Need car buying suggestions; $20k to spend on used vehicle...what to get?

[motoo344]

If expensive to maintain is one of your issues, a newer S4 is not going to be any better. An older ctsv would get my vote.

[roadtripper]

boxster
new passat
pristine e36 m3, keep the change
mkvi gti
almost new lacrosse
phaeton
low mile RL

[johnny_p]

E46 M3
1st gen CTS-V
Mazda RX-8
C55 AMG

[mrothwell]

While I think the bimmers suggested, (06 330i, e46 M3, 05 330i ZHP) would be awesome cars, there's no way he's going to find any of those with under 65k miles for under $20,000. If its a fun second car, why not something like an S2000?

[:Jeremy:]

C55 AMG

x2 , super reliable too.

[SSLByron]

i would never spend 20 grand on a used car... buy a brand new jetta with that money

I can name a few things cash obviously doesn't cure...

[koidragon1980]

love my passat, but if I had $20k to drop on a toy for the weekends, then I'd be hunting for a low mileage evo.

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/used/mi...ce&sf2Dir=DESC

[wisky]

Since you said it must be a 4dr.... Lancer Evolution 8 / 9.

If it could be 2dr... Corvette C5 Z06.

[Holographic77]

Thanks for all suggestions thusfar. I should clarify though, that this will be my primary vehicle. 1990 Civic Wagon (with 65k original miles) is my beater/around town car.

With that said, the parameters are as follows:

2005 or newer
65k miles or less
No coupes (4 door or SUV's only)
Under/around $20k.

Coming from owning a B5 S4 for 6+ yrs, I have no issues with maintenance...just prefer something a bit more reliable/less expensive to fix than it.

[BluMagic]

'06 300 srt-8 might have to hunt a bit, but n/a hemi shouldn't give you a lot of trouble.

[Holographic77]

What about an 05-06' Toureag?

[vdubjettaman]

Thanks for all suggestions thusfar. I should clarify though, that this will be my primary vehicle. 1990 Civic Wagon (with 65k original miles) is my beater/around town car.

With that said, the parameters are as follows:

2005 or newer
65k miles or less
No coupes (4 door or SUV's only)
Under/around $20k.

Coming from owning a B5 S4 for 6+ yrs, I have no issues with maintenance...just prefer something a bit more reliable/less expensive to fix than it.

B6 S4's will fall into that category, but your last sentence could be ironic... You had a B5 S4, so maintenance would be about equal. They are torque monsters, and the sound is to die for. Very comfortable everyday car for sure.

You could also look at B7 A4 2.0T for that money and have the same comfort, just a bit cheaper, easier on the maintenance/gas too.

Maybe S60R's? They're going to be cheaper, but not sure on the maintenance req'd.

[Holographic77]

B6 S4's will fall into that category, but your last sentence could be ironic... You had a B5 S4, so maintenance would be about equal. They are torque monsters, and the sound is to die for. Very comfortable everyday car for sure.

Is maintenance really identical? Aside from Timing Chains/guides (pulling the motor), isn't that V8 pretty solid?
The 2.7T was such a finicky engine for me.

I'm strongly considering a B6 S4, as gas mpg etc isn't a huge factor at this point.

[vdubjettaman]

It can be. and with the mileage your hoping to find, it should still be. Once you hit the higher mileage mark, about 80k for any Audi engine it seems, the little stuff starts to deteriorate/break, fail, die, wear out, etc.

[Shmi]

B6 S4s are pretty sweet. I had one for a while, it was simply an awesome DD. I'd get a manual though as mine was tiptronic and I missed rowing my own gears. Had it been a handshaker it would've been best.

AC compressors and water pumps are known to fail, though. Both are a PITA to replace, as in you need to drop the motor for an AC compressor. WP is shaft-driven and can break often too. Timing chain guides don't fail THAT often, but when they do you do need to drop the motor as well.

