10k rwd baby seat friendly car for coworker

I am recommending an E30. He seems scared of euro for perceived maintenance costs. He would be ok with AWD as well but I think that RWD is more where his heart is.

Something sporting so p71 is not the answer :)

E30 or 36..... e36 touring? Babies take up a E36 M3LOAD of space.

Its toddler, think she is about 3-4

Jaynen wrote: Something sporting so p71 is not the answer :)

YAY for reason.

If he dosen't want Euro, try a cadillac CTS (non V) or a G8 Pontiac. Would be tough to find a good one for 10K but might work.

E36, E34 & E39. All have available manual gearbox and great examples can be found for less than $10k that was mentioned. Lexus IS 300 and Infinity G35 are good candidates at that price point too. Are Pontiac G8s down in the $10k range yet?

I have nothing against E30s, but if I had $10k to spend on a car, and needed carry a baby in it on a regular basis I would want something much more modern. I know the Lexus and Infinity will have LATCH system to properly mount a child seat, and I think the tail end of the E36s & E39s will have it too.

. &parts

IS300 is a good one too. Nice call!

He was talking about IS300

The rear seat in an IS300 is terrible, not a good place for kid seats.

I'd look at a C5 S6 Avant, but it's not exactly the sort of car for someone who's worried about Euro maintenance costs. :)

Volvo 940 with the v8 swap done. If you want newer models, either the S60r or V70r models were awd with a manual available. Less than 10k bucks easy.

Heck, I'd be tempted to buy a super volvo brick myself if it wasn't so sketch on the person who built it. How is reliability on the newer volvos?

Find me a volvo brick with a v8 that has those super low 6th gear so I can get 28+ on the highway or something similar :)

If unrealistic mpg and manual trans are not required, I would recommend an Infiniti Q45 or M45 for the coolness factor (at bargain prices.)

how is a P71 not "sporty"?

for $10k, you could buy one and make it very "sporty"..

i know someone will come back and say that they are so big.. they really aren't- they are slightly longer than and weigh about the same as most of the "crossover" SUV type vehicles that everyone seems to love so much these days..

RX8

E36 M3 is also a nice choice

Any hot hatch ie GTI, MSP, SRT-4

2008 WRX.

Back seat is larger than earlier WRX's (my 09 regularly carries my 6'5" buddy in the backseat without issue)

Since it's the "black sheep" of the WRX line (the unloved "smoothside"body + the lower-output TD08 turbo (225hp)), it can be found for pretty cheap compared to an 06-07 or 09+ as it is not an "in demand" model. Should be able to find one in the $10k range pretty soon, I'd guess.

Can get it in hatch (MUCH better for things like strollers and pack-n-plays than a trunk).

Fairly sporty, but can be easily made much sportier with some minor suspension upgrades and tires other than the stock ones.

AWD = some of the fun of RWD with the safety of AWD....

Subies are pretty well known for their safety (a concern when kids are in the car).

novaderrik wrote: how is a P71 not "sporty"? for $10k, you could buy one and make it very "sporty".. i know someone will come back and say that they are so big.. they really aren't- they are slightly longer than and weigh about the same as most of the "crossover" SUV type vehicles that everyone seems to love so much these days..

Not saying anything pro or con the P71 in that regard....but crossover SUVs aren't sporty. People love them because people are sheep who don't care about sporty driving.

I think an RX-8 is everything YES except for fuel economy

I do think if he didn't make RWD a priority he could probably get a lot more "fun" car for the money

08 wrx is the cheap one, did not know that

Jaynen wrote: 08 wrx is the cheap one, did not know that

The other thing is that in 2009, when the WRX got stiffer suspension, bigger sways, and the VF52 turbo (+40hp).....they actually carried over the 08 and called it the 2.5GT. Only thing is that the 2.5GT could only be had with an automatic (WRX can only be had with a M/T)....

SO if the friend wants and automatic, a 2009 2.5GT is another unloved-darkhorse from subaru.

Well no 08's within 500 miles of here in that price range. If it was my 10k i would probably go FWD and get something like a SVTF euro package with recaros, new set of wheels/tires, maybe suspension, and LSD even and still be under 10k