4 doors, fun, good power, manual preferred. $20k

Preferences include RWD and a manual.

Must have a real backseat an adult male can sit in and usable truck space

Contenders, but not limited to

SRT8 Jeep, negatives auto AWD

GS Buick, negatives FWD

Other ideas

and go..

CTS/CTS-V
IS300
IS250
BMW 3/5 series
G35 Sedan

3 or 5 series, Lexus 250, 3500HD dually?

No trucks

I need this for work, I feel a BMW has the wrong image for us.

Are the lexus/Infinity reliable for lots of miles

G8. GT comes only with an auto though. Big backseat. Big trunk.

GXP is close to perfect but they are holding values well

There are a few higher mileage GXPs that are probably close to $20k. It does seem like there are a bunch of people who bought them and parked them. There were less than 900 built with a manual, so it's going to be tough to find one at any price point.

I drove a GT recently for the first time. I expected not to like it. The auto didn't suck the life out of the car. I could absolutely live with one as a DD. The experience of driving the GXP seems to be dominated by the engine. The GT did not seem like that. It did, however, have the push you would expect out of 6 liters. With a bit of tinkering, it's pretty easy to pull some extra power. From what I've read, unless you go crazy, the displacement on demand valve train doesn't seem to be much of a hindrance.

Accord Sport - oh wait, you said fun.

Pontiac Sunburd?

lightning/t45 swapped p71 fits right in with your image, no?

The Pontiac G8 has evolved into the Chevy SS. Holden based V8, rwd sedan also used as a cop car offering.
Now available, new with a 6 speed manual trans.
6.2L V8 at 415hp, 0-60 in 4.7
about $45k

http://www.chevrolet.com/ss-sports-sedan.html

Easy button. G35/G37.

aussiesmg wrote: GS Buick, negatives FWD

It's not FWD if you get a '68 Buick GS. They're still cheaper than a Chevelle SS of the same era. I think you could find a nice '68 Buick GS for under $20k.

(It amuses me when people aren't very specific in their "what car?" thread.)

JohnyHachi6 wrote: CTS/CTS-V IS300 IS250 BMW 3/5 series G35 Sedan

End the thread right here.

My vote is infinity G35 or 37.

is350 ges my vote for that price point if youre looking to spend the 20 in one fell swoop. I'd spend that money building something Wicked.

Caddy, 'Vette motor, shift it yourself, under $15K. Yummy.

here

E39 M5 fits the bill. More understated than a Caddy with a wire mesh grille.

Audi A6? AWD with a manual.

CTS-V seems to be the best bet. Paint the grille body color to tone it down.

G8 GT will be under 20K and you've got cash left to swap in a manual. The parts are out there.

Reliant K Car, convertible?
Chevy Lumina?

DrBoost wrote: 37 Reliant K Cars, convertible? 23 Chevy Luminas?

FTFY

Glue two miatas together? Thats double the answer.

If Jeep SRT8 is a contender then how about Chrysler 300 in SRT8 form?

In reply to G8MikeGXP:

I test drove a G8 GT back when they were new and was very underwhelmed with the power delivery. I was seriously disappointed.

Thats GM's torque mnagement/fuel economy programming. A proper tune will fix it.