juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

OK, normally I'm not a fan of these types of threads b/c it really comes down to personal preference and test drives. But, as you can see below, I have been doing my own digging... so I didn't come here with no info looking for input. I want to make sure I've covered my bases and explored every option. You'll notice I'm kind of all over the place with vehicles... and that is intentional b/c really, anything is an option.

The main criteria I've been using is pretty simple:

- Under $15k, the closer to $10k the better
- Reliable
- A little bit fun
- Not too mainstream (although some options are, but I can always mod a little to make those different)
- At least a small trunk.
- Automatic (I know, I know... but the wife needs to drive it too. Plus, will be mostly highway driving)
- At least 20mpg highway. Should be easy to find, but neither of our lifted trucks get this which is part of the reason for this purchase.

Car will mainly be used to go back and forth from the beach (about 180 miles each way), plus transportation at the beach as well. We go about 20 weekends a year mostly in winter, spring, and fall (place is rented out for summer). It does have to be an auto b/c if the wife needs to go somewhere while we're down there, she cannot drive stick. That said, you can still have a little bit of fun with some autos. Drop top would be nice, especially when cruising at the beach, but not necessary. We can always take the Jeep on a few of the trips if we want to go topless.

Here's what I have so far. Input on any of these, plus any other suggestions are welcome

* Nissan 350z coupe/convertible: Kind of like this option.
* Infiniti G35c: Little bit of a step up from the Z.
* Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Kind of liking this one as well. A 2.0T with a chip could be good, cheap fun. Good MPG as well.
* 1998-2000 Lexus SC 300/400: Always liked these and depending on the config, can be closer to $10k. And from what I've read/know, they are pretty bullet-proof.
* Mid-2000's Lexus SC430: Hard top for hwy, but drop top for beach. May be pushing the budget though.
* Mid-2000's Lexus IS300: Not bad, but may be a little to boy-racer for me...
* Lexus GS350: Nice cruiser and comfy, but would need to get a pretty high-mileage example to be under budget.
* Previous Gen Caddy CTS-V: Have read some bad things about axle hop and rear axle issues, so reliability concerns here. Otherwise, I love it.
* Mazda Miata: Little concerned it may be too small
* Porsche Boxter: Again, reliability concerns. There's not much between here and the beach, and would hate to have an issue while driving.
* Mustang: Wife's not a huge fan and honestly, the V8 would be too tempting which may defeat the purpose.
* Solstice/Sky: Love them both and have had friends with them... but concerned about neither company being in business.
* C5 Vette: Good hwy mpg, but not really a C5 fan
* C6 Vette: I could wait until later in the year, spend a little more and get this. Then I can mod it and do my SuperVette conversion . Not sure the wife likes this plan though.


I think that pretty much wraps up what I've been thinking. I have my VW Buggy listed for sale, so once that sells (or we may trade it in if we can get what we want) we'll be making a move.

Thoughts? TIA

charliemike

You can get a 2006-07 current-gen Miata for $12-15K ... That's my choice. It's the best made, most reliable, and yet enjoyable car of that entire list.

Every other car has some sort of tragic character flaw that would make me hesitant to buy any of them.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

^ I like the Miata and I could really do stuff with it by tapping into MarbleGT's creativity for vinyl... but just concerned about the size. Obviously if we needed to take big things we can take one of the trucks or even my wife's car... but still... kind of makes me a little nervous if we need to bring only a tiny bit more then a duffle bag or two...

charliemike

I can't answer that but I bet MarbleGT could. Obviously, I'd want to be able to put the top down when I go on a road trip and not have to choose between luggage and using it as a convertible

charliemike

It's ridiculous that searching for a picture of the top down on a Miata with luggage in it returns nothing of any kind of value except this picture below. You'd think that would be de rigeur for any kind of review of the car?

Via Autoblog:

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

True, but within the next year or so we'll likely pick up a cool little golf cart to use locally down there... so I'm probably more focused on the commute back and forth versus just cruising. That said, I can also use it around home which is why a drop top option is appealing.

Thanks for the replies

charliemike

No worries. I'm kinda thrilled that this generation Miata is starting to get to the price range where I can consider it as my second car. It's a great size and is still a really good looking car.

RPhilMan1

It's weird that I just mentioned this car in another thread, but what about the VW Eos? Hard top, turbo-4, 30+ MPG on highway. Plus the Lux model comes with heated seats and sunroof (wow, had no idea a 'vert could have one). Usable trunk and backseat, too.

Here's an example of an '08 with 67k miles going for $14k OBO.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=3

Not sure what the Canadian market has to offer, though.

Otherwise, I like the idea of 350z, Genesis Coupe, Miata, or Boxter.

Also what about a Mini Cooper S JCW convertible?

charliemike

JB's in Charlotte

RPhilMan1

Damn, that's right. I knew that... duh, his Jeep thread.

For some reason I just thought QC = Quebec City. Too much hockey on my mind.

Costco

I've never driven an automatic Miata, but I fear it'll feel neutered. But you don't have much choice... it should still be more fun than most other cars.

I can personally recommend against getting a 350Z/G35. Perhaps if you get a lower mileage one... but the oil consumption and tire wear issues I've seen on many of them are terrible.

RPhilMan1

Here's a curveball - what about a V6 Mustang Convertible? Can get mid to upper 20s highway MPG.

Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

NC Miata with Hardtop Convertible.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I should have listed those as well as they were on my list (in fact, I'll edit my OP to include them in case someone doesn't read the whole thread). Wife is not a big Mustang fan.. but it is still on the list, just pretty far down.

Believe it or not she loves the Solstice. My concern with purchasing a Solstice or Sky and having to deal with the fact that neither car company exists...

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

VW EoS is a little too feminine for my taste. Mini Cooper... love them! But worried about reliability.

