Got a kid on the way, want a nice downpayment for a house, and want to step up my investments some more (and maybe snag an SV650 if I find one for a great deal)...and living 5 minutes from my job and 95% of the other places I go, and having nothing but straight FL roads anyway, I'm not really getting my money's worth out of my car.

so my S2000 is up for sale, and I'm thinking about what I want to replace it with.

I want to stay in the 8k-12k range, although I can spend more if something REALLY justifies it.

Right now, I'm thinking about the following:

1. 323is/325is/328is
2. WRX

would also consider:

3. E36 M3 (really my first choice, but I don't really want to spend the extra money over a 328is)
4. Z3 2.8 (but can prob get a very nice 328is for the same price, which would be more practical, and not have the older E30 rear suspension)
5. Wrangler (TJ)



anything else halfway interesting in that price range that I'm not thinking of? Requirements--not FWD, not automatic transmission, and must be dependable...I don't consistently have time to work on stuff, and when flight school cuts me a break, I usually like to just chill and unwind on the beach.

4/12/2006 4:28:24 PM

not sure about reliability, but i would think the a4 quattros would be a good option.

4/12/2006 4:55:53 PM

things changed when you're having a kid huh?

4/12/2006 5:35:31 PM

well, I could afford to keep the car, but I don't think I could support a kid AND have enough money to save for a house and invest at the levels I want...and having something with a backseat will be easier for times when I have to strap a carseat in.

I'm not done with the sports car scene for good. I'll be back with a vengeance...but for right now, it's best that I get something cheaper and more practical.

4/12/2006 5:38:53 PM

kid?!?

holy shit.

4/12/2006 6:07:44 PM

When I was car shopping a few months ago, I had a little higher price range, but my list narrowed to:
e36m3
boxster
s2000
z3
wrx

I drove a couple of s2000s, but you obviously don't want input on them.

Given your description, my recommendation would be either a WRX or the e36m3.

You can get a decent e36m3 coupe for under 12k, especially in Florida. Not sure how much experience you've had driving either of them, but just try to find a couple clean examples of each, and go from there. Having driven both, I found a decent deal and opted for the m3, but would've probably been just as happy in the wrx.

[Edited on April 12, 2006 at 6:19 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2006 6:18:18 PM

I was thinking, "oh, he needs something practical" and then you threw the z3 in there.
I'll try to assume you need a back seat, since kids mean rear seat. I guess you excepted the z3 because of the airbag on/off? I guess if your wife is cool with that...

lincoln ls v6 manual
(some owners were v8 auto drivers before, say they don't miss the ~30 hp, and I bet the ford v6 is cheaper to run than the jag-derived v8)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lincoln-LS-only-12250-miles-manual-transmission_W0QQitemZ4628910954QQcategoryZ31850QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

legacy/outback?

gto?
(probably a little outside your price range, but I've seen then as low as 18 for an '04)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PONTIAC-GTO-LS1-350-HP-V8-RWD-20-mpg-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ4630559999QQcategoryZ7244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

passat w8 4motion MANUAL (they exist, I promise)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volkswagen-Passat-W8-w-Six-Speed-Manual-Transmission_W0QQitemZ4630267458QQcategoryZ6020QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
probably not the most dependable, but classy and I saw one with 80k miles for like $10k on ebay-buy-it-now


is300
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/One-Owner-5-Speed-IS300-in-New-Jersey-BUY-IT-NOW_W0QQitemZ4629844655QQcategoryZ43918QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

jag x-type
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/White-2002-Jaguar-X-Type-2-5-with-24-485-Miles_W0QQitemZ4630136207QQcategoryZ43915QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem, all are 4wd, some are manuals.

infiniti g35
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEXAS-LEASE-RETURN-HWY-MILES-HEATED-SEATS-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ4630040446QQcategoryZ43914QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem, was about to say the previous m45, but they're still up around 24k at the cheapest

cadillac catera?

lexus sc300 manual
wow,I couldn't find anything. I'm pretty sure they were sold here with a manual, but d*mn if I can't find one.....

1999 cobras....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOT-YOUR-MOMMY-Mustang_W0QQitemZ4629800891QQcategoryZ6236QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

4/12/2006 6:59:19 PM

here's an $18k 2.7T s4
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/S4-2-7L-V6_W0QQitemZ4629391522QQcategoryZ43902QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



[Edited on April 12, 2006 at 7:03 PM. Reason : oops, that one's an automatic, but I bet there's one out there...]

4/12/2006 7:02:14 PM

again, a little too expensive... 530i
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-BMW-530i-5-SPEED-SNRF-LTHR-HTD-SEATS-FREE-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ4629414569QQcategoryZ6008QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

4/12/2006 7:09:36 PM

you could find a 99ish 540i for that price. or a 01ish 4.0 range rover.

