$5500 for something fun and reliable - What does TCL do?

[Neoxxt]

Sometimes, I think this should be The Car Purchasing Lounge. Brief synopsis:

Future Mrs. Neoxxt has Subaru Outback for past 6 years. Loves it. Decides one night that she wants to roll it and does so, totaling her car. She's okay, aside from a few bruises. Car crashed really well.

We receive roughly $5500 from insurance for the car. Her last payment on it was literally a week before the accident. She would prefer not to have a car payment going forward.

At first, she just wanted something nice with lower miles. Then I got to running my mouth telling her that we're young, no kids, etc. and she had been cruising around in a wagon for the past 6 years of her life. I told her she should get something fun and/or snappy for herself, since she is a bit of a car chick. I created a monster.

The car has to be safe(ish) and she is demanding that it be a coupe, unless it has some other redeeming qualities. American, Mazda, Saab, Eclipses and Celicas are out. Oof. Those would've made my job too easy, right?

She wants, in order of desire:

1.) 97-up Prelude : Like trying to find a clean hooker in a third world country. Or so I am finding.
2.) VW Cabrio : Doesn't have the snappy factor, but has the cute/fun factor. I'd prefer her in something safer and more reliable.
3.) MKIII/IV GTi : She wants 1.8 then VR in that order but is apprehensive about all the small issues that pop up.

Any other suggestions, guys? Must be 5 speed and okay in the snow with good tires (ie, no RWD).

[B3passatBMX]

RWD is fine in the snow with good tires

My suggestion from experience. SVT Focus. More fun and agile than VW's you listed. Plenty reliable. Interior isn't as nice as the VW for sure. I sold my supercharged SVT for under $5500.

[GruuvenNorth]

If she has one free accident with insurance, a coupe would be okay. Otherwise, insurance may ruin you.

[200HP4dr]

THe nicest Contour SVT you can find? They are a real drivers car and make fantastic noises when the intake butterflies open up.

Chris

[S0RRY]

prelude or integra

[Cousin Eddie]

Glad she's alright (thank the thick Subaru pillars for that).

[2.0_Mazda]

Fun and Mazda go well together, but I see its out of your list.

A clean Integra or Prelude (like someone has already mentioned)

[Neoxxt]

She's not confident enough to drive RWD in the snow. Personal preference, I suppose.

The SVT would've been my first choice, but her brother drives one and she wants to be different. It checks all the boxes, really. Contour - Something inside of me says I shouldn't even try that one. While she "gets it", I think the Contour suggestion might get my head torn off.

We're (I'm) really lucky she was okay. Landed upside down in between two thick trees.

She went to school to be a mechanic and works in parts distribution now - She seems to think Mazda parts are difficult to find. I've personally never had a problem and even though my garage doesn't currently reflect it, I grew up a "Mazda guy".

[compy222]

Fun and Mazda go well together, but I see its out of your list.

A clean Integra or Prelude (like someone has already mentioned)

yeah...again like finding a clean hooker in a third world country.

240sx? an older impreza outback sport?

[Benkennedy11]

What about an Acura RSX?

They're good-looking, reliable, and should be right around your price range...

[schwein]

LEXUS LS400

the 90-97 has the boxy headlights, 98+ gets you the upgrade headlights like shown in the photo below, super reliable, many running around at 2-300k miles, watch for the the timing belt and water pump repairs every 100k or so and you should be ready to rock.

[Neoxxt]

Might give the 240 a shot - Who knows.

RSXs are too expensive in my area, unfortunately. Maybe instead of taking her on vacation, I'll give her the extra $2k she would need to get one. She likes them and so do I. Easier to find than a Prelude.

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far. Not much that I HAVENT thought of, but figured I would give it a shot since I'm slowly exhausting all of my options - It's probably going to come down to patience.

[are you listening]

i have a 99 MKIII cabrio. only 52xxx miles. stick shift.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...Chapel-Hill-NC)

[MCTB]

What year was the Outback that she only got $5500 for it? You can hardly find one in that range at all.



I wouldve said SVT Focus too. Ive been thinking about finding an '04 (for the projector lamps and a few other things) 5 door myself and have found 60k to 70k mile ones for around $7k. The earlier ones can e found for $5500. Theres not too much out there at that price though (that I personally find fun to drive and practical).

[Dan92SLC]

03 SVT Focus with 20k on it in MA

A great car. See if they will budge a bit on price.

97+ Prelude is a phenomenal car...just a bit impractical.
What about a Mazda Protege like the MP3, Mazdaspeed, or Protege 5?

But the SVTF in 5dr form is really cool.

[CorradoMagic]

changer her mind on the choices.

