What car should I buy?

[Lord Blackadder]

Eliminating imports entirely and focusing on something a little "different":

1995-1999 Plymouth Neon ACR
1998-1999 Dodge Neon R/T

These original sporty versions of the Neon are the best of the breed. Nice 150hp twincam engine and good handling, they were put together by people who really took time to impart sporty driving qualities rather than just adding a silly bodykit. you should be able to get one cheeeeep and they should easily exceed your gas mileage needs.

2000+ Ford Focus ZX3 hatchback
2005-2007 Ford Focus ST sedan
2002-2004 Ford SVT Focus

The Mk1 Focus, despite being an old design, is still a good car in hatchback form - efficient, reasonably quick and attractive. I find the sedans hideous but if you can stomach them then the ST model has the 151hp engine. The SVT Focus is one of the best cars made in the US in the last decade - great little Cosworth engine, enhanced handling capabilities, and a sharp but tasteful body kit.


Ford Contour SE V6
Ford SVT Contour

The Contour was hugely underrated here in the US, but its 172hp 2.5L V6 is a very smooth engine. The SVT model boasts a 195-200hp version of the same engine and some additional go-fast bits.

Foreign stuff

I know you want to "buy American", but you should also consider foreign cars, because there are some damned good ones like: Volkswagen Golf/Jetta, Nissan Altima/Sentra/240SX, Honda Civic, Scion tC, old BMW 3-series, Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, Mazda MP3 and quite a few more.

For trucks, consider a 4cyl Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. The 2WD models usually get 25mpg or better. The Ford Ranger is not American, it's a Mazda - and that's probably why it's a great little truck. Also a good option.

 

[millertime021]

Anyway, Ned Flanders drove a Geo Metro. Great fuel efficiency from a time when Americans didn't care much about fuel economy.

Had one of those passed down to me. I hated driving it. Good for when gas was $4 a gallon, but ultimately I drove it into the back of a truck.
However, I wouldn't have driven it much longer anyway... it has a 3 cylinder engine. (I didn't even know cars had that...)

I wish I still had my Ranger. I would go for a 4 cyl + 5 speed manual and maybe get 20 MPG overall. Manual transmissions are a drag in stop and go driving, but, the Ranger has a very nice manual. Lowest TCO I ever had in a vehicle.

I don't mind Manual transmissions; actually, I prefer them. After driving a Jeep in traffic, any transmission is easier.

Eliminating imports entirely and focusing on something a little "different":

1995-1999 Plymouth Neon ACR
1998-1999 Dodge Neon R/T

These original sporty versions of the Neon are the best of the breed. Nice 150hp twincam engine and good handling, they were put together by people who really took time to impart sporty driving qualities rather than just adding a silly bodykit. you should be able to get one cheeeeep and they should easily exceed your gas mileage needs.

2000+ Ford Focus ZX3 hatchback
2005-2007 Ford Focus ST sedan
2002-2004 Ford SVT Focus

The Mk1 Focus, despite being an old design, is still a good car in hatchback form - efficient, reasonably quick and attractive. I find the sedans hideous but if you can stomach them then the ST model has the 151hp engine. The SVT Focus is one of the best cars made in the US in the last decade - great little Cosworth engine, enhanced handling capabilities, and a sharp but tasteful body kit.


Ford Contour SE V6
Ford SVT Contour

The Contour was hugely underrated here in the US, but its 172hp 2.5L V6 is a very smooth engine. The SVT model boasts a 195-200hp version of the same engine and some additional go-fast bits.

Foreign stuff

I know you want to "buy American", but you should also consider foreign cars, because there are some damned good ones like: Volkswagen Golf/Jetta, Nissan Altima/Sentra/240SX, Honda Civic, Scion tC, old BMW 3-series, Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, Mazda MP3 and quite a few more.

For trucks, consider a 4cyl Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. The 2WD models usually get 25mpg or better. The Ford Ranger is not American, it's a Mazda - and that's probably why it's a great little truck. Also a good option.

THANK YOU! I will look into all of these.

I do prefer "American made" cars, but I have looked at older BMW M3's and I am also looking at Toyota Celica's.

 

[RedReplicant]

Avoid the E36 M3s in your price range... they are expensive cars to maintain correctly and in your price range they will be neglected.

E36 M3 is 95-99. 95 had the S50 which was 3.0, avoid this motor. 96+ had the S52, common problems being the whole cooling system The waterpump impeller was plastic, it cracked and failed. The radiator overflow was made of plastic and held pressure, it would crack and explode. The radiator end tanks were plastic and exploded often. A neglected car may have headgasket problems developing down the line if the cooling system wasn't taken care of properly.

