Getting Dizzy. Help Me Pick A Car

Been on deployment in Sadam's happy hunting grounds (aka. Camp Victory) for the past 10 months and when I get home I'm planning to buy a new vehicle in the $25,000 range.

Was looking at the MINI S, but nearest dealer is an hour and a half away and this has me worried about maintenance issues. I'm also a musician. I need to haul 1 to 2 4x10 cabs or teach the wife to drive a stick so I can take the XL7 on gig night. I'm not sure yet if I have the patience for that.

Other options:

RX8. Again no cargo space but holds fond memories of the 1st gen rx7 I had. Needs more attention in maintenance, such as oil usage and Italian tuneups. I'd have to get red because my old one was red. Unfortunately that also got me into alot of trouble.

Mazdaspeed3. Love it, but for a little more I can get almost identical cargo space and all wheel drive.

WRX. I have longed for one of these since David E. Davis, Jr. claimed the RS to be the most underated sports car in its introductory year. My wife said I could get one, but reiterated the fact that, me being fat, grey and 40, would not look good in a backwards Underarmor baseball hat, baggy jeans and large gold chains.

GTI. The one car I would consider getting it in an auto.

C30. Why? Actually, I don't know. Makes me think of Roger Moore out on a weekend jaunt with the family. But is it really a sports car?

Used cars:

I would drop the price I'm willing to pay down to $15,000. What scares the E36 M3 out of me (and that would be a car I would consider) is maintenance. I'm still shell shocked after ownership of a used Land Rover Disco II. The thought of going thru that again makes me go fetal.

Considerations:

I live in NEPA. I understand and anticipate that I will be purchasing a set of performance snows for whatever vehicle I decide.

I love my family, but my jaw will quiver and I will tear at the sight of an M Coupe. I need room for my lovely wife and two beautiful daughters. No, Miata is not the answer here.

Whatever car I choose I plan to own for 8 years and put on about 100,000 miles.

Final option:

Extended cab, no option worktruck and build a Locost or Locust.

Recommendations or other ideas I haven't thought of?

Thanks,

Base model honda accord - 4 cylinder, 5 speed. $20,000.

you will have it 12+ years and 150,000 miles. Safe and simple.

Worktruck and build a Miata?

pete240z wrote: Base model honda accord - 4 cylinder, 5 speed. $20,000. you will have it 12+ years and 150,000 miles. Safe and simple.

(in my best Lumberg impression)Mm, yea. . . probably should have specified. . . sub 7 second 0-60 and plus 8-9ish in lateral g's. . . and have the TPS reports for me this afternoon. . .

Used E46 325xiT.

Go with the WRX

The fact that you are buying performance snows for it tells me that deep down you really want a Subaru. The new WRX actually looks good again if you can wait until later this summer when the 2011s start showing up.

Josh wrote: The fact that you are buying performance snows for it tells me that deep down you really want a Subaru. The new WRX actually looks good again if you can wait until later this summer when the 2011s start showing up.

Just googled it.

Is very niiice!

pete240z wrote: Base model honda accord - 4 cylinder, 5 speed. $20,000. you will have it 12+ years and 150,000 miles. Safe and simple.

Cant belive a GRM'er just suggested a beige to someone looking for a sporty DD

I say a Turbo Brick A hatch doesnt work well for amps, kind of a square object in a round hole issue.

I've never seen that image associated with the WRXs, especially the wagons.

And, really, "because other people who drive them are tossers" is the lamest argument ever to not get a particular type of car. It's obvious you want it, who cares what other people do with theirs?

Subaru's are great.

The only thing that you really need to look out for is the insurance payment. (I am 24 and pay less on a 97 mustang cobra then my 50+yo mother pays on her 2004 2.5rs automatic, to the tune of a few hundred a year.)

before deciding for sure which one to get, compile a possibles list and ask your insurance agent "what if".

I like the idea of the 325ix... you can get them in a wagon too (I think)

or the WRX... either will fit your bill perfectly

Saab 9-2x, WRX performance without the rice or insurance costs.

whats a locust?

Thanks for your service

oh and how about the GTO 400 hp 6 speed and lotsa fun

I can attest for the Legacy GT, selling mine right now, but same engine config as the new WRXs, you can drop the new STi turbo in them with a fuel pump upgrade and be over 300 HP, same platform as the new WRX hatch but insurance is less. Much more of a stealth ship and plenty of mods out there to go around.

Mazda 3 hatch/wagon with a set of snows? Honda Element 5 speed?

I am looking at cars in a similar price range, here are some of the cars I am looking at:

C5 Z06(or base model for that matter) CTS-V GTO NSX Legacy GT(the 05up) STI EVO MKIV Supra

I think that right now is one of the best times to buy a used car in that price range. There were so many awesome cars built in the past 10 or so years that have depreciated to a point where most people can afford them. I also cannot decide what I want, even after driving the majority of them and several that I did not list(boxster s, 996 911, etc etc). Good luck with your search!

If I lived in NEPA, I'd be looking at the WRX or the 05+ Legacy GT.