The "Between a rock and hard place" what car/truck/vehicle buying thread.

Long story short, I graduated nursing school last Saturday and it's time to replace the "trusty" 95 Dakota with 152k on it. There are just too many damn options to choose from at this point. I have vacillated between a new 30k 5.0 Mustang to buying a bike, Miata, and a "new" truck.

So, uhhhh, help?

Limits are 20k overall for any option, has to survive my 180 mile round trip to work every time I go, and doesn't have to be one exact thing. Oh and a 5/6spd manual is preferred.

PS- I thought I had this down to buying one of those Value Edition Jetta TDi's but after having to suffer with boring cheap vehicles the past 8 yrs, it's out. I am out to have "some" fun with this buying trip.

I vote an S2000 with a tow bar and small trailer for the times you need to haul a couch. And if you can find a nice enough one for a good price, then a Triumph Speed Triple to put ON the trailer.

Other options - NC Miata with a S/C kit, 2011 Mustang GT, Hyundai Genesis, Etc... there are tons of options. Honestly, you should keep the truck for when you need something kind of practical, assuming you have space, and get something fun for the other 90% of the time. With 20K it has tons of options.

Mudder Sickle, Track Rat, Tow Beast

How about a Fiesta ST? Would pretty much be a "do everything" car, are a hoot to drive, and will get respectable highway mpg's.

EDIT: How is having $20K to spend on a vehicle being "between a rock and a hard place"?

In reply to xflowgolf:

That's the comfortable limit I want to finance at without being upside down forever on a payment. I can easily spend more, but I'm being a cheapskate here for other reasons I can't speak about.

you might find an early FR-S or BRZ for $20k......

Ranger50 wrote: has to survive my 180 mile round trip to work

A house that's closer to work? That's brutal.

If you could swing a stock, 11+ 5.0 they are pretty damn comfy and quiet on the highway. And an enormously fun when you hit the loud pedal.

FiestaST, Fiat 500 Abarth, FRS/BRZ (over your limit, but not a lot).
Buy something new and shiny that makes you smile when you see it after a long day at work. You're going to be spending a LOT of time in the car, you might as well enjoy it.

180-mile round trip? What are the roads like? Because if it's all straight highway, no car in the world will make it fun. It just makes it that much easier to get caught speeding.

I'd suggest balancing comfort, economy and practicality in to your search. You need something you're not going hate after repeated ~3 hour trips, that you can drive into the ground with minimal maintenance/repairs/consumables, and will eat up the highway miles without drawing too much unwanted attention.

In reply to petegossett:

Use your favorite map program and do a drive from Williamson, WV to Charleston, WV. Minus the 5 miles to my house, that is my drive.

I'm doing pretty good with the pos I drive now. I only have had one unexpected repair.

In reply to z31maniac:

Wife works 20 miles in the opposite direction. Plus if I am moving, I'm moving FAR FAR away from here.

Because if it's all straight highway, no car in the world will make it fun.

I dont get this. I have tons of fun on freeways assuming the traffic is not oppressive.

I would also go with the Fiesta ST or the Abarth.

Id go with multiple vehicles, 3k miata/mr2 toy, 5 k tow 4x4 camping vehicle( I'm way more redneck than most ere though) And the rest on the most comfortable fuel efficient thing I could find

What kind of rpm does a Mazda2 turn at 70? There is an early '13 holdover listed at the local dealer for $12k-ish....

Ranger50 wrote: What kind of rpm does a Mazda2 turn at 70? There is an early '13 holdover listed at the local dealer for $12k-ish....

Over 3k. Mileage also falls off after 62-65. At 70 you won't be thrilled with mileage. Also, if it's a base car, it doesn't have cruise. I don't know that you want cruise, but with that much driving, I would guess that you might.

In reply to mazdeuce:

Thanks. Rules that one out. 70-80 is normal cruise speed around these mountains.

And my dak doesn't have cruise anyways....

How about a sub-30k mile CR-Z for $13-15k? Lots of room in the back for stuff, comfortable, available with a stick, is a Honda, momentum-type fun, electronic toys for when you're putting on boring highway miles, and underrated for MPG.

You'll have purchase budget left for toys, or some beater truck. The MPG will free recurring funds for XM to accompany the long miles.

You can pick up an MS3 for around that price and as long as you are cruising you can get low 30's (at least i did in my old one on a few trips to Maine) on the highway.

For what it's worth, my FRS averaged 37 mpg on a 12-hour freeway trip last summer.

mazdeuce wrote:

Ranger50 wrote: What kind of rpm does a Mazda2 turn at 70? There is an early '13 holdover listed at the local dealer for $12k-ish....

Over 3k. Mileage also falls off after 62-65. At 70 you won't be thrilled with mileage. Also, if it's a base car, it doesn't have cruise. I don't know that you want cruise, but with that much driving, I would guess that you might.

Huh. Did Mazda change the ratios a bit for the later models? My '13 M2 is taching at just over 3000 rpm's (3100 at most) at 70.

I've never run all day on the Interstate yet, but usually run a 50/50 mix and average mid 30's when I behave and low 30's when I'm been a bit more aggressive. Even the winter fillups were all over 30 mpg.

2013 and newer Genesis. Comfy for the long trips, knocks down 6.5L/100km's (that's like 35usmpg I think?) cruising at 110km/h on regular fuel, is fast, and fun. Base model in Canada is like $26k, so I'd imagine its around $23k in the US.

The torsen diff is available used usually for about $600. Enjoy your modern, "fully loaded" by 5 year ago standards GT car with a ridiculous aftermarket. 330whp and 310wtq is bolt ons and a tune away. With 0% financing.

Crazy cars for the price. People can extol the virtues of of the BRZ/FRS, but at the end of the day, the Genesis is a car I appreciate more.

In reply to HiTempguy:

330WHP out of the 3.8 or the 2.0t??? I assume the 3.8. I work at a Hyundai dealer and we really dont see many problems with the Genesis, coupe or sedan... 2.0t or 3.8l

tjbell wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: 330WHP out of the 3.8 or the 2.0t??? I assume the 3.8. I work at a Hyundai dealer and we really dont see many problems with the Genesis, coupe or sedan... 2.0t or 3.8l

2.0T. Tune, intake, full turboback exhaust w/ cat delete nets you close to 330whp. Has to be the new direct injected 2.0T though.

And it makes that 310wtq at something ludicrous like 2500rpm

In reply to HiTempguy:

wow... i can get a left over 12 or 13 ( i forget) 2.0t 6 spd for a few grand under msrp..... HMMMM