Other stuff to look at... the power steering lines developed leaks often. Window regulators died often and all of the suspension bushings are high wear items on BMWs, replacing them is not cheap unless you do it yourself and even then the parts are expensive.

I owned one of them, a 96.

Something cheap to maintain, easy to work on, and gets great gas milage is the S14 Nissan 240sx... they were from 95-98 and you can get a decent one in your price range. I owned two of these as well, and at some point I will probably own another... I've got a really big soft spot for them - huge aftermarket and handle pretty damn well done right. www.zilvia.net is the place to go.

 

[Ciclismo]

E34 535i, or a 540i. Buy 'em now, because they will soon start to appreciate in value. They do cost a bit more to maintain, but that is not so much of an issue for someone in North America due to the prevalence of e-tailers that sell all manner of replacement parts. You'll be hard pressed to find a more roomy and comfortable car for medium and long drives.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Avoid the E36 M3s in your price range... they are expensive cars to maintain correctly and in your price range they will be neglected.

Pretty much any BMW is going to have high maintenance costs - ditto of course the Audi and the Mercedes, not to mention Saab or Volvo. If you get a used BMW be prepared to budget thousands of dollars for maintenance right off the bat.

Something cheap to maintain, easy to work on, and gets great gas milage is the S14 Nissan 240sx... they were from 95-98 and you can get a decent one in your price range. I owned two of these as well, and at some point I will probably own another... I've got a really big soft spot for them - huge aftermarket and handle pretty damn well done right. www.zilvia.net is the place to go.

I agree. I had a Nissan Altima, which had the same engine as the 240SX, and a friend of mine had a 240SX that he performed a few mild performance modifications on. It's one of the few inexpensive rear-wheel drive cars out there, and is also very tunable. If you leave the engine in stock form you can approach 30mpg with a manual transmission. Good handling, torquey engine, sports car looks and RWD.

 

[RedReplicant]

E34 535i, or a 540i. Buy 'em now, because they will soon start to appreciate in value. They do cost a bit more to maintain, but that is not so much of an issue for someone in North America due to the prevalence of e-tailers that sell all manner of replacement parts. You'll be hard pressed to find a more roomy and comfortable car for medium and long drives.

Oh god, that is a hot E34. Unf.
Also, the 540i came in 6spd manual with the MSport package... they were ****ing quick, hell they still are - they run a 14 flat bone stock with a great driver. Also, V8... so a little exhaust work and they sound bomb.

 

[Melrose]

E34 535i, or a 540i. Buy 'em now, because they will soon start to appreciate in value. They do cost a bit more to maintain, but that is not so much of an issue for someone in North America due to the prevalence of e-tailers that sell all manner of replacement parts. You'll be hard pressed to find a more roomy and comfortable car for medium and long drives.

<hot Bimmer>

I have drooled over those vehicles since I was like 9.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I've always been in love with older BMWs, especially the 2002, E30 M3 and the 635csi/M635csi.

But with older BMWs (as with any older car) you have to remember that the feature content will be relatively sparse compared to today, NVH qualities will be well behind today's cars and, critically, they are nowhere near as safe in a crash as a newer (1990s+) car with airbags and stronger crash structures.

If you can accept those things, then there are MANY older cars that are a hoot to drive and look great too, such as the aforementtioned BMWs, the Mercedes 190, Porsche 924/944, Datsun 510, Nissan 240Z, older Toyota Supras and Mazda RX7s, and many, many, more.

 

[Ciclismo]

I've always been in love with older BMWs, especially the 2002, E30 M3 and the 635csi/M635csi.

But with older BMWs (as with any older car) you have to remember that the feature content will be relatively sparse compared to today, NVH qualities will be well behind today's cars and, critically, they are nowhere near as safe in a crash as a newer (1990s+) car with airbags and stronger crash structures.

If you can accept those things, then there are MANY older cars that are a hoot to drive and look great too, such as the aforementtioned BMWs, the Mercedes 190, Porsche 924/944, Datsun 510, Nissan 240Z, older Toyota Supras and Mazda RX7s, and many, many, more.

