Paul is going to need a new DB. Soliciting Comments.

[JPS Europa]

Paul is going to need a new Daily Beater. Soliciting Comments.

I am thinking that I need to get prepared to replace my quarter million mile plus 94 Integra. So I am looking for suggestions for cars already not on my radar screen. The criteria:
I want to spend less than $21K on a lightly used example of something...no point putting a new car through this grind unless it is a cheapo. Plus I am paying for 2 kids in college...
I really don't want to consider anything older than a year 2000, but will if the car is special, low mileage.
It should get greater than 28MPG on the highway...almost all of my driving, at 30K+ miles/year right now.
It has to be quiet inside, stock Integra is too loud...too much road noise. I don't want to have to crank cell phone earpiece volume way up.
It has to have comfy seats that don't hurt your back. NSX seats are great! My wifes Volvo V70 seats would pass. Integra seat has me jumping around after 5 hours.
It has to have legroom for a 34 inch inseam on a long ride. Integra does not.
It should be entertaining to drive through the twisty bits. Ride can be firm, but not harsh. Think stock NSX as nearing the edge of the comfort zone, but still OK.
It has to be as reliable as dirt. If its not super reliable, parts should be dirt cheap. I do my own wrenching. Reliable is better.
I would prefer RWD, but a well balanced FWD is OK.
It should be a manual trans.
I prefer a hatchback, but not required. I can get 4 garbage cans in the Integra for dump duty.
Has to seat 3 adults with the front seats all the way back. The back seat person can sit sideways.
I don't want to cry if it gets a door ding...but I probably will anyway.
Can't be ugly.

Cars considered so far:
New Civic SI, not driven...legroom OK, noise and comfort are ?s. I don't think it's ugly.
New Scion TC. Have not even sat in. Might fail fun/quiet to drive test.
Early BMW E46, reliability ?
E36 M3. a good candidate even if a bit old, low mileage examples only..I will need 2 sets of rubber, that's OK.
2002-2004 Accord Coupe V6. Hard to find used with a manual.
2001-2003 Volvo S60. Not even sure if available with manual trans. Dynamics?
Last generation TL...so boring to look at.

Help add to my list with personal comments/experience prefered. No hurry, Integra could last a while, but I start to get nervous when the mileage gets this high. I want to be prepared with a focused list.

 

[NsXMas]

I have a quarter million mile Accord. I've done the homework like you, but I just can't justify / bring myself to get rid of the Accord. It runs perfect and nothing else comes close to its value.

Good luck - it's gonna be a tough decision.

 

[JPS Europa]

If the Integra is still going, I am going to give it to one of my sons on college graduation..."Gee thanks, Dad....a 300,000 mile car", so I will be facing this decision even if the Teg never dies.

 

[nchopp]

A couple I'd consider (I'm in the same boat, trying to decide on the next car):

E38 750il - Can be had for something in the $9k-$14k range, reliabile, VERY comfortable, great suspension\ride, plenty of get up and go, looks good, doesn't attract too much attention.

E39 M5 - Probably a bit out of your $21,000 price range (usually somewhere around $25k), but an AWESOME car. Probably don't need to say much about it.

Jaguar XK8 - Gorgeous car, definitely more of a cruiser than a sports car, decent amount of horsies. Convertible fun factor, but coupes are around as well. A 2000 is something in the $13k range. Don't want to get earlier than a 2000, they had problems with cylinder linings up until 1999. Automatic only, but it does have that silly Tiptronic system. The XKR is a twin-supercharged version, with something like 390hp. Monstrous. A 2000 is usually around $22k-$30k. Zao drove an XKR in Bond - Tomorrow Never Dies. Or whichever the one was with Halle Barry.

CLK55 AMG - Definitely a straight line beast, not much of a handling superstar. Looks good, vert is available, they're pretty reliable as far as I know as well.

Infiniti G35, coupe or sedan - Fun, good looking, Infiniti reliability. Not so sure on prices, but a used should definitely fit in your range.

 

[JPS Europa]

The used Infinity is still a bit pricey...27ish. Coupe looks nice. I don't care for the 4 door.
What sort of fuel mileage does the M5 get on the highway?...maybe a regular 5?
Jaguar reliability, even under Ford, has not been that good until 2004 is my understanding. Late model Jags are a good deal as the depreciation is HUGE.
Big Bimmer must get terrible Fuel economy, no?

