The boy wants a low-ish maintenance daily driver for his 70+ mile round trip commute.

Requirements:
Manual transmission - non-negotiable unless the car is super cheap and it's easy to swap in a manual.
"Not a POS FWD econobox" - I can get more clarification on this if needed
Lower mileage - right now all our (non-motorcycle) vehicles have over 250k on them and that needs to change. 120k or less ideally
Decent gas mileage - not worth buying a car unless it's better than driving the 17mpg diesel truck
If it's a VW (doesn't have to be) - TDI only

Let's see what you've got, TWW!

3/21/2012 11:19:54 PM

Whats not a POS FWD econobox? So he wants a RWD?

We're gonna need examples of acceptable makes/models.

3/21/2012 11:26:11 PM

Quote :

"Not a POS FWD econobox......If it's a VW (doesn't have to be) - TDI only"

does not compute.

Does the fact that it's FWD make it a shit box?

[Edited on March 21, 2012 at 11:31 PM. Reason : ..]

3/21/2012 11:27:57 PM

I want an circa 92-94 prelude to drive around when gas shoots back up to $rape...too bad everyone else will too.

3/22/2012 1:24:13 AM

^I used to want one of those until I sat in one... tooo small for my tall ass

3/22/2012 1:53:01 AM

No corollas, geo metros, etc. he doesn't want a gutless mom car, but some FWD cars are ok.

Right now he's trying to convince me a mustang is a good idea.

3/22/2012 8:35:13 AM

Nissan S14 240SX or '98-'01 Honda Prelude. They should both get around 30mpg on the highway, but the Prelude takes premium fuel. Could take time to find one with mileage under 120k and one that hasn't been modded excessively.

3/22/2012 12:03:26 PM

miata

everything is cheap and it's a (slow) fun car to drive

3/22/2012 12:25:48 PM

I want to get a miata and sent him a couple links. Now he claims he might want to wait on getting a car.

3/22/2012 1:11:13 PM

Make him drive one. They're full as hell.

3/22/2012 3:39:38 PM

miatas are definitely fun as hell do drive

3/22/2012 3:54:37 PM

What's your price range? My parents are selling a manual trans car.

3/22/2012 7:30:38 PM

I'm getting 32mpg highway with a 93 miata. Also, insurance is a steal.

Do it

3/22/2012 9:15:42 PM

"I'm not going to buy a miata, lol. Convertibles are not practical enough to drive every day."

Someone isn't getting any tonight, esp. considering I have wanted a Miata and been talked out of it twice already.

3/22/2012 10:51:35 PM

wolfpackgrr, max is 12k but hoping to spend less. What kind of car is it?

3/23/2012 12:26:44 AM

^^^ how the hell? I never got more than 25mpg in my miata

3/23/2012 1:35:20 AM

^^^lewoods, how can he say a convertible isn't "practical" enough for a daily driver? Countless people daily drive convertibles, including me. Plus a Miata has a shelf behind the seats for putting whatever, something most 2 seater convertibles do not.

^something's wrong with your Miata then. I can top 30mpg hwy with my S2000.

[Edited on March 23, 2012 at 9:34 AM. Reason : k]

3/23/2012 9:33:31 AM

he thinks convertibles get too cold in the winter and hot in the summer, and the visibility is crap. I have given up fighting, once I graduate I'll just show up with a Miata one day and tell him to suck it up. Problem is that since he's paying for it, he gets to have final say on this one.

3/23/2012 12:44:27 PM

It's a VW Jetta if I remember correctly. Somewhere in the ballpark of a 2005. I know they want less than $5000 for it. Mileage on it might be higher than what you're looking for. I honestly don't know much about the car other than they're getting the camshaft replaced on it right now.

3/23/2012 1:07:30 PM

^^Hardtops for Miatas are cheap and plentiful. Regardless, the type of arguments he's throwing up lack common sense so there's no point for me to mention anything else.

3/23/2012 1:59:31 PM

He'd be interested in the Jetta if it's a TDI.

I know his hatred of miatas lacks common sense and makes me mad. They look like M&Ms with the matching hard tops, and that makes me happy.

3/23/2012 3:57:19 PM

I looked at the Mazda Protege 5 before deciding on a Mazda3 hatchback. I think the Protege would be in his price range and get the desired MPG.

3/23/2012 6:28:13 PM

Quote :

"omething's wrong with your Miata then. I can top 30mpg hwy with my S2000."

I just drive like an asshole, I guess. Have only hit 27 in the s2000

3/23/2012 6:40:53 PM

I have a 20mpg hwy bmw 540i 6spd with <120k miles that I'll sell $cheap

[Edited on March 24, 2012 at 11:54 AM. Reason : and a 1995 windstar with a winch and wheelchock (slick hauler) for $1500]

3/24/2012 11:53:42 AM

The truck gets 20mpg highway.

3/24/2012 1:10:49 PM

I bet it's not as comfy to dd

3/24/2012 1:36:04 PM

It's actually not that bad. drove it to MI and the seat upgrade was well worth the trouble. Worst part by far is parking it (extended cab long bed).

3/24/2012 2:12:53 PM

The top two cars he's considering right now are an older 5-series wagon and a mustang. Let me know if you have either for sale.

4/18/2012 12:18:11 PM