You have $30K, what car do you buy?

[davesparky6]

Do what I did.....
$15,400 got me into a 350Z
$4500 for a '97 crv
For a total of $19,900
which would leave you with $10,100 for hookers and blow
used cars FTW

[Bumjubeo]

Originally posted by Mibz
I know you've made it clear that it has to be new, but why?

Unfortunately that is the stipulation of having the budget, the wife only wants us to get a new car...

I wholly agree used FTW, but in this case instead of causing a ruckus, I'm just caving

[beyond_ban]

J's Racing CSX Type-S

[ercchry]

i was in the same situation a couple months ago.... found it extremely hard to keep it under 30 though (ended up at 34 out the door)

i was looking at everything under the sun, and for me it came down to brand new since i was financing, and since i was financing for such a low rate it made sense to make my monthly payments as low as possible... which lead me to... chrysler... well... jeep

yup went from being an import car type of guy to owning a jeep wrangler rubicon but i am loving it so far, lots of fun, just in a different way.

my final two choices came down to that or the kia koupe, just because you can get the koupe fully loaded for under 24k, so really it seems like a deal (i never even made it to the dealership to test drive though)

but for the new vs used... for a payment of $100 more per month and 3% more interest i could have got a 3 year old almost out of warranty truck with over 70k kms worth $10k less then what i ended up with brand new. im sure this would have been different if i had a heloc... but i do not... and it would be hard to get one without owning a house

so for me, brand new was a better choice.

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by ercchry

yup went from being an import car type of guy to owning a jeep wrangler rubicon but i am loving it so far, lots of fun, just in a different way.

I hope you at least do something offroad with it. Otherwise (IMO) a Subaru type of wagon would have been faster, hauled more, and been able to go anywhere the rubicon could.

Of course, I would love to buy a stock jeep and screw around with it off road. But just to prove my point, this is what people are like when they buy Jeeps and don't use them properly:

[ercchry]

oh its going off-road, that is what the different kind of fun part of the sentence is about ...there is a reason i went with the rubicon

[Tomaz]

Lancer Ralliart (?)
Lancer
Mazda 3
Cobalt
Base WRX
Mazda 2!! (So freakin awesome IMO)
Golf
Golf GTI
Focus
Fusion
Mustang (I would really look into this one)
Avenger
Genesis
Elantra
Sonata
Volvo C30
Civic
Base Accord (?)
Impala

Those are all the ones I have driven (minus the Mazda2). I would really only consider the Mazda 3, Mustang, Genesis, Impala, Civic.

If i may make a suggestion, I would buy the top model of the lower-class cars. They are full of features and options that will make the purchase that much more sweet. Running around in my fully loaded Mazda 3 feels better than driving a base WRX with no options IMO.

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Tomaz


Those are all the ones I have driven (minus the Mazda2). I would really only consider the Mazda 3, Mustang, Genesis, Impala, Civic.

If i may make a suggestion, I would buy the top model of the lower-class cars. They are full of features and options that will make the purchase that much more sweet. Running around in my fully loaded Mazda 3 feels better than driving a base WRX with no options IMO.

i tried building a genesis 2.0T... and i could not keep it under 30k, GT package puts it over

[Tomaz]

Originally posted by ercchry


i tried building a genesis 2.0T... and i could not keep it under 30k, GT package puts it over

My point exactly. If you cant get the top model, you will always be wishing you did. The base model did start at $22K if I remember, hence why I put it on the list.

Alright OP, you can scratch the Genesis off your list. unless you can settle for a base...

[jwslam]

Originally posted by davesparky6
Do what I did.....
$15,400 got me into a 350Z
$4500 for a '97 crv
For a total of $19,900
which would leave you with $10,100 for hookers and blow
used cars FTW

reminds me of that (trojan?) commercial
"got myself an sti, and i'm never gonna get rid of it!"

[Vr4Whore]

buy an evo 8-9 for 20k. 350zs seem to be dropping in price crazy

[2EFNFAST]

Originally posted by Bumjubeo


Unfortunately that is the stipulation of having the budget, the wife only wants us to get a new car...

I wholly agree used FTW, but in this case instead of causing a ruckus, I'm just caving

Rather than caving illustrate the depreciation and other factors (e.g., show how many new cars have recalls, and argue that with a 2-3yr old car chances are the majority of flaws have been exposed already).

I know it's hard to argue logic and finance vs emotion (ooooh, but I want a new new new car!), but it is worth it

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by Bumjubeo
Of course! I always forget Mazda for some reason.

Keep on forgetting them.

[max_boost]

WRX!

[bspot]

Not really sure on the used market these days, but could you not be looking at:

C5 Vette
E46 M3 (easily an E36)
B6 S4 (*cough* *cough*)
Pretty new BMW 330i
Pontiac G8 GT?
Mustang GT
Subby STi
G35
350Z

Basically there are a lot of cars that would kick the ass of those you mentioned and if you get one in good condition it will feel like new.

[beyond_ban]

^^

You mention STi, you must also mention EVO VIII and IX.

[troi.oi]

if u had 30g cash bring it to the dealer and get the vw that u want, money talks, im sure it will be under 30 if u showed up with the cash??

for me i would buy a sti 05/06 white

[Graham_A_M]

I'd get a Pontiac G8 or GT0, perhaps a used vette, as the $$ VS. Performance ratio of any of those cars are hard to beat.

With just bolt ons you can get some pretty nutty performance figures, and still have a perfectly reliable car thats not bad on gas.

[r3ccOs]

30gs? Probably wanting low intrest rate as part of budgetary concerns

Hard one... I'd probably say try to swing a 4cyl mazda 6 for a good size practicle economic car

Otherwise... I'd go GTI for new @ 30K
Its got loads of options, quality and a strong motor even base

[banned3x]

I keep hearing gti? Why? Isn't the wrx wayyy better? If they are both the same price?