 

[H-carWizKid]

I would recommend a Lexus IS300, or IS300 sport- cross for your needs

They are RWD, and sporty, but not overly aggressive, so you won't have too much noise factor. They come standard with a lot of great equipment, and IMO the speedo cluster is one of the coolest ever produced (looks like a dive watch)

the later is a sport wagon- same suspension, and d/t as the IS300 sedan, but I think the wagon is only available with the 5 speed auto

The sedan can be had with a manual, and I think your price numbers are right on target for a fairly low mileage example (less than 50K)

It is a Toyota instead of a Honda, but my Lexus experience was VERY good. at 145k my ES300 was pulling 27-29 mpg on highway


Best of luck!

Philip

 

[nsxtasy]

Paul is going to need a new DB. Soliciting Comments.

I thought this topic was going to be about what kind of database (DB) to use...

 

[MJK]

As a current E46 owner:

A lightly used IS300, G35c, 6mt CL or TSX would be at the top of my list. I like my car more than any of the above (hence the purchase), but am forever wondering when the next $800 part is going to break. It's just not worth it = no more BMWs for me after this one.

 

[da3dalus]

What about a 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege?

4 door, turbocharged, realativly inexpensive (i'm selling mine for 15,000 and its got 23k miles), reliable, best FWD handling car (beats out the type-r in every test)... Road noise is quiet, interior is great... looks sporty...

i'm not saying to buy mine, it may be too "boy ricerish" for ya, but there are a lot of older people buying these as fun daily driver cars...

I dont think they look bad either...

 

[JPS Europa]

I like the IS 300...was not sure if it was in price range.
6mt CL. Are they common?
I will add those 2 to my list
TSX, probably too buzzy at highway speed...

 

[nchopp]

The used Infinity is still a bit pricey...27ish. Coupe looks nice. I don't care for the 4 door.
What sort of fuel mileage does the M5 get on the highway?...maybe a regular 5?
Jaguar reliability, even under Ford, has not been that good until 2004 is my understanding. Late model Jags are a good deal as the depreciation is HUGE.
Big Bimmer must get terrible Fuel economy, no?

The XK8 has surprisingly good reliability numbers - only major problem is the plastic-backed timing chain guides.

E39 M5 gets something like 24 highway, I think. E38 750 is more like high teens.

 

[Patdeisa]

If you haven't driven a TSX, it's worth a shot (but may be out of your price range). I was extremely surprised at the difference between an RSX and TSX- way closer to a 3-series than the RSX.

If you're considering a new Civic SI, try out a slightly used RSX or RSX-S. The Type-S has less insulation than the base and stiffer suspension, but you do get the nicer engine. At low speeds, the engine is fairly quiet (quieter than a GS-R), but it does get a bit loud on acceleration. On the highway, the RSX gets about 33 mpg and the Type-S gets 31 (31-35 in my experience). The back seat doesn't have a lot of headroom, but the legroom is good for a small car. It has a fairly good sized trunk and the back seats fold down, giving a lot of room to haul stuff around. Reliability is excellent and maintenance/wrenching is easy.

What about a Mini Cooper (never tried the back seat, though)? Both get good gas mileage and handles very well. Customer satisfaction is just a notch below NSX owners, way higher than other cars.

Another option is a Toyota Corolla XRS. It meets the price requirements when new ($18k), has 164 hp (retuned Celica GTS engine), and a sporty suspension.

 

[transdzn]

As a current E46 owner:..., but am forever wondering when the next $800 part is going to break. It's just not worth it = no more BMWs for me after this one.

That's what I said when I had my '98 525i BMW. The most comfortable saloon to push around, but repairs after repairs :frown: Long sold!!!!

The best in my opinion is a 97-01 Lexus ES300.

 

[Autophile]

I thought this topic was going to be about what kind of database (DB) to use...

I'm guessing that "DB" in this context means "daily beater?" :smile:

 

[Autophile]

The best in my opinion is a 97-01 Lexus ES300.

I agree.

 

[H-carWizKid]

The best in my opinion is a 97-01 Lexus ES300.

Ditto- no doubt that a used ES300 is a great value as a daily.

But...

It doesn't meet any of his performance criteria

no manual transmission

FWD- and not "well balanced" either- my ES300 was a cruise ship- it practically rolled over in a hard turn it had so much body roll.

 

[White92]

I vote for a slightly used TSX. Great cars! You'll love it.