I also recommend the GTI. I have one and love it.
And they're under $25,000, I think mine was around $24,000 (manual transmission with sunroof). Although mine's a MKV, the MKVIs may be more expensive.
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Best fun car in the $20-$25k range
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I also recommend the GTI. I have one and love it.
And they're under $25,000, I think mine was around $24,000 (manual transmission with sunroof). Although mine's a MKV, the MKVIs may be more expensive.
For about $22k, you can get a brand new VW Jetta Wolfsburg Ed. (basically an incognito GLI)
Great car, and a bit of a sleeper - its great showing tail lights to larger engined "sports cars" in my wife's little red 4-cylinder sedan. (0-60 in the low 6's, so not bad)
BTW, I drive a truck, so I can't really play this game... but it IS supercharged!
I was once looking at the VW Bug and the dealer insisted the Jetta was far better. He raved on and one about it. Years later I rented the Bug and it wasn't all that good just like the VW dealer said. It looked cool but had sluggish performance and the parts in the car and engine seemed really delicate. The next time I rent a car, I am going with Jetta, and maybe I will get the basic idea of this car.
The only problem with a rental is I'm sure you'll never find a Wolfsburg (with the 2.0 turbo)... and that engine makes ALL the difference over the base 2.5 5-cyl.
The Jetta is built like a tank - solid and quiet. The 2.0T engine is the only way to go - 200HP and 207lb/ft in a compact sedan. Ours has the DSG automated-manual transmission - this is a great compromise between manual performance and auto convenience. All in all, we've loved our Jetta - its an '08, and we bought it for $16,500 with 12k miles on it. Very pleased with the purchase!
I guess it's probably not the model a car rental agency will opt for.
Back in California in the 1980s and 1990s, the CHP had a very compact car with a Windsor Shelby 5 liter super engine in the Ford Mustang, the same one used at Laguna Seca. It was way too fast, there were accidents, so they got what amounted to a rental car, the very heavy Crown Victoria with a regular 4.6 liter engine. I then suspect if I ask for the 200 HP turbo in a rental agency, they will have a good laugh.
I then suspect if I ask for the 200 HP turbo in a rental agency, they will have a good laugh.
Probably so.
a camaro? i saw somewhere it starts at 23k?
its awesome
That's not a bad idea, either. Does the base Camaro have the 3.6L V6?
Probably so.
That's not a bad idea, either. Does the base Camaro have the 3.6L V6?
Yeah, it has the same 3.6 SIDI V6 from the CTS producing 304 HP.
I have had a few on your list I would go with the 3 series hands down Nothing drives like a BMW or a Z4?
Yeah, it has the same 3.6 SIDI V6 from the CTS producing 304 HP.
That's freakin' awesome! What kind of 0-60 times does the V6 Camaro have?
~ 6.0 seconds. Which I suspect is due to gearing because it gets 18 city/29 HWY which is pretty good considering its size and weight( and is class leading fuel economy).
Nice...
We get low 6's in the turbo Jetta (6.3, I think), plus high 20s/low 30s MPGs.Guess that decision, then, comes down to what kind of car you want - 2 door sports car/coupe or 4 door sedan/sleeper. Since this is my wife's car we're talking about, she chose the sedan.
I like it too, though.Needless to say it smokes my truck (a supercharged Frontier), but I always tell her I'll race her anytime... as long as I can pick the hill.
this is true, I live in NY and unfortunately had to part with my beloved slk in fav or of a range rover. the slk only cost 23k and had 25k miles
Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep them coming, I've got some time to decide.
I definitely don't want four doors this time around though--my E36 325i was of course four doors which as much as I loved the car I always wished it was a coupe--it was just a great deal, and here in Japan I don't have much choice but to drive 3-cylinder 4-door tin cans (Daihatsu Mira Custom X FTW!!)
As for location, I don't yet know...I will be either in Minneapolis, San Diego, or New York so that may play a role since the car has to be a DD year-round, as I already have a Camaro as a summer toy in storage. If I'm in MN or NY, the E46 looks attractive, but as does the SLK since it's a retractable hardtop, unlike the Z4--I could get away with driving it in winter if I have to. Unfortunate for any of these cars, but I take care of my stuff and already have a summer toy so it's gotta be a year-round DD.
As for a Camaro, the new ones are pure hotness--but I'm oldskool--300 hp V6 or not, if it ain't a V8, I would never consider it.
More suggestions welcome.
I definitely don't want four doors this time around though--my E36 325i was of course four doors which as much as I loved the car I always wished it was a coupe--it was just a great deal, and here in Japan I don't have much choice but to drive 3-cylinder 4-door tin cans (Daihatsu Mira Custom X FTW!!)
As for location, I don't yet know...I will be either in Minneapolis, San Diego, or New York so that may play a role since the car has to be a DD year-round, as I already have a Camaro as a summer toy in storage. If I'm in MN or NY, the E46 looks attractive, but as does the SLK since it's a retractable hardtop, unlike the Z4--I could get away with driving it in winter if I have to. Unfortunate for any of these cars, but I take care of my stuff and already have a summer toy so it's gotta be a year-round DD.
As for a Camaro, the new ones are pure hotness--but I'm oldskool--300 hp V6 or not, if it ain't a V8, I would never consider it.
More suggestions welcome.
Despite the old muscle car getting the same fuel economy as the small BMW( assuming he gets the V6 of course)?
Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep them coming, I've got some time to decide.
I definitely don't want four doors this time around though--my E36 325i was of course four doors which as much as I loved the car I always wished it was a coupe--it was just a great deal, and here in Japan I don't have much choice but to drive 3-cylinder 4-door tin cans (Daihatsu Mira Custom X FTW!!)
As for location, I don't yet know...I will be either in Minneapolis, San Diego, or New York so that may play a role since the car has to be a DD year-round, as I already have a Camaro as a summer toy in storage. If I'm in MN or NY, the E46 looks attractive, but as does the SLK since it's a retractable hardtop, unlike the Z4--I could get away with driving it in winter if I have to. Unfortunate for any of these cars, but I take care of my stuff and already have a summer toy so it's gotta be a year-round DD.
As for a Camaro, the new ones are pure hotness--but I'm oldskool--300 hp V6 or not, if it ain't a V8, I would never consider it.
More suggestions welcome.
buy a separate V8 engine and replace it...but please buy a camaro!
I do like those huge boat muscle cars with an engine bigger than 5 liters. They have a great feel cruising on the highway. The gold colored ones with the vinyl roofs are so classic and reminds me of '70s tv shows. My friend had one like the below picture, but in gold. That thing was surprisingly fast from a standstill to highway speed, and was rock steady as it got pushed further, but of course we didn't want to get a ticket. City mileage lists at 3.5 mpg
But due to it's huge size and weight, it probably did not have a fast top speed, yet at 75 mph, you feel like you are doing 50, and if you think you are doing 50 but are going much faster, then I think it's an easy ticket for the highway patrol.
