Depending on you needs, you might want to look into a slightly used Maxima. They have a great engine and are pretty fast. The down side is that they are front wheel drive and have a solid rear axle.

The reason why I am suggesting this is you guys might need a car with some space in in. The Maxima is pretty roomy and not a slouch speed wise.

There area other cars people have mentioned that seem like a better choice, but you said you wanted options, so I thought I'd toss you another one.

 

Scion tC, TRD supercharged 200 hp for under $20,000. I know base price is about 16,500 (160 hp, 163 ft/lbs) nicely equipped but Im not sure how much the supercharger package is but Im guessing this car tops out around $18,7xx. It has a cool panoramic glass roof and lots of features for the price, not to mention toyota quality, reliability, and resale. I think I am one day going to talk my girlfriend into getting one (supercharged of course). The only thing questionable about it is the styling, its derivitive (headlights straight off the new bimmers, nose that reminds me of a wrx) but I like it and Im sure your opinion will vary. They don't go on sale until about the middle of June. I think you can get factory 19'' wheels on it (!)

 

Have you considered a small pickup? They make a great second vehicle and can be very handy for home owners. I have a full size GMC that I put about 8K miles a year on. It is also very manly especially if you install a gunrack in the cab.

 

Used Prelude.

The 350Z would be great but I would anticipate nagging stuff like heavy and tiresome shifter and more serious problems like front tire feathering and an interior that is falling apart.

 

OKay, we're back to the drawing board on this- the same guy who says he doesn't want another BMW loses it when an M3 drove by us the other day. So maybe he will wait a bit and get what he really wants. Not that I have any idea what that is yet....

I'd love to have something utilitarian like a truck, but I doubt he'd drive it, at least not without complaining most of the time.

 

What's a SRT-4 go for? I don't recall if they are under $20k or not.. probably not now that I spend a couple more seconds thinking about it.

PT cruisers are kinda cool for.. uh.. cruising around - I wonder if you could get a second hand turbo PT for under 20k? Does the turbo come in the drop-top? Convertibles have always been cool IMO.

If space wasn't an issue, I would consider a Miata - they are definately fun and tossable.

 

Srt-4's are about $21,000 now that they added the LSD. They also seem to be having relatively high number of engine problems with idle and hesitation. They are also based on a crappy, ugly car with a crap interior and no feel whatsoever so I would skip that one and leave it for the 16 year olds who only care about 0-60. As for the PT that one is for the soccer moms who think they drive a "cool" car.

 

KC, you should drive one, they handle really well for a FWD car, I'll probably never own one but part of me wishes I did. They are fun as hell, take very well to mods, you can get factory warranty on stage packages, the engine is tough as nails. I have not heard of any sort of engine problems other than some tuning issues with modded ones from 2003 since when you mod you need upgraded injectors, that was taken care of in 2004. Also for that slight increase in price you're getting stage 1 with it, and just getting the same LSD after market would put you above the old price. In case you're not aware the 04s are making 230-240 at the wheels which is more than they are rated at the crank, Mazda should take notes...

 

I have seen 4 Srt-4s today alone. Yesterday, I saw three. Popular car...

 

There are far far fewer on the roads than the RX-8, I think the production for 03 was below 5k and closer to 3k if I remember correctly.

 

I went to the srt forums for a laugh a few weeks ago (its funny to hear them bash on the "slow azz" 8) and at that time at least 5 different owners were complaining about similar idle problems in their brand new cars but as we know that doesn't reflect the real world very accurately so take it for what it is. Obviously any car that fast will be pretty fun but it says Dodge on the back and I could never get over that. Everytime I look at it all I can think about is where they blatantly cut costs (crappy orange-peel paint, interior sucks, lame shifter, crap wheels). I know its unfair to takes global shots at manufacturers but every experience I have ever had with Dodge and most US manufacturers in general (minus a Viper) has left me terribly dissapointed. They simply do not know how (or refuse) to style a car well or make it reliable. When I judge a car it is as a package and not just based on the engine or 0-60. I would rather have a MS protege. Slower but it has a way better chassis and is 100 times better in every aspect besides power (interior, stereo, wheels, "feel" etc). The dodge does offer incredible hp/dollar though esp with the stage 1 and 2 stuff. They remind me of the DSM's, good performance/value but they are bland and there are millions of them on the road. I like to be a little unique I guess even if Im not the fastest thing on the road. Im glad they are so much faster than the imports because maybe that will inspire the japanese to close the power gap (probably not). I have a feeling that if Elara's hubby is pining for an M3 he wouldn't be caught dead in a Neon even if it blows the doors of an 8 but what do I know.

