Infiniti G35 4 door 6mt checks every box. mileage in low 20's. I had an auto as a loaner for the better part of a month and didn't want to give it back. found it to be a very pleasant companion, smooth on the freeway but very fun to drive without ever feeling edgy or stiff.
Also sound pretty sweet for a stock car.
Greg Voth wrote: Hitch a ride down for the Rolex 24 hour race. Drink late into the night with me rob and Joe then drive home in this. http://orlando.craigslist.org/ctd/3464855350.html Sorry the Doctor won't be available to wreck the scooter into Aussie's trailer like at the Mitty.
HA! Weird. We were talking about "The Doctor" at the year-end Hong party this weekend. That's nice for a Mommy-Mobile. Didn't know you could get the wagon with a stick. I gotta stay a little "sportier" with the daddy-mobile.
I'm not real big on the G35, at least compared to the TSX. My brother had a coupe, and while it doesn't weigh any more than the TSX, all I remember about that thing is how heavy and lumbering it felt in a corner. That was 10 years ago though. Might be worth another shot.
If you can't find an E46 you like you might take a look at an E90 330i. This would be 2006 only as it was replaced by the 335i. Standard BMW issues but these should be available near the top of your price range and may have less miles than an E46.
Much more fun than any of the Hondas. As with any 3, they are great on the highway and get decent mileage.
Just to throw a weird wrench in this debate: Saab 9-5 2.3t. I got 34mpg on the last road trip with 3 other adults. The back seat passengers had leg room and heated seats too! Just don't lose the key!
dculberson wrote: If I was in the market, and could get the price where I wanted it, this car looks like the one to buy: http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/3542713257.html 5-speed, LSD, aftermarket exhaust (with factory exhaust included), nice looking car. The miles on it aren't unreasonable either. (116k miles) A CTS-V is playing in another price range, both in purchase and fuel and maintenance cost.
Maybe. Except the CTS-V will get better fuel economy than the embarrassingly thirsty IS300 that has little more than half the HP.
I own an 06 6spd TSX non nav (bought new) and an 04 TL auto (used).
Executive summary; get the TSX
The TSX checks all your boxes. My wife commutes the TSX 100 miles a day. Now 163K. Gas, oil, tires, one set of plugs and one wheel bearing. It was hit... hard.. head on and no residual issues. All have heated seats. Mechanically, the engine and the 6 spd are awesome, however, IMO the drive by wire doesn't work well with the 6spd. I have never liked the handling in long sweepers; I think it's the shocks but it's my wife's commuter so they stay. If you keep the MPH below 70 you can see 33mpg. It does take premium.
The TL looks better, is heavier and more comfortable especially the rear seats. However, the leather is starting to go. This is more of an around town car but I would guess high 20's is possible on interstate. Also takes premium.
My 2001 Accord 5spd is my commuter and by far my favorite of the 3.
I test drove an IS and could not get out of it quick enough. It was too small for me at 6' and north of 210.
PS Just saw your other TSX thread. At 163K oil consumption is negligible (sp). Only used Mobil1 or Pennzoil Platinum (prefer) since new. Changes every 5K because the maintenance minder bugs the heck out of me. It has gone longer because my wife won't always tell me. At 500 miles a week a couple of weeks late adds up.
Maybe it's me but... looking at the pics, the TL and TSX look like the same car to me...
The Infiniti is a great car and is RWD but the engine won't get you the MPG number you want.
E36 M3.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/cto/3533399858.html
No seriously. E36 M3.
e39 528i sport or 530i
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/3516522232.html
I had a 1998 528i sport with the 5 speed and it was an awesome car. I avereaged 24mpg in town and it would knock back 30mpg on the highway. I should never have sold that thing...
In reply to Adrift:
Wow, you like the 2001 Accord better than the TSX? What is it about the Accord that you like better?
Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Maybe. Except the CTS-V will get better fuel economy than the embarrassingly thirsty IS300 that has little more than half the HP.
that is really, really bad!! Why does the IS get such bag gas mileage?? It's even worse than the GS which is up a size class at least.
2007 Saab 9-5 Sport-Combi Wagon
Color: Grey Trans: Manual Mileage: 60,850 Price: $12,900 Rare 5 spd. manual turbo wagon. We're the second owners of this car, well maintained by saab mechanic. Dark grey leather interior, sunroof, extra set of wheels, driven very little in the winter. Very good condition, and fun to drive, it's a third car for us that we no longer need. Contact: Mike Dunne, Reading VT
Email: Click Here
Phone: 802 296 1485
If my wife did not have some strange aversion to wagons I would go get this myself. Go YouTube Clarksons review of the 9-5 Aero.
Can you get the TSX wagon in AWD?
fidelity101 wrote: Can you get the TSX wagon in AWD?
No. No TSX is available with AWD. The wagon comes in 2.4L Auto version ONLY.
In reply to Bobzilla:
I was afraid of that... well looks like I'm on the hunt for a mazda6 wagon leather v6 5 speed. Not quite a unicorn, I'd say more like bigfoot.