4/12/2006 7:22:23 PM

^good call on the 540, I'm surprised they're that cheap.

4/12/2006 7:39:40 PM

Quote :

"passat w8 4motion MANUAL (they exist, I promise)"

haha.. not very common, tho...

4/12/2006 8:20:07 PM

Quote :

"You can get a decent e36m3 coupe for under 12k, especially in Florida. Not sure how much experience you've had driving either of them, but just try to find a couple clean examples of each, and go from there."

I've driven one, but it's been a while. Still, I doubt that I can find one with low miles for 12k or under. If I can, then it's pretty much a done deal.

Quote :

"I'll try to assume you need a back seat, since kids mean rear seat. I guess you excepted the z3 because of the airbag on/off? I guess if your wife is cool with that..."

No wife, but if I can turn the airbag off, that'll do. Baby's momma doesn't like that idea, but she'll get over it.

Quote :

"you could find a 99ish 540i for that price."

I'll believe that when I see it, too. I'll also probably buy it if I see it.

Quote :

"passat w8 4motion MANUAL (they exist, I promise)"

again, prob not gonna find one with decent mileage in my price range, and then it's tough to find one with a manual trans.



when I say that I can break that $8-12k budget, I mean that I can go $13-14k if I really have to, although I really don't want to (b/c I can get a nice 325is/328is for less than $12k). If I go over about 14k, it becomes less worthwhile for me to start trading around.

4/12/2006 8:56:42 PM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/150283870.html

4/12/2006 10:14:16 PM

buy a friggin 4 door civic and enjoy the savings and gas mileage

4/12/2006 10:30:44 PM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/148630813.html

4/12/2006 10:31:15 PM

If the kid is due in 2006 go ahead and change your filing status on your taxes. I was claiming a 1 when I started my job, of course the wife was working then. Now she's stays at home with the baby and I claim a 6. It was a difference of about $200/month - the difference in my insurance.

4/12/2006 10:45:58 PM

^^, ^^^^ those are sweet, but I don't want a 150k mile car. I'd say no more than about 80-85k, and preferably less than that.

^kid is due in October, but I'm not married. I think baby's momma is gonna claim the kid the first year (and we'll alternate after that). Right now, I think I'm claiming a 2...my taxes are pretty much a wash, which is the way I want it. If I'm getting money back, that means I'm giving Uncle Sam an interest free loan...I'd rather have the money upfront and be getting returns on it all year.

4/12/2006 11:39:16 PM

also, E36 BMW owners...I hear the cars are pretty damned dependable for a long time. anyone care to offer confirmation or contest to that?

4/13/2006 1:49:19 AM

what difference would u go in my 2000 Spyder with 55k miles and ur car

its all black, all stock at this point, runs fine.

4/13/2006 2:06:29 AM

you farking gearheads...what the hell

BUY AN AUTOMATIC first and foremost. The last thing you need is a stick shift to mess w/ while trying to get the kid a bottle.

I vote a few year old Civic, 4-door

save your $$$ and good mpg

4/13/2006 2:08:47 AM

haha, i wouldn't even give brief consideration to anything with an automatic transmission. that's the dumbest thing i've heard in a long time.


i have also given some consideration to just getting a little Civic hatch or something...maybe even another Miata (but slightly newer, and bone stock or close to it this time). something dirt cheap to buy and operate. I'm not really in a position to put a killer car to good use right now, and I could just bank the money and get something freakishly nasty sometime down the line when I can enjoy it.

but man, I really like an E36 BMW.

4/13/2006 2:40:06 AM

I think I'd be all over the is300 or wrx given these cars. I've gotta drive a 328 or e36 m3 at some point to see what the fuss is about. I honestly think that if you'd even remotely consider something without a back seat (z3, miata) there's no reason to ditch your s2000.


wow, here's a pretty clean looking 1999 a4 2.8 5spd:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-A4-2-8-2-8L-QTRO-5SPD-BLK-38K-FREE-SHIP-W-BUY-NOW_W0QQitemZ4630027141QQcategoryZ6003QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

did the 2.8 really suck that bad? I don't know anything about that motor

[Edited on April 13, 2006 at 10:07 AM. Reason : .]

4/13/2006 9:58:41 AM

something else i just thought about...i think CA only has 91 oct fuel. there's a 50% chance I'll be stationed there next (for 1 year or so). I kinda doubt my car would run right on 91 oct. it's amazing to me that it runs on 93 oct (with 11:1 cr and ~6psi boost)

4/13/2006 2:02:00 PM

what? I'd have thought ca would have higher octane gas than us....

4/13/2006 2:06:09 PM

nope.. 91 fo sho.

4/13/2006 2:46:56 PM

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/car/149249558.html

somebody talk me out of it before I go and do something dumb.