 

But nothing really sets the srt-4 apart from the billions of base model and sxt (or whatever) neons with wings. Here at a large college campus I see a lot of neons every day and I have never seen an srt-4 here. Almost as many neons as DSM's.

 

I never said it would be good for Elara's husband, and it's not a car for most people, but I think it's great that Dodge has the guts to make it. I also disagree with your points about styling, I think Chrysler is leaps and bounds ahead of the other US automakers, but that's just one guys opinion.

 

You are right about dodge having guts to make this car, the other US manufacturers gave up (i.e. ford using the mazda 3). The srt-4 is the only american subcompact worth a crap besides the svt focus (which although it is a well built car, I don't like). At least you can count on Dodge to give their car more hp/torque than any competitors by a long shot even if everything else is lacking (imo).

 

Elara, has he test driven anything yet?

My vote is for the Mazda 3! It's a very sweet ride! Overall much improved over the Protege.

I own a 2003 mp5 ... which I ended up getting because my last car was totaled out before the RX-8 came out — and if I don't trade it in 2006 for the RX-8 (...but as of my resent test drive of the Mazda 3), I'm very much thinking about going with a 3 instead!

Unless there is a 2+2 fastback that is also a hatchback that I love better...

As a side note, before I got my mp5, I was looking at a Celica or RSX. I was leaning very strongly with the RSX because it had more safety features standard and in my area I couldn't order the options I wanted without waiting a year...but after driving the mp5 I was sold! True, the RSX has more power, but the mp5 handles on the road much better IMHO.

Good luck and have fun driving!

 

A used Boxster

 

Mazdaspeed Miata

and then turn up the boost, whoa mama

 

Still haven't test driven anything- we're in the process of moving (closed on our first house yesterday- yay!) but as soon as we're a little more organzied we'll get out and start driving.

 

Actually, most people report that the Mini Cooper does NOT have BMW's build quality. There have been a lot off problems with the Mini. Too bad, I'd love to have one (not in place of my 8 though!)

 

Way to make general sweeping statements. I get so sick of kids, and even some adults, coming on car forums not knowing what the hell they are talking about and bashing american cars or some other car brand or even singing the praises of another car that they have probably never even driven. In some cases a lot of these kids have never even driven a freaking car.

The minis are great little cars from a fun to drive standpoint. But, they are probably having more problems than most newer american cars on the road.

 

Tell it Ike. Mini's are great cars from a drivers standpoint (especially with cooper works package etc) but I find the styling too cutesy and they are a bit pricey, don't know anything about their reliability. I don't think you can really call mini's "rare" anymore. I see at least 3-4 a day in the middle of nowhere in the midwest.

 

I vote S2K. Hate to say it, but they are a lot nicer/better looking than the miata. Not to mention a lot faster.

 

mini's are not exactly rare. they are all over the place here. as for stooks being faster than miatas- i dont think elara cares. scoobies are faster than both and i dont see here jumping into one of them anytime soon.

 

make that 2 guys' opinions, ike. chrysler is making some nice looking cars now. have you seen the new 300c? everytime the commercial comes on for them i tell my wife- there's your dads new car." and the wagon version for dodge i keep suggesting for the wife. nice looking all wheel drive and you can get it with a hemi!

elara could you describe again what you're looking for? just give us the bullet points so we know if we are staying in your ball park.