When we bought my wife's new-to-her car, we didn't trade in her old car, an '08 Honda Fit. I thought I'd sell it myself and buy a car with very similar criteria to yours. My current DD is a '96 Volvo 850, and I'm averaging 21 mpg. So I want fuel efficient, fun, reliable. For me it doesn't have to be fast, just can't be a snore to drive. My price ceiling is closer to $10k. But the more I look around, the more I'm very much leaning towards keeping my Fit. It only has 59k miles, and I haven't been able to find a car that would check all the boxes you listed that would cost under $10-$11k...unless I want a car with well over 100k miles on it. The one box the Fit can't check off is the 1/4 mile time. With 106hp, it's no rocket in a straight line. But in the twisties it's a go kart. IIRC, it did a car mag's slalom as fast as a Z06. Plus, it hits the other boxes. 4 seats (roomy at that), 30mpg highway (37-40 actually), comfy, amazingly reliable, cheap parts. Can't say about being easy to work on, I haven't had to do much besides oil changes, but I don't think it's a complicated car.
So while it's a whole different kind of car, don't discount something like the Fit or Civic Si. I'm still kicking ideas around, but I just turned down a good cash offer for my Fit yesterday. I just can't find anything for similar money that's going to meet my criteria. I'm missing some of the luxury touches, which I'd like, but oh well.
to give you all an idea of economy cars...
I managed to get the worst mileage in my 2011 mazda2 around the holidays.
winter tires, winter blend fuel, roof rack, set cruise at 80mph (MI speed limits are 70mph) no cars to draft I managed to get 23mpg
it was about 3700rpm down the highway.
be mindful of your gearing, see how you drive on the highway to determine YOUR highway MPG
my dad has a 05 TL with a 6 speed. He bought it new and has 150+k on it. That car still drives like brand new. The fit and finish on his is very good ( he does not have the NAV). It does seem to eat rear tires (seems to have alot of negative camber). The trans does seem to get notchy in 2nd gear, but that goes away with trans fluid change. I have thought of buying his when he sells it in the spring.
Chris
@ klayfish: I don't need another Fit. That said, I could get Mama something bigger in the same price range, and the fit would become my daily. That idea has been tossed around too. But I really want something at least slightly "pimpy." The seats in the fit/driving position is a gazillion times more comfortable than the Integra...but they are not leather...nor heated. 
The BMW idea is intriguing. Any dissenting votes on reliability/cost of parts and maintenance versus the Acuras? I really have no idea. I would guess the BMW would be way pricier, but I've never owned a BMW.
poopshovel wrote: The BMW idea is intriguing. Any dissenting votes on reliability/cost of parts and maintenance versus the Acuras? I really have no idea. I would guess the BMW would be way pricier, but I've never owned a BMW.
Regarding your M3 find above, I had a M3/4/5 which got gone for the current E46. E46 is way more luxurious, slightly more spacious and a better DD, but I will never argue against an M3/4/5. One of the coolest cars of its style evar.
I've had a string of BMW's. Bought the first not knowing what to expect. Parts are cheaper than you think, and they are very easy to work on with a huge interwebz support and all issues identified and documented online. Plan on a cooling system (plastic water pump, rad neck and overflow tank) control arm bushings, and some minor things. Check the pixels and the operation of the HVAC controls. You don't want one to overheat, that's the main concern, but the M3 still has an iron block so they are pretty durable.
A shifter from an MZ3 makes for a cheap upgrade that feels amazing compared to the original.
fidelity101 wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: I was afraid of that... well looks like I'm on the hunt for a mazda6 wagon leather v6 5 speed. Not quite a unicorn, I'd say more like bigfoot.
2005 only
poopshovel wrote: The BMW idea is intriguing. Any dissenting votes on reliability/cost of parts and maintenance versus the Acuras? I really have no idea. I would guess the BMW would be way pricier, but I've never owned a BMW.
I think I've already stated it, and the reliability of any used car certainly depends on how it was previously driven and maintained, but I've found Acura's in general to be more reliable than BMW's.
Of your three choices the TSX is your only chance at getting close to 30mpg.
IS300 will get mid 20's on an exceptionally good day, TL is about the same.
I had an 05 5 speed IS with LSD, it was a fantastic car in just about every way, dead nuts reliable, easy to work on, comforable, decently quick, and good handling, but I ultimately ended up selling it because I was tired of getting 22mpg on my commute.
poopshovel wrote: Huh. E46 330i is an interesting option. Is my fear of putting 80 miles a day on a 100k+ mile BMW irrational? I love the looks, and it seems as though the interior would be leaps and bounds nicer than the TSX.
I have both a 2003 325i Sport pack (which has much nicer seats than a regular model) and a 2004 TSX. The interiors are frankly interchangeable in quality, and pretty much aesthetics/design, too. The seat heaters are much better in the BMW, and for comfort/support, the seats go thusly: BMW Sport > TSX > BMW regular.
The E46's headliner is falling out all over, the radio power button no longer works, the seat bolsters are heavily worn, and there is overall wear and tear. The TSX's interior is not pristine, but looks much better than the BMW's. Admittedly the car has half the mileage, but it is driven just as frequently if not moreso - my wife has a very short commute to work but in number of individual trips, the cars are probably very close to identical.
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