4/14/2006 1:53:40 AM

Duke...Do something stupid, that shit is hot

4/14/2006 2:06:44 AM

If you get this, I'm gonna call you a stupid nigger to your face...

Seriously, Josh, you need that like you need a third nut. The other two done got you in a bit of a tight.

4/14/2006 2:07:53 AM

i need that car.

4/14/2006 2:19:34 AM

^^the Miata turned out to be a pain in the ass (although the most fun car i've ever driven, period)

the Honda doesn't really have me in a tight...i can keep it if i want. I just feel like I could put the money to better use otherwise right now.

but yeah, i'd imagine that people would look at me like i had a dick on my forehead if I told them "Yeah, I bought this 396 Camaro b/c I wanted to save money by getting rid of a fast car that I wasn't getting to put to good use...and I kinda wanted something more practical since I have a kid on the way."

4/14/2006 2:47:51 AM

maybe I read zx's post wrong, but it seemed to me he was talking about the other two nuts....

I could be wrong

4/14/2006 2:53:39 AM

^I read it the same way as you

4/14/2006 10:32:09 AM

I'm still shocked to learn that the W8 4motion 6-speed Passat actually exists.

I want one.

4/14/2006 10:57:02 AM

^^, ^^^

haha, yeah, that's prob what he meant.

4/14/2006 4:27:37 PM

that shit is HAWt for 7600 ummm yeah get it. then buy a 3000 dolla rolla for the mommie car, or an old previa.

4/14/2006 4:42:29 PM

I wonder how much trouble/expense it would be to put AC on it. FL gets hot in the summer.

[Edited on April 14, 2006 at 4:58 PM. Reason : looks like about $1050 from streetrodstuff.com]

4/14/2006 4:52:14 PM

im pretty sure with a car that popular, they have conversion kits all over the place. my dad put a custom a/c in his 76 fj40, his next one came with a/c. by custom i mean it was a kit from a supplier. it blew just as cold as the stock a/c, maybe a little better.

[Edited on April 14, 2006 at 5:06 PM. Reason : ah, that thing should only tear up the streets at night anyway :owned:]

4/14/2006 5:05:08 PM

yeah, new Vintage Air kit is like $1000 shipped from eBay.

hmm. man, what an awesome dumb idea.

4/14/2006 5:14:05 PM

i think the 328 makes a lot of sense

4/14/2006 6:26:32 PM

yeah

actually, i think the 323is really makes the most sense...you can get them cheaper, and they're only about 20hp short of the 328 (and it's like 190 vs 168, i think...not like either one of them is fast, anyway)

4/14/2006 6:40:15 PM

There is actually a HUGE difference between the 328 and the 323.......and I take it you arent interested in the M....just shoot me a PM

4/14/2006 6:50:12 PM

man, i'd love to have an E36 M3...that would be my first choice, hands down. I just can't really justify spending 14-15k for an M3 when I can get a 323si for half that.

4/14/2006 7:19:07 PM

I've never driven a 328, but I test drove a '99 323i in late '04. Nice car, but I was very underwhelmed with the power...

4/14/2006 10:12:01 PM

my old roommate had a 318i sedan. I thought it was totally adequate.

You have to understand, as much as I love fast cars, this is a move OUT of the performance segment for me. The whole point is that I'm not getting my money's worth out of having a car with a big stick under the hood.

If I was looking to get a 3-series for its performance, I'd be looking at M3s (or at least 328s). All I need is adequate or a little better, though.

4/14/2006 10:55:41 PM

well, my Honda's back up on eBay. if it sells this time, I'll be in the new car market.

I'm leaning overwhelmingly towards a 323/325/328is.

I want a Porsche 911 so bad (never bought one before because the ones I can afford aren't very fast, but for right now, I don't care so much about that. nowhere around to really use tons of power). I don't know if an infant seat would fit in the back, and baby's momma says that she won't let our daughter ride in it because it's rear engined ( ?????). She'll have to get over it if I find one that I really like, though--but I don't really expect to. Most of them are still selling for substantially more than I'm willing to pay for a 15-25 year old car that isn't even all that fast, even if it is a 911.

so yeah, I'm looking at them, even though I know that the BMW is the smart move...but I'll prob end up with the E36.

[Edited on June 3, 2006 at 11:50 AM. Reason : asdf]

[Edited on June 3, 2006 at 12:01 PM. Reason : and i'd still consider a WRX, but most of them are more than i want to spend on a suburu]

6/3/2006 11:50:31 AM

Not trying to be s smart as but do you really want your 911 or bimmer to be full or Cheerios and smell like formula and vomit?

6/3/2006 12:26:31 PM

no

but i'm not gonna buy a lame car.

6/3/2006 12:31:32 PM

put a blue tarp under the baby seat

6/3/2006 1:30:43 PM

used is300

6/3/2006 1:33:09 PM