Help me find a car ...

Looking for more ideas here. Bro-in-law is looking for a college car.

Requirements:

Manual transmission, A/C, 4 doors, FWD or 4WD, Not a Ford (my initial suggestion of a Focus was shot down with this unwarranted bias)

Wants

Fun to drive

Budget

Less than $5k for everything including needed maintenance.

He'd really like a small 4wd 4-door pickup, but I don't think that's going to happen in his price range.

He likes the Mazda 3, the current generation Civics, but again - not in his price range.

I'm recommending to him Protege 5, Civic, Accord, Mazda 3 if he can find one in his price range. What other cars am I missing from this list?

Subaru Legacy/Forrester? Wagons are good for college.

EvanB wrote: Subaru Legacy/Forrester? Wagons are good for college.

Getting laid is good in college. The Forester will only stand in his way.

racinginc215 wrote: Mazda 3 is out it's a Ford underneath. But he should be able to pick up an S10 4 door 4x4 for that price.

While it does share some stuff with the Euro spec focus, from what I understand the platform was originally designed by Mazda, as was the engine, and to the untrained they know nothing of the shared bits. It is over his budget anyway.

I'd recommend a 99-00 Civic EX, 98-01 Integra, 00-03 Protege

How is a 4 door mini truck fun to drive?

If a pickup is fun, how about a 4 door Tracker/Sidekick. Maybe a 2 dr version if a soft top improves the fun?

Maxima, I30t, G20t

Thanks for the suggestions. Here's the list that I am going to recommend to him (in no particular order):

Protege 5 Impreza hatch Civic EX 1999 - 2000 S10 4x4 Early Tacoma (not 4-door) 2nd gen Toyota pickup XJ Cherokee

Jeep Wrangler plus a set of canvas half doors.

Jeep XJs would fall well within his budget, but are hard to find without the 4-speed auto. not that there's anything wrong with that.

i've seen a few early year TJs for at/under 5k, but they would be really high mileage or have other issues (overheating could mean J/Y for an I-6 jeep if you warp the head). you'll end up paying the same for a toyota truck thats 8-10 years older as you will for a nissan (or ford!) with much less miles and years. late 90's 4x4 ranger extended cabs are around his price range, and are probably one of the few trucks available readily with a 5-speed manual.

Actually, mazda 6 hatches with the 2.3 and the manual are in this budget and fun to drive. Cheaper than the mazda 3 2.3 hatches actually.

Maxima.

Possible additions to the list;

Acura Legend, Acura Integra

what is the bias against ford?

mad_machine wrote: what is the bias against ford?

It's unfounded really. He grew up with a redneck passion for Chevy and always hated Ford. Still does... boggles my mind.

Anyway, the search has evolved a bit. Sounds like it will be a car and not a truck or SUV.

I think I'm going to steer him toward an Impreza wagon. He likes the idea of AWD and a stick shift. He's flirting with the idea of an Audi A4 and I'm recommending he not do that for the maintenance/repair worries. He won't have the ability to do his own repairs on the car and will need a shop to do any work.

Are there any issues to watch for on Imprezas, Forresters or Legacies of the late 90's early 2000's?

Should I steer him away from VW/Audi products built from 1996 - present? I haven't been that impressed with their reliability, but maybe Subarus are just as bad. ? ?

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Some 1970's beater barge. No college student should own a car that cost more than $2500. He could pick up a really decent Impala wagon for that much. Heck I've seen them for less than a grand. A stick shift is out, they will eat gas, and burn oil, and wallow like pigs in a field after an April rain, but they will haul ANYTHING (including buddies and beer) and be dirt cheap, insensitive to abuse, and easy to fix. The first car I ever bought was a 1977 GMC Suburban, 2 wheel drive. I loved that old thing. Bought it for $550, drove it 50,000 miles, and donated it for a $400 tax writeoff when I graduated.

I sold my 04 mazda 3 a few months ago for $4350.

Maxima, I30t, G20t

^this. Nothing else in the price range is going to match the combination of utility, reliability, and sheer speediness of a 5spd maxima. G20s are quick with a 5spd too and are great little cars.

While it does share some stuff with the Euro spec focus, from what I understand the platform was originally designed by Mazda, as was the engine, and to the untrained they know nothing of the shared bits. It is over his budget anyway.

Go look under the hoods of an 05 focus and 05 mazda3 and report back. And also read how much i sold my 3 for.

Youd be amazed to know they have so much in common since the 3 is SOOOOOOO much better in SOOO many ways. lol.

twolittlebroncos wrote:

mad_machine wrote: what is the bias against ford?

It's unfounded really. He grew up with a redneck passion for Chevy and always hated Ford. Still does... boggles my mind.

well, look at it this way.. subaru was owned (is?) by GM.. so there is a chevy connection there.

I do not understand the "hatred" some people have for different makes of car. There are some I would not want to own.. but I do not hate any car