Let's play a game--what car if you had to buy it and have it licensed and registered by Wednesday

Sort of related, a friend has a Solara convertible. I got to drive it. It was my favorite convertible ever.
In general I think convertibles are dumb because they take an otherwise competent car and ruin it as far as stiffness and track-ability are concerned. The Solara is already as soft and useless as anything of it's era and the closest it's going to get to a track is a Dale Earnhart sticker. Totally made sense. I loved it.

ES is too big, loves visibility, loves mazda but not hatches, should get something impractical....

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/cto/5407124716.html

In your position, at this point I would probably buy this without asking: your new car!

"It has a trunk, it's automatic, it's got great visibility, and it's impractical. Next time don't be such a dipE36 M3."

Hahahhaa. I'm tempted. I can't wait until we move out of the city. First thing I'm doing is buying something ridiculous. I'm thinking an MBG or similar.

Miata is not happening with an automatic.

In reply to ¯_(ツ)_/¯:

I would drive that. I would drive that so good.

Just go for the Mazda 3 if she likes it. Easy to drive and park in the city. They are pretty tank like and I've seen a lot over 200K miles with limited love.

Don't worry, My wife is weird too. Traded a BMW convertible for a Pro-4X Xterra. And she had never driven off road before buying it. I quit trying to understand and just roll with it.

I'd go Mazda 3 over maxima in the Chicago area. At least the 3 will be limited to body rust. Maximas have front subframe rust issues that I would not want to deal with.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5393404295.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5420319231.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5407107139.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5420057124.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/5387290786.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/5410047477.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/5391101745.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/ctd/5419944120.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5406366319.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/5405016765.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/5396782477.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5405896060.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5396531356.html

Wednesday is here. What'd you get?

Powar wrote: Wednesday is here. What'd you get?

An extension on the rental car.

We have narrowed it down to either a $1500ish Lexus ES300 if we're going cheap, or a second generation TSX (driving the first gen tonight).

She also expressed interest in an old boat of a Buick. Which makes exactly zero sense, but seeing as you cannot kill a 3800 I'm tempted to explore it.

Not sure how typical this is, but my old boat Buick's transmission died before 80,000 miles. Engine was still good though.

In my experience the Buick transmissions usually died before most things on the cars. Most of the older ones I appraised had the ol' tranny slip. I'm sure someone else can shed more light, just personal experience I had.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/5402689521.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5420284293.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/5419780589.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ctd/5410468704.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5421381745.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/ctd/5410418891.html