IMO a MK3 is a tad old & these tend to require constant maintenance now. Although parts are cheap, a well maintained(unmolested/abused) model may be hard to find.

Cabrio's are a tad easier as these were usually adult driven & in good weather. Avoid the unique (er' costly) mk3.5 cabrios.

A recommended alternative is a B5 Passat or Audi.
Take your pic on the motors, these are some of VAGs best built generations.
They ride very well & still seem modern enough while offering modern amenities at a fraction of the cost of newer cars. Parts are everywhere & quite affordable. common issues are slim if the maintenance has been done.
Best of luck

[Neoxxt]

It was an 01 Outback with 176k on it. We fought for an extra $500 and didn't get it, unfortunately. The used car market is so screwy right now - Especially if you want to be picky.

The SVT Focus and Protege 5 were my first inclinations when she said she wanted something fun. We just rediscussed the SVT after I started this thread and she's just so opposed to it. Her brother has one, interior falls apart, etc, etc. She's a little opinionated, to say the least. It's her money, so I'm not going to push one way or the other.

I found a WRX wagon in her price range and was told NO MORE WAGONS!

I've created a monster! The RSX is a good suggestion, actually. I need to search a little farther out to find one in her range. Have some feelers out.

[Grey Mouser]

Just FYI. I hate that you have a Legacy GT Wagon. I want.

Hell Legacy GT's in general are scarce in TX.

[Dave Zero]

Acura CL - like a big classy prelude that are pretty cheap now.
Lexus IS200 - Altezzas baby
Nissan Sentra SE-R

[Dan92SLC]

EP3 Civic SI would be a good choice as well if you are considering a base RSX. The SI is a bit more practical.

[Grey Mouser]

Just give her your AP1 S2k btw.

[c0mmon]

prelude or integra

...........................................^^^^^^^ ...........

[TetsuoShima]

where do you live? i dont know what NWCT means..im surprised that people in the US seem to have trouble finding clean 5th gen preludes...there are a TON around my area

[Grey Mouser]

where do you live? i dont know what NWCT means..im surprised that people in the US seem to have trouble finding clean 5th gen preludes...there are a TON around my area

NWCT = NorthWest Connecticut?

[topdawg_mc4]

Prelude is a good idea if you can find a clean one.

I sold this for $5,000:

[Neoxxt]

My Legacy GT Wagon is manual too.

She's driven both the cars and is always welcome to. I think this is where the idea of fun got planted into her head.

She loves the wagon and is a bit meek around the AP1. Loves VTak, though.

topdawg - Can't believe you let that go for $5k. Makes me sick to my stomach. Oof.

CL is a possibility. Rare with manual, though.

[Grey Mouser]

My Legacy GT Wagon is manual too.

UNICORN!

Send it to me, mkay?

[Vision33r]

Since you're in the NY/CT/NJ area I would avoid older Hondas/Acuras. They are such theft magnets here as Cars and parts get ripped off Civics, Ludes, and Integras left and right around here.

$5500 buys a lot these days, used Volvo V70 wagons, Legacy, Maximas, Mazda 6, Passats, etc.

[topdawg_mc4]

topdawg - Can't believe you let that go for $5k. Makes me sick to my stomach. Oof.

It took quite a while to sell it for that around here, too.

[danny_16v]

Focus SVT is a great choice or Acura RSX

[Lifelong Obsession]

1995-2003 Maxima/I30/I35?

[kwik!gti]

What about an Acura RSX?

They're good-looking, reliable, and should be right around your price range...

for $5500.00 youre getting a base model not an S model and it's going to not be mint.

I was shopping for something in this exact price range.....I got this:


And I'm not disapointed must say. It's fun, reliable, and cheap to maintain. I know it's not a coupe and maybe your gf is anti-hatch but it has many redeeming qualities. I dont think I need to list redeeming qualities of a hatchback.

[kwik!gti]

Prelude is a good idea if you can find a clean one.

I sold this for $5,000:

Youre not finding a clean example for $5500.00. In that range they are going to be mostly Automatics which have a horrible track record, loaded with miles and/or god awful mods and are going to be ratty in general. Clean or decently clean BB6s are in the 7-9k range. I know, I looked for one before buying the car in the above post.

[Neoxxt]

There's been a slew of EPs that were obtainable. She's not into them. Thinks they're fugly and while I don't entirely agree, I don't disagree either. It's a bummer because they are a gem at the price point.

Going to look at a base RSX that seems promising on Sunday.

I'd love to put her in an I35, but we're done being responsible for a while.

She's peeking in every now and then on the thread, I'm sure.

[C4 A6]

I was shopping for something in this exact price range.....I got this:

But no 4 corner DWB.