Fun daily drivers under $15k?

**Never-Enough** · 02-22-2012, 01:43 PM

I'm about to give up on finding the right MS6 so looking for other options. Also can't find a clean non-beat Neon SRT4 under $7k around here.

Not interested in the 2010+ MS3 for what they cost & no interest at all in the 1st gen MS3. No interest in a Caliber SRT4. No interest in a GTO as a DD. Tried looking for another 97+ GP GTP, but all high mile overpriced crapola. Looked into an HHR SS, but harder to find a local manual trans good deal than it is to find an MS6 so pass. Maybe a Marauder, but again, hard to find a nice one at a good price around here.

I'm getting a Vette regardless. I just want to replace the BMW with a better DD than the Sable.

AWD w/manual trans preferred, but I'm not firm on that. At this point, I'm trying to be pretty open. I know I'm very picky & most cars just don't do anything for me b/c they are too slow or have crap interior & no options that I'm looking for. Nothing like a Civic is going to work for me. I need some power. Maybe a WRX could work, but the interior & stereo is crap & most seem to be high miles or more $ than they are worth to me. No Cobalt.

If it's still available, I might stop to look at a 2006 GP GXP w/67k miles for $10k while I'm in NJ on Saturday. It's been in 3 accidents, but as long as it's straight & fixed right who cares for a cheap beater. I'd only be willing to go $7k on it, though. Anyone around Turnersville, NJ that wants to look at it for me?

**chris1974** · 02-22-2012, 02:08 PM

lol @ "new car every 6 months"

The right car will come along...when it does, you'll know it. No?

**Zinergy** · 02-22-2012, 02:30 PM

My vote has to be for a Subaru but I am bias. A STI if you want to look like a young racer or a legacy gt if you want to look mature but still have some power. You can get a 05+ Legacy GT for 15k with around 50-60k miles on it... maybe less. Only the 05 wagons had manual trans options but all the sedan versions had manual trans.

**Murder after Midnight** · 02-22-2012, 02:37 PM

2006-2007 monte Carlo ss

**Never-Enough** · 02-22-2012, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Murder after Midnight

2006-2007 monte Carlo ss

No, the Montes seem to be really overpriced. Rather a GP GXP or Impala SS. PLenty of decent priced Impala SS cars around, but I prefer the GXP interior. I have been told that these 5.3 engines have oil burning issues & that the transmissions are junk. I have been down the junk trans road w/my old GTP.

**Smittro** · 02-22-2012, 02:47 PM

The only GM FWD auto trany worth a crap is the 4t80e.. ALL the others are trash.

So that pretty much narrows you down to Caddy.

**Murder after Midnight** · 02-22-2012, 03:08 PM

I paid 8500 for my Monte with 30k on it to each it it's own......good luck with your search

**redls1** · 02-22-2012, 04:48 PM

I know alot will disagree but had fun in my Nissan Specv. 6 speed,lsd,rockford fosgate stereo ,sun roof, xm radio. I just got rid of my 08 with I think it was 20k miles. Trade in was like $11,500. Was nothing like a true sports car but fun. 4 doors , lots of room and got great gas mileage.

**2001camaroSS** · 02-22-2012, 06:57 PM

Infiniti G35 sedan or coupe

**Shermanator86** · 02-23-2012, 04:08 AM

1990 crx

its like driving a go cart to work everyday

But seriously though the gxp sounds like a good deal if you can get it for the price you want

**Zinergy** · 02-23-2012, 05:28 AM

2006 Subaru Legacy - 2.5 GT Limited

05 legacy gt

Some examples, personally I dont know why anyone would pick a FWD car as there DD over AWD if they live in a snow area. If you are going to get a vette eitherway get something that feels different. The turbo engine in the legacy feels a lot different than a v8.

Also the g35 is a nice car.

**GTP231** · 02-23-2012, 05:34 AM

Holy shit turbo Subarus at a reasonable price. Usually they think they're worth their weight in gold

**Shermanator86** · 02-23-2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by GTP231

Holy shit turbo Subarus at a reasonable price. Usually they think they're worth their weight in gold

+1 never even considered looking at them cause it seems everyone want 20k for their ten year old 90,000 mi wrx

**robcas47** · 02-23-2012, 07:26 AM

Any motorcycle should put a smile on your face. And you can score one easily for under 10K

**Zinergy** · 02-23-2012, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by GTP231

Holy shit turbo Subarus at a reasonable price. Usually they think they're worth their weight in gold

That is really only the STI and Legacy gt Spec B that are priced like that. The 2004+ Legacy, outback, forester and WRX all can be found for good prices these days. I see 90-140kmile 02-04 WRXs going for 6-8k all the time.

**GTP231** · 02-23-2012, 08:53 AM

Out here in the East Coast that isn't the case usually. They're always trying to get 10 or more for those

**Zinergy** · 02-23-2012, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by GTP231

Out here in the East Coast that isn't the case usually. They're always trying to get 10 or more for those

Wells that shitty seeing as how it was only a 20k-24k car brand new, even the new wrx is only 25k. The STI though holds its value pretty well even compared to the WRX. It does have a lot of nicer parts on it though like torsen rear diff, beefy 6 speed trans(that has handled 600+ hp many times), much more expensive suspension, brembos and a better turbo/intake manifold/intercooler setup.

**GTP231** · 02-23-2012, 10:07 AM

Well don't you know mods add 150% of the parts cost to the value? Hell find a 98-01 2.5 Rs for under 6500 I'd love to find one. The few I've seen for less are rusting worn out and ripped interior

**Zinergy** · 02-23-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by GTP231

Well don't you know mods add 150% of the parts cost to the value? Hell find a 98-01 2.5 Rs for under 6500 I'd love to find one. The few I've seen for less are rusting worn out and ripped interior

Well the 2.5 RS has somewhat of a reason for being a little pricey, THEY ARE RARE. And as you said even more rare is a clean one. You are talkign about a car that was only made for 4 years in that body style and they only made 2500 per year, 98 there was only 1700 made. About 10,000 total,those numbers are low... like lt4 corvette low, or GMC Typhoon/ syclone low.

I am not saying they are as cool or fun as the vette or ty/sy but those cars in good condition go for more than 6500 as well. A Clean LT4 vette will go anywhere from 10-25k still depending on miles and options. A Clean ty/sy even with 100k miles goes for 10-13k.

I always wanted to get a super clean 01 RS and put a lsx engine in it and convert it to RWD just so I can post it all over subie forums and watch all the fanbois get crazy pissed about "ruining" a clean RS by swapping out the subie engine/drivetrain.

**Zinergy** · 02-23-2012, 11:27 AM

[QUOTE=redls1;2749546]I know alot will disagree but had fun in my Nissan Specv. 6 speed,lsd,rockford fosgate stereo ,sun roof, xm radio. I just got rid of my 08 with I think it was 20k miles. Trade in was like $11,500. Was nothing like a true sports car but fun. 4 doors , lots of room and got great gas mileage.[/QUOTE]

You are right that IS NOTHING like a sports car.