True, but if you do purchae an older car, then it would be best to stick to a European or Japanese model (from early 90's on). I'd avoid anything American pre 2004/5 (and here's why). Post 2004/5 models are pretty safe though.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

True, but if you do purchae an older car, then it would be best to stick to a European or Japanese model (from early 90's on). I'd avoid anything American pre 2004/5 (and here's why). Post 2004/5 models are pretty safe though.

Not all American cars are that bad. The SUVs are the worst of the bunch, but there were quite a few American cars from the 90s that got 4-5 star crash ratings...and some Euro and Japanese cars of the period only received 2-3 stars. It's all about doing your research beforehand.

 

[RedReplicant]

True, but if you do purchae an older car, then it would be best to stick to a European or Japanese model (from early 90's on). I'd avoid anything American pre 2004/5 (and here's why). Post 2004/5 models are pretty safe though.

I'd be avoiding the 240SX prior to the S14... I had an S13, that thing is begging to kill you in an accident. Same goes for the 240z and 510. The E30 is actually a fairly safe car, like most BMWs.

 

[Sun Baked]

If you are looking at 20mpg highway and something cheap and reliable.

A Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis will probably work, leaning towards the Mercury to slip in as the lowest TCO vehicle you'd find after factoring in insurance.

Only other vehicles coming close to a Mercury would be a used older Buick.

Might be sexy as Ron Jeremy in a Speedo, but they do make great cars for college.

---

But you'd probably do well with a used Sentra or Corolla in that range, likely with a lot less mileage than a Civic in that price range.

I'd run from the 5-10 year old chrysler and chevy subcompacts (unless it had the EcoTech or another reliable 4), and hide under the table reading the bible if somebody says Neon.

Want fun stuff, there should be some stuff in the local classic car mags as Lord Blackadder pointed out.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

If you are looking at 20mpg highway and something cheap and reliable.

A Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis will probably work, leaning towards the Mercury to slip in as the lowest TCO vehicle you'd find after factoring in insurance.Only other vehicles coming close to a Mercury would be a used older Buick.

A Crown Vic will just barely crack 20mpg if you're careful. They do have a 5-star crash rating and are just about the largest car you can buy. Good power from the V8. Ex-police cars can be had cheap but despite their young age they will usually be thrashed and they don't have cruise control, plus your backseat passengers will be having flashbacks to that one time they got caught urinating on a wall after a party...

But you'd probably do well with a used Sentra or Corolla in that range, likely with a lot less mileage than a Civic in that price range.

Sentras are great, they are usually cheaper than Civics and Corollas but are just as frugal and reliable.

I'd run from the 5-10 year old chrysler and chevy subcompacts (unless it had the EcoTech or another reliable 4), and hide under the table reading the bible if somebody says Neon.

I still stand behined the Neons - but ONLY the twincam ACR and R/T models. There were some build problems with the Neon but a quick look at Neon forums will show you where the trouble areas are and you can look for them when shopping.

I'd avoid the GM stuff. The Cavalier/Sunfire had lots of headgasket troubles and the build quality was primitive. The Z24 Cavalier boasted a 150hp engine but was said to be very thrashy. The Ecotec engines were much improved but GM would be last on my list in the subcompacrt category.

 

[headset]

a bicycle

 

[Tomorrow]

Good for when gas was $4 a gallon, but ultimately I drove it into the back of a truck.

I thought I felt something on my way to work this morning!

 

[millertime021]

a bicycle

I have one and I love to ride it. But when its 115 degrees, a car is much faster and more comfortable.

If you are looking at 20mpg highway and something cheap and reliable.

A Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis will probably work, leaning towards the Mercury to slip in as the lowest TCO vehicle you'd find after factoring in insurance.

Only other vehicles coming close to a Mercury would be a used older Buick.

Might be sexy as Ron Jeremy in a Speedo, but they do make great cars for college.

---

But you'd probably do well with a used Sentra or Corolla in that range, likely with a lot less mileage than a Civic in that price range.

I may go with an older Nissan, it may just be best.

True, but if you do purchae an older car, then it would be best to stick to a European or Japanese model (from early 90's on). I'd avoid anything American pre 2004/5 (and here's why). Post 2004/5 models are pretty safe though.

Here's why I don't care all that much. I drive an 89 Wrangler with no doors right now. This has doors and its a 1998. I have no air bags, so really any car will be a bit safer.

I thought I felt something on my way to work this morning!

Wow, considering it was almost 2 years ago, I must have hit you harder than I realized.

 

[Tomorrow]

Wow, considering it was almost 2 years ago, I must have hit you harder than I realized.

I buffed that spot out long ago.