood: I had a '90 Dodge Spirit go to 375,000 completely worry-free miles before I got rid of it when i bought my first mx6. The air even still blew cold. It's a freak among its type, i'll grant that, but what a car.

+1 on the unreliability of mitsu's, The shop my dad works at gets mitsu after mitsu, mostly eclipses, lots of galants, and surprisingly a buttload of 3000Gt's
even a VR4 every once in a while, and they specialize in Merc's and Bimmers o.0
hell my aunts evo's tranny went completely kaput after 30k mi, and thats driving from san diego to LA, mostly highway miles, not to mention shes 40 and drives like she is, i drove her evo the other day and the clutch/general tranny feel has never been the same.
thats just my rant about mitsu's
aside from that
I have a 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20 valve that i freakin ADORE
I have the DOHC 5 cyl, and it kills me on gas mileage, (shouldnt have turbocharged it . . .wait . . .)
but his leaner younger brother, the Audi 80 1.8E i hear gets nearly 35 mpg,
and i think its available with Q, not a bad choice i think, considering u can get one for less than 2000 bucks if they person doesnt know what they got
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...56_47_full.jpg
http://a368.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...8c1920cc2f.jpg
BTW: who needs headlights anyways?

'02-'03 Bugeye Impreza WRX fo life!

yeah impreza's are pretty impressive :P
nah tho i like the 99 coupe body, in that sonic mica blue i think they call it,
bugeye is a close second for me.

a couple year old taurus, impala, or buick would be a cheap, reliable, comfortable daily. or a ranger, hardbody/fronter, tacoma pickup too

W124 Benz 4Matic Wagon.

http://www.geocities.jp/musajtm/300te.jpg
http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/garag...027570261.jpeg

I had a gray one for a while, and with exception of the self-leveling suspension, it was bullet proof. When the self leveling fails, you replace it with standard shocks. I have an extra set of AMG Monoblocks I haven't used in a few years if you end up with one :)

That ran through my mind but I dont think I could pick one up for less than 10k, they all seem to be 12ish. I didnt really look that hard though.

I think I made a mistake by considering the FD.. Now I cant get it out of my headdd

If you get an FD, I will find you and make you let me drive it. Now are you still considering it?

Yes haha. Theres this LS1 FD for sale on ebay right now, and its just gorgeous.. I didnt know that a FD could look that sexy.

sounds to me you already made up your mind

do want

any vw/audi in that price range is not going to be reliable. The 2005+ cars may be more reliable, but its still not a solid choice.

I vote for the protege because they're cheap, but I'm sold on subaru. I love my 2k outback wagon. I should have bought one a long time ago.