Joneill44

Legacy GT maybe. Good hp/mpg/space

00TL-P3.2

Another vote for a Miata/MX5. Unless you get a GXP/Redline Solstice/Sky, they're bland by comparison to the Miata.
I'd be looking for an NB Mazdaspeed (no automatic option IIRC), or a post-MMC NC

I'd imagine most Chevrolet dealers would be able to service it if you went that route though. When I was working for Chevrolet in college, we had a few come through.
The top on the Sky/Solstice is not nearly as quick & easy as the Miata. Bit of a pain IMHO (have to exit the car to put it down).

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the replies so far all!

I'm off to the track (opening round of the season!)... but I'll be back online Monday to see what's happened between now and then

Also, shameless plug for my racing: https://www.facebook.com/DCXMotorsports

gplayer

I'm voting against the Miata. Yes, its fun, yes, its the obvious choice, but an automatic Miata is a sin against humanity, IMHO.

I would honestly go for the C5 Corvette.

I don't need to tell you how reliable LS motors are, or how much power they can make on the cheap, or any of the other reasons why you should get one.

Plus, they can easily get 25+ MPG.

Just a thought.

charliemike

Actually, that would go really well with JB's latest look:

mrmako

If I suggested a LGT, I thought I might get shot. But finding one that has not been modded and thrashed is another issue.

Joneill44

I used "maybe" so it cancels out any chance of me getting shot

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

wouldn't it be cheaper to just drive one of your current cars there? Or is $ not a huge factor here?

charliemike

It would be but he's got a Toyota FJ and something else that's big. I think he's okay with a third car that's fun to drive around in ...

oonowindoo

1st Gen xB

I had one and I loved that ugly shit.

ez12a

i share a NA miata, yeah it's old but i'd imagine the utility hasnt significantly increased with the latest version. has about the same utility as a motorcycle.

i would also ditto that an automatic would be a waste of a miata.

neuronbob

I was going to say AP1 S2000 until I saw the requirement for automatic.

charliemike

Didn't he have one of these for his side business? I know he vinyl wrapped his FJ at one point.

Costco

MINI Cooper is another one I'd recommend against. It was a JCW-edition too, was a blast to drive. But the person who had one went through three window regulators/motors (the car only has two windows ಠ_ಠ), the supercharger had to be replaced, and there were some other quirks they mentioned.

That car hauled ass though. And it got 30+ mpg in mixed driving. Wasn't grannied either.

gplayer

Hey man, who cares what people think of you as long as you enjoy the car?

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Don't you still own this or is your garage so big you forgot you had it?

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/another-new-addition-garage-851172/

That's the ultimate beach cruiser?

Yumcha

I like the Infiniti G35...solid car.

Rick_TL-S

C5 probably wouldn't be bad. C6, I would stay far, far, far away from. Even at examples at $20K are pushing 90-100,000 miles. Great as the LS engine is, it would feel like picking up someone else' sloppy seconds at that mileage.

dallison

I like the 350 or the boxster. As long as you get a boxster with a LN engineering ims, you'll be fine, as you had found out.

Brock79

I would go Vette all of the way as long as it's a 99 or newer. The 97-98 had some issues with them, by 99 they were worked out. Also if you can find a low mileage C6 near 15k, point me in that direction and I will buy two. You don't want the 2005 C6 either, they had a few issues as well and got straightened out for 06. I personally would go with the 08 when they swapped the engine and put in the better trans.

FiftyFive

I would think your priority would be teaching your wife to drive stick

MarbleGT

D, I'm easily twice your size. The NC is the first Miata I can use comfortably. For 15k you aren't going to get a better car for what you are wanting to do. When my wife had the Altima coupe, I could fit more in my trunk than in hers. You just have to learn how to pack. If you went hardtop, it is one of the few in the world that retract without using any trunk space...and is still one of the, if not the, fastest in the world. My dad has a C5 and I am blown away how much better the fit and finish is on the MX than the Chevy. His sits in a garage and has 20k miles, mine has been beat up on back roads for 113k miles and still doesn't rattle, everything works, still smells new, etc. The power isn't there, but I never ever ever ever think about it when I'm rowing through the gears and sweeping through the curves.

I'm going to see how much stuff I can fit into mine and take a picture for you.

charliemike

Awesome commment (the whole thing) and I'm sure the photo will really help.

$15k for a 2007 Grand Touring with decent miles is a great deal.

MarbleGT

It really is. With the Grand Touring you also get smart keys, HIDs, heated seats and possibly limited slip (not sure about this on autos.) This is just the trunk, but if you went for the soft top you'd have cubbies behind each seat big enough for a duffle each, and another trunk sized space where the top stores behind the seats with the top up. I've got a bulky 8" sub in one of my cubbies if that gives you and size reference. I like your list of cars mostly though. I think some of them are getting a little old, which is always a concern. Drop the Solstice/Sky though...better yet, go put the top down in less than 5 minutes. When that top is down, you've got zero trunk too. I don't see a tremendous amount of NCs, which I like. You'll likely be getting 30mpg and higher as well, I averaged almost 38 going to Arkansas last fall. I did test drive an Auto for grins, but I don't really remember it. Not many complaints though from the guys who have it though.

2 Tennis Rackets (Didn't have bacon...)
2 Medium Suitcases
2 Duffle Bags
1 Duffle Sized Cooler
1 6 Water Bottle Cooler
1 Large Camera Backpack

or - Easily 2 weeks worth of groceries, etc. The sides of the trunk go all the way to the sheet metal and there is a deep recess in the bottom.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onceinalivetime/12701713635/http://www.flickr.com/photos/onceinalivetime/12701713635/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/onceinalivetime/, on Flickr

kingofdust

c6 vette. save up and do it