Other than a bad AC compressor, mine was perfect with no issues. I got around 14mpg mixed, averaged in the mid 20s on the highway but my commute was mainly city and I loved to beat on that car. Expect ~240 miles on a tank if you drive enthusiastically every day. It was so comfortable and practical though, tons of trunk space, lots of space in the front of the cabin (I'm 6'3 so i need decent room) smallish backseat but big enough, quattro made nasty snow easy to deal with on all-seasons.

It is nose-heavy and doesn't handle the best though, although since you had a B5 you're already familiar with that. I imagine some coilovers and a corner balance would do it wonders.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

Prefer to stay away from the Golf/GTi...had a Mk3 GTi VR6 in the past.

strong logic.

[1.8tizzle]

WRX
S4
A4
e36 m3 sedan
Touareg
Lexus is250 or 350

just off the top of my head.

[Holographic77]

strong logic.

Not much logic to it, other than already been there/done that. Just want to get away from hatch's, that's all.

[Holographic77]

WRX
S4
A4
e36 m3 sedan
Touareg
Lexus is250 or 350

just off the top of my head.

What's the consensus on Touaregs?

[deagle]

Thanks for all suggestions thusfar. I should clarify though, that this will be my primary vehicle. 1990 Civic Wagon (with 65k original miles) is my beater/around town car.

With that said, the parameters are as follows:

2005 or newer
65k miles or less
No coupes (4 door or SUV's only)
Under/around $20k.

Coming from owning a B5 S4 for 6+ yrs, I have no issues with maintenance...just prefer something a bit more reliable/less expensive to fix than it.

Coolest cars under $18,000

According to Kelley Blue Book, these ten cars go easy on your wallet and are a heck of a lot of fun to drive.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/...html?hpt=hp_c2

[VW1.8Tsunami]

Not much logic to it, other than already been there/done that. Just want to get away from hatch's, that's all.

Oh ok, didn't realize 'open to anything' meant 'open to anything except hatches'.

[ThaBozz]

Didnt see if anyone posted it, but you can find E90 335I Sedans with the mileage you want in the price you want everywhere.

[Holographic77]

Oh ok, didn't realize 'open to anything' meant 'open to anything except hatches'.

Didn't realize that you had such a strong love for hatches. Sorry to have offended. Lesson learned.

[too_slow]

'06 330i would be a good choice with that criteria.

I'd go for a '08 328i 6spd with the Sport package. You're only a sports exhaust+intake away from the same PAH, but without all of the first MY headaches (and there were plenty for the 06 models)

[Oliver@triplezoom]

I'd go for a '08 328i 6spd with the Sport package. You're only a sports exhaust+intake away from the same PAH, but without all of the first MY headaches (and there were plenty for the 06 models)

Good point.

[VW1.8Tsunami]

Didn't realize that you had such a strong love for hatches. Sorry to have offended. Lesson learned.

Never owned one, maybe if I did I would understand your disdain for them??? Idk.

FWIW, I would get a Focus Sedan, not the hatch...

[koidragon1980]

Thanks for all suggestions thusfar. I should clarify though, that this will be my primary vehicle. 1990 Civic Wagon (with 65k original miles) is my beater/around town car.

With that said, the parameters are as follows:

2005 or newer
65k miles or less
No coupes (4 door or SUV's only)
Under/around $20k.

Coming from owning a B5 S4 for 6+ yrs, I have no issues with maintenance...just prefer something a bit more reliable/less expensive to fix than it.

2006+ Audi A3 3.2 S-Line... i've never been crazy about wagons or hatchbacks, but this car is an exception for me. the vw/audi n/a v6 engines are usually pretty solid. i have no complaints about my 2.8 v6 passat.

[_a2coupe2a_]

Pretty sure you can find these around 20.. amazing vehicles. The balance is amazing, incredibly smooth power, very nice interior and reliable. Pictures really dont do them justice.